The words right from their lips
You guys know by now that Trent Green was introduced to the South Florida media Wednesday. Here is a transcript of that press conference, courtesy the fine work of the Dolphins media relations department:
I suggest you scroll to the question's subject (in parenthesis) that interests you most and see how the coach or quarterback answer. Then draw your own conclusions.
CAM CAMERON
(Opening Remarks) – “I want to take just a couple of minutes to, at first, just thank Randy Mueller. I can’t tell you over the last few weeks how much effort and time has been put in to getting Trent (Green) here. I also want to thank Carl Peterson with the Chiefs. Obviously Trent has a long relationship there. I’ve known Carl for quite a while myself and both of those two guys, regardless of what you’ve read, those two guys were able to get this thing done. Trent and I go back, I think we were talking 12-13 years, and obviously we have a special relationship that I just – it’s nice to have someone here that understands what this business is about. He’s a hard worker. He understands what competition is about. He knows how to win in this league and as we were given the privilege to start talking several weeks ago, we started talking about hopefully this day becoming a reality and here it is. But I think again, he would agree, we both owe a lot to a lot of other people making this happen and we’re both very appreciative. So with that I’m going to introduce Trent, then I’m going to be able to take a few questions and then when I’m done then I’ll just leave you here with Trent and you can have him basically as long as you guys need him. So Trent Green.”
TRENT GREEN
(Opening Remarks) – “Thank you. I appreciate that Cam. First off, to echo what Cam said, I want to thank Randy Mueller for his diligence and patience in getting this deal done. Also, Carl Peterson for working with Randy and getting this thing worked out. This is something, like Cam said, we’ve been talking for several weeks and the excitement for us has been building for some time to be able to get back together. We spent a couple years together in Washington and just the excitement of this offense and what we know this offense is capable of doing. We’ve been talking a lot about the personnel, the new guys that the Dolphins brought in and I’m just excited to be down here and looking forward to the minicamp this weekend, the OTA’s the following week and getting to know my teammates and get to be a part of something really special.
“I think everybody knows what this defense has done here over the many years and it’s time that the offense catches up. I’m just excited that I’m going to try to be a part of that and just really looking forward to that. I also want to take some time to thank Kansas City, thank the Chiefs, thank Carl Peterson and the Hunt family. It was a great six years there. One place that was very special to me and one that my family appreciated greatly. We had a great run of six years and it was a situation where they wanted to move on and go younger. I understand that and I had asked Carl if I found an opportunity to move forward with that. So I’m excited that Carl was able to follow through with that and that Randy, like I said, had patience enough to get it done. So I want to thank the Chiefs organization for that time there and for the six years that I had there. It was a great six years for me and my family, but the thing I want to mostly get across is my wife and I are extremely excited to come down to Miami and make this our home. We’re going to be looking immediately to find a home to move down. I always think that’s an important part of being a quarterback is to be a part of the community. It’s something that I’ve done in the different teams that I’ve been in. It’s important to live there. It’s important to get your family involved in the community. It’s important to have your kids in school there. It’s important to be involved in community work and that is something that is very strong in our hearts and something we want to get down here as soon as we can. So, we’re just excited about it. The kids are excited about it. My wife’s excited about it. We’re looking for a fresh start and to be a part of something really special. Having played Miami the last two seasons, I know what there defense is about and I’m excited about being a part of turning the offense around and putting a winner on the field for the fans of the Dolphins.
CAM CAMERON
(On how this trade affects Daunte Culpepper) – “Well first, this press conference is about Trent (Green) and his family, Julie. Many of you will get to know their family. He’s got two sons and a daughter. So we’re going to keep the focus of this press conference on Trent and his family and him being here. Now with that being said we did meet this morning with Daunte at length. Daunte, Randy and myself and Randy and I are still working through some things and I would say by Friday we can probably lend a little more light on that subject. But today is about Trent Green being a Miami Dolphin and welcome his family here.”
(On what characteristics he identified in Trent Green when they were Washington) – “Well we’re going way back but I believe, as many of you know and he knows, it’s a leadership position. In this system guys that are extremely bright and tough and, I am probably get a little technical, that are extremely quick with the football have had a tremendous amount of success in this system. But you have to remember – and Trent was joking today with Coach (Bobby) Jackson because Trent used to be the guy that we’re sitting with and say ok, ‘Trent you go down with Coach Jackson and do the ball handling’ – and again, you have so much respect for the quarterbacks in this business, especially the guys like Trent who have come up the hard way. Trent has never been given anything. He’s earned everything that he’s gotten in this business and I think those guys, guys that have developed like Trent has developed, they just have a resolve, they have a toughness. They have some characteristics that their teammates respond to. I can remember back, even further then when we were together in Washington, when I was an assistant coach at Michigan and I watched him take a scrawny little Indiana team up and down the field against us and I was wondering who is this guy taking these other ten guys. We were a good football team, and I just remember putting it in the back of my mind, there’s just something to this guy. When he became available we picked him up in Washington. I think just that competitive toughness, that resolve goes a long, long way at that position in this business.
(On why Trent Green fits this offense better than Daunte Culpepper) – “As you know, I’m not a guy that compares guys. You guys know that. I mean, I don’t compare guys. I’ve never gotten into that business. I think every guy’s unique. Whatever quarterback you’re dealing with, you take what he does best and you do everything you can with the people around him to help him be successful. So I’ve just never gone down that road because I’ve had, whether it be a Trent Green or an Antwaan Randle El, or whoever, Philip Rivers, 6-0, 6-5, 6-3, 5-10, it doesn’t matter, You take whatever quarterback you have and highlight the things he does best.”
(On how beneficial it is to have a quarterback he hand-picked for the offense) – “I don’t know. We didn’t hand-pick Drew Brees in San Diego.”
(On if it was important to make the deal now as the team heads into its last minicamp of the offseason) – “We didn’t have control of the timing, obviously the timing was really controlled on the other end. There was no way we could have predicted that this was when it was going to happen. When you’re dealing with another team you never know. It could have been two months ago, it could have been this week, it could be month from now. So there’s some coincidence involved here. There really is. You guys know me, I mean you pretty much take what you can control and find a positive way to work in it. It is positive that he’s here. We have minicamp coming up that we had scheduled and a few more OTA’s. I think Trent knows he can benefit from those, but had it not worked out this week it could have worked out down the road as well.”
(On if he had Trent Green in mind when he took the head coaching job) – “He was the quarterback of Kansas City Chiefs at that time. So a lot of things just took place over the course of time and I think in any business you need a little good fortune and obviously he becomes available and then here he is.”
(On if he is concerned about the effects of Trent Green’s concussion) – “Well no, number one is, I think we all kind of experienced that with him. I think everybody in this league, but competing against him and obviously he wasn’t there the first time we played Kansas City, but I’ve seen him and he’s healthy. There are no concerns on our part. I know you guys can address that with him as well, but no.”
(On what changed in the negotiating to get the trade completed) – “I think it’s like any negotiation. Again, Randy (Mueller) and Carl (Peterson), and obviously both of them have a lot of things going on, they were just kind of working through the process. As you’ve heard us say, several times, this is a process. This situation was no different. Kansas City’s got to do what they feel is right for them. We’ve got to do what we feel best serves the Miami Dolphins and getting two teams to work together sometimes just takes more time. We all know in this business everybody tends to get a little bit ahead of themselves, but Randy and I never really set any timetable with it. It was just a matter of getting it done and it’s done.”
(On his telling Daunte Culpepper the team intends to trade him contradicts earlier remarks about Culpepper) – “Well number one, I think to say that there’s not competition here because one person, one individual is not here is one way to look at it. I obviously met with Cleo Lemon this morning and you guys will get a chance to watch us practice this weekend and competition and, I believe it and I know Trent believes this, we all benefit from competition. It’s good for veteran players. It’s good for young players and there’ll be plenty of competition.”
(On him saying in the past that he would not make a decision Culpepper until he was 100 percent healthy on the field) – “I’m not sure I worded it quite that way. I don’t know that I’d say I wouldn’t make a decision and there’s still some things that are taking place and again, I’ll probably address that better here in a day or so because there’s some things that Randy and I are working on.”
(On if Culpepper participated in practice on Wednesday) – “He was still in rehab, in a rehab mode today.”
(On if he expects Culpepper to be in minicamp this weekend) – “I think the thing that we really started off saying with this press conference is it’s about Trent and Julie Green and their family. We’re thrilled that Trent is here and we’ll welcome his family to the Miami Dolphins and to this area and I think he spoke to that and he’ll be able to handle all those questions. Randy and I are working on some things. I’ll be able to shed more light on that with the minicamp because I’m going to get a chance to visit with all of you in the minicamp this weekend and be more than happy to answer those questions starting Friday. But today, men and ladies, is about Trent Green and his family. I think at some point in time, we’ve got to respect that. Let’s just go in that direction, if we could.”
(On Trent Green being a mentor for John Beck) – “Trent knows this, and I think I’ve talked to you guys a little bit, we’ve shared this a little bit, the environment we try to create in our quarterback room is one where all the guys are working together. I think that’s critical. I think we don’t take a starter and put him on a pedestal. We have everybody working together. Trent knows what it’s like to be the fourth, then the third, then the backup and then be the starter. So he understands. He has sat in every seat in that room so he knows the value of having being a mentor, he knows the value of being able to learn from somebody else and we do, along with Terry Shea, we create that environment because every guy has got to develop the mindset that they’re one step away. Now, the veteran quarterback doesn’t have all this time to spend with the younger guys. Sometimes they just need to open their eyes and it’s more about what a veteran quarterback does, I’ve always thought, for the young guys than what he necessarily says. If a young quarterback is willing to open his eyes and just watch and study, there’s nothing like a picture for a young guy to learn and I can’t think of a better one than Trent.”
(On Terry Shea having worked with Trent Green in Kansas City) – “Again, we talked about whether you call it luck, fate, good fortune, whatever you want to call it. We kind of chuckled about it. Terry Shea was hired and there was no knowledge of Trent Green being available. Then here this comes together. So obviously they have a great relationship. He can talk to you about that. I think that is a plus. Again, the Chargers, the Chiefs, the Rams, there’s several teams that are running this system so there’s probably a 10-15 percent difference but that will be good for he and Terry to kind of translate some of the changes that I’ve made over the years in the system. So I think that’s going to help us and Terry Shea will be a big part of that.”
TRENT GREEN
(On if the Dolphins offense is similar to Kansas City’s) – “It is. The base system itself is the same. Like Cam just touched on, it’s probably about 80-85 percent the same terminology. It’s all the same offense. It’s like part of the country calls it soda and part of it calls it pop, that kind of how it’s evolved. When you go Norv Turner, Ernie Zampese, Joe Gibbs, Mike Martz, Cam Cameron, Al Saunders, they all kind of put their own little twist on it. There are different variations that come with the offense, but the base part of the offense – the fundamentals, the reads, the shifts, the movements and those types of things – those aren’t different. I know when we moved from Washington to St. Louis, Mike and I did, there was some things that we had to change just to make it easier for the linemen to understand the protections based on what they had done in previous years. From St. Louis to Kansas City, Al Saunders got with the offensive coaches and said, ‘this is what we call it.’ They said, ‘well, in our system we call it this,’ so we tweaked it a little bit. It’s going to be the same thing. I don’t see it being too much of a problem. It is going to be more the terminology, but the base fundamentals of the offense have maintained the same.”
(On how unsettling the Dolphins offensive line is to him with there possibly being a new starter at every position) – “I guess you can look at it two ways. Maybe it’s an untapped resource that people don’t realize how good it is. The other thing is maybe there is going to be a learning curve. We’ll just have to see. I know that Cam excited about the changes that have happened on the offensive line and I trust him. That is one of the things that we talked about over the last several weeks. We went through some changes in Kansas City last season and there were some growing pains with the guys we had. I asked him about the changes he was making on the offensive line and what direction he was going to have to go and I feel comfortable with that. I feel comfortable knowing Cam as an evaluator and Cam as a play-caller to put people in position to have success. You look at what he was able to do last year as offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers and started a rookie left tackle and it ended up being one of the best offenses, if not the best offense, in the league last year. That was with a rookie left tackle. It’s getting different now with the shift to the right tackle position, but the left tackle position for most teams is the most important spot. His talent as a play-caller and a talent evaluator, I have the utmost confidence in so I feel good about that.”
(On if he has had a chance learn the Dolphins playbook while waiting for the trade to be completed) – “None of that had taken place. I was still a member of the Chiefs so by no means did they give me a playbook. I just had conversations with Terry (Shea) because frankly we only live about a mile apart in Kansas City and Carl (Peterson) had left the door open in terms of conversations taking place. I have talked with Cam and I have talked with Terry. Terry had just expressed to me, ‘Trent you are not going to have a problem when you get here because it is about 80-85 percent the same of what we’ve done in Kansas City.’ Now there is going to be a learning curve like I mentioned. Some of the terminology is a little bit different, but like I said we tweaked it a little bit going from St. Louis to Kansas City. Other than them just expressing that it is not going to be a major overhaul for me – I just had a minicamp two or three days ago in Kansas City and had to call plays and run plays there. I wasn’t studying the Miami playbook because that would not have done me any good having success in the Kansas City camp. I am looking forward getting started on that.”
(On there was ever a point when he thought the deal would not get done) – “Like I said in some previous comments, I kept my mouth shut until the draft because at that point in time there were some things said from Carl and from the Chiefs that this would be done by the draft and we would do everything we could to have it done by the draft. When it didn’t happen, then yeah, some frustration mounted. That’s when I started to have doubts about whether it would go through or not. That’s when I make my first public comments as to how the whole thing was being handled. I’m just glad it’s done. I’m glad I’m here. I am looking forward to what we are going to do this season and years to come. I think Cam has put together a great staff. A lot of guys on the staff I’ve worked with in the past – or played against – so I know a lot of what they can do and I am just excited to be here.”
(On if there was a sense of urgency for him to get here before this weekend’s minicamp) – “There has been urgency on my part since the Chiefs made it known they didn’t want me back. So yeah, I’ve had some urgency for a while. It’s kind of awkward going into a facility to train everyday when I know they are going in a different direction. They’ve made that quite clear. There has been urgency on my part for quite some time.”
(On if Cam Cameron has told him what his role will be) – “We haven’t talked about Daunte’s role if that is what you are referring to. He hasn’t talked about how that situation is going to be cleared up. From what he said here, he and Randy (Mueller) are working on things and that will be cleared up Friday. They do expect me to come in from a leadership role as far as mentoring. It seems like when you look at my career I’ve been in all the different positions, like Cam said, four, three, two, one, back to two, back to one, injured, not injured, so I think from a leadership standpoint, I bring a lot to the table because I can relate to guys, whether they are undrafted, they are street free agents, they are first-round picks, whatever they may be, I’ve pretty much experienced it.”
(On if he expects to start) – “I expected to start when I went to Washington and was behind three other guys. I have always had that expectation. Always set the bar high. I tell my kids that all the time. Set your goals high and your expectation level should always be high. If you are shooting to be third best then you have to rearrange your priorities. My ambition and my goal are to be the starter and to help this offense be the best it can be. We all know what the defense is, it’s about getting the offense better and making us better as a team.”
(On if there are any residual effects from the concussion he suffered last season) – “No, no residual effects. That’s one of the things I would like to thank the Chiefs on. I think they set the bar on how the league should handle concussions. The fact that they gave me the amount of time to recover that was necessary – I was anxious to get back weeks earlier than they let me. What they did that I think should set a trend around the league is they handed it over to the neurosurgeon and said, ‘you tell us when he is ready to come back. If it’s up to him he’ll come back a lot quicker,’ because that’s just the way most football players are. And I did. Three weeks prior I was like, ‘I need to get back, I need to get back on the field.’ They handed it all over to the neurosurgeon. They said when you give us clearance to start practicing, to start running, to start lifting, to take contact, we’ll go on your guidelines. I commend them for that. They handled that situation great.”
(On if that was his first concussion and if he has any loss of memory) – “It was my first concussion. As far as loss of memory there is about a 20-25 minute window they said I won’t ever recover. From the moment I was knocked out on the field, the first thing I really remember was the ambulance ride to the hospital. They said that was a 20-25 minute window. Other than that I remember everything.”
(On if he is fearful that there will be lingering effects) – “There isn’t because I have had one. I think the majority of those studies that have been done are on multiple concussions and on recurring concussions happening in a short time frame – guys come back too quickly. It’s called stacking when you get a concussion stacked onto another one. The fact that I had eight weeks to recover, extensive testing in a number of different areas, I don’t have that fear. The neurosurgeon, the neurophysiologist that I dealt with in Kansas City and the ones that I dealt with in Pittsburgh told me there was no documentation as far as long-term dementia, Alzheimer’s, neurological issues if you, number one, let yourself heal properly, which I think they allowed me to do and number two, don’t get them stacked. Usually the problem with stacking is returning too fast. None of those problems occurred so I don’t anticipate them being any problems. The number one thing for me coming back to the field, because I know how scared my family was when that whole thing happened, was I had to have insurance from the doctors that I was at no greater risk going back in that Raider game as I was going into the opener against Cincinnati. They gave that assurance based on the fact that everything was clear for at least three weeks. The fact that there were no symptoms, I had passed numerous neuropsych tests, that they gave me those assurances and I have not had any problems and I don’t anticipate there being any more problems.”
(On if he feels for Daunte Culpepper) – “I have been in this situation a few times. I do feel for his situation. It’s no fun. I went through it, obviously, in Kansas City these last few months. In St. Louis I got hurt, Kurt (Warner) came in, did a great job, obviously with MVP seasons and everything else, but I knew I had to move on and find a place to play so I completely understand it. The thing that gets missed in a lot of this – we play football, Daunte does that for a living, I do it for a living – you factor in the family part of it. That’s where the frustration came for me the last couple of months because I knew that I wanted to move down here, I wanted to get my family situated, I wanted to find an area, get involved in the community and all those things I touched on earlier. So I know Daunte is going through similar things having a family and those are issues you want cleared up. You don’t want it to drag out and that was something that there was potential for this to drag out that long. There was potential for Kansas City to take me all the way to training camp and see what happens. That is really what I didn’t want. I did not want to be a mid-August release or trade because then you are really put in a tough bind from a player standpoint. Like Cam said, that is going to be addressed here in the next couple days. I know they met with Daunte this morning, Randy (Mueller) met with him, and hopefully things will get cleared up quickly for him. I know it’s no fun. The whole hanging in limbo thing, that is not fun for anybody, but especially the stressed that it puts on your family. The football part of it, that’s our job and that’s what we do for a living, but he family part of it is something you deal with on an everyday basis. The emotions of dealing with your children, your spouse and your family members, that is tough on everybody.”
(On how he feels about grooming John Beck) – “It’s a little unusual. I’ve never really looked at it that way. It’s similar to what I went through last year with Brodie Croyle. The way I’ve always approached it, and Cam touched on it a little bit as well, is it’s not my job to pull him aside and teach him the offense. That is what Terry Shea is here for. That is what Cam is going to do. I think the best thing for him to do is to watch how I prepare, watch how I study tape, watch how I practice, how I interact with other players and then he has to develop his own way. I said the same thing to Brodie. I told him the same thing I’m telling you, once you see how I do it, once you see, in Brodie’s case, once you see how Damon Huard does it, you have to develop your own way to be a leader. You have to develop your own way to interact with guys in the locker room and take charge in the huddle and those kinds of things. You have to be your own personality. Don’t try to being me or don’t try being Damon. So I think John, number one, is watch and learn as much as he can. The other thing I told Brodie is I will answer anything you want to ask from an offensive standpoint – reads, progressions, shifts, movements, all those kinds of things – and I’ll tell John the same thing when I see him. Don’t hesitate to ask. I’m not trying make it a big secret. I remember a conversation I had with Bubby Brister and he was telling me one of his first few years in the league he was trying to learn and the veteran quarterback at the time, Bubby asked him a question, and he just kind of patted him on the rear and said go get him rook, you’re on your own. That doesn’t do anybody any good. Fortunately, Bubby was strong enough to overcome that and have a career. I’ll do what I can to help him. I am not going to hold his hand, but hopefully he can learn through that.”
TRENT GREEN
(On being the latest to try to fill Dan Marino’s shoes) – “Well that’s a great honor. I’m a huge fan of professional football and the NFL. You’re not going to find anybody to replace Dan Marino. What he’s done for this community, number one, the charitable work that he and his wife have done, there aren’t many people that can say they’re even close to that level. As a player, his numbers speak for themselves. So I’m just going to try and be myself and try and lead the best way I know how and be a part of a winning football team and not trying to fill anybody’s shoes and trying to be Dan Marino or be anybody else for that matter. I’m just going to prepare as hard as I can, play as hard as I can and hopefully that comes across to the fans and comes across to my teammates and people realize that that’s what I’m about. I’m just about trying to help this team win and find a way to get in the end zone, score points and like I said win football games.”
(On how much longer he thinks he can play especially considering he has not played as much football as one would expect from a 37-year-old) – “My body feels great and you answered the question. The other 37-year-old quarterback in the league right now has played probably 100 or so more games than I have. So I feel from the body standpoint, I feel really good. Whether it’s two years, three years, four years, whatever it may be, as long as I feel good and I feel like I’m playing at a high level and I’m contributing to help this team win, I want to keep playing. I don’t want to put any sort of label on, ok I’m playing two more years, four more years, whatever it may be because I enjoy doing this. I enjoy coming to work everyday. I enjoy the mental part of it. I enjoy the physical part from training, the locker room atmosphere, there’s just a lot that I enjoy about it and I’m not ready to stop and I look forward to many years of playing and whenever it’s time, it’s time. But I’m not going to put any sort of restriction or cap on it.”
(On if he would continue playing if he was a backup) – “You know what, I’m just not there mentally right now. If I were I would have stayed in Kansas City. My mindset is to be a starter and I still feel like I can play at a high level. I still feel like I’ve got a lot of football left in me and I guess when that time comes when I have to make that decision there’s a lot of quarterbacks that have made that decision and have held on for three, four, five years in a backup role and done that. But right now that’s not my mindset and if it was you guys would be really worried. If I had that mindset, like I said, I would have stayed in Kansas City because that was a role they wanted me to take. I can’t say anymore than that.”
(On him not playing well after returning from his injury) – “Well I think the injury obviously has a lot to do with it. Anytime you take two months off and then try and return, it’s going to affect you even though I had practiced for a couple of weeks. The timing was different. I think a lot that had changed was our offense. Our offensive philosophy had changed – new head coach, new offensive coordinator. They had tried to maintain the offense in the preseason and then I get knocked out in the first game. So the focus really changed on offense and then kind of our approach. So when I came back I was coming back really to a new offense. Just kind of how I fit into it and how it was run, how it was called, how we all just kind of meshed together, we just never really got in sync. We did have a couple of games here and there – the Cleveland game, the Jacksonville game, series from time to time, but there never was really any continuity or fluid sustained drives. There was just a comfort zone there that was missing. But like I said, any time you miss a couple of months during the season and try to come back it makes it hard. But there was definitely a change in the atmosphere on the offensive side.”
(On what he thinks of the Dolphins offense) – “I think the potential is great. Chris Chambers obviously has been to a Pro Bowl and has played at very high level. I’ve know Chris for a couple of years. I don’t know him from the football sense but I’ve been with him at different functions and so I’ve gotten to know him and I think that I like what I read. He’s had some quotes about last year was disappointing for him and so I think anytime you come off of a disappointing season it gives you a little bit more fire, a little bit more desire and everything I’ve heard and even watching some tape today, he’s playing at a very high level and excited about what this offense is going to do and be a part of this year. Then you look at some of the young guys, Ronnie Brown and Lorenzo Booker they brought in. Did I say that right? Is it Lorenzo? I am trying to learn everybody. I know Marty Booker. I’m just trying to get everybody’s names down. You can go down a who’s who of the running backs I’ve been with, but Ronnie, I guess his rookie year, he had about a 70-yard run against us when we were here for that Friday night game. He went about 65-70 yards to open up the second half so I’ve seen it first-hand what he can do. After watching film today, he has a lot better hands than I thought. They’ve never really utilized him in that standpoint, but he did a great job of catching the ball out of the backfield from what I saw. I’m excited to work with him. There’s a lot of good, young talent and I’m excited. Like I said earlier, Cam does a great job of calling plays and putting guys in position to have success. There’s a talent that comes to calling plays and putting guys in position to have success and he has that. He’s proven that in San Diego and so I’m looking forward to that combination of things to happen.”
(On if he said he has watched film and what he has watched.) – “I’ve already watched an hour or so of the practices that have been going on the last few days just to kind of get to know my teammates. This is what this guy can do. This is what you need to work on with this guy. This is some potential plays we can do with this guy and you just start looking and evaluating and figuring out guys. I love that part of it. I spent some time today doing that.”
(On if he thinks he owes the jumpstarting of his career to Cam Cameron) – “He had a big part to do with that. He definitely did. I don’t know how much of the story Cams’ told you but in Washington there’s no indoor facility. So I went there in February of 1995 having sat out most of that year and spent a couple of weeks in Canada up in B.C. I said, ‘how are we going to do this?’ He said, ‘well there’s this little indoor soccer arena over here that the youth soccer league plays on.’ So we actually went over to this indoor barn and threw routes around there and I thought that was a little unusual, but that’s all they had at the time. He came back and talked to Norv (Turner) and Norv said, ‘what do you think?’ and he goes, ‘I think we should sign him,’ and Cam was a little shocked when Norv said okay, well let’s sign him. He just took him on his word and went from there. I definitely feel a connection to Cam and owe him a lot. Like I said, I think the world of him and his family. I think he stands for everything that’s right, just the values that he and his family have. I’m excited to reunite with him and hopefully do some great things for the Dolphins.”
Now tell me what you think.
I suggest you scroll to the question's subject (in parenthesis) that interests you most and see how the coach or quarterback answer. Then draw your own conclusions.
CAM CAMERON
(Opening Remarks) – “I want to take just a couple of minutes to, at first, just thank Randy Mueller. I can’t tell you over the last few weeks how much effort and time has been put in to getting Trent (Green) here. I also want to thank Carl Peterson with the Chiefs. Obviously Trent has a long relationship there. I’ve known Carl for quite a while myself and both of those two guys, regardless of what you’ve read, those two guys were able to get this thing done. Trent and I go back, I think we were talking 12-13 years, and obviously we have a special relationship that I just – it’s nice to have someone here that understands what this business is about. He’s a hard worker. He understands what competition is about. He knows how to win in this league and as we were given the privilege to start talking several weeks ago, we started talking about hopefully this day becoming a reality and here it is. But I think again, he would agree, we both owe a lot to a lot of other people making this happen and we’re both very appreciative. So with that I’m going to introduce Trent, then I’m going to be able to take a few questions and then when I’m done then I’ll just leave you here with Trent and you can have him basically as long as you guys need him. So Trent Green.”
TRENT GREEN
(Opening Remarks) – “Thank you. I appreciate that Cam. First off, to echo what Cam said, I want to thank Randy Mueller for his diligence and patience in getting this deal done. Also, Carl Peterson for working with Randy and getting this thing worked out. This is something, like Cam said, we’ve been talking for several weeks and the excitement for us has been building for some time to be able to get back together. We spent a couple years together in Washington and just the excitement of this offense and what we know this offense is capable of doing. We’ve been talking a lot about the personnel, the new guys that the Dolphins brought in and I’m just excited to be down here and looking forward to the minicamp this weekend, the OTA’s the following week and getting to know my teammates and get to be a part of something really special.
“I think everybody knows what this defense has done here over the many years and it’s time that the offense catches up. I’m just excited that I’m going to try to be a part of that and just really looking forward to that. I also want to take some time to thank Kansas City, thank the Chiefs, thank Carl Peterson and the Hunt family. It was a great six years there. One place that was very special to me and one that my family appreciated greatly. We had a great run of six years and it was a situation where they wanted to move on and go younger. I understand that and I had asked Carl if I found an opportunity to move forward with that. So I’m excited that Carl was able to follow through with that and that Randy, like I said, had patience enough to get it done. So I want to thank the Chiefs organization for that time there and for the six years that I had there. It was a great six years for me and my family, but the thing I want to mostly get across is my wife and I are extremely excited to come down to Miami and make this our home. We’re going to be looking immediately to find a home to move down. I always think that’s an important part of being a quarterback is to be a part of the community. It’s something that I’ve done in the different teams that I’ve been in. It’s important to live there. It’s important to get your family involved in the community. It’s important to have your kids in school there. It’s important to be involved in community work and that is something that is very strong in our hearts and something we want to get down here as soon as we can. So, we’re just excited about it. The kids are excited about it. My wife’s excited about it. We’re looking for a fresh start and to be a part of something really special. Having played Miami the last two seasons, I know what there defense is about and I’m excited about being a part of turning the offense around and putting a winner on the field for the fans of the Dolphins.
CAM CAMERON
(On how this trade affects Daunte Culpepper) – “Well first, this press conference is about Trent (Green) and his family, Julie. Many of you will get to know their family. He’s got two sons and a daughter. So we’re going to keep the focus of this press conference on Trent and his family and him being here. Now with that being said we did meet this morning with Daunte at length. Daunte, Randy and myself and Randy and I are still working through some things and I would say by Friday we can probably lend a little more light on that subject. But today is about Trent Green being a Miami Dolphin and welcome his family here.”
(On what characteristics he identified in Trent Green when they were Washington) – “Well we’re going way back but I believe, as many of you know and he knows, it’s a leadership position. In this system guys that are extremely bright and tough and, I am probably get a little technical, that are extremely quick with the football have had a tremendous amount of success in this system. But you have to remember – and Trent was joking today with Coach (Bobby) Jackson because Trent used to be the guy that we’re sitting with and say ok, ‘Trent you go down with Coach Jackson and do the ball handling’ – and again, you have so much respect for the quarterbacks in this business, especially the guys like Trent who have come up the hard way. Trent has never been given anything. He’s earned everything that he’s gotten in this business and I think those guys, guys that have developed like Trent has developed, they just have a resolve, they have a toughness. They have some characteristics that their teammates respond to. I can remember back, even further then when we were together in Washington, when I was an assistant coach at Michigan and I watched him take a scrawny little Indiana team up and down the field against us and I was wondering who is this guy taking these other ten guys. We were a good football team, and I just remember putting it in the back of my mind, there’s just something to this guy. When he became available we picked him up in Washington. I think just that competitive toughness, that resolve goes a long, long way at that position in this business.
(On why Trent Green fits this offense better than Daunte Culpepper) – “As you know, I’m not a guy that compares guys. You guys know that. I mean, I don’t compare guys. I’ve never gotten into that business. I think every guy’s unique. Whatever quarterback you’re dealing with, you take what he does best and you do everything you can with the people around him to help him be successful. So I’ve just never gone down that road because I’ve had, whether it be a Trent Green or an Antwaan Randle El, or whoever, Philip Rivers, 6-0, 6-5, 6-3, 5-10, it doesn’t matter, You take whatever quarterback you have and highlight the things he does best.”
(On how beneficial it is to have a quarterback he hand-picked for the offense) – “I don’t know. We didn’t hand-pick Drew Brees in San Diego.”
(On if it was important to make the deal now as the team heads into its last minicamp of the offseason) – “We didn’t have control of the timing, obviously the timing was really controlled on the other end. There was no way we could have predicted that this was when it was going to happen. When you’re dealing with another team you never know. It could have been two months ago, it could have been this week, it could be month from now. So there’s some coincidence involved here. There really is. You guys know me, I mean you pretty much take what you can control and find a positive way to work in it. It is positive that he’s here. We have minicamp coming up that we had scheduled and a few more OTA’s. I think Trent knows he can benefit from those, but had it not worked out this week it could have worked out down the road as well.”
(On if he had Trent Green in mind when he took the head coaching job) – “He was the quarterback of Kansas City Chiefs at that time. So a lot of things just took place over the course of time and I think in any business you need a little good fortune and obviously he becomes available and then here he is.”
(On if he is concerned about the effects of Trent Green’s concussion) – “Well no, number one is, I think we all kind of experienced that with him. I think everybody in this league, but competing against him and obviously he wasn’t there the first time we played Kansas City, but I’ve seen him and he’s healthy. There are no concerns on our part. I know you guys can address that with him as well, but no.”
(On what changed in the negotiating to get the trade completed) – “I think it’s like any negotiation. Again, Randy (Mueller) and Carl (Peterson), and obviously both of them have a lot of things going on, they were just kind of working through the process. As you’ve heard us say, several times, this is a process. This situation was no different. Kansas City’s got to do what they feel is right for them. We’ve got to do what we feel best serves the Miami Dolphins and getting two teams to work together sometimes just takes more time. We all know in this business everybody tends to get a little bit ahead of themselves, but Randy and I never really set any timetable with it. It was just a matter of getting it done and it’s done.”
(On his telling Daunte Culpepper the team intends to trade him contradicts earlier remarks about Culpepper) – “Well number one, I think to say that there’s not competition here because one person, one individual is not here is one way to look at it. I obviously met with Cleo Lemon this morning and you guys will get a chance to watch us practice this weekend and competition and, I believe it and I know Trent believes this, we all benefit from competition. It’s good for veteran players. It’s good for young players and there’ll be plenty of competition.”
(On him saying in the past that he would not make a decision Culpepper until he was 100 percent healthy on the field) – “I’m not sure I worded it quite that way. I don’t know that I’d say I wouldn’t make a decision and there’s still some things that are taking place and again, I’ll probably address that better here in a day or so because there’s some things that Randy and I are working on.”
(On if Culpepper participated in practice on Wednesday) – “He was still in rehab, in a rehab mode today.”
(On if he expects Culpepper to be in minicamp this weekend) – “I think the thing that we really started off saying with this press conference is it’s about Trent and Julie Green and their family. We’re thrilled that Trent is here and we’ll welcome his family to the Miami Dolphins and to this area and I think he spoke to that and he’ll be able to handle all those questions. Randy and I are working on some things. I’ll be able to shed more light on that with the minicamp because I’m going to get a chance to visit with all of you in the minicamp this weekend and be more than happy to answer those questions starting Friday. But today, men and ladies, is about Trent Green and his family. I think at some point in time, we’ve got to respect that. Let’s just go in that direction, if we could.”
(On Trent Green being a mentor for John Beck) – “Trent knows this, and I think I’ve talked to you guys a little bit, we’ve shared this a little bit, the environment we try to create in our quarterback room is one where all the guys are working together. I think that’s critical. I think we don’t take a starter and put him on a pedestal. We have everybody working together. Trent knows what it’s like to be the fourth, then the third, then the backup and then be the starter. So he understands. He has sat in every seat in that room so he knows the value of having being a mentor, he knows the value of being able to learn from somebody else and we do, along with Terry Shea, we create that environment because every guy has got to develop the mindset that they’re one step away. Now, the veteran quarterback doesn’t have all this time to spend with the younger guys. Sometimes they just need to open their eyes and it’s more about what a veteran quarterback does, I’ve always thought, for the young guys than what he necessarily says. If a young quarterback is willing to open his eyes and just watch and study, there’s nothing like a picture for a young guy to learn and I can’t think of a better one than Trent.”
(On Terry Shea having worked with Trent Green in Kansas City) – “Again, we talked about whether you call it luck, fate, good fortune, whatever you want to call it. We kind of chuckled about it. Terry Shea was hired and there was no knowledge of Trent Green being available. Then here this comes together. So obviously they have a great relationship. He can talk to you about that. I think that is a plus. Again, the Chargers, the Chiefs, the Rams, there’s several teams that are running this system so there’s probably a 10-15 percent difference but that will be good for he and Terry to kind of translate some of the changes that I’ve made over the years in the system. So I think that’s going to help us and Terry Shea will be a big part of that.”
TRENT GREEN
(On if the Dolphins offense is similar to Kansas City’s) – “It is. The base system itself is the same. Like Cam just touched on, it’s probably about 80-85 percent the same terminology. It’s all the same offense. It’s like part of the country calls it soda and part of it calls it pop, that kind of how it’s evolved. When you go Norv Turner, Ernie Zampese, Joe Gibbs, Mike Martz, Cam Cameron, Al Saunders, they all kind of put their own little twist on it. There are different variations that come with the offense, but the base part of the offense – the fundamentals, the reads, the shifts, the movements and those types of things – those aren’t different. I know when we moved from Washington to St. Louis, Mike and I did, there was some things that we had to change just to make it easier for the linemen to understand the protections based on what they had done in previous years. From St. Louis to Kansas City, Al Saunders got with the offensive coaches and said, ‘this is what we call it.’ They said, ‘well, in our system we call it this,’ so we tweaked it a little bit. It’s going to be the same thing. I don’t see it being too much of a problem. It is going to be more the terminology, but the base fundamentals of the offense have maintained the same.”
(On how unsettling the Dolphins offensive line is to him with there possibly being a new starter at every position) – “I guess you can look at it two ways. Maybe it’s an untapped resource that people don’t realize how good it is. The other thing is maybe there is going to be a learning curve. We’ll just have to see. I know that Cam excited about the changes that have happened on the offensive line and I trust him. That is one of the things that we talked about over the last several weeks. We went through some changes in Kansas City last season and there were some growing pains with the guys we had. I asked him about the changes he was making on the offensive line and what direction he was going to have to go and I feel comfortable with that. I feel comfortable knowing Cam as an evaluator and Cam as a play-caller to put people in position to have success. You look at what he was able to do last year as offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers and started a rookie left tackle and it ended up being one of the best offenses, if not the best offense, in the league last year. That was with a rookie left tackle. It’s getting different now with the shift to the right tackle position, but the left tackle position for most teams is the most important spot. His talent as a play-caller and a talent evaluator, I have the utmost confidence in so I feel good about that.”
(On if he has had a chance learn the Dolphins playbook while waiting for the trade to be completed) – “None of that had taken place. I was still a member of the Chiefs so by no means did they give me a playbook. I just had conversations with Terry (Shea) because frankly we only live about a mile apart in Kansas City and Carl (Peterson) had left the door open in terms of conversations taking place. I have talked with Cam and I have talked with Terry. Terry had just expressed to me, ‘Trent you are not going to have a problem when you get here because it is about 80-85 percent the same of what we’ve done in Kansas City.’ Now there is going to be a learning curve like I mentioned. Some of the terminology is a little bit different, but like I said we tweaked it a little bit going from St. Louis to Kansas City. Other than them just expressing that it is not going to be a major overhaul for me – I just had a minicamp two or three days ago in Kansas City and had to call plays and run plays there. I wasn’t studying the Miami playbook because that would not have done me any good having success in the Kansas City camp. I am looking forward getting started on that.”
(On there was ever a point when he thought the deal would not get done) – “Like I said in some previous comments, I kept my mouth shut until the draft because at that point in time there were some things said from Carl and from the Chiefs that this would be done by the draft and we would do everything we could to have it done by the draft. When it didn’t happen, then yeah, some frustration mounted. That’s when I started to have doubts about whether it would go through or not. That’s when I make my first public comments as to how the whole thing was being handled. I’m just glad it’s done. I’m glad I’m here. I am looking forward to what we are going to do this season and years to come. I think Cam has put together a great staff. A lot of guys on the staff I’ve worked with in the past – or played against – so I know a lot of what they can do and I am just excited to be here.”
(On if there was a sense of urgency for him to get here before this weekend’s minicamp) – “There has been urgency on my part since the Chiefs made it known they didn’t want me back. So yeah, I’ve had some urgency for a while. It’s kind of awkward going into a facility to train everyday when I know they are going in a different direction. They’ve made that quite clear. There has been urgency on my part for quite some time.”
(On if Cam Cameron has told him what his role will be) – “We haven’t talked about Daunte’s role if that is what you are referring to. He hasn’t talked about how that situation is going to be cleared up. From what he said here, he and Randy (Mueller) are working on things and that will be cleared up Friday. They do expect me to come in from a leadership role as far as mentoring. It seems like when you look at my career I’ve been in all the different positions, like Cam said, four, three, two, one, back to two, back to one, injured, not injured, so I think from a leadership standpoint, I bring a lot to the table because I can relate to guys, whether they are undrafted, they are street free agents, they are first-round picks, whatever they may be, I’ve pretty much experienced it.”
(On if he expects to start) – “I expected to start when I went to Washington and was behind three other guys. I have always had that expectation. Always set the bar high. I tell my kids that all the time. Set your goals high and your expectation level should always be high. If you are shooting to be third best then you have to rearrange your priorities. My ambition and my goal are to be the starter and to help this offense be the best it can be. We all know what the defense is, it’s about getting the offense better and making us better as a team.”
(On if there are any residual effects from the concussion he suffered last season) – “No, no residual effects. That’s one of the things I would like to thank the Chiefs on. I think they set the bar on how the league should handle concussions. The fact that they gave me the amount of time to recover that was necessary – I was anxious to get back weeks earlier than they let me. What they did that I think should set a trend around the league is they handed it over to the neurosurgeon and said, ‘you tell us when he is ready to come back. If it’s up to him he’ll come back a lot quicker,’ because that’s just the way most football players are. And I did. Three weeks prior I was like, ‘I need to get back, I need to get back on the field.’ They handed it all over to the neurosurgeon. They said when you give us clearance to start practicing, to start running, to start lifting, to take contact, we’ll go on your guidelines. I commend them for that. They handled that situation great.”
(On if that was his first concussion and if he has any loss of memory) – “It was my first concussion. As far as loss of memory there is about a 20-25 minute window they said I won’t ever recover. From the moment I was knocked out on the field, the first thing I really remember was the ambulance ride to the hospital. They said that was a 20-25 minute window. Other than that I remember everything.”
(On if he is fearful that there will be lingering effects) – “There isn’t because I have had one. I think the majority of those studies that have been done are on multiple concussions and on recurring concussions happening in a short time frame – guys come back too quickly. It’s called stacking when you get a concussion stacked onto another one. The fact that I had eight weeks to recover, extensive testing in a number of different areas, I don’t have that fear. The neurosurgeon, the neurophysiologist that I dealt with in Kansas City and the ones that I dealt with in Pittsburgh told me there was no documentation as far as long-term dementia, Alzheimer’s, neurological issues if you, number one, let yourself heal properly, which I think they allowed me to do and number two, don’t get them stacked. Usually the problem with stacking is returning too fast. None of those problems occurred so I don’t anticipate them being any problems. The number one thing for me coming back to the field, because I know how scared my family was when that whole thing happened, was I had to have insurance from the doctors that I was at no greater risk going back in that Raider game as I was going into the opener against Cincinnati. They gave that assurance based on the fact that everything was clear for at least three weeks. The fact that there were no symptoms, I had passed numerous neuropsych tests, that they gave me those assurances and I have not had any problems and I don’t anticipate there being any more problems.”
(On if he feels for Daunte Culpepper) – “I have been in this situation a few times. I do feel for his situation. It’s no fun. I went through it, obviously, in Kansas City these last few months. In St. Louis I got hurt, Kurt (Warner) came in, did a great job, obviously with MVP seasons and everything else, but I knew I had to move on and find a place to play so I completely understand it. The thing that gets missed in a lot of this – we play football, Daunte does that for a living, I do it for a living – you factor in the family part of it. That’s where the frustration came for me the last couple of months because I knew that I wanted to move down here, I wanted to get my family situated, I wanted to find an area, get involved in the community and all those things I touched on earlier. So I know Daunte is going through similar things having a family and those are issues you want cleared up. You don’t want it to drag out and that was something that there was potential for this to drag out that long. There was potential for Kansas City to take me all the way to training camp and see what happens. That is really what I didn’t want. I did not want to be a mid-August release or trade because then you are really put in a tough bind from a player standpoint. Like Cam said, that is going to be addressed here in the next couple days. I know they met with Daunte this morning, Randy (Mueller) met with him, and hopefully things will get cleared up quickly for him. I know it’s no fun. The whole hanging in limbo thing, that is not fun for anybody, but especially the stressed that it puts on your family. The football part of it, that’s our job and that’s what we do for a living, but he family part of it is something you deal with on an everyday basis. The emotions of dealing with your children, your spouse and your family members, that is tough on everybody.”
(On how he feels about grooming John Beck) – “It’s a little unusual. I’ve never really looked at it that way. It’s similar to what I went through last year with Brodie Croyle. The way I’ve always approached it, and Cam touched on it a little bit as well, is it’s not my job to pull him aside and teach him the offense. That is what Terry Shea is here for. That is what Cam is going to do. I think the best thing for him to do is to watch how I prepare, watch how I study tape, watch how I practice, how I interact with other players and then he has to develop his own way. I said the same thing to Brodie. I told him the same thing I’m telling you, once you see how I do it, once you see, in Brodie’s case, once you see how Damon Huard does it, you have to develop your own way to be a leader. You have to develop your own way to interact with guys in the locker room and take charge in the huddle and those kinds of things. You have to be your own personality. Don’t try to being me or don’t try being Damon. So I think John, number one, is watch and learn as much as he can. The other thing I told Brodie is I will answer anything you want to ask from an offensive standpoint – reads, progressions, shifts, movements, all those kinds of things – and I’ll tell John the same thing when I see him. Don’t hesitate to ask. I’m not trying make it a big secret. I remember a conversation I had with Bubby Brister and he was telling me one of his first few years in the league he was trying to learn and the veteran quarterback at the time, Bubby asked him a question, and he just kind of patted him on the rear and said go get him rook, you’re on your own. That doesn’t do anybody any good. Fortunately, Bubby was strong enough to overcome that and have a career. I’ll do what I can to help him. I am not going to hold his hand, but hopefully he can learn through that.”
TRENT GREEN
(On being the latest to try to fill Dan Marino’s shoes) – “Well that’s a great honor. I’m a huge fan of professional football and the NFL. You’re not going to find anybody to replace Dan Marino. What he’s done for this community, number one, the charitable work that he and his wife have done, there aren’t many people that can say they’re even close to that level. As a player, his numbers speak for themselves. So I’m just going to try and be myself and try and lead the best way I know how and be a part of a winning football team and not trying to fill anybody’s shoes and trying to be Dan Marino or be anybody else for that matter. I’m just going to prepare as hard as I can, play as hard as I can and hopefully that comes across to the fans and comes across to my teammates and people realize that that’s what I’m about. I’m just about trying to help this team win and find a way to get in the end zone, score points and like I said win football games.”
(On how much longer he thinks he can play especially considering he has not played as much football as one would expect from a 37-year-old) – “My body feels great and you answered the question. The other 37-year-old quarterback in the league right now has played probably 100 or so more games than I have. So I feel from the body standpoint, I feel really good. Whether it’s two years, three years, four years, whatever it may be, as long as I feel good and I feel like I’m playing at a high level and I’m contributing to help this team win, I want to keep playing. I don’t want to put any sort of label on, ok I’m playing two more years, four more years, whatever it may be because I enjoy doing this. I enjoy coming to work everyday. I enjoy the mental part of it. I enjoy the physical part from training, the locker room atmosphere, there’s just a lot that I enjoy about it and I’m not ready to stop and I look forward to many years of playing and whenever it’s time, it’s time. But I’m not going to put any sort of restriction or cap on it.”
(On if he would continue playing if he was a backup) – “You know what, I’m just not there mentally right now. If I were I would have stayed in Kansas City. My mindset is to be a starter and I still feel like I can play at a high level. I still feel like I’ve got a lot of football left in me and I guess when that time comes when I have to make that decision there’s a lot of quarterbacks that have made that decision and have held on for three, four, five years in a backup role and done that. But right now that’s not my mindset and if it was you guys would be really worried. If I had that mindset, like I said, I would have stayed in Kansas City because that was a role they wanted me to take. I can’t say anymore than that.”
(On him not playing well after returning from his injury) – “Well I think the injury obviously has a lot to do with it. Anytime you take two months off and then try and return, it’s going to affect you even though I had practiced for a couple of weeks. The timing was different. I think a lot that had changed was our offense. Our offensive philosophy had changed – new head coach, new offensive coordinator. They had tried to maintain the offense in the preseason and then I get knocked out in the first game. So the focus really changed on offense and then kind of our approach. So when I came back I was coming back really to a new offense. Just kind of how I fit into it and how it was run, how it was called, how we all just kind of meshed together, we just never really got in sync. We did have a couple of games here and there – the Cleveland game, the Jacksonville game, series from time to time, but there never was really any continuity or fluid sustained drives. There was just a comfort zone there that was missing. But like I said, any time you miss a couple of months during the season and try to come back it makes it hard. But there was definitely a change in the atmosphere on the offensive side.”
(On what he thinks of the Dolphins offense) – “I think the potential is great. Chris Chambers obviously has been to a Pro Bowl and has played at very high level. I’ve know Chris for a couple of years. I don’t know him from the football sense but I’ve been with him at different functions and so I’ve gotten to know him and I think that I like what I read. He’s had some quotes about last year was disappointing for him and so I think anytime you come off of a disappointing season it gives you a little bit more fire, a little bit more desire and everything I’ve heard and even watching some tape today, he’s playing at a very high level and excited about what this offense is going to do and be a part of this year. Then you look at some of the young guys, Ronnie Brown and Lorenzo Booker they brought in. Did I say that right? Is it Lorenzo? I am trying to learn everybody. I know Marty Booker. I’m just trying to get everybody’s names down. You can go down a who’s who of the running backs I’ve been with, but Ronnie, I guess his rookie year, he had about a 70-yard run against us when we were here for that Friday night game. He went about 65-70 yards to open up the second half so I’ve seen it first-hand what he can do. After watching film today, he has a lot better hands than I thought. They’ve never really utilized him in that standpoint, but he did a great job of catching the ball out of the backfield from what I saw. I’m excited to work with him. There’s a lot of good, young talent and I’m excited. Like I said earlier, Cam does a great job of calling plays and putting guys in position to have success. There’s a talent that comes to calling plays and putting guys in position to have success and he has that. He’s proven that in San Diego and so I’m looking forward to that combination of things to happen.”
(On if he said he has watched film and what he has watched.) – “I’ve already watched an hour or so of the practices that have been going on the last few days just to kind of get to know my teammates. This is what this guy can do. This is what you need to work on with this guy. This is some potential plays we can do with this guy and you just start looking and evaluating and figuring out guys. I love that part of it. I spent some time today doing that.”
(On if he thinks he owes the jumpstarting of his career to Cam Cameron) – “He had a big part to do with that. He definitely did. I don’t know how much of the story Cams’ told you but in Washington there’s no indoor facility. So I went there in February of 1995 having sat out most of that year and spent a couple of weeks in Canada up in B.C. I said, ‘how are we going to do this?’ He said, ‘well there’s this little indoor soccer arena over here that the youth soccer league plays on.’ So we actually went over to this indoor barn and threw routes around there and I thought that was a little unusual, but that’s all they had at the time. He came back and talked to Norv (Turner) and Norv said, ‘what do you think?’ and he goes, ‘I think we should sign him,’ and Cam was a little shocked when Norv said okay, well let’s sign him. He just took him on his word and went from there. I definitely feel a connection to Cam and owe him a lot. Like I said, I think the world of him and his family. I think he stands for everything that’s right, just the values that he and his family have. I’m excited to reunite with him and hopefully do some great things for the Dolphins.”
Now tell me what you think.
posted by Armando Salguero at 12:51 AM
Get our feeds
25 Comments:
Looks like Cam does not mean what he says whenever he is referring to Daunte. He is a shifty liar.
Its obvious, they are trying to trade Daunte and if that does not happen he will be released on Friday.
Cam's sentimental feelings for Trent Green is going to go down as one of the queerest, biggest mistakes in the history of the Dolphin franchise. Mark my words.
Its all pretty disgusting and disappointing.
I love how Scam Cameron keeps talking about Trent Green's family and Ted Ginn's family that he's known so long. NO ONE CARES about Ted Ginn's dad or Trent Green's wife. We got a skinny wide receiver with a broken foot and now a near 40-year-old QB with concussions and barely a winning NFL record. Not much to say about these bums, so I guess talking about their families is all Scam Cameron can do.
Well I think Saban has a lot to do with the current sentiment toward Cam. Everyone felt betrayed by Saban, so it's a little tough to cut Cam some slack. I understand that he's in a tough position and doesn't want to say to much about a trade because it could influence that trade, but now that Trent's here, I'd like to see him come clean and say, well that's how I saw it at the time, but not it's different. I could accept that. Not this "well I don't think that's what I said". You know damn well what you said. Just admit that things have changed and now Daunte is being shopped because you think that's the best for the team now. End of story. Why can't they just come clean about it rather than try to say that's not really what they said.
Cameron is a terrible, terrible, PR spokesperson and someone should ask him to take a media training right away. That’s my only conclusion on that.
In the other hand, I really think Trent owns the kind of leadership Cam is looking for our team and at some point, I think he will be a great addition. He’s bright, at least he knows how to handle a press conference and I think he showed some classy on his answers.
I really feel sorry for Duante, but you know, this is business, and you can't feel sorry. Green is right, this is what all of them do for live, the ugly part is the family thing, but they receive big bucks to overcome that too. Not everybody can land the amount of money they do in a single season. It’s game not a tragedy.
If you’re running a business, at some point you need to take hard decisions and sometimes, those decisions involves people. You always have to pick the people that fix your team better, not the most popular or the guy with the greater talent, just the guy who molds your team and that can provide the better results according to your requirements.
Well, I think is really clear, Cam & Randy landed their guy at a relative low cost. Know, they should be trying to find a new home for Duante and maybe, recover that fourth round pick they gave away to KC. Whish them luck, ‘cause they’ll need it.
All the soap opera will be history by the end of the year, and only time will tell us if Cam & Randy took the right direction or doomed our team into hell once again. We only can wait and see nothing more.
I told a friend early today, that when I saw the Dolphins passing on Quinn during the last draft, I felt that maybe I was seeing history, I knew that I was testifying something that could mark Dolphins future for good or bad. Well, today we’re arriving to a new milestone on this endless road and I’m starting to feel angry about it.
Let's keep the faith, let’s think everything will be OK. I really need to believe it. I’m a little bit tired and frustrated on this and my stomach is suffering the consequences of being a Dolphins fan.
Arturo
Cam needs media relations help from Randy Shannon.
on Green he's a good QB when behind the best OL in the NFL. Now that he'll be behind one of the worst and coming off a serious concussion I'm not sure he's going to look that great. We'll see. Cleo and Beck need to make sure they are ready to play.
When did Cam Cameron ever indicate that Culpepper was in the team's future? Please cite a quote. It is that ambivalence and diplomatically addressing issues related to Culpeppers' future that led to the widely perceived feeling that Culpepper would be out of the picture if the team made the deal for Trent Green. Just look at Alex Marvez's Q&A column. Months ago, he was describing Culpepper as likely to be gone because Cam was so circumspect on his status. Why is everyone so shocked and indignant that Culpepper is likely gone? What did Cam lie about? That there would be a quarterback competiton? What is he supposed to say with the supposed starter (Culpepper) still unable to practice after two years' worth of injuries, the expected starter (Green) not with the team and scrubs (Lemon and co.) left to duke it out? Grow up.
It would be amusing if the
Dolphins were to trade him for a 4th, conditional 3rd when Trent was a 5th, conditional 4th.
Assuming his knee problems heal, Culpepper will probably do very well elsewhere in the league in the right offense - no West Coast offense for example. But that doesn't mean he would do well in Miami in Cameron's offense. Just as they are moving towards players that fit within Caper's 3-4 defense, Porter for example, it's Cameron's right to have the players that best fit within his offensive system, especially at quarterback.
Anonymous said...
When did Cam Cameron ever indicate that Culpepper was in the team's future?
He didn't , BUT he did in fact say he would never just give the position to anyone it had to be earned!!!! OK if thats the case do you really think Cleo Lemon and John Beck are really going to be challeging Green for the starting spot???? Wake up buddy the guy is full of it and is just playing out his own little wet dream!!!
No more excuses for CAM. He has everyone he wanted. Ginn, Beck, Booker and Green.
He better not lose.
I'm just happy to have a quarterback like Trent Green on our roster. He's a proven winner, a very smart quarterback, and a very classy human being. He's a refreshing change from that idiot quarterback and team cancer Dumbte Culfumbler.
It is what it is, Dante is a big boy he can handle it. Here is what scares me, coming in Cam knew the status of the offense but did nothing to address the O Line offseason or draft time. Ok must admit Picking Ginn (what position is he going to Play?)over Brady was surprising but that was the Beck factor, I really would have thought an Oline position would have been next in line, seems to me that Cam plays with his heart on people he is familiar with. Whomever the QB is they better watch out. Getting rid of McMicheal was unproductive, he is a big time TE that was not being utilized in the offense. I think for the dolphin fan the biggest let down in reference to Dante is he represented some sort of stabilty at QB, with him being traded or released and Green coming in we have at most 2 yrs of QB stabilty if he doesent get dismantled because of our oline. Green will however bring excitment as he like to air it out. Boys the fact is we have a top 5 defense right now but how much can we ride them as for an offense we are definitly in rebuild mode
>>>He didn't , BUT he did in fact say he would never just give the position to anyone it had to be earned!!!!<<<
Riiight, and what has Culpepper done to earn it? Do you think that maybe--just maybe--that comment was directed at Culpepper? That is, if he is out with a lingering longtime injury, he's guaranteed of NOTHING. That's exactly what he has earned to this point.
If you pay attention to what Green has said, he has noted that he was told he was not gauranteed anything either. It's certainly expected that he would become the starter based on a proven career vs. the Dolphins' other QBs, but do you really think that Cam is going to start him if someone else shows that they are much better on a consistent basis?
I've never seen so much whining about a coach who hasn't even taken the field yet with his new team. Grow up, people.
"Trent, how's it feel to mentor a rookie QB who will probably have your job by week 5?"
Though our track record of QBs-since-Dan is unimpressive at the least, I'll try to stay optimistic about Green under center.
Hey Anonymous
I'm not whinning or anythhing I'm just pointing out hte fact that Cam is constantly contradicting himself with his bogus statements!! I'm a die hard fan and wish to see the dolphins do really well this year but from what I've seen from the new coach is just a bunch of crap!!! Its like if he doesn't know your entire family you can't work in his plan!!!
He would be a stand up guy if he stood by what he says instead of changing his stance from one moment to the next!!!
There's complaining when a coach keeps his actions close to his vest ala Saban and now there's complaining when Cameron says something and it gets over scrutinized. Fact is, Culpepper was not his boy...Trent Green is now his boy. Cameron has accountability with Green, whereas he didn't with Culpepper. Culpepper hasn't done SQUAT since his pal Randy Moss bolted. Maybe he's suffering through a tremendous string of bad luck, but who cares? Culpepper has lost his mobility for good and he's nowhere near as smart or as effective of a leader as Trent Green. Obviously, Green is not the long term answer, but at least this move tells us that the Dolphins are interested in winning now and not this rebuilding crapola. John Beck in my opinion was a much better choice than Brady Quinn for the simple fact that he's more mature, and more NFL ready. By the way, Beck beat Brady when BYU played Notre Dame 3 years ago. My point is that Green will serve as a great example for John Beck. The only concern now is that it seems Trent Green won't know when to hang up the cleats. Its ok though, because his body and his ability and his coach will tell him when its time. I'm sure the fans won't stand for anything less than a high level of play from him as well. Of course, we all also want to see what Beck can do, but only when he's ready. "Scam Cameron"...that was pretty funny, but lets give the guy the benefit of the doubt for at least the first half of the season before we start the bash party.
Ok, I know you really dont care to hear my opinion, but here goes. Cam, and offensive guru, Capers, a defensive guru, both positives for the Dolphins. Randy, I have no idea, I know he left N.O. for some reason not sure why. So in retrospect, we have 2 Head coaches, Right? Let these men put their stamp on this team, just watch, complaints are not helping us right now. Stay behind your team, let the 'pendulumn' of football swing back to our favor. In a couple of years, we will be the young team, and NE will be getting old. Lets stay positive,please. One thing I know for certain, Cam and Randy could care less what you think, it is their jobs to put the best team possible on the field, and they have already shown that they are going to proceed thier way, regardless of what anyone thinks, remember the draft. So lets support the guys in charge, and take that 'wait & see' approach. Time will answer everything. I just hope that we are in the next SuperBowl played in Miami. A true Dolfan for 34 years, there is no other team worth pulling for in my opinion. Later
Coach Cam did not lie about Culpeppers status with the team.He was deliberately ambiguous in his statements,as he had to be at the time,and this made it pretty obvious to some people that Cpep wasnt going to be around long after Trent Green got here.I personally dont like it because Cpep has worked his a** off to get back on the field and I think he deserves a chance.Fortunately for the Miami Dolphins coach Cam knows what he wants out of the QB position and he got the man best suited to deliver that for him.This sends a positive message to the outstanding veterans we have on our team who want to win right now.Trent Green is Mr Right Now not 3 or 4 years from now.
its all pretty odd. have never had the experience of criticizing a team i have rooted for. i have always been the loyal fan, wanting to believe the coach knows best.
but, from the start, i could tell cam cameron was a pretty sorry choice as coach. and everything since his hire has borne it out. he is hardly worthy of filling shula's shoes, even saban's. the man just does not have the "it" that is needed to be one of the great coaches. he is an over-hyped offensive coordinator, who, in washington benefited from the coattails of norv turner, and in san diego benefited from the coattails of ladanian tomlinson among others. cam is simply gonna fail and i blame wayne (and saban) for the current mess.
as for daunte, the guy deserved far better treatment and if the dolphins execs keep making poor decisions and keep displaying pisspoor human relations and management skills, you can be sure the next people asking for their release will be j.t., zach and company.
fire cam, promote dom to head coach. thats my recommendation.
Has anyone asked Cam why he picked a 37 year o9ld qb over a 30 year old qb? Are the reporters asleep?
Armando you must come to everyone's rescue!
I like HDC's comments. Cam and Randy have begun shaping this team. They did what we complained about all this time - cutting the players that weren't cutting it. McMichael a big time TE? You mean the guy that couldn't catch, or even block? And Mare missing field goals my 14 year old could make? Saban was doing just enough to make an impact, as that's his way.
I like John Beck over Quinn. And I like Ginn's speed...that's just unreal. And why are people bashing his ankle? Did it occur to anybody that it WILL heal? What about the knock on his route running? I've got an answer for you: when you can burn the DB straight ahead, who needs a route? But those that are so worried, that's what we have coaches for.
But let's not bash now. Randy is a good talent evaluator, and we finally have a coach that will do something with this offense. And we also kept an outstanding defensive coach.
I see them making moves that should have been done years ago. I like Cam's character and demeanor. Culpepper is not a fit for this offense even at 100%. For those that don't understand this, you need to just accept it. Even so, the deals that happen, happen all the time in this world, not just the NFL. Explain Hillary becoming a senator, and running for president. I rest my case.
Trent Green is NOT planned to be the long term solution. Do you all think Cam is that stupid? The guy fits the offense better, has a couple of years left, and long enough to mould Beck. And I'll bet the plan all along was that if KC didn't budge by this week's camp, Randy would sweeten the deal to bring it together. That's just the way things work. And Armando, you should know that by now. Get over it.
I like the direction this team is heading. This year may not bear fruit, but as Randy adds speed and talent, and Beck comes of age, look out.
I'm surprised at how many people are ripping Cam for not being honest, not sticking to his word and making a horrible QB choice with Green over C-Pep.
Cam never said that Daunte would compete for the starting spot. He said that it's unfair to evaluate a person while they recuperate from an injury.
For all the Daunte fans who are frothing at the mouth, wanting Cam's head on a stake... what makes you sold on Daunte over Trent anyways??? Granted, after Green's injury last year, he cam back two months later and didn't play well at all. But he looked a lot better than Daunte did trying to play after coming back too soon from his injury. He even looked better than Daunte did in Minnesota BEFORE he was injured. Daunte had a couple of great years when he an Moss played together. Since then he has been no more impressive than Cleo Lemon. Read this slowly so you can comprehend it... Green is a better QB than Culpepper!!!
Also, Dol-fans have complained for years that we haven't drafted QB talent. This year, Beck was drafted in the second round and will hopefully be our long-term QB answer. Bottome line - Beck has a better chance to succeed playing behind Green than he does behind Daunte. The age difference is one of the main reasons for that. By the time Beck is groomed, Green will be ready to retire. Not so with Culpepper. A possible QB controversy in one or two years would only hurt the team.
So back off of the Cam and Green thumping and stop showing off your biases and ignorance.
Oh,... and have a nice day.
Let's see.....I do remember Norv Turner giving some of the best advice to Cam that he has recieved and that is NEVER GIVE A QUATERBACK THE STARTING SPOT BEFORE HE EARNED IT......Trent, Cleo, and Gibran (who the?).....LIAR......then there was the troubled players.....Joey ring a bell?.......LIAR (way to spend $20 mill guaranteed on the wrong side of the ball)and we were the 4th ranked defense my goodness.......oh and then there was a repeat of Desmond Howard drafted number 9 overall....geeeezzz you've got to be kidding me (Santana Moss? My ass!).......then there is a 26 or 27? year old rookie......can anybody say Chris Weinke? hahahahaha these poor dolphins who were on the roster got screwed over before the regime even got started.....if this isn't funny to anyone else then I don't know.....and one last thing I support Daunte because he has a legitamate reason to complain hey Trent stop being a pussy about your BS crybabying about no fair competition when the only reason you came to Miami is because the man who would have beaten you out is going to be off the roster because your ex-boyfriend is doing your gay ass a favor CHUMP! way to go Wayne great choice in coach (oh yeah 18-37) great head-coaching record loser......who wouldn't have flourished with L.T., Antonio Gates, and phenominal O-Line my goodness Cam is actually worse than Wandstedt, Saban, and JJ already! Need I say more this is absolutely rediculous.....oh and tell your secret lover Randy Mueller to go eff himself as well.....Losers in the making.....good luck Miami
How stinky. When Trent was asked if how he'd feel about being a backup he said that if he wanted that he'd hjave stayed in KC. That means that Cam promised him this spot. The reason that Daunte is being jettisoned away is because he doesn't want Danute to beat Trent out.
Cam eliminated competition from the QB spot. I wonder if the rest of the team still respects him. I don't.
Hey Folks,
The fun part is Cameron does not need your respect. That will be earned through wins and losses. The Dolphins were not going to improve with the current (previous now) roster. the offense was terrible. So what do you do? You change it!! That is what has happened. It is his team now. Hold the opinions until after they have played a season. peersonally, I just hope all the Samoan contingent makes it and we have the War dance prior to each game. We need some fun instead of the 17-14 snooze fest for the last three coaches. As for lying, Joe Gibbs, Joe Walsh, Don Shula all of them lied at one point or another, so get over it.
If you look at last years games. Out of the 10 games we lost. We should have won 5 or 6 of them. Brown was runnning their befense into the ground with a 5.5 to 6.2 yards per carry. Then Saban told the QB to start throwing the ball. What happen? INT after INT and some of them was return for TD.
I am looking at a 11-5 or a 12-4 season if we can stay away from injury.
Post a Comment
<< Home