*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Sep 23, 1998: -- QB Signed to Practice Squad --
The Dolphins signed QB Dan Gonzalez to the practice squad
today, following his workout with the team yesterday. The reason
that JJ wants another quarterback on the practice squad is to allow
Marino and Erickson to rest their arms during practices between games.
Gonzalez played his college ball at East Carolina, where he
spent at least part of his career throwing passes to Dolphins WR Larry
Shannon. He's a medium sized quarterback at 6'-2.5" and 210 pounds.
His senior year, he started every game for East Carolina, completing
253 of 431 passes for 2,510 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10
interceptions. In the NFL, that would be a quarterback rating of only
65.4.
He was signed by the Cowboys this summer as an undrafted
rookie free agent, but was released August 29th. During the
pre-season, he completed 19 of 36 passes (52.8%) for 183 yards with no
touchdowns and two interceptions.
To make room for Gonzalez on the practice squad, the team
waived tackle Matt Reem.
My Comments:
Now that the doctors have confirmed that Erickson has a real
injury to his elbow, JJ wants to give him every chance to heal
properly. That would leave just Marino and Damon Huard to throw
passes and there's no point in having Marino throw the ball too much
in practices each week.
There is virtually no chance for Gonzalez to make the regular
squad, especially considering the fact that he supposedly practices
better than he plays.
When I was reviewing the tape of the Dolphins' draftees this
spring, I wasn't paying attention to Gonzalez specifically, but I do
remember thinking that Larry Shannon's quarterback wasn't very good at
getting the ball to him.
Related Info:
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Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
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