Dolphins Sign Josh McCown, Pretend He Is Matt Ryan Without the Winning Smile

Bill Parcells isn't a guy who puts much stock in quarterbacks. At least when the going rate is $35 million or so in guarantees that go along with taking one first overall. And yes, I'm aware that Parcells did just that when he drafted Drew Bledsoe with the first pick in 1993, but that deal was worth $14.5 million over six years ($4.5 guaranteed). And this was before the salary-cap era leveled the playing field.

Bledsoe aside, names like Ray Lucas, Quincy Carter, Vinny Testaverde and Bledsoe 2.0 all lend support to the argument. And Tony Romo, a diamond in the rough who spent his first four years watching from the sidelines, came on the cheap. Which makes the Dolphins' latest acquisition, quarterback Josh McCown, not altogether surprising.

Sure, there are still questions about the move (why waste money on McCown when the team still needs to upgrade the offensive line?), but for now, he will battle second-year quarterback John Beck for the starting job. This means that Matt Ryan is officially off the draft board, at least if the team doesn't trade out of the top pick.

So now what? Well, for starters, Miami must think enough of McCown/Beck to turn their attention to countless other needs. Or maybe they like Joe Flacco, Chad Henne or another quarterback later in the draft. There will be plenty of time to speculate on such things.

For now, though, it looks like Chris Long could be the first player drafted. With the Dolphins signing Randy Starks, and trading for Jason Ferguson, Long would suddenly give Miami a formidable front three if they stick with the 3-4. If they switch to the 4-3, Jason Taylor would join Long on the outside, make the defensive line even better.

And although a lot of fans were bummed that the Dolphins passed on Brady Quinn for Ted Ginn last year, nobody seems to concerned about the move a year later. Which pretty much confirms that the team was right to pass on Quinn.