Dolphins played shrewd QB game

But were they smart in not taking one at all?

DAVIE — So now we know: Quarterback was never on the Miami Dolphins’ shopping list. Not in the first round. Not in the seventh round. Not anywhere except as selfmanufactured news, a pre-draft juke, which worked rather shrewdly when you study it, as you’ll see.

Whether not drafting a quarterback at will was just as shrewd depends on what you think of Brock Osweiler or David Fales as backups this year. And if they’re needed to save a season.

This was never about Ryan Tannehill’s job this coming season. The coach, the owner and general manager named him the starter from the day last season finished. What, anyone needed more confirmation?

This draft was a referendum on Tannehill’s future and the backup job today, though. About their comfort level in Osweiler and Fales. About if they’ve learned enough lessons the past two years when Tannehill was hurt and Plan B went into play.

“The most important player on the team is the starting quarterback,” Jimmy Johnson said recently. “The second-most important player is the backup quarterback.”

There are always quibbles in drafts, even good ones like this, considering the Dolphins followed their plan. Speed? Versatility? Matchup problems? The Dolphins drafted for a defense to handle the modern, three-wide-receiver formations and for a tight-end position that’s been empty for years.

Then there was the forever-discussed issue of quarterback. It was a ruse. General manager Chris Grier said they never tar-