Dolphins Depth Chart: David Garrard A Possible Cut?

The Miami Dolphins currently have four quarterbacks on the roster: Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore, Pat Devlin and David Garrard. As the team heads into the regular season, it's possible they could retain all four, but it seems unlikely at this point.

As a result, a cut will have to be made: According to a Miami Herald report, Garrard may be the odd-man out, especially considering the Dolphins' salary cap situation:

That brings us to Moore and Garrard. Keeping both is a salary cap luxury. Moore is scheduled to make $2.25 million in base salary this year. Garrard is scheduled to make $2.75 million in base salary. Cutting or trading one would make sense. The Dolphins would lower the price they're paying for backup quarterbacks, which now promises to be at a relatively expensive $6.5 million in salary cap space for both players.

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Dolphins Depth Chart: Davone Bess Miami's Top WR

Davone Bess has been listed as the Miami Dolphins' top receiver, according to Miami's latest depth chart.

#Dolphins release depth chart. Top 4 WRs are Bess, Naanee, Marlon Moore and Julius Pruitt

— Ben Volin (@BenVolinPBP) August 20, 2012

Bess is entering his fifth season in the NFL -- all with the Dolphins. Bess increased his reception total in each of his first three years, catching 54, 76 and 79 passes in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

In 2011, Bess' production slipped, as he caught only 51 passes for 537 yards -- both career lows. With Brandon Marshall now in Chicago, Bess will have an increased role, and will be Ryan Tannehill's top target.

Legedu Naanee, second on the depth chart, is entering his sixth year in the league, and first with the Dolphins. Naanee set career highs in receptions (44) and yards (467) in 2011 as a member of the Carolina Panthers.

For the latest on all things Miami Dolphins, head over to The Phinsider and join the discussion.

Joe Philbin Has Areas For Miami Dolphins To Improve

The Miami Dolphins have lost their first two preseason games by a combined score of 43-24. The Dolphins are trying to improve things. First year head coach Joe Philbin has talked about where the Dolphins could use some improvement. The three areas Philbin brought up in particular were slow starts, inability to get the defense off the field and inconsistency in the red zone.

Our slow start number one as a football team. That's the number one concern to me. Our inability to get off the field on defense has been a concern to me and I would say our inconsistency on offense in terms of, I thought number one in our first game, in terms of just games, we moved the ball relatively well. We knew we had some red zone issues, etc., but I think we've been inconsistent there. Probably those would be the top three right now.

Miami failed to score in the first half of their first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and didn't score against the Carolina Panthers until about midway through the second quarter. If this team is going to be successful this season, they need to start games off better.

In both games, the Dolphins have trailed in the time of possession category, allowing their opponents to hold onto the ball for at least 33 minutes. Its obvious that trying to get the defense off the field can only help them, both with rest and with giving the opposing team less time to score.

Red zone inconsistency is something that the Dolphins have to work on to improve the offensive problems. Being able to score in the red zone should be able to help with the slow starts the Dolphins are having.

The team plays their next preseason game on Friday against the Atlanta Falcons, so after a week of trying to address these problems in practice, fans will see if they can improve on all this.

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Dolphins Head Coach Joe Philbin: 'We've Accomplished An Awful Lot'

During a press conference on Sunday, Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin said that he is pleased with what the team has accomplished during training camp.

"I think our team is in relatively good physical condition. I think they've practiced extremely hard. We've accomplished an awful lot - three-quarters of the way, two-thirds of the way through an evaluation process in terms of how we're going to formulate this roster. Certainly, we haven't had the tangible results in the on the field success in the competitive games that we would like to have that we anticipate having. I think we've had a very productive camp."

Related: Miami Dolphins vs. Carolina Panthers: Analysis and Photos

The Dolphins, who are 0-2 this preseason, return to action against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday.

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Dolphins QB Controversy: Ryan Tannehill's Job To Lose

The Miami Dolphins have not yet decided whether Matt Moore or Ryan Tannehill will be the starting quarterback when the regular season arrives. In the video embedded below, Kevin from The Phinsider discusses the team's quarterback situation and explains why he feels Tannehill has the inside track. Kevin suggests that Tannehill might be a better fit than Moore for the Dolphins offense, and that Tannehill's familiarity with the system -- which is similar to what he ran in college -- may give him the edge.

Through two preseason games, Tannehill is 25-44 for 267 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions. More is 12-27 for 136 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception.

Miami's third preseason game is scheduled for Aug. 24 against the Atlanta Falcons.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more in-depth coverage of the Miami Dolphins, visit The Phinsider. For more news, notes and analysis from around the NFL, check out SB Nation's NFL hub.

Miami Dolphins Defense Struggling Early

An assumed strength entering the 2012 preseason, the Miami Dolphins defensive attack has proved a weakness in the Dolphins first two preseason games, one which the coaching staff and players are looking to address head on.

The top line of the depth chart on defense has allowed 24 points combined in the first quarter to the Carolina Panthers and Buccaneers, and in the six possessions that the first-string defense played together during the two games, it surrendered four touchdowns. Not surprisingly, the Dolphins were unable to bounce back from those early deficits, and have dropped their first two preseason games.

"We have a physical defense," defensive end Jared Odrick told the Miami Herald. "You've seen it last year. ... It’s something we need to bring out of ourselves."

The Dolphins' defense has given up 659 yards of total offense and 43 points to Carolina and Tampa Bay.

Miami won't get much of a break, as the Dolphins' third preseason game comes against the Atlanta Falcons and Matt Ryan, who has started the preseason hot, completing 27 of his 34 passes in two games.

For more Dolphins football, visit The Phinsider.

Dolphins Depth Chart: Receiver Battle Will Come Down To Wire

First-year Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman said the position battle at wide receiver is going to go "down to the wire." Sherman also told the Palm Beach Post that special teams coach Darren Rizzi will have a lot of influence over the decisions.

The Dolphins are all about the position battles this season, as the starting quarterback position is up for grabs as well.

But there is a reason why the Dolphins aren't running the ball much this preseason. It's because the uncertainty is in the passing game, and if they are going to implement Sherman's West Coast scheme, it can't be this way. Aside from wanting to prevent injuries to the running backs they may come to rely on heavily this season, the Dolphins need a true evaluation of everyone from Davone Bess to Jeff Fuller.

What's also interesting about this is it speaks to how expendable Chad Johnson was. If the wide receiver battle is as wide open as it is, and a guy with his creds couldn't stand out, it really says a lot about Johnson as a ball player.

Read more on the Dolphins at The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Head over toSBNation.com for more news and analysis around the National Football League.

Cameron Wake Injury: Dolphins DE Returns To Practice

Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake is finally back and practicing after being in an auto accident last Monday.

Wake's car was totaled when a driver made an illegal turn at a busy Plantation intersection, plowing into Wake's car. Wake had no visible injuries as a result of the accident but hasn't practiced since Tuesday.

Both Wake and the driver of the other car were wearing seatbelts and the police noted that alcohol was not a factor in the accident.

The Dolphins defense has been stretched pretty thin as of late so it is good news that Wake is able to partake in full practice today. The four-year veteran is a key cog of the Dolphins defense and signed a four-year extension with the team in May.

Last year, Wake had 42 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 16 games.

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Miami Dolphins Roster: Joe Philbin Has A Different Approach

The Miami Dolphins' coaches don't save all the drama for the HBO cameras on Hard Knocks. Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post says the meetings between coach Joe Philbin and general manager Jeff Ireland are just as lively, as the team makes decisions leading to the final 53-man roster.

Philbin holds meetings with his assistants weekly wherein he and the other coaches each rank players at their positions. After the rankings, the arguing. And after the arguing. After the arguing, more arguing, as Philbin and Ireland (who ultimately has the final say in the roster) puts in his input with the GM.

Offensive coach Mike Sherman on the meetings:

"Joe’s unique. He does a lot of things his own way," Sherman said. "There’s a couple players I disagree on with a couple assistant coaches. When we’re making the decision of who’s going to stay and who’s going to go, I guarantee you it will get a little bit lively."

The training camp roster must be cut from 90 to 80 players on Aug. 28, and to 53 players on Sept. 2.

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Dolphins Training Camp: Jonathan Martin Wasn't 'God Awful,' Says Joe Philbin

Miami Dolphins rookie Jonathan Martin got less than a ringing endorsement from coach Joe Philbin after his first exhibition game in a 23-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

The Sun-Sentinel reports Philbin tried to remain upbeat and positive with his rookie right tackle, but the words fell a bit short.

"He wasn't God awful. Wasn't like he got beat right off the bat," coach Joe Philbin said, describing one of the sacks Martin allowed.

"He had a bad holding call. A really bad holding call, and I thought he maybe could have got called for another one later."

The Dolphins' 2012 second-round pick was installed as the team's starter on the first day of training camp. He allowed two sacks and was penalized for holding and a false start. Martin is aware that it wasn't his best performance, and the Stanford product acknowledged growing pains in making the transition to the NFL.

"Everyone can tell it wasn't my best performance," said Martin, who also committed two penalties in the Dolphins' first exhibition loss to Tampa Bay.

"There are little things I've got to correct. I give the Carolina defenders a lot of credit, but I was beating myself out there."

Martin plans to study the film in preparation for the next exhibition game against the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 24.

For the latest on the Miami Dolphins, be sure to check out The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa.

Dolphins Depth Chart: QB Battle Still Undecided

Halfway through the preseason, It could still be one of three guys starting under center when the Miami Dolphins open the regular season against the Houston Texans on Sept. 9: Matt Moore, David Garrard or first-round pick Ryan Tannehill.

New head coach Joe Philbin isn't playing favorites, according to Ben Volin at the Palm Beach Post. He just wants to win:

"We’re going to start the guy on Sept. 9th that gives the Miami Dolphins the best chance to win that particular game," Philbin said. "We owe it to our players."

It's probably safe to rule out Garrard to start the opener, as he's still out another two to three weeks following knee surgery. Tannehill has been up and down through two preseason games, completing 56.8 percent of passes for 267 yards, a touchdown and an 82.3 passer rating. Most of those numbers came against Tampa Bay's backups.

Moore, meanwhile, has been downright awful, only completing 44 percent of his passes for 136 yards, no touchdowns, an interception and a 44.7 rating.

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Dolphins Training Camp: Running Game Struggling

The Dolphins running game is part of a list of problems plaguing the team going into the 2012 season. That may sound a little strange, considering Reggie Bush emerged as a true every-down back for the team in 2011 and recorded a 1,000-yard season on the ground for the first time in his highly anticipated NFL career.

But Miami, at least through these first two preseason outings, seems to have completely abandoned the running game. As was pointed out at The Phinsider, in two full games, the Dolphins have run the ball 27 times, gaining 80 yards and one touchdown. That's an average of 2.9 yards per carry.

That's not going to get it done, even if Miami is transitioning into a pass-first, West Coast offense with Mike Sherman as the play caller. Perhaps the Dolphins already know what they have in that aspect with Bush in the backfield and are more focused on figuring out the passing game.

But without a viable running attack or an established NFL quarterback, the Dolphins' identity on offense is somewhat in question.

Read more on the Dolphins at The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Head over to SBNation.com for more news and analysis around the National Football League.

Dolphins Depth Chart: Miami Correct In Handling Of Ryan Tannehill

Ryan Tannehill was the eighth overall pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 2012 NFL Draft and with such a lofty draft position, it's only right that Joe Philbin has put him on the fast track to take the opening snaps under center when Miami kicks off the regular season according to Greg Stoda of The Palm Beach Post:

There has been the creation of a perfect storm for Tannehill - the Garrard injury, no hero quarterback on the roster, the presence of Sherman - and it wouldn't be illogical for him to get the starting assignment in the season opener at Houston next month.

The Dolphins have more reasons to go with Tannehill than not to, quite frankly, which should be inducement enough for them to step boldly into a future they want in his hands.

Tannehill looked solid in his first major minutes of the preseason as he threw for 100 yards although that total came with no touchdowns.

Read more on the Dolphins at The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Head over to SBNation.com for more or news and analysis around the National Football League.

Dolphins Training Camp: Can Ryan Tannehill Save Miami?

Ryan Tannehill could very well be the guy the Miami Dolphins rely on at quarterback this season. The original expectation of this year's eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft seemed to be him playing behind Matt Moore and David Garrard, the more experienced players and surer things at the position.

But Tannehill started to show signs that he was ready to step up during the offseason. And there was also an injury to Garrard that opened the door for the rookie to get more reps in an offense he was already familiar with, having his college coach Mike Sherman working as the offensive coordinator for Miami.

SB Nation's Ryan Van Bibber has a comprehensive feature on Tannehill here. Let us know what you think. Is Tannehill the man in Miami already?

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Dolphins Roster Bubble: 11 Wide Receivers Vying For 6 Or 7 Spots

The Miami Dolphins have to figure what to do with 11 wide receivers before the start of the regular season in September. With Legedu Naanee, Davone Bess and Julius Pruitt all but guaranteed spots on the 53-man roster, that leaves eight players vying for, at most, four places on the depth chart, according to Kevin Nogle of The Phinsider.

Marlon Moore, Jeff Fuller, Rishard Matthews, Roberto Wallace, Brian Hartline, B.J. Cunningham, Chris Hogan and Clyde Gates have all made different cases to make the team. Hogan may be the most intriguing player on that list, especially for those keeping up with HBO's Hard Knocks. After bouncing around practice squads last season, he has earned the nickname "7-Eleven" from teammates for his ability to get open and stay open. Hogan is still raw, but he has done everything to endear himself during training camp.

Fellow bubble receivers like Gates and Moore have had a harder time. Gates has elite speed, but his route-running and hands have been an issue in practice. Moore has been listed on the second-string depth chart in camp, but has been outperformed consistently and is in danger of a precipitous drop off the team altogether. Nogle predicts the two, along with Matthews, will ultimately be looking for a new team once final cuts are made.

Here's how Nogle sees the wide receiver situation playing out:

• 53-man roster: Bess, Naanee, Wallace, Pruitt, Hartline, Hogan
• Practice Squad: Fuller, Cunningham
• Released: Gates, Moore, Matthews

For more on the Dolphins, check out The Phinsider and stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay.

Dolphins Rookie Report: Derrick Shelby Turning Heads

Undrafted and unheralded out of the University of Utah following his senior season, defensive end Derrick Shelby signed quietly with the Dolphins before camp.

Despite the lack of fanfare surrounding Shelby's signing, he's certainly made an impact in camp so far in 2012.

Comparing himself to Julius Peppers and playing on the second string in preseason games, Shelby cannot be ignored.

At Utah, Shelby was named All-Pac-12 during his senior year during which he had five sack and nine tackles for a loss in a 45-tackle season overall. In Utah and Shelby's first season in the Pac-12, Shelby proved a spotlight for the Utes, who struggled a bit to adjust to the new conference, finishing 7-5 (4-5 in the Pac-12) and went to the Sun Bowl.

After Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake was involved in a car accident last week, Shelby could also see himself named as starter for Miami's next preseason game.

For more on the Dolphins from SB Nation, visit The Phinsider.

Dolphins Sign LB Josh Linam To Take Roster Spot Previously Occupied By Chad Johnson

The Miami Dolphins have filled the roster spot that was available since wide receiver Chad Johnson was released earlier in the week. That spot has been filled by signing linebacker Josh Linam. Linam is a rookie out of Central Florida and wen undrafted, but he was immediately signed a deal with the San Diego Chargers as a rookie free agent. He was then unable to land a spot on the team, and was cut on July 27.

In his final year with Central Florida, Linam recorded 66 tackles -- 40 of them being solo -- with two sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two passes broken up, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two interceptions. For his career at Central Florida, Linam played 50 games for the Knights and had 165 tackles, three sacks, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles and three interceptions.

Reggie Bush Surrenders His Heisman Trophy

Reggie Bush's comments about Chad Johnson weren't the only source of headlines he provided Wednesday. In an interview on Dan Patrick's national radio show, the Miami Dolphins running back and former USC star said he'd given his Heisman Trophy back to the Heisman Trust. Bush's Heisman was revoked after a 2010 NCAA investigation uncovered a lack of institutional control by the Trojans while Bush was in school. He is the first player ever to have his Heisman trophy revoked. USC received four years of probation, a two-year postseason ban, and a loss of 30 scholarships over three years as a result of the same investigation.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Patrick said he had spoken to the Heisman Trust people "a couple of weeks ago," and they claimed that Bush still had the trophy. He also noted that USC athletic director Pat Haden said that Bush was not allowed around the USC program. Bush insisted that the trophy had been in possession of the Heisman Trust "for awhile now," and said he hasn't had any intention of going back to his alma mater.

Visit The Phinsider for more Miami Dolphins-related information. And for all your NFL news and notes as the preseason continues, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

New Miami Dolphins Depth Chart Has Matt Moore As Starting Quarterback

The Miami Dolphins have released their second depth chart of the preseason, and there were only a few minor changes from last week's edition. The few changes include the release wide receiver Chad Johnson, as well as the dropping of quarterback David Garrard to QB4 since he is having knee surgery.

The one big change came at the starting quarterback position, where Matt Moore has jumped over rookie Ryan Tannehill for the top spot. At the wide receiver spot, the new depth chart only lists two starters instead of three from last week, and those two starters are Davone Bess and Legedu Naanee. Then there is Roberto Wallace, who is listed with the third-string group but is seeing quite a few snaps with the first team offense.

The defensive depth chart is exactly the same as last week. Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett, despite both being injured, are still listed as starters.

Dolphins 53-Man Roster: The Phinsider Projects Final Cuts

Since there were few changes to the Dolphins' depth chart from the first one they released to the second one, our good folks at The Phinsider took a stab at projecting the final 53-man roster when training camp ends.

It's a little different from the depth chart, as they aren't picking reps as much as who is going to make the team. As the Dolphins develop through the season, we can anticipate changes being made to the depth chart.

According to the projection, Miami could be stacked at wide receiver just because it's not quite clear who is going to be cut out of that group. Steve Slaton makes the team, but then again, he might not. That would leave an extra roster spot for more depth on the offensive line to take care of Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas, or the Dolphins could drop one of those receivers.

Read more on the Dolphins at The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Head over to SBNation.com for more or news and analysis around the National Football League.

Dolphins Safety Battle: Was There An Actual Competition?

The Miami Dolphins safety position battle isn't nearly as interesting as initially expected.

Dolphins Injury Update: Karlos Dansby, Brian Hartline Battling Injuries

In addition to the knee injury suffered by quarterback David Garrard, the Miami Dolphins are coping with a number of other setbacks. Linebacker Karlos Dansby has been kept from practicing over the last two days thanks to an undisclosed issue and wide receiver Brian Hartline hasn't been able to practice because of a calf problem. The Phinsider has an overview of Hartline's situation:

Hartline has not participated in any of the Miami training camp practices as he rehabs a calf injury. He is expected to be cleared to practice in the next 7-10 days. He has to get back on the field as quickly as possible if he want to ensure he will make the team, and to ensure he has a shot at starting. Like Garrard, if Hartline is not progressing, he could be placed on IR, using the one player removal policy if Garrard isn't, to make space to carry another wide receiver early in the year.

Related: David Garrard Injury Rumor: Quarterback Chasing Son Led To Injury, According To Source

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David Garrard Injury Rumor: Quarterback Chasing Son Led To Injury, According To Source

According to a report on MassLive.com, David Garrard was forced to undergo surgery on his knee after chasing his son in the backyard on Thursday night. The source is unnamed, but Garrard contacted the MassLive.com, saying he did chase his son, but that was not the sole cause of his injury.

After learning that MassLive.com was pursuing this story, Garrard contacted us to clarify that the incident with his son wasn't the cause of his injury, though it did force him to go see the team's training staff.

"I wasn't out playing basketball or football with my son," Garrard said. "I saw him running for the pool and I turned and felt some popping and clicking. I went in and told (the trainers) that, but that wasn't the cause. It had been swelling up on me throughout camp."

Garrard's injury and subsequent surgery came as a surprise to many on Friday. The surgery opens up the door for rookie Ryan Tannehill or Matt Moore to start for the Dolphins in week one. Tannehill was impressive in the Dolphins' preseason game on Friday night, passing for 167 yards and completing 14-for-21 passes.

Garrard underwent surgery on Saturday morning and posted the following from his Twitter account:

Everything went great this morning. Be back before u know it!! Phins Up!!!

— David Garrard (@davidgarrard9) August 11, 2012

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Dolphins Training Camp: Quarterback Competition 'Very Close'

Ryan Tannehill may get his chance to be the Miami Dolphins starting quarterback after all this season. During a Monday morning appearance on NFL AM, the NFL Network's morning show, head coach Joe Philbin described his team's quarterback competition as "very close."

Said Philbin:

"We're really pleased, number one, from a talent standpoint we've got excellent candidates at that position. They all possess a strong arm, they've displayed good accuracy at times. They have good mobility in the pocket."

Tannehill, the Dolphins' first-round pick this year, was buried behind David Garrard and Matt Moore. The rookie then jumped out to a strong training camp effort that has changed the dynamic of the team's quarterback picture. Working in Tannehill's favor is a familiarity with Mike Sherman's offense.

The Dolphins open the preseason on Friday with a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tannehill will get another chance in that game to make his case.

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Dolphins Training Camp News: David Garrard Receives High Praise From Peter King

David Garrard has impressed many with his play at quarterback during training camp, with the latest being Peter King of Sports Illustrated.

In his "postcard" from Dolphins camp, King called Garrard one of the top-four quarterbacks he's seen on his travels so far, putting him ahead of more established signal callers including Peyton Manning.

Why would he put a quarterback that was out of football in 2011 ahead of a future Hall-of-Famer? King says it comes from Garrard's ability to adapt to the new offense so quickly.

"He was terrific consistently through practice, hitting a bomb to promising free agent Roberto Wallace down the right side, throwing well on the run across his body, and, in general, looking extremely comfortable in a West Coast offense, which is new for him."

It appears as if Garrard is well on his way to winning the starting job at quarterback for the Dolphins.

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Dolphins Training Camp: Loser Of Veteran Quarterback Battle Could Be Released

Despite not reporting to training camp on time, Ryan Tannehill has since signed his rookie contract and done well during his time at camp. While still very early in his camp time, Tannehill has earned snaps with the first team offense and has reportedly shown off the arm strength and accuracy that made him worth a top 10 selection in the NFL Draft.

With Tannehill's promising signs are wonderful news for the Dolphins and Dolphins fans, it's not necessarily the greatest news for Matt Moore and David Garrard. The pair of veterans are in a battle for the starting quarterback position and with Tannehill making a push to be part of the conversation, the loser of the veteran QB battle could be released by the team.

In a training camp update, Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post discussed Tannehill's impact on the job security of Garrard and Moore.

While all three quarterbacks will be given a chance to win the job, it's not a given that all three quarterbacks will be on the roster for Week 1. While the likeliest scenario has Tannehill serving in the No. 3 role this year, a league source with knowledge of the Dolphins' front office said the Dolphins have considered every contingency at quarterback, and one of them is carrying Tannehill as the No. 2 quarterback if he plays well enough in the preseason and proves that he could handle himself this year if called upon to play.

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Dolphins Training Camp: Joe Philbin Says Ryan Tannehill 'Earned' First Team Reps

Ryan Tannehill looks like he might get a shot to take over as the Miami Dolphins starting quarterback sooner rather than later. Even though the 2012 first round draft pick was always going to get a shot at starting eventually, he entered training camp needing to earn the right to start in Week 1. According to new head coach Joe Philbin, he's making serious progress, and has earned first team reps in practice.

"I think it's on an as-earned basis. He's throwing the ball well enough in the couple of days he's been at practice. It's been earned."

Tannehill is saying all the right things as well, speaking confidently about winning the job without coming off as arrogant.

"I think I've gotten better every practice. ... I want to be the guy. It's not a goal to be a backup. I want to play, I want to get in there."

Nothing will be decided for the Dolphins until preseason games are played, but this is obviously a very big step for Tannehill. As long as he's performing well in practice, he should get the benefit of the doubt over his competitors due the team's investment in him.

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Dolphins Training Camp: No Clear Cut Favorite At Quarterback

The biggest position battle at Miami Dolphins training camp continues to be the quarterback position. The unfortunate news is that none of the three quarterbacks have established themselves as a clear cut favorite, according to an article by Gregg Rosenthal.

There are no early leaders in the Miami Dolphins' quarterback race. David Garrard and Matt Moore have flip-flopped turns with the first team. Ryan Tannehill remains in the mix. No one has stood out.

Rosenthal goes on to say that while he has checked local papers in the Miami area, none of the papers have a consistent leader for the quarterback position. Head coach Joe Philbin has said that the competition as far as he's concerned is 'wide open'.

Quarterback Matt Moore took snaps with the first team on Wednesday but is still not sure where he stands when it comes to the competition.

There are going to be ups and downs. A lot of self-evaluating during practice and after practice trying to be the best you can be. I'm in the middle somewhere. I don't know; I feel good. There are definitely some things I need to work, but that's what training camp is for. We're still early on.

There is still quite a bit of time left in training camp, so there is still a lot of time for the best player to rise to the top. Dolphins' fans hope that the right quarterback will lead this team this season.

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Dolphins Training Camp: Ryan Tannehill Off To A Good Start

With the HBO "Hard Knocks" cameras following every move of a three quarterback battle to start for the Miami Dolphins, rookie first round draft pick, Ryan Tannehill, is turning heads early in South Beach, according to reports. According to Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post, "it's been hard not to notice" how well Tannehill has thrown the football so far.

New Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin seemed to agree with Volin, telling Miami media on Monday that the rookie had 53 "competitive snaps" during the Monday practice.

"I thought he threw the ball very well on Sunday," Philbin said. "Today, we missed a couple plays early. We had a couple opportunities for big plays we didn't convert on. For a rookie quarterback, I think he's doing very well."

Evan Silva of ProFootballTalk sounds sold on the young quarterback as well saying Tuesday, "You can take it to the bank that he will start games at some point this year."

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Dolphins Training Camp: Ryan Tannehill Struggles, Brian Hartline Sits

The Miami Dolphins wrapped up another day of practice on Monday in front of more than 700 fans and clusters of Hard Knocks camera crews. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill was not working with the starters, as expected, for the second day in a row. The Dolphins were also without wide receiver Brian Hartline.

After a strong first practice on Sunday, Tannehill struggled a bit more on Monday. Head coach Joe Philbin did not seem overly concerned. He described Tannehill's day to the Palm Beach Post:

"I thought he threw the ball very well on Sunday," Philbin said. "Today, we missed a couple plays early. We had a couple opportunities for big plays we didn't convert on. For a rookie quarterback, I think he's doing very well."

Brian Hartline is still out with a calf injury. With the starting receiver on the sidelines, Davone Bess, Chad Johnson and Legedu Naanee were taking reps with the first team.

For more on the Dolphins, check out The Phinsider. Still not enough football coverage for you? Then head out to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page for all the latest from around the NFL during training camp, the preseason, and beyond.

Dolphins Training Camp News: Ryan Tannehill Offers His Take On The Starting QB Situation

The Miami Dolphins opened training camp last week, complete with camera crews from HBO's Hard Knocks on hand to document the whole thing. Among the most interesting plots unfolding in front of the cameras this summer is the quarterback battle, where first-round pick Ryan Tannehill starts camp on the outside looking in on the starting job.

Tannehill maintained a positive outlook on the situation in comments to the media following practice Sunday. He commented on the race for the starting job:

"I feel like I'm in it. Maybe I am being naïve, but the coaches haven't given me any indication that I'm not, so I'm going to go out there every day and do my best to get better every day and hopefully win the job."

Tannehill also gave his practice session a positive grade:

"I didn't think it was too bad. I still have some things to work on; being a little better with my feet, stepping up into the pocket, being faster in my drops. I thought it was a good starting point and I am excited to get back out there tomorrow and get a little better."

For a complete transcript of Tannehill's interview, check out The Phinsider.

For more on the Dolphins, check out The Phinsider. Still not enough football coverage for you? Then head out to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page for all the latest from around the NFL during training camp, the preseason, and beyond.

Dolphins Training Camp News: Lamar Miller Cleared For Contact

The Miami Dolphins were finally able to get their first look at rookie Lamar Miller, who was finally allowed to practice with the team for the first time on Sunday.

Miller, who played in college for the Miami Hurricanes, was sidelined during OTA's and contact drills during the very beginning of training camp with a shoulder injury. The fourth round pick that the Dolphins traded up to get impressed many of his teammates including cornerback Sean Smith who told the Miami Herald:

"Lamar Miller has great vision for a running back," he said. "Every day he (breaks) at least one (good run)."

Miller is expected to contribute immediately as a kick returner, and third in the running back depth chart behind Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas.

For more on the Dolphins, check out The Phinsider. Still not enough football coverage for you? Then head out to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page for all the latest from around the NFL during training camp, the preseason, and beyond.

Dolphins Training Camp: Ryan Tannehill Reaches Agreement With Team, According To Report

The Dolphins training camp absence of first round draft pick Ryan Tannehill was short-lived. Via Mike Florio and Pro Football Talk:

A league source told Florio on Saturday evening that the Dolphins and Tannehill have agreed to terms on a contract. The four-year deal will include a club option for a fifth, as is the case with all first-round contracts. Per Florio's source, the Dolphins made some concessions, but ultimately Tannehill was unwilling to miss a significant amount of practice time. The Tannehill camp did not get offset language fully removed from the deal.

Tannehill will immediately jump into competition for the starting role with the two other quarterbacks on Miami's roster, David Garrad and Matt Moore. The Texas A&M product was selected eight in the 2012 NFL Draft, and is hoped to be the quarterback of the future for a Miami franchise desperately in need of a playmaker under center.

For more on the Dolphins, check out The Phinsider. Still not enough football coverage for you? Then head out to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page for all the latest from around the NFL during training camp, the preseason, and beyond.

Dolphins Training Camp: WR Braylon Edwards Worked Out For Miami, According To Report

It appears the Miami Dolphins may be looking to add some veteran wide receiver depth in training camp, as the team reportedly worked out wideout Braylon Edwards recently. Via Ross Tucker of ESPN and NBC Sports Network:

Braylon Edwards worked out for Dolphins, according to Hard Knocks supervising producer Ken Rodgers on @SiriusXMNFL.

— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) July 29, 2012

Edwards played nine games last season for the San Francisco 49ers, catching just 15 passes for 181 yards and no touchdowns during an injury-plagued campaign that saw him get released in December. Two years ago Edwards was a productive wide receiver for the New York Jets, nabbing 53 balls for 904 yards and seven touchdowns.

For more on the Dolphins, check out The Phinsider. Still not enough football coverage for you? Then head out to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page for all the latest from around the NFL during training camp, the preseason, and beyond.

Dolphins Training Camp: Ryan Tannehill Holdout Means More David Garrard, Matt Moore Under Center

Miami Dolphins training camp began this week, with one major component missing: the number eight pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The former Texas A&M Aggie has yet to reach an agreement with Dolphins management, with no imminent deal expected.

With Tannehill not on the field to take snaps as the future of the franchise, the two other signal callers on the roster will battle for the starting job. Via Mike Berardino of the Miami Sun Sentinel:

If this holdout drags on much longer, get used to dealing with large doses of Moore and/or Garrard this season.

That's probably how it's going to go anyway as Tannehill tries to smooth out his rough edges and adjust to the speed of the pro game.

Just in the first 24 hours of Tannehill's holdout, he missed a full morning practice, an afternoon walkthrough, multiple meetings and an offensive install that included 96 slides.

The longer Tannehill holds out, the more likely Matt Moore or David Garrard start the season at quarterback for Miami. Brace yourself, Dolphins fans.

For more on the Dolphins, check out The Phinsider. Still not enough football coverage for you? Then head out to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page for all the latest from around the NFL during training camp, the preseason, and beyond.

Dolphins Training Camp: Ryan Tannehill Working Out At IMG Madden Football Academy

Although Ryan Tannehill is not close to a deal with the Miami Dolphins, he is still getting his work in despite not being in training camp.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN is reporting that Tannehill has arrived at the IMG Madden Football Academy in Bradenton, Fla. to work with football director, and former Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke. Last year, No. 1 draft pick Cam Newton worked out at the facility with Weinke during the lockout, and many believed it helped him become better going into the 2011 season.

While Tannehill isn't getting reps in with the Miami Dolphins, fans have to be encouraged by the fact that he is not sitting at home and could easily report to camp once a deal is reached.

For more on the Dolphins, check out The Phinsider. Still not enough football coverage for you? Then head out to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page for all the latest from around the NFL during training camp, the preseason, and beyond.

Dolphins Training Camp News: Guard Eric Steinbach Signs With Miami

The Miami Dolphins gave their offensive line a little extra help on Thursday by signing veteran guard Eric Steinbach, according to an article on the National Football Post via Aaron Nagler of Bleacher Report.

RT @FootballPost: Steinbach agrees to deal with Dolphins dlvr.it/1vy2cs #NFL

— Aaron Nagler (@Aaron_Nagler) July 26, 2012

Steinbach was drafted in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. After playing through 2007 with the team, he signed with the Cleveland Browns. In 2008, he was selected to play in the Pro Bowl for the AFC. This signing reunites Steinbach with Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin, whom was Steinbach's offensive line coach at Iowa.

A veteran presence on the offensive line is always a good idea when you have a team with a lot of unknowns the way the Dolphins have. However, given that he has spent so much time playing the NFL right now, one has to wonder how effective he can still be.

For more on the Dolphins, check out The Phinsider.

2012 HBO 'Hard Knocks' Miami Dolphins Trailer

2012 Miami Dolphins Training Camp Preview

From a new coaching staff to a new future at quarterback, the Miami Dolphins have several storylines worth following this season.

Miami Dolphins Announce Training Camp Schedule

The Miami Dolphins are set to begin their training camp on Friday. The complete schedule includes sessions from Friday through August 17.