QB or Not QB: Whose Going to Be the Man This Year in Miami?

It seems that the issue of Hanging Chads is not gone in South Florida. The problem with having a perennial, Hall of Fame quarterback is that he never really retires.

Sure, he stops coming to practice, he stops throwing touchdowns, he stops winning games, but he never really leaves; his shadow will always be there (and occasionally, he will hang around town opening restaurants and car dealerships, but I digress.)

Thirteen different quarterbacks have started in the position since Dan Marino left, and they all sputtered until Chad Pennington came along.

This brings us to our current dilemma and the key roster battle of the upcoming season: Pennington vs. Henne.

Cast aside by the New York Jets in favor of the quarterback that never quits, Pennington brought instant leadership to a lost Dolphins club and led them to the playoffs.

Pennington brought poise to the position and his career numbers were much appreciated by the coaching staff and Miami population. The whispers have begun though after a rough playoff debut in Miami.

The same concerns that plagued Jets ownership have followed Pennington to Miami; the biggest complaints being that he lacks arm strength and shelf life.

As great as Pennington played this year, everyone knows he is not the quarterback of the future.

The Dolphins finally drafted a young quarterback, who has the potential to be a franchise QB in the future (and no, John Beck doesn’t count because he was pushing 40 when Cam Cam picked him up).

Henne is still young and unproven, but he, like the rest of the Dolphins young stars, could lead this team for a long time.

In fact, I don’t think I’ve been this excited about something reaching maturity since my Olsen twins countdown-to-18 clock.

The battle for QB is going to be a season-long process, but one, which will have a definitive ending.

Here is how I see it going: Pennington will start the season, but the magic of last year won’t be there.

His shoulder could give in early in the season or it may hold up; it doesn’t matter. The return of Tom Brady, as well as the overall strengthening of the AFC East will cause the Dolphins to sputter early and Pennington will hear what 12 starting quarterbacks before him heard: the call for change.

After that, it will be Henne’s turn and maybe after 13 failed attempts, the shadow of No. 13 will finally fade away.