Dolphins sign Griz OL Quinn
Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 9:51 am
By FRITZ NEIGHBOR of the Missoulian
Former Montana Grizzly J.D. Quinn can pack his bags for Miami, while two other Griz - quarterback Cole Bergquist and offensive tackle Brent Russum - are still waiting for or weighing their pro football options.
With NFL rookie training camps set to open on or around May 18, Quinn is poised to join the Dolphins.
Armando Salguero, who blogs about the Dolphins for the Miami Herald, reported that the team signed Quinn following a two-day tryout and will announce the move early next week.
The 300-pounder from Garland, Texas, transferred to Montana from Oklahoma in the wake of an NCAA improper benefits scandal. He lost one full season to NCAA sanctions but played two seasons for the Griz, and was a first-team all-Big Sky Conference selection at guard in 2007.
Quinn played center in 2008 and, like teammates Russum and Colin Dow, went undrafted. Salguero wrote that Quinn impressed Miami's coaches and general manager Jeff Ireland enough to be offered a contract. He'll see familiar faces in Miami: Former Griz Dan Carpenter was the Dolphins' place-kicker as a rookie in 2008, and the Dolphins signed second-year running back Lex Hilliard to another contract in January.
Russum, meanwhile, still waits for a firm offer.
“I've just been talking to (agent) Ken Staninger every other day or so,” said the 300-pounder from Lewiston, Idaho. “If they haven't called by now, I don't know that they'll call, but I'm just staying optimistic, running, working out, doing my thing. May 18 is when rookie camps start. Then we'll know if that window has closed.”
Bergquist, Montana's No. 4 career passer, has yet to sign a contract. He had what he called a positive workout with the CFL's British Columbia Lions, though the contract offer they made shortly after Montana's season ended was off the table. He also had a two-day tryout with the San Diego Chargers.
“It was an awesome experience,” said Bergquist, who quarterbacked the Griz to a 14-2 mark last fall. “Our camp had all the veterans in there, too, so I learned from Philip Rivers and Billy Volek for the 2 1/2 days I was there.”
The Chargers offered him a spot at rookie camp, but Bergquist is weighing that offer while gearing up for a weekend tryout in California for the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
He hasn't ruled out the Chargers - “Shoot, they're my favorite team,” said the San Clemente, Calif., product - but a nonguaranteed NFL contract may hinder a chance at the CFL. Bergquist said a couple teams from up north have shown interest.
Two other Griz were signed shortly after the 2009 NFL draft: Safety Colt Anderson, who went to the Minnesota Vikings; and guard Colin Dow, who signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
QUICK KICKS: Staninger said last week that Anderson's signing bonus for the Vikings was on par with a seventh-round draft pick. Published bonuses for seventh-rounders have ranged from $36,000-$56,000. ... Kalispell native Mike Reilly was signed to a free-agent deal by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The quarterback is Division II Central Washington's career passing leader. ... Two Griz seniors, receiver Marc Mariani and offensive tackle Levi Horn, were named to the Consensus Draft Services preseason FCS All-American second team offense. Mariani was also named honorable mention at punt returner. ... Only two Big Sky Conference players were named to the 27-player (including specialists) first team: Guard Jeff Hanson of Montana State and center Kyle Mutcher of Weber State.
Former Montana Grizzly J.D. Quinn can pack his bags for Miami, while two other Griz - quarterback Cole Bergquist and offensive tackle Brent Russum - are still waiting for or weighing their pro football options.
With NFL rookie training camps set to open on or around May 18, Quinn is poised to join the Dolphins.
Armando Salguero, who blogs about the Dolphins for the Miami Herald, reported that the team signed Quinn following a two-day tryout and will announce the move early next week.
The 300-pounder from Garland, Texas, transferred to Montana from Oklahoma in the wake of an NCAA improper benefits scandal. He lost one full season to NCAA sanctions but played two seasons for the Griz, and was a first-team all-Big Sky Conference selection at guard in 2007.
Quinn played center in 2008 and, like teammates Russum and Colin Dow, went undrafted. Salguero wrote that Quinn impressed Miami's coaches and general manager Jeff Ireland enough to be offered a contract. He'll see familiar faces in Miami: Former Griz Dan Carpenter was the Dolphins' place-kicker as a rookie in 2008, and the Dolphins signed second-year running back Lex Hilliard to another contract in January.
Russum, meanwhile, still waits for a firm offer.
“I've just been talking to (agent) Ken Staninger every other day or so,” said the 300-pounder from Lewiston, Idaho. “If they haven't called by now, I don't know that they'll call, but I'm just staying optimistic, running, working out, doing my thing. May 18 is when rookie camps start. Then we'll know if that window has closed.”
Bergquist, Montana's No. 4 career passer, has yet to sign a contract. He had what he called a positive workout with the CFL's British Columbia Lions, though the contract offer they made shortly after Montana's season ended was off the table. He also had a two-day tryout with the San Diego Chargers.
“It was an awesome experience,” said Bergquist, who quarterbacked the Griz to a 14-2 mark last fall. “Our camp had all the veterans in there, too, so I learned from Philip Rivers and Billy Volek for the 2 1/2 days I was there.”
The Chargers offered him a spot at rookie camp, but Bergquist is weighing that offer while gearing up for a weekend tryout in California for the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
He hasn't ruled out the Chargers - “Shoot, they're my favorite team,” said the San Clemente, Calif., product - but a nonguaranteed NFL contract may hinder a chance at the CFL. Bergquist said a couple teams from up north have shown interest.
Two other Griz were signed shortly after the 2009 NFL draft: Safety Colt Anderson, who went to the Minnesota Vikings; and guard Colin Dow, who signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
QUICK KICKS: Staninger said last week that Anderson's signing bonus for the Vikings was on par with a seventh-round draft pick. Published bonuses for seventh-rounders have ranged from $36,000-$56,000. ... Kalispell native Mike Reilly was signed to a free-agent deal by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The quarterback is Division II Central Washington's career passing leader. ... Two Griz seniors, receiver Marc Mariani and offensive tackle Levi Horn, were named to the Consensus Draft Services preseason FCS All-American second team offense. Mariani was also named honorable mention at punt returner. ... Only two Big Sky Conference players were named to the 27-player (including specialists) first team: Guard Jeff Hanson of Montana State and center Kyle Mutcher of Weber State.
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No doubt I would! SLs suck!