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Sage Rosenfels column: Jay Cutler set up to succeed in Miami

Steve Mitchell / USA TODAY Sports

It seems like every August there's a surprise that shoots the NFL - already America's favorite league - to the top of sports headlines.

Last year, it was Tony Romo injuring his back in a preseason game. A few weeks later, the Minnesota Vikings suffered a similar fate when their starting quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, went down in a practice just 13 days before their season opener.

The 2017 version of the "August Surprise" is Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill's knee injury, suffered during an early training camp practice.

The Dolphins' situation is a mix of what happened in both Minnesota and Dallas. Like the Vikings, their starting quarterback is presumably out for the entire season, which meant they couldn't simply wait and watch how things played out. On the other hand, like Dallas, they have a strong running game and receiving corps.

Convincing Jay Cutler to come out of retirement was a no-brainer for head coach Adam Gase. Cutler, who played for Gase with Chicago, had one of the best years of his career under his direction in 2015.

Cutler is also only 34, which means his retirement was more about lack of interest around the league than his inability to play the position. Teams looking for a starting quarterback to be the face of the franchise rarely "start over" with a 34-year-old, especially one who played poorly the year before.

Cutler was a different quarterback in 2015. Not only was his on-field performance an improvement over his previous six seasons in Chicago, but his press conference attitude was more upbeat and positive. It was obvious Cutler enjoyed playing for Gase. There was mutual respect between player and coach, which hadn't always been the case in the past.

Gase and general manager Mike Tannenbaum are the lucky ones in this situation. They've found a legitimate NFL starter (though Cutler haters may dispute that claim) without having to give up any draft picks. More than that, they found a quarterback who already knows Gase's system.

Lastly, the injury occurred at the beginning of training camp, which means Cutler will have five weeks to get acclimated to Miami's players, and the South Florida heat.

That said, what happens beyond this season is anyone's guess. Like Minnesota, who could have Sam Bradford, Bridgewater, or someone else starting in 2018, the Dolphins could go in multiple directions.

Cutler could very easily play well. He has an excellent offense around him, with three legitimate wide receiver threats and a tight end who can be a matchup nightmare for defenses. Most importantly, he has a real running game, as Jay Ajayi's performance down the stretch was one of the many reasons Tannehill had one of his best NFL seasons last year.

If Cutler plays well, would he and Miami be interested in a long-term deal, thus releasing Tannehill? Yes, Cutler is 34, but quarterbacks are playing longer and longer these days. Tom Brady just turned 40, and Cutler is a much better athlete than Brady.

If he plays poorly, do they quickly switch to backup Matt Moore, who's one of the five best backups in the league? Last season, Moore played well in Tannehill’s absence, ending the season with a quarterback rating over 100. Like Cutler, he knows Gase's offense well, and has excelled in it in the past.

Tannehill is under contract with the Dolphins through 2020, but there's no more money guaranteed to him. Miami will have decisions to make after this season, and his future with the team will be at the forefront of their conversations.

Tannehill's future in Miami is unknown, but what is known is that the Dolphins are so far the unlucky team this season. Fortunately, they found a reputable replacement who knows the system, without having to give up draft-pick compensation. If Cutler plays well, they may have found a new quarterback for the coming seasons, too.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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