"Last year in his final news conference Dolphins coach Tony Sparano gave Chad Pennington a ringing endorsement, naming the savvy veteran the team's starting quarterback for 2009.

This year in his final news conference Sparano praised Chad Henne, who was 7-6 as a first-year starter. But Sparano stopped short of anointing Henne the starting quarterback heading into 2010.

"I have to sit back now and look at the entire body of work and see what Chad did really well, and what Chad didn't do really well. But I am really pleased with what Chad did, I really am," Sparano said. "This guy, he is a pretty curious guy. He likes to get better at the things he is not good at … I really like what I have seen in Chad right now."

Henne completed 60.8 percent of his passes for 2,878 yards and 12 touchdowns. But he threw 14 interceptions, most of which came in the fourth-quarter, and was sacked 26 times.

Pennington, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the third game, will be an unrestricted free agent, and it's doubtful he'll be re-signed because he wants to compete for a starting spot."