inmate running the asylum Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 DOLPHINS QB Rivers scrutinized The Dolphins are interested in North Carolina State quarterback Philip Rivers, although his unorthodox release point is a hot topic at the Senior Bowl. BY JASON COLE MOBILE - North Carolina State quarterback Philip Rivers' release is becoming the hottest topic of the Senior Bowl. For everybody except Rivers, that is. ''It's like I told the Dolphins last night when I was talking to them, if that's what I have to change to make it at the next level, I'll get it done,'' said Rivers, whose odd release point is from his ear. Rivers, the son of a high school football coach, interviewed with the Dolphins on Monday night as they continue to put together their list of options at the quarterback position. He appears to be the most likely candidate for the Dolphins at the No. 20 overall spot. According to multiple scouts and coach here attending the annual Senior Bowl practices, quarterbacks Eli Manning of Mississippi and Ben Roethlisberger of Miami of Ohio will be the top two picks overall or at least gone within the first five. The Dolphins, who don't have a second-round pick, have little hope of trading up that far. That figures to make Rivers and other quarterbacks such as J.P. Losman of Tulane the subject of strong debate if the Dolphins decide to fill the quarterback job through the draft. ''I love the kid and I don't worry about the release at all,'' Minnesota coach Mike Tice said. ``He's 6-foot-5, so he's still big enough. Now, if he was 6-2 and throwing like that, I'd be worried. But you watch and the ball doesn't get knocked down. He gets rid of it quick. He was too good for too long in college to think he can't make it at our level.'' Baltimore director of player personnel Phil Savage echoed that: ``I like his size and his makeup. I really love to watch the kid practice and play. I think he's going to be good. Fortunately, we took our guy [Kyle Boller] last season, so I don't have to worry about it.'' The flip side is some people wonder if the delivery will limit him in making critical throws at the next level. ''You really worry about whether he can throw the out pattern with that release,'' said John Murphy, the director of scouting for Draft2004.com. ``He's just bringing it so low.'' The origin of Rivers' motion is that as a kid growing up in Athens, Ala., he would attend practices every day run by his father Steve Rivers. He always threw a regulation ball, even when he was a first-grader. ''He never had a Nerf ball or one of those mid-size balls that the kids play with,'' said Steve Rivers, who moved his family to Raleigh when his son began at N.C. State. ``He never played Pop Warner because he was always around practice with me.'' Still, Rivers' ability as a quarterback has been questioned since his days in high school. Alabama offered him a chance to play quarterback but talked about moving him to safety (Rivers led the state in interceptions as a senior safety with 10). Auburn talked about quarterback, but said that tight end might be a better fit. Rivers held on to his dream of playing quarterback and went to North Carolina State. Now, he may have a chance to play for one of his childhood heroes. ''He had two posters on his wall at home, [Dan] Marino and [Joe] Montana,'' Steve Rivers said. ``We love Marino around here. Heck, his mom loves Marino.'' • No Wade talks: Agent Tom Condon said that, other than ''very preliminary'' discussions during training camp, he has had no discussions with the Dolphins as yet about a new contract for right tackle Todd Wade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copperbird Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Marino was talking good about Rivers also. Idiot Mel Kiper said that he thought they would pick J.P. Losman of Tulane. :dallasuck :eaglesuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 They should get Brad Johnson/.Brunell and then make a run at T. Owens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Originally posted by copperbird Idiot Mel Kiper said that he thought they would pick J.P. Losman of Tulane. :dallasuck :eaglesuck That Idiot you talk about says Losman is Ramsey with better accuracy and faster. Losman is going to be a very good pro QB. If it wasn't for Ben blowing up this year he would have been the second QB taken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegas-Born Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Being that I now write in NC I have seen Rivers play a number of times. He can throw. Forget about his release point...the guy can flat out throw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Originally posted by Vegas Baby Being that I now write in NC I have seen Rivers play a number of times. He can throw. Forget about his release point...the guy can flat out throw. Yes he reminds everyone of a more athletic Bernie Kosar. This is a very good draft for QB's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codeorama Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Rivers and Losman should both be decent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cskin Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 This kid has ‘coach killer’ written all over him. You would think with all this talent and brains that this kid would be the next coming of Joe Montana with the brains of Albert Einstein. You would think that he would be rated number one in this draft. You would think that with all the promotion being done by the announcers every time he is on TV that he would be a franchise QB. He isn’t. Why, you ask? He has so much talent it has eroded his ability to learn and grow in the most important aspect he will need in the pros -- his mind. His EGO has made him a mental midget. A blurb about Losman from http://www.huddlereport.com Not the type of write up that warms the heart. These are certainly not the type of things written about Ramsey last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awesome Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 You heard it here first: J.P. Losman will be the next J.R. Redman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegas-Born Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Now Im not ready to make him the next Montanna or even Manning...but he has a ton of ability. With his late first round or second status...he could land with a team that is solid around him...further helping his development...he could be in the playoffs soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitman56 Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Gotta love the Dolphins continuing to leave giant holes in their offense. For years, the passing game was great with Marino and the Marks brothers. Now they have Rickey Williams and they can't throw the ball. I think they should take a WR in the first round. Chambers is pretty good (but small) and their other WRs are awful. Go with the best NFL size WR in the 1st and wait for Rivers in the 2nd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Originally posted by Hitman56 Go with the best NFL size WR in the 1st and wait for Rivers in the 2nd. The problem with that is Rivers may not be there, they have to get the QB in the 1st, or in FA. Or trade for Henson, Marino likes him very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sisko Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Additionally, according to the article they don't have a 2nd round pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogwash Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Drew Henson has been out of football for like 5 years, I don't think he'd be a smart pick. I'd take Rivers over Losman. Rivers looked pretty impressive in his bowl game. And not too shabby against Ohio State which is the closest thing to an NFL defense in college football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedskinsNation Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Hogwash-I agree w/ that - Rivers competion has been better than Losman's as well. What you think of Steven Jackson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Sick Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 In the last game I saw Rivers play in (don't remember which one) they compared him to.... Danny Wuerrfel!! Weak arm and funny release that can't throw the deep out. Personally, I think he is a winner and very competitive. Also a good bit more mobile than Danny-boy. That said, he will still be better than Fiedler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsNumberOne Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Originally posted by jbooma The problem with that is Rivers may not be there, they have to get the QB in the 1st, or in FA. Or trade for Henson, Marino likes him very much. I must have missed something- did Drew Henson give up on his baseball dreams when I wasn't looking? I thought he was in the minors (Yankees farm system) batting a 230 but still trying to make it out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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