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Now that Pennington is the starter, what’s up with the other three QBs?

By Ben Volin | Monday, August 25, 2008, 03:30 PM

Tony Sparano settled one question Monday afternoon when he named Chad Pennington the starting quarterback.

But what becomes of the other three quarterbacks on the roster? Who will be Pennington’s main backup, who will be holding the clipboard, and will the Dolphins really keep four quarterbacks, like Sparano has said?

First off, Sparano made it very clear Monday that only the Chads - Pennington and Henne, the rookie - were up for the starting job.

To lead off his Monday press conference, Sparano was asked if he has named a starter.

“Yup, it’s Chad,” he said, joking about the fact that he has two quarterbacks named Chad, but also leaving Josh McCown and John Beck out of the conversation.

Sparano then said he “talked to both of them” after practice to deliver the news about the starting job, meaning he only spoke with the Chads.

Still, Sparano stopped short of naming Henne the backup, saying that he only decided on a starting quarterback, and, “We’ll see where we go from there.”

Pennington and Henne were the only ones to play in the second exhibition game against Jacksonville, and played the majority of Saturday’s exhibition game against Kansas City.

Beck played the first quarter of the first exhibition game against Tampa Bay, and took the final few snaps in mop-up time against Kansas City. McCown played the fourth quarter of the Tampa Bay game, and hasn’t been seen since.

The lack of playing time has been a sharp contrast for McCown and Beck, who competed for the starting job at the beginning of camp and have been pushed to the side since Pennington’s arrival.

“They’ve been really professional about it, and I know that’s been a difficult situation for them,” Sparano said. “But at the same time there was a period where they were just getting a bunch of reps, and as I said to the team, at some point you have to look and you have to understand I got my opportunity. … They’ve had over 500 throws apiece, that’s quite a bit of work, and they’ve handled it really well.”

Beck, the second-year player, has been the player rumored to be on the move, either by trade or being released. He is the only quarterback on the roster not hand-picked by Bill Parcells, and his shaky play during Training Camp hasn’t helped.

Sparano, though, continues to say the team could keep all four quarterbacks.

“Yeah, why not?” he said.

But then he backtracked a bit.

“It’s obviously a luxury to keep four quarterbacks,” he said. “In a perfect situation, you probably keep three.”

“One of the things you’ve got to be careful of is you’re not just keeping players to keep players.”

Whatever happens, it will all unfold soon. The Dolphins’ final exhibition game is Thursday at New Orleans. On Saturday, the team must cut down to 53 players.

Release McClown  already,  I ssee very little or no trade value for BECK.

Keep all four!  QB's are going to be dropping like flys this year.

Get rid of Beck and Mcown...put Jayson Foster on third string QB duty that way he doesn't have to go to the practice squad...hell as much as beck and mcown suck it would be worth a shot...he could be like a "pocket slash" (as in Kordell Stewart)  ::)