MIAMI -- The Miami Dolphins gave quarterback Jay Fiedler permission to seek a trade after arranging a deal to acquire A.J. Feeley from the Philadelphia Eagles as a probable replacement, Fiedler's agent said Monday.
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The Dolphins have confirmed trade talks with the Eagles but declined to say whether a deal for Feeley is in place. Miami is expected to give Philadelphia a conditional second-round draft pick in 2005 in the trade, which can't be completed until the offseason trading period begins March 3.
Fiedler's agent, Brian Levy, said he is seeking a new team for his client, and six teams have expressed interest. Levy declined to identify any of them.
Levy said Fiedler is scheduled to meet Wednesday with Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt, who will be returning from the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. But the Dolphins already have indicated Feeley is the front-runner to become the starter, Levy said.
"Jay has done nothing to lose the job," Levy said. "Now the job is open, and it would be a surprise if Jay won the job. It doesn't make sense."
Jay Fiedler's contract indicates strongly he'll be moving soon.(AP)
Fiedler has been erratic and injury-prone since succeeding Dan Marino as the Dolphins' quarterback in 2000. Fiedler has gone 35-17 with them but has led the Dolphins to just one postseason victory, and they've failed to make the postseason the past two years.
Fiedler is unlikely to remain with Miami as a backup in part because he's due a $2 million option in April, and his base salary for 2004 is $3.7 million.
His backup last season, Brian Griese, is likely to be released for financial reasons. Miami has two other quarterbacks, Sage Rosenfels and Clint Stoerner.
The Dolphins set their sights on Feeley after failing to acquire Mark Brunell from Jacksonville or Patrick Ramsey from Washington. The trade would be Miami's first major move since an organizational shake-up that stripped Wannstedt of his authority over personnel and promoted Rick Spielman to general manager.
Feeley, a fifth-round draft choice in 2001, didn't play last season as Philadelphia's third-string quarterback behind Donovan McNabb and Koy Detmer. The Eagles went 4-1 with Feeley when McNabb and Detmer were hurt in 2002.
Feeley's agent, David Dunn, didn't return a call seeking comment.
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