Henne could make $4M, challenge for starting job?


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Some teams view Henne as a QB who could push the incumbent for the starting gig. Miami disagrees. (Getty Images)

By Ryan Wilson

The Dolphins may have no interest in Chad Henne, but Miami's 2008 second-round pick (and the No. 5 quarterback in our free-agency rankings) will generate plenty of interest from QB-needy teams. In fact, FoxSports.com's Alex Marvez goes so far as to suggest that after Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn, Henne "has emerged as the NFL’s hottest quarterbacking commodity set to hit the market when the signing period begins March 13."

We had to read that twice, too.

But after the aforementioned Manning and Flynn (and for completeness, we'll throw in Drew Brees), it's a decidedly mediocre crop of candidates. Maybe Marvez is onto something, or more specifically: Marvez's sources, one of whom described Henne as a good fit for teams seeking a "1A" option (a player who can push the so-so incumbent for the starting gig but who ain't looking for starter's money), are onto something.

"That’s not to say he will come cheap, especially with the limited free-agent options available," Marvez wrote Wednesday. "Regarded in some circles as a better alternative than second-tier retreads like Jason Campbell, David Garrard, Vince Young and Kyle Orton, Henne is expected to land a contract that averages between $4 million to $5 million a season. Excluding demoted starters, the NFL’s top backup quarterbacks command no more than $3 million a year."

Not bad for a guy who never lived up to expectations in a market not known for its die-hard NFL fan base. Then again, we'd take Henne over Garrard, Young and Orton. (We have a soft spot for Campbell, who must've been a horrible person in a previous life to suffer his NFL fate in this one.)

We say that with the understanding that Henne is a backup, not a guy you build a team around, which is the same conclusion the Dolphins came to. So why does there appear to be legitimate interest in Henne? First: it's slim pickins' (see this link again). Second: just like the combine, coaches, scouts and front-office types fall in love with measurables. Henne looks like he should be good. And at times, he's shown promise. But frustratingly inconsistent is a more apt description of his first four years in the league.

But as PFT's Gregg Rosenthal notes, he'd take Henne over Mark Sanchez. This redefines the term "soft bigotry of low expectations." Put differently: in the right system, Henne would be adequate, maybe slightly better. And in the right system, that could be good enough. Sanchez got two two AFC Championship games, after all.

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Since: Apr 19, 2008	Posted on: March 1, 2012 10:27 am Henne could make $4M, challenge for starting job? The Cowboys need a veteran backup. I sure hope it isn't Henne. I think Garrard would be a good fit.
Since: Jun 25, 2009	Posted on: March 1, 2012 9:06 am Henne could make $4M, challenge for starting job? DANICAPATRICK IS BRIAN8BALL..... IGNORE HIM, I'M SURE HE'LL BE BANNED SOON LIKE EVERY OTHER ID HE GETS.
Since: Aug 21, 2007	Posted on: March 1, 2012 7:20 am This comment has been removed. Post Deleted by Administrator
DANICAPATRICK Since: Feb 29, 2012	Posted on: March 1, 2012 5:20 am This comment has been removed. Post Deleted by Administrator
Since: Dec 19, 2007	Posted on: March 1, 2012 12:48 am Henne could make $4M, challenge for starting job? Chad Henne will be plucked out of the air by either the Broncos or the Jags. both teams are going into 2012 with big ? marks at QB. john Fox will not go in to next year solely based on the hope tha Teibow makes a dramatic improvement - the Broncos have the toughest schedule going in 2012. The Jags need someone who can pick up the pieces if Gabert does not improve 100% - the fans won't live another year with that mistake. As for Orton/Young/Garrard they are no where near as polished as Henne. Campbell is another story - he could actually be a great pick up for KC or Seattle if the Seahawks don't sign Manning.
Since: Jun 25, 2009	Posted on: March 1, 2012 12:42 am Henne could make $4M, challenge for starting job? NFL Teams are really going to be clamoring to sign a guy who turns into Ryan Leaf during crunch time? Not too sure about that one. The funny thing is if Henne had been taken with a first round pick instead of a 2nd he'd be regarded as a colossal bust and nobody would touch him. There are too many teams in desperate need of a quarterback, that's the problem and that's why people like Henne are going to get 4 or 5 million dollars per year for a couple years. Look at Matt Flynn. He's going to sign a MASSIVE deal and become an extremely rich man very soon. There is about to be a bidding war for a guy that played well in TWO STARTS OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. One was in 2010 against the Patriots who were 30th in the league in passing defense and the other against the Lions in the last game of this past season who were 21st against the pass and I believe last against the pass the last half of the season. But once again, there are so many DESPERATE and quarterback starving teams guys like him are going to make money. And really, what's 4 or 5 million dollars for a quarterback in a league that I believe is going to have a salary cap around 120 million or 130 million dollars? It's a risk... but he's a veteran, he knows the game, he's a good guy on and off the field and there aren't many veterans at a decent age around and available for basically nothing.
Since: Aug 18, 2006	Posted on: March 1, 2012 12:02 am Henne could make $4M, challenge for starting job? That orange jersey sure is UGLY!
Since: Sep 25, 2009	Posted on: February 29, 2012 9:57 pm Henne could make $4M, challenge for starting job? Well the Jets probably would have an SB appearance (possibly a win but doubtful) with Henne instead of Sanchez. This year they'd have at least made the playoffs. But outside of a small handful of teams with similarly bad QB situations Henne wouldn't actually be able to compete for the job. I have little doubt if he signs with the Jets Henne is the starter by Week 8, if not earlier. It's possible Sanchez completely turns it around, just unlikely. Henne is not a world beater, but he can manage a game if needed, similar to an Alex Smith.
Since: Oct 27, 2006	Posted on: February 29, 2012 9:41 pm Henne could make $4M, challenge for starting job? Maybe the Chiefs will pick him up, with their new OC having worked with him. Pioli said that they were going to make sure Cassel had some competition this year. Kinda makes sense to me. Cassel has been inconsistent, and Henne may either make Cassel better, or earn the starting job himself. After having to live with Tyler Palko, Henne looks like Tom Brady!
Since: Jan 6, 2008	Posted on: February 29, 2012 9:30 pm Henne could make $4M, challenge for starting job? David Garrard has never been anything less than solid despite having Larry, Moe, and Curly as receivers, and yet Henne, who has always been terribly inconsistent even with solid receivers such as Brandon Marshall is somehow a better option? Look at how great Blaine Gabbert did with the receivers Garrard has to work with, he was BY FAR the worst QB in the league, much worse than even Tim Tebow. Give Garrard a solid team that is actually trying to compete and he can get the job done. Henne has shown that he doesn't have what it takes with many otherwise solid Dolphins teams.

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