Mid-round compensatory pick likely going to Fins

BY SEAN DONOVAN

The Miami Dolphins are already flush with picks for April's draft, but they may add another, likely a mid-round selection.

The NFL awards compensatory picks based on a very complicated formula, but basically, it's calculated by how many players a team lost to free agency, how many were added and the contributions those players made with the value of the contracts each signed. (photo: Marques Stewart, Flickr)

During the 2012 offseason, Dolphins free agents Chad Henne and Kendall Langford signed elsewhere, and Miami only picked up former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Richard Marshall.

Dolphins' new quarterback upends their old one

BY SEAN DONOVAN

The Chad Henne era of Miami Dolphins football is one that South Florida fans would rather forget. Ryan Tannehill is trying to help them do exactly that.

On a day that Henne returned to Miami to face his former team, Tannehill had the best game of his young career, as his Dolphins defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-3.

The rookie completed 22-of-28 passes for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns, which was good for a 123.2 passer rating, his highest mark of the season. (photo: June Rivera, Flickr)

Henne, meanwhile, could not match the effort and was only able to lead his offense to three points on the day.

Henne returning to Miami, auditioning for Jaguars job

BY SEAN DONOVAN

This week will mark just the second time in the Jacksonville Jaguars' 18-year history that the team has played a regular-season game in Miami.

But one Jaguar, starting quarterback Chad Henne, is no stranger to South Florida. (photo: Alan Kotok, Flickr)

Henne, who started 31 games for the Dolphins from 2009-11, now leads the 2-11 Jaguars into the stadium he started his career in. One possible advantage for Jacksonville is that the venue isn't the only thing Henne has seen before.

He will face a defensive unit that features many players the former second-round draft pick has played against in practice.

Henne and the Jets: Jag QB has good history vs. NYJ

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Despite their shortcomings this season, the New York Jets face a pretty workable task Sunday in the Jacksonville Jaguars.

However, the Jaguars have one thing going for them -- their backup quarterback. (photo: Alan Kotok, Flickr)

Jacksonville signal-caller Chad Henne, who took over under center a few weeks ago for the injured Blaine Gabbert, is slated to face a familiar foe this week -- one he should have a decent amount of confidence against.

Henne, a former starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, has thrown six touchdowns to just a single interception in his career against the Jets, going 3-1 in the process in games spanning 2009-10.

Report: Henne and the Jets? Also, Penny helps a Jet

(Photo: Gator, Flickr) 

BY SEAN DONOVAN

Soon-to-be free agent quarterback Chad Henne will be looking for a new job following four disappointing years in Miami. While the Dolphins are still searching for their solution at the position, they have decided to move on from Henne after he posted a 13-18 record as a starter. Henne is reportedly now on the radar for a Dolphins' division rival.

According to ESPNNewYork.com, the Jets are looking at Henne to possibly back up Mark Sanchez. It does seem like a reasonable fit now that former Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano will be the Jets' offensive coordinator. Henne has been working in Sparano's offense for his entire career and would transition pretty easily. Signing with the Jets probably wouldn't help Henne's popularity among Dolphins fans, though.

Also reported was Chad Pennington's involvement with Mark Sanchez and his acclimation with Sparano's new system. The former Dolphins starting signal-caller was solicited for advice by Sanchez, and Pennington is using an old Miami playbook to teach him the jargon and schemes. The new CBA prevents any coach-player interaction related to football until April 16.

Report: Henne's days with Dolphins coming to close

Photo: photo-gator, Flickr 

BY SEAN DONOVAN

To the surprise of very few, it seems that quarterback Chad Henne's days with the Dolphins are over.

Sources familiar with the situation told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that Henne will not be re-signed. He will be allowed to negotiate with other teams when he becomes a free agent on March 13.

For many Miami fans, this divorce is long overdue.

While few would deny his raw abilities, Henne fell out of favor in Miami after continuous erratic play since taking over the position for an injured Chad Pennington in 2009. The Dolphins gave him ample opportunity to succeed, but the results never caught up to the expectations.

Moore's had many roles, but plays 'starter' pretty well

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Matt Moore tossed five touchdowns to 10 picks in six games last season with the Carolina Panthers. Moore moved south to don a Miami Dolphins uniform this season, and in 11 games, he's throw 12 touchdowns to six interceptions.

The fifth-year player out of Oregon State has played the role of third-stringer, backup and starter throughout his career. He's doing the last one pretty well in 2011.

Sparano not a "Suck For Luck" supporter

Suck For Luck?

Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano isn’t cool with it.

Some, or many, Dolphins fans are now rooting for Miami to lose every remaining game this season to lock up the first-overall pick in 2012 and better the team’s chances of landing Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who is touted by analysts as a no-brainer No. 1 overall choice.

With starter Chad Henne done for the year with a shoulder injury and his future with Miami in jeopardy, the Dolphins will probably have to make a move for a new signal-caller this coming offseason.

But Sparano doesn’t appreciate the idea of losing games in order to get him.

“… what bothers me about it most is that we have a lot of players in that locker room, every player in that locker room, every coach upstairs, every Harvey Greene in this building that walk into this building with one agenda and that agenda is to win, period,” Sparano said during his Wednesday press conference.

“So we have no other agenda here. It’s to win and those players go out there every single week and they put themselves at risk. I think that part of it; yeah that angers me a little.”

Follow Nick @NickStDenis
Tweet

Dolphins place Henne on Injured Reserve, sign Rosenfelds; Moore to start after bye

The Miami Dolphins put quarterback Chad Henne on Injured Reserve Thursday due to a shoulder injury he acquired last Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.

Miami signed quarterback Sage Rosenfelds Thursday to fill the roster void Henne left, though the Dolphins are moving forward – at least for now – with Matt Moore as the starter calling signals.

Moore started 23 games for the Carolina Panthers, where he amassed 16 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

“He’s been in a huddle as a starting quarterback before,” Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said during his Thursday press conference when asked what Moore brings to the team. “… He’s a confident guy, got a little different swagger to him when he gets in the huddle.

“I don’t think much really phases Matt, I think that’s fairly obvious when you can put him in a football game and he can throw the ball 30 yards down the field on the first play coming off the sideline.”

Sparano was referring to Moore’s 31-yard strike to Charles Clay Sunday when Moore came in to replace the injured Henne last Sunday. Moore went 17-for-26 with an interception in more than three quarters of action against the Chargers.

Rosenfelds brings his career stats of 4,156 yards, 30 touchdowns and 29 interceptions to Miami, where he spent some time as a Dolphin (2002-05). Rosenfelds last start was in 2008 with the Houston Texans, with whom he went 6-4.

"We brought several people in, took a look at several guys, and I think Sage’s experience and the fact that Sage has had some quality snaps in games went into the decision,” Sparano said.

The Dolphins are on a bye week and face the Jets Monday, Oct. 17.

Follow Nick @NickStDenis
Tweet

Phins mum on Henne, Moore starter for now

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano didn’t have much to say Tuesday during his press conference when asked about quarterback Chad Henne’s shoulder injury.

“We don’t have to give out an injury report until Jet week, so right now I’m not gonna talk about that,” Sparano said.

Fair enough.

The Dolphins have a bye this weekend before facing the New York Jets Monday, Oct. 17.

Miami, however, is moving along as if Matt Moore will get the nod for now since he’s the one calling signals with the first team this week.

“Right now, because Matt Moore’s the one that’s practicing,” Sparano said when asked if team was planning for Moore to start. “So we’ve got to get Matt Moore ready to go. We have to look at contingencies, obviously, at this point in time… that’s all we’re doing, so we’re gonna continue to work Matt Moore.”

The Sun-Sentinel is reporting that a source said a separated shoulder could mean Henne is done for the year.

Moore went 16-for-27 for 167 yards and an interception in Miami’s loss to the Chargers Sunday.

Follow Nick @NickStDenis
Tweet

Miami falls two games behind division

If anything can be said about the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium, it’s that they’re consistent.

Miami entered Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans with one victory in its last 11 home games. Sunday, they made it one in 12.

Houston improved to 2-0 and dropped Miami to 0-2 in a 23-13 win. The Dolphins are still the only team in the AFC East with a loss, as the New York Jets, New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills all won Sunday to move to 2-0.

“We’re trying to get things going in our stadium and our community, and you have to win at home to do that,” Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall said after the game, according to the Associated Press. “It’s frustrating. It’s embarrassing.”

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub connected on 21 of 29 passes for 230 yards, receiver Andre Johnson finished with seven receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown, and running Ben Tate eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground for the second straight game.

Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne followed up last week’s 400-plus-yard performance with a less-than-stellar showing, going 12-for-30 with 170 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

One bright spot, however, was rookie running back Daniel Thomas, who picked up 107 yards on 18 carries. Marshall grabbed six catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.

“We established the running game early, which was good,” Henne said. “The passing game was kind of up and down there for a while.”

Miami was down 16-3 at the half before Marshall caught a 12-yard score from Henne. Dan Carpenter then made a 34-yard field goal to bring the game within three, but Schaub and Johnson put the game away when they connected on a 23-yard touchdown strike.

Schaub also threw a touchdown to tight end Owen Daniels, and Johnathan Joseph had Houston’s only pick.

Miami’s Cameron Wake, Reshad Jones and Jason Taylor had a sack apiece.


Follow Nick @NickStDenis
Tweet

3 1st downs, TD say Henne ran with purpose

Chad Henne took off running seven times Monday night in the Miami Dolphins' loss to the New England Patriots.

While the Dolphins signal-caller gained 59 yards on the ground — a team high — the purpose and results of his attempts are what really counted. Three of those rushes were for first downs, and another was a touchdown.

At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Henne gave his future 2011 opponents a little something else to study in the film room.

"Chad's a good athlete for a guy his size," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano told the Finsiders Tuesday. "...We've been talking a lot about being able to hurt a defense that way. It's not something he's gonna make a steady habit out of, but if it's there, he's gonna be able to take it.

"I think it doesn't matter how you get the yards at the end of the day. It just matters that you get them."

The touchdown run was from nine yards out, and Henne picked up 51 yards on five carries between New England's 49- and 20-yard lines. His only negative attempt was on Miami's side of the field.

I should probably mention Henne also gained 416 yards through the air, but that's been talked about enough this week.

Follow Nick @NickStDenis
Tweet