FOXSports.com has learned Oakland's Josh McCown has agreed to a two-year, $6.25 million contract with the Dolphins. McCown will receive a $2.5 million signing bonus.
The Dolphins were seeking to address the position after releasing Trent Green and, as FOXSports.com first reported, allowing Cleo Lemon to leave via free agency today to Jacksonville. Before the McCown signing, unproven 2007 second-round draft pick John Beck was the only notable quarterback on the roster.
McCown started nine games during an injury-plagued 2007 season with Oakland. While he posted pedestrian passing statistics, McCown was lauded for his leadership skills and willingness to play through pain.
McCown has 31 career starts in six NFL seasons.
The McCown signing is one of a flurry of roster moves Miami has made in Bill Parcells' first off-season heading football operations. Various media reports have the Dolphins signing four free agents — linebacker Reggie Torbor (New York Giants), guard Justin Smiley (San Francisco), defensive tackle Randy Starks (Tennessee) and wide receiver Ernest Wilfork (Jacksonville) — while also trading with Dallas for nose tackle Jason Ferguson. The Dolphins also entertained Arizona linebacker Calvin Pace on a free-agent visit.
Atlanta’s re-signing of Chris Redman continues a curious off-season quarterback trend.
The grass wasn’t greener for six players who could have left elsewhere.
Redman joins Billy Volek (San Diego), Todd Collins (Washington), Rex Grossman (Chicago) and Shaun Hill (San Francisco) as quarterbacks who are returning to their respective club despite having a chance to leave as unrestricted free agents. Derek Anderson (Cleveland) also tested the market as a restricted free agent for about 10 hours today before re-signing.
With the exception of Anderson, there is the possibility none of these players will enter this season as a starter. And even in Anderson’s case, he may be playing elsewhere in several years if Brady Quinn proves ready for the job.
What to make of this?
A) Hill, Grossman, Collins and Redman must believe they have a better shot at starting with their current team than elsewhere.
B) Those same clubs with a fluid starting situation didn’t believe there were better options via trade or free agency. Atlanta and possibly Chicago are expected to have interest in selecting a quarterback early in April’s draft.
Hill and Collins toiled in obscurity for years before cashing in with new contracts, but neither was more off the NFL’s radar than Redman. Out of the league for most of the previous three years, Redman was signed by Atlanta in 2007 because of his familiarity with then-coach Bobby Petrino’s offense from when both were at Louisville. Redman played well enough to show he is at least a competent NFL backup.
See: Petrino did do something good for the Falcons after all.
FOXSports.com senior NFL writer Alex Marvez weighs in with NFL news and notes every Monday.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lane Kiffin knew what he was doing after all.
Raiders media and even some Oakland players kept pushing for Kiffin to give JaMarcus Russell playing time. Kiffin resisted, using his rookie quarterback sparingly through the season’s first 14 games.
Now we know why.
Kiffin described Russell’s performance in Sunday’s 49-11 road loss to Jacksonville as having his “nightmares come true.” Russell was dreadful after entering on Oakland’s third series. He completed just four of 17 passes for 45 yards before leading the Raiders to a touchdown on his final drive against Jaguars reserves. Russell also threw three interceptions trying to force passes into double coverage and lost a fumble.
"That was really my fear," Kiffin said. "I was hoping to make it through the year without that happening. I wanted to get a whole off-season underneath him. Unfortunately, we did get one of those games where he was throwing the ball all over the place and turning it over."
Further compounding problems, the communication device inside Russell’s helmet had failed. But the scoreboard was working, which Kiffin believes added to Russell’s woes. Kiffin said Russell started pushing as the Raiders fell increasingly behind.
"I’m afraid his first interception affected him and he started rolling downhill," Kiffin said. "Instead of getting rid of (the football), he tried to make big plays for us. I talked to him at halftime and told him, 'Let’s take it one series at a time, pretend the score is close and make first downs.'"
Russell’s struggles could be expected, especially against Jacksonville’s staunch defense. Russell hadn’t played this much since his final college bowl game at Louisiana State in January. He missed the entire preseason in an inexcusable contract holdout considering the Raiders had ample time to negotiate a pre-draft deal for the top overall pick.
Such mismanagement forced Kiffin into a difficult balancing act.
Although he’s the NFL’s youngest head coach at age 32, Kiffin was wise beyond his years about how to handle Russell. Kiffin didn’t want to ruin Russell’s confidence by putting him in situations he couldn’t handle. He understood Russell wasn’t a well-polished college quarterback. Rather, Russell was chosen No. 1 because of his physical gifts and long-term potential. There would clearly be a steep learning curve.
But as the Raiders (4-11) faded from the post-season race yet again, Kiffin faced increasing pressure to play Russell with an eye toward 2008.
Russell was eased into action, previously coming off the bench for 28 plays in two December home games. Kiffin also had refused to play Russell on the road. That was for the best in a Dec. 9 game at Green Bay. Russell – who had never played in winter weather -- was so affected by the cold he stood on the sideline wearing a ski mask.
Russell will ultimately need to play in those conditions and such garb must come off. The kid gloves already have, as evidenced by Kiffin sticking with Russell throughout the Jaguars game. Kiffin also said Russell will start Sunday’s season-finale against visiting San Diego.
The Chargers’ blitz-heavy defense will present Russell with just as difficult a test as Jacksonville did. Plus, the Chargers (9-5) probably won’t pull starters as they compete with Pittsburgh (10-5) for the AFC’s No. 3 playoff seed.
Kiffin can only hope Russell’s rough experience Sunday has a positive long-term effect.
"There were a lot of things I had to learn from as far as where to throw the football and knowing when it’s not there," Russell said afterward. "I have to learn to throw it away instead of trying to make big plays.
"Things didn’t go the way we wanted. I have a short-term memory, though."
He will need it.
Alex also will be co-hosting twice this week on Sirius NFL Radio (Channel 124). He will be on from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday with FOXSports.com contributor Adam Schein and 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday with Gil Brandt.
* Will Tampa Bay wide receiver Michael Clayton and running back Cadillac Williams ever get their acts together?
After promising rookie seasons, both first-round picks had another rough outing in the Buccaneers' 24-3 victory over St. Louis.
Clayton was cussed out on the sideline by coach Jon Gruden during the second quarter after dropping one pass and fumbling on his only reception (the Bucs recovered). Clayton threw some nice downfield blocks, but that alone isn't why the Bucs made him the 15th player chosen in 2004.
Williams wasn't even Tampa Bay's third-best runner Sunday, as backups Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham were more effective. A lost fourth-quarter fumble overshadowed Williams' 12-carry, 46-yard performance.
Although he wouldn't use bruised ribs as an excuse, Williams failed to showcase the same explosive running style that made him the No. 5 overall pick in 2005. The biggest question surrounding Williams coming out of college was whether he could handle the physical punishment inherent in being a feature running back. The answer is becoming obvious, with Williams battling injuries for a second consecutive season.
* San Diego fans panicking after the Chargers' 1-2 start should remember what team president/CEO Dean Spanos told FOXSports.com in August:
"It doesn't matter what your record is -- just get back to the playoffs and win that first game. If you're 9-7 or 8-8 and win that first game, it's better than 14-2 and out. I know everybody is thinking that way. You just don't want to look too far ahead."
Spanos is right, as San Diego's impressive records in 2004 and 2006 didn't translate to postseason victories. But in my two preseason trips to Chargers headquarters, I sensed San Diego players felt the playoffs were a given because of all the talent amassed by general manager A.J. Smith. A second consecutive loss Sunday to Green Bay should bring the Chargers back to earth.
* Oakland should feel encouraged by the play of quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who guided the Raiders to a 26-24 victory over Cleveland. Playing the second half in relief of injured starter Josh McCown, Culpepper led two scoring drives and didn't commit a turnover in an 8-of-14 passing performance.
After the win, Raiders coach Lane Kiffin wouldn't immediately commit to naming a starting quarterback for this Sunday's game against Miami. But I'm hoping Kiffin gives Culpepper the nod, if only to ####e up a game between teams with a combined 1-5 record. Culpepper will want to show Dolphins coach Cam Cameron made a huge mistake when releasing him in July without letting him compete against Trent Green for a starting spot.
*"And with the first pick in the 2008 draft, the Buffalo Bills select ..."
I can already hear those words coming from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's mouth. The Bills are so decimated by injuries, especially on defense, that I can't see Buffalo winning more than three games. The latest blow was promising rookie linebacker Paul Posluszny suffering a broken forearm in Sunday's 38-7 loss to New England.
Another player unsuccessfully courted by the Broncos was wide receiver Terrell Owens, who snubbed a Denver contract offer in 2006 for a more lucrative deal with Dallas. Owens reflected upon the dinner he had with Shanahan as he was being dangled as trade bait by a Philadelphia Eagles franchise that had grown tired of his disruptive antics.
“There was an opportunity there,” Owens said. “I never got a chance to thank them just for the consideration. It just didn’t work out. It was just talks and the beginning stages of me becoming a free agent.”
Owens remembered the last touchdown he scored while with the Eagles came while he was being covered by Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey in 2005. Told by a reporter that it was a 90-yard reception, Owens corrected him and cracked up the media crew surrounding his locker by saying, “It was 91, to be exact.”
With a problematic finger from 2006 now healed, Owens might be on his way to making those same kind of impact plays this season. But with T.O., you just never know.
Alex Marvez is a Senior NFL Writer for FOXSports.com . He's covered the NFL for 13 seasons as a beat writer and is the president of the Pro Football Writers of America.
