Dolphins Dip Kaep; Sign Cutler as Tannehill Replacement

It's no revelation that the NFL is a quarterback-driven league.

Unless your team’s got a great slinger under center, you ain’t got a shot.

Hell, even if your team does have a standoutt QB -- dudes like Cam Newton and Matt Ryan -- it may not be enough.

The Panthers and Falcons had those MVP’s in their respective Super Bowl seasons and still couldn’t take home the Lombardi Trophy.

Still, the point is, your team needs a solid chucker to stand even a remote shot at being competitive.

The Miami Dolphins are seeking to confirm it this season.

Coming off a 10-6 campaign in 2016 -- their first one above .500 since 2008 -- the 'Phins are setting sights on winning their first playoff game since 2000.

 

Yes, there's been a lot to overcome.

The leading man for Miami last season was QB Ryan Tannehill, or at least he was until he went down for the year after a knee injury in Week 14.

Tannehill is far from a great QB, but he's not half bad, either. Dude ranked sixth last year in completion percentage and eleventh in touchdown percentage.  

 

Without him, the Dolphins had to turn to veteran Matt Moore to lead the team into the post-season, where they got trounced by the Steelers, 30-12.

But coming off a solid 10-win performance and led by a fully healthy Tannehill, Miami felt they were locked and loaded at QB.

There's a saying about best laid plans, though.

During training camp, Tannehill experienced an awkward landing on the sideline. He managed to walk back to the locker room, so how bad could the injury really have been?

Apparently, pretty damn bad.

Tannehill's reportedly facing a potential season-ending knee injury, the same one he injured last year. While the team has yet to announce how long he'll be on the shelf, insiders think it'll be for the year.

Alternatively, Tannehill could sit out for 6-8 weeks to see if the knee gets any better. Either way, it doesn't look good for anyone in Miami Vice colors.

 

While the current starter under contract could be the aforementioned Mr Moore, the Dolphins finally admitted they signed Jay Cutler for the tidy sum of $10million, even thugh someone surely suggested their front office be drug tested.

Yes, an NFL team was willing to give a dude who led the league in interceptions twice and was replaced by Matt Barkley $10 million to start for them.

That might  be crazier logic than the Neymar deal.

Of course, Miami could have signed a QB who has a lot left in the tank and was one throw away an amazing Super Bowl comeback. But you know, he knees during the national anthem, so he’s persona non grata in the land of free speech.

Supporters will point to Cutler being reunited with former offensive coordinator Adam Gase.

Smokin' Jay will probably be okay for the 'Phins. But okay is likely Cutler’s ceiling at age 34 with one foot in the broadcast booth.

As for Kaepernick, his future in the league is looking less hopeful as the days until the season opener dwindle.

But have fun watching Cutler throw as many -- if not more -- INT’s than TD’s this season, Dolphins fans.

At least you won’t have to spend your Sundays questioning your beliefs.