Cameron's choices go head-to-head Sunday
We recall wistfully how Raiders-Dolphins was a marquee matchup, once, now tattered and faded to a Sunday undercard bout between staggered franchises with a combined 1-5 record. And yet the football game carries an appeal considerably bigger than its participants' fleeting hopes for ending their long playoff droughts.
Daunte Culpepper.
Oakland coach Lane Kiffin wouldn't say for sure on Wednesday that Culpepper would start at quarterback against his former team, which he might with ostensible starter Josh McCown having foot injuries and being lousy. But if Kiffin puts any stock in the power of motivation, bet big it'll be Culpepper.
''I know he would love to get a shot to play in this game,'' Kiffin admitted. ``He's pointed to this game. Daunte's a highly competitive guy.''
Culpepper wasn't made available Wednesday to speak with South Florida mediaites, but made himself pretty clear soon after Miami dumped him and he signed with the Raiders (turning down the Jaguars and Bucs) late this summer.
''Any time you're a great competitor and people doubt you,'' he said, ``it's absolute fuel to overcome what they're saying, or shut them up in a sense.''
Culpepper could only have been direct had he been simultaneously jabbing pins into a Cam Cameron doll as he spoke.
LITMUS TEST
The next three games for Miami will provide a litmus test of sorts on Cameron's decision making surrounding the quarterback spot. However symbolic, it will be an early referendum on the new coach's handling of the most important job on his team.
Sunday we get to see Culpepper -- hopefully, because otherwise it's just a B-list game without much sizzle -- go head-to-head against Trent Green, the man Cameron went out of his way to acquire without even much pretense of giving Culpepper any real shot to compete for the job.
That was an insult to Culpepper, who deserved better after months of arduous rehabilitation from his serious knee injury. Cameron lost points with several veteran players over his handling of that matter. I recall a training camp conversation in which Zach Thomas raved about Culpepper's work ethic and rehab regimen, imploring publicly that Daunte get the fair chance that was denied him.
The issue would be moot today, of course, if all was well in Dolphinville. But Miami's 0-3 record combined with Green's spotty performance -- two OK games and one awful game forming a passer rating that stands 26th in the NFL -- makes questioning Cameron's decision as valid now as it was then.
What was the fascination with the 37-year-old Green that made him an apparent clear choice over a healthy-again, 30-year-old Culpepper? Might not a fair, open competition have benefited both men and in turn the team?
Sunday may offer its own commentary on Cameron's choice.
The following two Sundays may do more of the same.
FUTURE STARS
On Oct. 7 the Dolphins visit Houston, a suddenly formidable foe thanks in large part to the signing of quarterback Matt Schaub, 26, the former Atlanta backup of minimal pro experience but much potential.
That's another option Cameron had that he didn't choose: trade for an ascending young-veteran QB, somebody for both present AND future.
The week after that, Oct. 14, the Dolphins are at Cleveland, where, by then, rookie quarterback Brady Quinn of Notre Dame may have accepted the keys to the offense or be close to it.
All Dolfans except those comatose since April are aware Miami could have and were expected to select Brady Quinn with the ninth overall pick in Cameron's first draft but instead invited incredulity by choosing kick returner and occasional receiver Ted Ginn Jr. -- whose modest early contribution hardly feathers the argument for his selection.
Miami today could have Culpepper for now and Brady Quinn for later. Instead the Dolphins have Green for now and second-round pick John Beck for down the road.
It may be conjecture to pick sides on that now, but I'd feel pretty good in preferring the option that would have given Miami the combination of a younger QB with more upside now and a more highly rated first-round prospect for the future.
This is a byproduct of a season starting sour. In lieu of wonderful, you get wondering.
Culpepper said right after signing with Oakland, ``All I want is an opportunity. The rest is on me.''
If only Cameron had given him that opportunity.
That's an if that buzzes and clangs and haunts the winless Dolphins a little bit more with each loss.
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