Jags Cut QB Garrard, Gift for Dolphins?

David Garrard released after nine season with the Jacksonville Jaguars

So Chad Henne is the official starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins with less than a week before the season opener. The booing from the fans has stopped.

The "We want Orton" chants have gone quietly into the wind.

Then the Jacksonville Jaguars drop a bombshell that threatens to unsettle Henne's newfound tranquility.

The Jags released former Pro Bowl quarterback David Garrard on Tuesday in a surprise move that will certainly have QB-starved Dolfans wanting GM Jeff Ireland to hop on Southwest and take the short flight north.

Garrard is coming off a productive season and still has plenty in the tank at age 33. He's smart with the football and mobile enough to make plays with his feet.

The Jags didn't dump Garrard because he couldn't play. He threw 23 touchdowns and completed well over 60 percent of his pases last season. For his career, Garrard has a passer rating that hovers around 90 and he has 89 touchdown passes to 54 interceptions.

Jacksonville cut Garrard to save about $9 million. His price tag won't be nearly as steep now that he is unemployed.

Durability has been Garrard's biggest issue of late, but when healthy, he can put up numbers.

With all that being said, should the Dolphins, who openly chased Orton, go after Garrard, who will almost certainly be getting a call from several NFL teams before Sunday?

If Garrard came to the AFC East, he would be the second best QB in the division behind New England's Tom Brady.

He would instantly add veteran leadership at the position and would give the Dolphins great depth at the position, if they decide to keep Henne.

But the bigger question is can Garrard be the team's future after nine seasons in the league? Truth be told, the Dolphins don't know if Henne is their future either.

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