Philbin: Miami Dolphins Quarterback Competition "Close"

With the Miami Dolphins in the midst of organized team activities, the speculation and practice performances will be defined by the hyperbole of reactions. Every dropped pass, overthrown ball, fumble, or missed block will signal the end of the world for some player, or destine the Dolphins for failure, while a touchdown, sack, interception, or long pass will show that the Dolphins are going to make a run at a second perfect season - in the 40th anniversary of the 1972 Dolphins' team.

Hyperbole abounds among the media and fans. Meanwhile, for the Dolphins' coaching staff, it's the time of the season to downplay everything, and give away nothing. Miami head coach Joe Philbin did exactly that earlier today.

"I think it's very close," Philbin said on the Joe Rose Show on 560WQAM about the quarterback competition. "I think it's very close. I think they all bring different attributes to the table. I will say that the room itself, the quality of the individuals in the room, I think is excellent."

Really, what did we expect the coach, who has said he plans to make a decision on the starting quarterback between Weeks 2 and 3 of the preseason, to say. That Matt Moore, David Garrard, or rookie Ryan Tannehill had jumped out into the lead and the competition was over?

During this week's OTAs, Moore once again looked good - not great, but good - while Tannehill still looked indecisive as he tries to get used to the speed of an NFL secondary. Garrard, meanwhile, was home in Jacksonville with his wife after Tropical Storm Beryl damaged their home.

Plus, if Philbin announced his decision now, wouldn't that get rid of a storyline for HBO's Hard Knocks, featuring the Dolphins, this August?