Miami Dolphins trade for Sage Rosenfels

[digital7]

Rosenfels sent packing to the Dolphins

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By Len Pasquarelli

ESPN.com

The Washington Redskins on Thursday alleviated their logjam at quarterback trading second-year player Sage Rosenfels to the Miami Dolphins, ESPN.com has learned.

The Redskins received the Dolphins' seventh-round choice in the 2003 draft in exchange for Rosenfels. Miami had acquired an extra seventh-round selection Tuesday when they sent offensive lineman Cornell Green to Tampa Bay.

There is one condition to the deal: In the unlikely event that Rosenfels plays 50 percent of the snaps this season, Washington could opt to accept a fifth-round choice in the 2004 draft instead of the No. 7 pick in the 2003 lottery.

Just before midnight, ESPN.com learned that the Redskins made their second trade of the day, acquiring eighth-year veteran guard Brenden Stai from Detroit for an undisclosed draft choice.

Rosenfels, 24, has completed 32 of 54 passes this preseason for 476 yards. He has five touchdown passes, two interceptions and a 103.6 passer rating. Rosenfels threw for three touchdowns in the 35-34 comeback victory Sunday over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The former Iowa State standout did not play in a single game as a rookie.

"I thought I played well (in preseason), but when I looked at the numbers, I knew they probably wouldn't keep all four of (the quarterbacks in camp)," Rosenfels said. "So this is a chance to go somewhere and show people I can play in the league. It's a pretty good situation."

Although he has performed well in camp and the preseason, Rosenfels was behind veterans Danny Wuerffel and Shane Matthews on the depth chart. The Redskins also have first-round choice Patrick Ramsey on the roster, and opted not to go into the regular season with all four.

However, sources told ESPN.com that Redskins coach Steve Spurrier did not agree to the trade until he put Ramsey through a rigorous recall session Thursday afternoon. The former Tulane star, the final selection in the first round of the draft but a player who missed considerable training camp time because of a contract dispute, apparently was impressive in his grasp of the complicated Spurrier offense.

Ramsey has gotten very few repetitions even in practice and at least now he will get some snaps.

Miami has been seeking a veteran backup for its No. 3 spot on the depth chart. The primary backup behind starter Jay Fiedler is Ray Lucas. But after him, the team had only a pair of rookie undrafted free agents, Tim Levcik of Robert Morris and Zak Kustok of Northwestern. One of the youngsters likely will be retained for the Miami practice squad.

Miami also is working on a trade to acquire a cornerback, although the identity of the player they are pursuing is unknown.

The acquisition of Stai certainly upgrades a problem area for the Redskins, whose interior line has struggled throughout camp.

Washington had been pursuing a guard for more than a week now and had spoken with the Oakland Raiders about several scenarios. But in the last few days, the Redskins had concentrated on the Lions, who were willing to part with either Stai or Tony Semple.

There are some in the Redskins organization, including at least one coach, who favored Semple, a player Washington nearly signed this spring as a free agent.

Stai is under contract through 2005 and the Redskins will assume his current deal. It includes base salaries of $750,000 (for 2002), $1.2 million (2003), $1.5 million (2004) and $1.82 million (2005). Washington attempted just after the trade was completed to restructure the deal, but Stai rebuffed those overtures.

[meng]

whatever.......can the Dolphins not give me a headache every weekend this season?...They are the most frustrating team to watch play....