Disappointed for Henne
Can anyone please give me some insight into Chad Henne's situation? As I understand, he is the future starting QB after this year, but I saw that Pat White is the second QB for Miami now. Does this change Henne's situation? It really is disappointing, Henne should be with a team that needed his services immediately. He started with Michigan and now he will be 2 years with very little game time experience. This can't bee good for him. It looks like Long is the real deal and Manningham is starting to contribute. Then there is Mike Hart. I know he has been injured and cut from the Colts and now with the Colts rookie RB getting time, I don't think he has a future with the colts. Where should he go, there has to be some NFL teams that would give him a chance. If he could stay healthy I think he would be a great back. Sure, he can't give you 90 yd touch down runs (especially in the NFL), but he can move the ball.
Hoping the Dolphins lose more games with Pennington at QB and give Chad a shot this year. Oh and famous Michigan Alum now owns the Dolphins (Ross - same Ross who the business school is named after). If the Dophins had Henne starting I would watch every one of their games.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:06 PM ^
Pat White only came in twice for the Wildcat formation and gained zero yards. Henne is in no danger of being Pat Whites backup.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:28 PM ^
the wildcat is designed so your second QB is in the formation. This is most likely just an artifact of the convention surrounding the wildcat formation than White beating out Henne.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:41 PM ^
If they want him to do some wildcat stuff, then they need to make him the #2 QB. This is because the NFL has a weird rule about the 3rd string QB being an "emergency" QB, that may only play if the other QBs are injured.
The rule goes like this:
If the 3rd string QB plays, then the 1st or 2nd string QBs may not play. However, this rule is suspended in the 4th quarter. It does get more complicated though...
The linked article talks about Vick and the Philly situation. I guess part of the trick is that most teams only keep 2 QBs on their 45-man roster. The 3rd QB is an emergency only 46th man "on the roster". However, there is no rule preventing you from keeping 3 QBs on your 45-man roster...which nobody does. They'd rather have another kick/punt coverage guy.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:08 PM ^
...is up after this year so if he walks, Henne should get a chance to claim the starting job next summer.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:10 PM ^
First off, I agree with most everything you say in theory, however I would have said it in a more concise / clear manner. I do wish Henne the best and yes, the announcers did mention he was third on the depth chart. I think this is more a function of the "Wildcat QB gets #2" than "White is better than Henne".
I found this hilarious though:
"Then there is Mike Hart. I know he has been injured and cut from the Colts and now with the Colts rookie RB getting time, I don't think he has a future with the colts."
Yeah, I don't think he has a future either - not many kids who get cut from a team do.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:33 PM ^
I believe Hart was signed to the Colts practice squad. From my expertise watching that Bengals training camp show, being signed to the practice squad means the coaches like you and you still may have a future with the team.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:37 PM ^
Well, yes and no. It means they feel you can contribute if there is a need. Most of these guys dress for maybe a game each season. It's not a good situation.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:47 PM ^
I'm not saying it's a good situation, it's just not over for sure. I understood his comments to mean that Hart was cut and obviously has no future with the Colts. This isn't necessarily true.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:00 PM ^
I could rip this argument every which way, but...
1) The "from my expertise watching that Bengals training camp show" is not something you can build a solid argument with.
2) The Colts drafted Donald Brown (RB) with the 27th pick in the 2009 draft.
3) They still have Addai
They signed Hart to the practice squad because he's a good back, but just can't stay healthy. He has no business playing for the Colts, as Addai and Brown are obviously their near future at the RB spot. However, Hart could probably play for a few teams in the NFL as a #2 or #3 back because not every team has the 1/2 punch of Addai and Brown.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:13 PM ^
you can only have two active QBs at game time. If the emergency QB (3rd string) plays, then the first two are out for the rest of the game (like a pitcher in baseball).
So if the Dolphins want to run trick plays, White has to be QB2. Though it still doesn't explain why they don't list him as a WR and run "the wildcat" when he is in and leave Henne as QB2.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:12 PM ^
A QB sitting for 2 years once he gets into the NFL isn't really a bad thing in most instances. There's no reason to throw him out there if he's not ready, assuming there are no other options, and Pennington has proven that he is a viable NFL QB.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:12 PM ^
Just because a player doesn't play right away, especially at the pro level AT QB, doesn't mean he's bad.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:13 PM ^
Jake Long can't be the real deal. He is already one of the worst busts in recent NFL history after one year in which he went to the Pro Bowl.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:14 PM ^
NFL rules stipulate that if you dress 3 QBs, once the 3rd one plays the other 2 can no longer enter the game. This causes the Dolphins to list White as the #2 QB so they can get him in for a wildcat play or 2 without having to worry about losing elegibility for Pennington.
Were Pennington to get hurt for during a game for the remainder of a game, you would see Henne come in and White would also not be able to play in the remainder of that game.
While perhaps not having a great downfield arm, Pennington is extremely accurate and can move the ball. I look at Henne's optimal case being similar to that of Aaron Rodgers, where he is able to soak up as much as possible for 2-3 years, and is in a great position to succeed once he plays more regularly.
edit: beaten to the punch once again!
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:53 PM ^
except for the part about Pennington getting hurt for the duration of the game and Henne getting in. The announcers yesterday said that Henne was inactive for the game, which if true would mean they would be stuck with Pat White / Ronnie Brown were Chad P. to go down. I would imagine that if Pennington were out for more than one game, however, that Henne would be elevated to #1 the next week.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:14 PM ^
Henne is actually in a good situation with Miami. Pennington was never supposed to be a long term answer and as mentioned above his contract is up soon. Henne has had the opportunity to learn the offense and become accustomed to the game without being thrown into the fire.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 PM ^
Aaron Rodgers thinks that Henne's situation is ok.
Carson Palmer was going to agree but then his knee gave out and he just yelled out in pain.
Solid QBs can have their careers ruined by starting too early. Everyone is different, but I think he's in a great position to be successful. The two (first round) QBs referenced above sat, learned, and then were put in positions to succeed.
Pennington is serviceable, but isn't gonna be around for long. Henne can watch and learn now, then become Terminator in a year or so.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:32 PM ^
What do you mean "become Terminator"? He's already a robot! And he fires football shaped shells from his shoulder-mounted-Howitzer! Isn't that enough for you?!?
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:56 PM ^
He's already a robot, but he has yet to time travel (transition to the NFL), and therefore hasn't yet earned the Terminator moniker.
He will be the Terminator when he comes out for the coin toss and asks the other team's captains if they are Sarah Connor.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:53 PM ^
Has he had:
">if == John Conner
> protect
>else
> kill"
added to his programming yet?
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:26 PM ^
Aaron Rodgers sat on the sidelines for three years before starting.
Joey Harrington started the third game.
I'm sure he'd like to be playing, but there's something to be said for learning the NFL game before being thrown into the fray immediately.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:47 PM ^
Harringon got "Lionized." I hope Stafford doesn't suffer the same fate.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:31 PM ^
The 3rd QB rule isn't quite what people have said. You can have as many QBs on the active roster as you want, and any of them can play whenever as long as they're all on the 45 man active gameday roster.
However, the NFL has a roster rule where you can have 2 QBs on the 45 man active gameday roster and have an "extra" spot for a third QB. If you take advantage of that extra roster slot for the emergency QB and that third QB plays before the 4th quarter, then the other two QBs cannot come back in the game at any time.
So Miami is using that slot on Henne and putting White in as the #2 so they can use him any time, just like Philly will be doing with Vick. Henne's still the QB of the future.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:33 PM ^
Mike Hart has zero future in the NFL as anything. It's okay to be small if you're fast and it's okay to be slow if you're big. He's small and slow and can't play special teams. He has nothing to contribute. I think he might be ideal for the CFL, though.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:01 PM ^
Hart had a great skill-set for college, but it isn't enough for the NFL. Did Hart graduate? I have put "mike hart graduate" and "mike hart degree" into search engines without any luck.
If he didn't graduate yet, I hope he goes back and gets his degree. It would be nice if he had something to show for a great career at UM besides press clippings.
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:51 PM ^
I'm pretty sure he graduated. I mean he was here for 4yrs and never had any academic issues so why not. Anyways he should join the Michigan staff as a grad assistant when he's out of the league. He said on the Big Ten Network that his dream job is to be head football coach at Michigan.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:52 PM ^
Coincidentally, I'm both a Michigan fan and a Dolphins' fan. I haven't stopped vomiting since last night when time expired at the end of the 4th quarter.
The plan since Pennington arrived was that Henne would be his successor and that hasn't changed. Pat White is basically out there for the Wildcat wrinkles and nothing else. He's nowhere near ready to be the primary backup.
I believe Henne will get his chance this season. While Pennington is capable of handling the starting duties, he's won the Comeback Player of the Year TWICE in his career - so he has a history of inconsistency.
So I expect Pennington to either go down at some point this season or get benched and Henne will probably end up starting at least a couple of games.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 PM ^
"there has to be some NFL teams that would give him a chance. If he could stay healthy I think he would be a great back. Sure, he can't give you 90 yd touch down runs (especially in the NFL), but he can move the ball."
No, there doesn't have to be a team that wants him.
He can't stay healthy.
He can't run long TDs.
And he doesn't "move the ball" that well.
If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:58 PM ^
Henne is hurt
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:03 PM ^
Unless Henne hurt himself last night holding the clipboard, there is nothing wrong with him.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 PM ^
Those things are sharp. They're best used only to fend off Rosenberg:
http://mgoblog.com/content/unverified-voracity-punches-dolphins
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:01 PM ^
pass this information on to Tony Sparano?
"If the Dophins had Henne starting I would watch every one of their games."
He might want to know for game-planning purposes.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:20 PM ^
I understand this is a board of pre-dominantly CFBcentric fans, and that is perfectly understandable and I'm not complaining about that, but let's remember that the NFL and CFB are the same game, but not at all the Same. Success doesn't translate perfectly. There is a different culture and a different way of doing things in the NFL because you can't run a team of pros the same as a college team. Different things work better on each of the levels.
All I ask is for an end to the OMG PLAYER X WAS AWESOME AT MICHIGAN THEREFORE HE SHOULD BE THE AWESOME IN THE NFL type posts.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 PM ^
I thought that he was the next stud NFL QB! I mean how could he not be a great NFL QB he won the Heisman once and almost won it again!!!
You know I picked him up in my fantasy league before others could snatch him up!
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:04 PM ^
Practice squad guys make a minimum of 5,200 for 17 weeks of the season, which breaks down to a minimum of nearly $90,000 for a whole season...To practice football!
Most guys make more. Hart is probably pulling down at least $100,000 to practice football.
Where do I sign up?
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:17 PM ^
would be that your 'career' would likely last only a couple of years. It seems nice from the outside, but to a player who is banking on his football career setting him up financially for the rest of his life (probably not Mike Hart, but most likely a lot of others), it isn't so great.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:33 PM ^
many people who make comments like "just to play a game!!!" would be crying tears of unfathomable pain the first time they got lit up by a NFL LB.
there's a reason a lot of these guys have trouble walking past age 50. it's not a fun little game for them.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:55 PM ^
People wanting to sign up should get in line like this:
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:54 PM ^
My buddy playes on the practice squad for the Jets and makes bank. Plus, there is limited contact in practice so the risk of injury is minimal. Practice squad guys and 3rd string QBs have it made.
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:19 PM ^
Your buddy's career isn't likely to last more than 4 years, so I hope he's saving a large portion of that money.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:49 AM ^
By being on IR last season Hart earned 1 year toward being eligible for the pension plan.
Quite a nice deal if you can make it.
The NFL's Post-Career Financial Plan
The NFL Players Association retirement plan package includes four plans:
1. Severance Pay Plan: A player with two credited NFL seasons (on the active roster, injured reserved or physically unable to perform list for three games in each of two seasons), receives $10,000 for every year played between 1993 and 1999 and $12,500 for every year from 2000 on.
2. Player Annuity Program: A player with four credited NFL seasons receives an annuity valued at $65,000 at age 35 or five years after his last credited season, whichever is later.
3. Second-Career Savings Plan or 401(K): A player with two credited seasons will receive a $2 match for every $1 contributed to the plan up to a maximum club contribution of $20,000 per year.
4. Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle Retirement Plan (pension): A player with at least three credited seasons earns a benefit credit for every season he plays. The benefit credits add up to monthly pension checks that player receive starting at age 55.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:52 PM ^
Henne's fine. He gets the opportunity to sit back and learn from a multi-year NFL starter. He will have a long NFL career.
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:12 PM ^
here is the way I see this situation. Henne is the solid #2 QB, but the dolphins are also trying to develop Pat White to contribute to the wildcat. Pat White is more like the #1 wildcat QB than the #2 QB. They find the biggest limitation to the wildcat is Ronnie Brown's inability to make the throws that are sometimes wide open. It is been made public knowledge that the dolphin's front office is high on Henne and he should have a shot at the starting job next season. Also, many think that if the fins struggle he should get playing time this year.
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:59 PM ^
OT I saw a homeless man in Flint wearing a sleeveless Joey Harrington Lions #3 jersey. He was in the alley behind my building where WIll Farrell Jackie Moon was in the dumpster. The Irony. The symbolism. (On so many levels)