Friday, June 17, 2005 | 9:40 a.m.
SUN WIRE SERVICES
The Miami Dolphins will go into next month's training camp without a clear front-runner in the team's latest quarterback battle.
Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said Thursday that neither newcomer Gus Frerotte nor incumbent starter A.J. Feeley has been chosen as the team's starter for this year's season-opener against Denver, and that the decision hinges on how they play in training camp.
"That's what the training camp going into the season is going to be for, establishing who that person's going to be," Linehan said. "That really wasn't the intent of our offseason program."
Feeley completed 191 of 356 passes last season, his first in Miami, for 1,893 yards, 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Frerotte, now with his sixth NFL club, threw just one pass as Daunte Culpepper's backup in Minnesota last season, and hasn't been a regular starter since 1997 with Washington.
Frerotte does, however, have extensive experience in the Dolphins' offense -- since it's largely the one used by Linehan over the past two seasons, when he was the Vikings' offensive coordinator.
That doesn't necessarily mean Frerotte will rate any edge in the quarterback race, Linehan said.
"There's no favorites in coaching," Linehan said. "You're going to play who's going to be able to go out there and execute and do what you expect. I'm fond of all the guys. I think they've done exactly what we've asked to this point, and more."
Linehan said he wanted to see Feeley both improve and learn the new system during the team's offseason program, and gave him high marks on both counts.
The Titans, who cut six high-priced veterans in February, had been expected to release the seven-year veteran in their attempt to rebuild and free up enough salary cap space to build up other weak areas this season.
General manager Floyd Reese said he believes Schulters still has good football left, but added: "we are committed to getting through our cap difficulties this year."
Schulters, paid a roster bonus in March, was scheduled to earn $2.75 million in salary this season. Team officials and agent Brian Levy made one last attempt at finding a price both could agree earlier this week.
He becomes the sixth starter released for cap reasons since Feb. 28 when the Titans waived receiver Derrick Mason, defensive end Kevin Carter, cornerback Samari Rolle, right tackle Fred Miller and kicker Joe Nedney.
But as the Giants concluded their spring workout program, coach Tom Coughlin said that as the team approached training camp, there was still uncertainty about a handful of players, including starting linebacker Barrett Green.
Coughlin said that Green, who had surgery to repair left knee and ankle injuries after the season, would most likely be limited when the Giants open training-camp practices in Albany on July 30.
"I don't know where he's going to be," Coughlin said of Green's recovery. "Hopefully, he will be ready to do some things one-a-day when we get to camp."
Polk is expected to be out for six to nine months. He was coming off a shoulder injury that limited him to just one game last year.
Last week, Pennington began tossing the football off to the side during the final few offseason training activity sessions. Though he didn't participate in the practices, he was able to work on handoffs to the running backs.
Pennington is throwing about 80 times every other day, and the Jets expect him to be ready for full practice when training camp opens July 29.
"While he did not throw during on-field OTA practices, Chad was given clearance and a schedule to throw the football and will continue to be evaluated as to the amount of throws he will make leading up to training camp," coach Herman Edwards said in a statement.
archive
