Rookie QB Henne signs and is at practice

By Harvey Fialkov | Sun-Sentinel.com

5:36 PM EDT, July 26, 2008

The Dolphins announced the signing of rookie quarterback Chad Henne after the morning practice, in time to participate in the 5 p.m. session.

According to a source, Henne, the overall No. 57 pick, will receive a four-year deal worth approximately $3.5 million, with $1.5 million guaranteed.

Henne was the only Dolphins player to miss the morning session while he and his agent Justin Schulman ironed out final details of the contract.

"The concern for me is purely from a football standpoint,'' Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said after the morning practice. "I just worry that the installation is going on and for a young quarterback to be missing those installs is a concern.''

Sparano has declared the quarterback starting job as an open competition between Henne, veteran Josh McCown and second-year quarterback John Beck. Beck and McCown shared the first-team snaps in the 11-on-11 drills with Beck appearing a tad sharper. Sparano said that Henne will share snaps with the first team on Sunday, as part of his plan to dole out equal time with the starters in order to determine a starter, hopefully before the third preseason game.

TACKLE SHUFFLE

The Dolphins also cut undrafted rookie tackle Dan Gore and second-year Dolphins tackle Julius Wilson, and signed former Michigan guard Rueben Riley.

At 6-4, 305 pounds, Riley helped keep Henne upright in Ann Arbor from 2004-06. Riley was on the Carolina Panthers practice squad last season.