Dolphins sign Griz OL Quinn

[Eastcoastgriz]

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.

[GrizinWashington]

Good for J.D.

[TIrwin24]

Ten bucks says he'll follow in Ricky Williams' footsteps.

[GrizinWashington]

Ten bucks says he'll follow in Ricky Williams' footsteps.

Only ten? You're clearly not real confident. I'll take the bet, but I propose a more reasonable number: say $10,000.

[cats2506]

Ten bucks says he'll follow in Ricky Williams' footsteps.

Only ten? You're clearly not real confident. I'll take the bet, but I propose a more reasonable number: say $10,000.

wassa matter DHiW, afraid of loosing 10 bucks.

Note to others -- To look like a big man on an internet message board and prove you are right it alway helps to make bets of large sums of money.

DHiW living up to your name

JD "give me one for the road" Quinn will be outta work by the time they make the last cuts in August.

[TIrwin24]

Ten bucks says he'll follow in Ricky Williams' footsteps.

Only ten? You're clearly not real confident. I'll take the bet, but I propose a more reasonable number: say $10,000.

Nope, sorry I'm not a huge gambler. But consider me good for 10 bucks over Quinn's career with the Dolphins. I'm in if you are.

[BDizzle]

Ten bucks says he'll follow in Ricky Williams' footsteps.

Only ten? You're clearly not real confident. I'll take the bet, but I propose a more reasonable number: say $10,000.

wassa matter DHiW, afraid of loosing 10 bucks.

Note to others -- To look like a big man on an internet message board and prove you are right it alway helps to make bets of large sums of money.

DHiW living up to your name

JD "give me one for the road" Quinn will be outta work by the time they make the last cuts in August.

Note to others - - To look like a big man on an internet message board it always helps to belittle people you have never met and are now playing professional football.

[TIrwin24]

Coming from a guy that calls himself BDizzle...

[GrizinWashington]

• IQof25.06 couldn't look like a big man in a world of pygmies.
  
  I'll bet whatever sum you piddly peons desire, but I'll require that the terms of the bet be outlined specifically and that the funds are placed in escrow (there is history to consider, after all....)
  
  The good news is that if JD does decide to follow in Ricky Williams' footsteps, he won't have to look far for his connection: former msu players, assistant coaches....

[GOKATS]

• IQof25.06 couldn't look like a big man in a world of pygmies.
  
  I'll bet whatever sum you piddly peons desire, but I'll require that the terms of the bet be outlined specifically and that the funds are placed in escrow (there is history to consider, after all....)
  
  The good news is that if JD does decide to follow in Ricky Williams' footsteps, he won't have to look far for his connection: former msu players, assistant coaches....

or he can just contact his former players at dUMb.................or anyone else at dUMb for that matter..............San Franzoula- peace and drug capital of the world.

[TIrwin24]

• IQof25.06 couldn't look like a big man in a world of pygmies.
  
  I'll bet whatever sum you piddly peons desire, but I'll require that the terms of the bet be outlined specifically and that the funds are placed in escrow (there is history to consider, after all....)
  
  The good news is that if JD does decide to follow in Ricky Williams' footsteps, he won't have to look far for his connection: former msu players, assistant coaches....

I would bet my student loans, but if you saw that figure, you might cry.

I'm good on my word. But are you...

[BDizzle]

Coming from a guy that calls himself BDizzle...

Funny thing is some of your beloved Bobcat players came up with that name for me.

[whitetrashgriz]

i think if quinn had half of the career, and a quarter of the money that ricky williams has he'd be a happy guy! i think i see what the original post was trying to do, but the fact of the matter is that quinn is likely to be done in the league in a few months. him along with 90% of the other undrafted free agents. and if he's still around when the season starts...that in itself is a huge accomplishment imo.

[GrizinWashington]

I would bet my student loans, but if you saw that figure, you might cry.

No doubt I would! SLs suck!

I'm good on my word. But are you...

I am. And I believe you are too, TI.


(and FWIW, I suspect JD won't make more than the practice squad. But I don't think he'll be a discipline problem).

[SonomaCat]

And just for a little context, RW getting kicked out of the NFL for smoking pot means he is just as bad a person as a guy getting kicked out of BYU for drinking a beer. Neither is an example a person doing harm to anyone and is just a sign of some silly rules being in place.

So if Quinn's trangression going-forward amount to nothing more than what RW did, he will be a model citizen. Unfortunately, he's already done way, way worse than RW ever did (DUI). Of course, almost everyone on this board is guilty of that as well.

Here's to hoping that Quinn (and the rest of us) are done with our drinking and driving days. If that's the case, then all is well.

[GrizinWashington]

So, what is our bet anyhow??

[Billings_Griz]

Coming from a guy that calls himself BDizzle...

Nah, bdizz a good guy. Never bought a damn drink but a good guy, none-the-less.

[TIrwin24]

So, what is our bet anyhow??

The bet is:

If JD Quinn gets into legal trouble of any kind while with the Dolphins (his entire stay with the club) and is suspended for any length of time, you owe me 10 bucks.

If not, I owe you 10 bucks.

[GrizinWashington]

So, what is our bet anyhow??

The bet is:

If JD Quinn gets into legal trouble of any kind while with the Dolphins (his entire stay with the club) and is suspended for any length of time, you owe me 10 bucks.

If not, I owe you 10 bucks.

Fair enough! I'm in!!

[TIrwin24]

So, what is our bet anyhow??

The bet is:

If JD Quinn gets into legal trouble of any kind while with the Dolphins (his entire stay with the club) and is suspended for any length of time, you owe me 10 bucks.

If not, I owe you 10 bucks.

Fair enough! I'm in!!

Deal!