tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25553105.post-88101635339722616952008-05-07T14:35:00.001-04:002008-05-07T15:12:28.303-04:00<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_BAnoAMFybjA/SCH-8L2NW-I/AAAAAAAAAB8/v6BuQ0agAMk/s1600-h/mccown.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197715754888027106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_BAnoAMFybjA/SCH-8L2NW-I/AAAAAAAAAB8/v6BuQ0agAMk/s400/mccown.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Just had a very pleasant interview with Josh <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">McCown</span>, who is my early pick to be the Dolphins starting quarterback in the season-opener.<br /><br />I lobbed the typical softballs for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">McCown</span>, you know, how he's getting acclimated and stuff like that. But there were also some pointed questions during the interview that he handled well -- like a routine snap from center.<br /><br />I asked him why we should believe he can be a success in Miami when he hasn't been in Oakland, Detroit or Arizona. I asked him if he believes he can be one of those late-blooming <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">QBs</span> such as Rich Gannon that become proficient later in his career. I asked him specifically what he believes will make him better in Miami?<br /><br />So what did he say? If I tell you here, there is no need for you to read my column. I will post it here once it posts on The Herald site and update this post with more quotes.<br /><br />I will tell you that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">McCown (pictured)</span> isn't shy about the subject of the open quarterback competition.<br /><br />"I don't feel like there's anything standing in my way that says, 'Hey, you can't be the starter,' " he told me.<br /><br />Personally I believe his experience will be the over-riding factor in him earning the starting job at the beginning of the season. I think he has every bit the physical tools as John Beck or Chad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Henne</span>.<br /><br />But <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">McCown</span> is, after all, entering his seventh season and has played in 44 NFL games. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Henne</span> is a rookie and Beck has played in only five NFL games.<br /><br />Anyway, give me your breakdown of the Dolphins quarterback spot. Tell me if you agree that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">McCown</span> is the guy -- at least early on -- and if you disagree, tell me why. Please have a better reason than, 'Because I'm smarter than you, Armando.'<br /><br />Because you're not.<br /><br />[ I wish to publicly thank Harvey Greene and his Dolphins media relations department for setting up the talk with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">McCown</span>. I rip the Dolphins a lot when they act like the media is the enemy. So I want to be fair when they are cooperative on issues that don't involve competitive advantage.]</div>Armando Salguerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06863688767139857171noreply@blogger.com