Dolphins Thinking F(r)eeley?

Monday, March 8, 2004
Damon Fairchild
MDBW Staff Writer

Although this week's free agent blitz may have caused some fans to forget, there is a quarterback controversy in Miami, but this is not your typical debate. It is not over who is more skilled or who can lead the team to a Super Bowl Championship, but rather a power play between the front office and the coaching staff.

Through four years and two offensive coordinators, Jay Fiedler has been a model of inconsistency, but has also continually received the public praise and support of the Dolphins coaching staff, especially Head Coach Dave Wanndstedt who during that time played the role of General Manager as well. But "times, they are a changin'" and Coach Wanndstedt no longer has the power to make administrative decisions. So first thing this off season, new General Manager Rick Speilman went after a quarterback.

When their first and second choices of Mark Brunell and Patrick Ramsey became unavailable, the Dolphins front office did extensive research and came to the conclusion that A.J. Feeley a third stringer in Philadelphia was worth a conditional second round pick and a $3 million signing bonus with a five year, $18 million contract.

The decision was based mainly on Feeley's forth quarter QB rating. In the five games he started two years ago, he had a rating of 85.4 in the forth quarter, while Jay Fiedler's forth quarter rating this past year was a dismal 23.

Upon the announcement of Feeley's acquisition, it appeared that the front office had chosen their quarterback of the future, a sentiment that was more deeply impressed by the team's decision to allow the incumbent Jay Fielder to probe the market by talking to other teams.

The front office got its man and was looking forward to a new look behind center, but Coach Wanndstedt was not about to give up on his boy. Shortly after Fiedler began to test the market waters, his head coach pled for him both publicly and privately to stay with the team and after considering his options, Jay decided to remain in Miami and "compete" for a job.

This will prove to be one of the smarter moves the Dartmouth graduate has made in his career, as interested teams saw him mainly as a back-up type quarterback.

Although the Miami Dolphins front office, specifically General Manager Rick Speilman, seems to see him in the same light, don't be surprised if Coach Dave takes advantage of his power to make player personnel decisions and names Fiedler the starting quarterback before the season kicks off next year. Oh won't that make for loving company lunches...

Damon Fairchild can be reached by e-mailing damon@miamidolphinsbahamas.com. Or you can talk about this story and more on the MDBW Forums message board!