Ambrus Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/7916740.htm 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. BY ARMANDO SALGUERO asalguero@herald.com 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WM_Marylander Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Here's rooting for the 'fins! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Hog Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 My oh my. The stories sure do change in a hurry. One day, Brunell is already our starter and Ramsey is traded. Now it seems as though alot of hurdles have to be jumped before a trade is completed. Brunell is far from being signed, sealed and delivered to D.C. Miami will have something to say about this by the time it's all said and done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagsbch Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 I say thanks for propping Mark up, but no way you all can afford to get into this game, especially when you all already have an aspiring up and coming star at the QB position already. I really think the Skins are out of the picture. You all might need a back up, I am even hesitant to say that. Consider yourselves lucky that there is a lot of interest in Mark. To be quite frank I believe your true needs are any where but in the QB position. http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20040210-9999-1s10chargers.html Brunell reportedly is interested in remaining on the East Coast after playing the last nine years with Jacksonville, where he plans to retire. But the left-hander also has ties to the West Coast. He grew up in Santa Maria and attended the University of Washington. When asked to gauge Brunell's interest in San Diego, which has not had a winning season or made the playoffs since 1995, Steinberg said: "I think he'd be interested." But Steinberg said it's important the sides go through the feeling-out process. "We had certainly expected that the process he would be facing is free agency, and in free agency he would have an opportunity to thoroughly explore each of his options and ask the relevant questions," Steinberg said. "One of the aspects that has become clear in the NFL is that teams are able to experience extremely rapid turnaround, as the success of (Super Bowl participant) Carolina would indicate. "Mark has spent part of every offseason in San Diego working with a trainer at the Pete Egoscue Center. So, it's sort of been a second home for him. It is a city he loves, which is great for me because I get to see him every offseason." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidPennSkin Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 The Jags are getting greedy and are going to regret it. They will soon have to face up to a $2,000,000 bet that some team will give them something worth that much for Brunell. No one is going to do that and take them off the hook, the best they will be offered is a 4th round pick. The Jags are going to choke on March 3 and pass. Brunell will then be free to sign the deal that is most to his liking, and the Jags will get nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 of course Steinberg is going to say Brunell is 'open' to SD, that is the negotiating ploy. realistically what veteran qb wants to play for micro-managing bumpkin Marty Schottenheimer. QB and Offense have been his achilles heel at his other stops. he refused to hire a OC in Cleveland and was fired. In KC he banked on Steve Bono. in DC he fired Jeff George 3 games into a SEASON and then finished the year with habitual backup Tony Banks :laugh: Now he has screwed up the Drew Brees situation. Big surprise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sowers Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 No one else has Rod Gardner to offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieInferior Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 Oh But Pastabelly says they are out! if only PFW would weigh in so we would know for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilgamesh Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 Originally posted by StevieInferior Oh But Pastabelly says they are out! if only PFW would weigh in so we would know for sure. Don't forget profootballtalk.com...the finest virtual fishwrap on the web... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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