Why Green Over Culpepper?
So why did the Dolphins give up a potential fourth-round pick for the geriatric Trent Green? After all, Culpepper was an MVP candidate just a few short years ago.
It's simple if you think about it. Which guy would you rather have mentoring the prospect you hope is the future starting QB for your team? If I were pulling the strings in Miami (and Dolphins fans should be thrilled I'm not), I probably wouldn't choose the guy who alienated his former team by asking for a raise following a horrible season that ended in a devastating knee injury, and then followed it up by emailing himself out of town through the local media.
All the reports on Beck say he is a class act. And the Dolphins don't want to take any chances by exposing him to a potentially negative situation. And that, along with a hefty $5.5 million salary this season, is why Culpepper will most likely get chopped from the roster before the team's mini-camp this weekend. If he would happen to get hurt while still a member of the Dolphins, the team could be on the hook for his entire salary in 2007. I doubt that is a risk they are willing to take.
Culpepper's contract also severely limits any trade possibilities, so, unless he is willing to restructure -- which he has stated he is not -- look for this situation to end in a simple release by the club.
Comments
This is a bit of logic that I’m about to share. Some fans are not understanding it. When a team spends a higher round draft pick and millions of dollars on what they believe will be a franchise quarterback, they want nothing more than a good mentor who will help groom the new guy to get him ready. It used to be that this grooming period would last a couple of seasons or more. Now the time is generally shorter and they expect a new qb to be ready to start the second season or earlier. A long time veteran like Green is going to have several years of experience gained with several teams and lots of wisdom to share with John Beck. It makes a lot of sense that since Green is coming into the sunset of his career, his mindset will be willingness to help Beck along, to prepare him. The mindset of Culpepper or Lemon would be rivals to Beck and hamper his development as much as possible so that they could retain the starting position as many seasons as possible. This is basically the answer to Green vs. Culpepper.
Great comment Eric. I agree. I believe Cam and Co. made an agreement to that effect with Green at negotiation time.