Green Finally A Dolphin; Culpepper Future In Doubt

It finally happened. Former Kansas City QB Trent Green is now a member of the Miami Dolphins.

After the two teams bickered back and forth for months, the Chiefs finally agreed to receive a fifth round pick (they wanted a fourth) and sent Green to the team that wanted him.

The deal gave Green a new lease on life and spelled the end of Daunte Culpepper's brief stint in Miami.

Culpepper was told right after the Green deal by Dolphin officials that they would like to trade him instead of just releasing him outright. The question is, will he ever be the same as he was and will any team take a chance on him?

Culpepper -- who is due to make $5.5 million this season -- played in only four games a year ago because of knee problems and is still trying to recover from major surgery in 2005. He also intended to take part in this weekend's minicamp, after receiving clearance from orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews to resume football activity earlier this week.

Green is expected to undergo a physical in South Florida on Wednesday. If he passes it, the long-awaited deal between the Dolphins and Chiefs will be completed. If completed, Green will be at the Miami minicamp on Friday.

In 5½ seasons as Kansas City's starter, Green threw for 21,459 yards -- an average of 244 per game -- and 118 touchdowns while completing 62 percent of his passes. He missed eight games last season because of a concussion suffered in the season opener, and didn't believe he'd have a chance to fairly compete with Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard for the starting job in KC in 2007.

Green was throwing the ball well at a recent Chiefs minicamp and will move in immediately as the Dolphins starter. They also drafted BYU QB John Beck and have Cleo Lemon as backups.

Green still has some years left in his arm and with his long relationship with Cam Cameron (he was quarterbacks coach when Green was in Washington in 1995-96) the offense should click right away with Green at the helm.

Culpepper will have to wait and see what develops in the trade market. Most teams will be hesitant to pull the trigger on Culpepper until they see if he's a hundred percent back. It could be awhile before the former All-Pro learns his fate.