DAVIE, FLA. (AP) - The jeers have begun for Miami quarterback Chad Henne, much to the dismay of his coach.
Fans attending a practice at the Dolphins’ stadium booed their much-maligned quarterback, then chanted “We want Orton!” in reference to the team’s recent courtship of Denver’s Kyle Orton.
“It really makes me sick,” Sparano said Wednesday. “When people come to the stadium like that in one of those kind of events to support the Miami Dolphins, that’s what we should be thinking about.”
Admission was free for the evening practice Monday as a goodwill gesture after the NFL lockout.
Boos started following a couple of errant passes by Henne toward the end of practice. Then came the chant for Orton, who remains the Broncos’ starter despite trade talks with Miami.
Sparano said he doesn’t think Henne was shaken by the fan treatment.
“I’m not worried about how it affects anybody,” he said. “We’re all big boys here.”
The Dolphins wanted to acquire a quarterback this summer to compete with Henne for the starting job, but their only significant addition at the position has been Matt Moore, who went 1-4 as a starter last year for Carolina.
Henne is No. 1 even though he threw 19 interceptions last year and was benched for a stretch.
“No one is doubting him inside the building, only outside the building,” receiver Brian Hartline said.
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