bubba9497 Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 MIAMI DOLPHINS Dolphins still in the running for QB Brunell Redskins coach Joe Gibbs meets with Mark Brunell, but the QB is said to prefer Miami, where he could be the starter. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/7916740.htm WANTED MAN: The Jaguars are allowing quarterback Mark Brunell to talk directly to the Washington Redskins and other teams interested in trading for him. The Dolphins have expressed an interest in Brunell. Mark Brunell went to dinner with Redskins coach Joe Gibbs in Orlando on Monday night and wanted the answer to one fundamental question that ultimately could decide where he plays this year. ''Mark wants to know what the quarterback situation is going to be,'' agent Leigh Steinberg said Monday. ``He doesn't want to go to a team where he would be part of any quarterback controversy.'' The Dolphins' chances of landing Brunell will depend, in part, on how Gibbs answered that question. Although the Redskins seem ahead of the Dolphins in their negotiations with the Jaguars to make a trade for Brunell and have more to offer as compensation, the Dolphins are not yet out of the derby for the veteran left-handed quarterback. That's because Brunell, as Steinberg reiterated, ''has made no secret of the fact he wants to play for the Dolphins,'' and although Jacksonville ``certainly has the absolute power to trade him, I don't think any team will trade for him knowing that he's going to be unhappy there.'' The Dolphins are willing to make Brunell their starter, according to NFL sources, putting him ahead of Jay Fiedler and Brian Griese. The Redskins have a more delicate quarterback situation. They invested a 2002 first-round pick on Patrick Ramsey and might not be ready to discard him. Another variable in the Brunell trade scenario is the price on the table for Brunell is apparently lower than has been widely reported. According to various reports, the Jaguars already have secured a second-round offer for the rights to Brunell and are hoping the four teams interested in the player -- Miami, Washington, San Diego and Dallas -- will conduct a bidding frenzy that will drive the price higher. That would all but exclude the Dolphins, as they do not have a second-rounder to give. A team source said Monday night they probably would be unwilling to part with their first-round pick -- the 20th selection overall -- to land a quarterback who will be 34 years old in September and has said he wants to play only three more seasons. The source added that Miami also is wary of paying too much for Brunell because he has an injury history -- he had an elbow injury this year and has battled two concussions, an ankle injury and knee injury since 1999. But two NFL sources said Monday that the Jaguars might have only fourth-round offers for Brunell in hand. The source said the Jaguars are hoping teams become impatient and raise the ante on a player who ultimately would be available on the market anyway if no trade is consummated with any team. Dolphins general manager Rick Spielman declined to comment on Brunell. Jacksonville senior vice president for football operations Paul Vance told The Associated Press that no trade is imminent. The Jaguars cannot trade Brunell until March 3. Steinberg said he has asked the Jaguars for permission to have his client meet with the coach or general manager of any team that wants to trade for Brunell. ''That's so that he can get a sense of the future of each franchise,'' Steinberg said. The Dolphins had not requested such a face-to-face meeting as of Monday, the agent said. The Jaguars hope to trade Brunell because Byron Leftwich is their starter, and the veteran is no longer in their long-term plans. Because he has one year remaining on his contract, Brunell carries a $10.5 million salary cap charge for 2004. If the Jaguars trade or release Brunell, they save $6.5 million of that money. The Dolphins do not have a second-round pick this year because they traded it to the New England Patriots last year in return for a third-round pick. The Dolphins used that third-round pick to draft left tackle Wade Smith. Although Brunell clearly is the focus of their quarterback hunt now, the Dolphins are not without other options. The team's intention to attend a workout by former Michigan star Drew Henson is well known. The Dolphins also have preliminary plans to look at Philadelphia restricted free agent A.J. Feeley. The Eagles are committed to Donovan McNabb, and Feeley wants an opportunity to become a starter. Feeley got most of his experience in 2002, when he came in for an injured McNabb and completed 55.8 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and five interceptions. The Eagles are expected to put a first-round tender on Feeley, according to an NFL source but would be willing to trade him for less. NFL EUROPE The Dolphins allocated at least eight players for NFL Europe duty Monday. QB Clint Stoerner will play for Amsterdam, WR Ronald Bellamy, DB Alphonso Roundtree and S Antwoine Sanders will play for Scotland, RB Leonard Henry will play for Frankfurt, DL Davern Williams and RB Carl Morris will play for Cologne and LB Brenden Givan will play for Berlin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted February 10, 2004 Author Share Posted February 10, 2004 Brunell may have little say in destination By Michael Cunningham Staff Writer Posted February 10 2004 The Dolphins remain high on Mark Brunell's list. Now that Jacksonville is entertaining trade offers for the quarterback, it's up to the Jaguars if Brunell and the Dolphins will get together. Brunell met with Washington coach Joe Gibbs on Monday night, but Paul Vance, Jacksonville's senior vice president of football operations, told The Associated Press that no deal is imminent. Vance said the team has given Brunell permission to talk with coaches from interested teams. Leigh Steinberg, Brunell's agent, said Brunell likes the Dolphins. "The most I can say is that in free agency there was no question that the Dolphins were going to be a big focus for Mark," Steinberg said Monday. "Now that there is this trade talk occurring, which only came up in the last several days, it really depends on where [the Dolphins] are as far as with Jacksonville." The Jaguars apparently feel confident they can get a high pick in April's draft for Brunell, creating a potential bidding war between the Dolphins and the other teams interested in trading for the veteran, which includes San Diego. The Jaguars reportedly are willing to pay the $2 million bonus Brunell is due on March 3, which also is the first day league rules allow trades. Paying the bonus wouldn't provide Jacksonville as much salary-cap relief but would allow them more time to get the best deal. Vance told the AP the team would consider a "sign-and-trade" deal for Brunell, which means Brunell would work out a contract with another team before getting traded. Brunell was a starter from Jacksonville's inaugural season in 1995 until losing his job to rookie Byron Leftwich in 2003. The Jaguars may not get the first-round draft pick for Brunell they are seeking, but the interest suggests Jacksonville can command at least a second-round pick. The Dolphins don't have a second-round pick because they traded it to New England for a third-round pick in the 2003 draft. And they aren't likely to trade their No. 20 overall pick for Brunell, who will be 34 in September. San Diego (36th overall) and Washington (42nd) both have second-round picks. The Dolphins have yet to make a decision on incumbent starter Jay Fiedler and backup Brian Griese. The Dolphins plan to attend a workout in Houston on Thursday for former top baseball prospect Drew Henson, who last played at Michigan in 2000. THOMPSON TO RETURN The Dolphins plan to bring back receiver Derrius Thompson in 2004 after he adjusts his contract. Agent Vann McElroy said the Dolphins will guarantee Thompson's $400,000 roster bonus, a move that would save the Dolphins $200,000 under the salary cap. The Dolphins could clear additional space by reducing Thompson's scheduled base salary of $850,000. The minimum for his experience is $535,000. Thompson signed a three-year contract with a $600,000 signing bonus in 2003. He had 26 receptions for 359 yards with no touchdowns. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolphins10feb10,0,6965622.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inmate running the asylum Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Did someone say there is a feeding frenzy on for Mark Brunell? Where? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubster Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Come on Miami. Offer a couple of picks;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedskinsNation Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Originally posted by Hubster Come on Miami. Offer a couple of picks;) Yeah, please offer something superb.... too bad Dan Marino stepped down he probably would of offered Ricky Williams and a 1st rounder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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