Fiedler to Start for Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins gave A.J. Feeley every opportunity to win the starting quarterback job this season. They did the same thing with Brian Griese and Damon Huard in recent years.

Jay Fiedler has beaten them all.

Fiedler was named Miami’s starter for the fifth consecutive season Tuesday after a six-month competition with Feeley. But Coach Dave Wannstedt said that the decision was effective only for Sunday’s opener against the Tennessee Titans.

“Jay is starting because he gives the team the best chance to win this week,” Wannstedt said.

Fiedler completed 20 of 33 passes for 199 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions during the exhibition season. Feeley completed 23 of 41 passes for 244 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

Said Feeley about the decision: “You always want to be the guy, so there has to be some sort of disappointment.”

The Dolphins traded a second-round draft pick in March for Feeley, who had been the Philadelphia Eagles’ third-string quarterback. Then they signed him to a five-year deal worth $21.6 million.

The team also gave Fiedler permission to pursue a trade. He briefly tested the market before agreeing to a restructured contract with the Dolphins that eliminated the $2-million bonus he was due to collect in April.

Fiedler is 35-17 in four seasons as a starter.

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Morten Andersen, 44, the second-leading scorer in NFL history, signed with the Minnesota Vikings only a few days after being cut by the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Vikings released Brett Conway, who lasted only a week as the replacement for Aaron Elling.

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The average ticket price for an NFL game this season will be more than $54, a 4.9% increase from 2003.

According to Team Marketing Report’s annual survey, the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers had the biggest increases.

The Falcons’ average ticket price is up 26.2% to $43.71, and the NFC champion Panthers raised theirs 18% to $50.23.

Only the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks decreased ticket prices.

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Pittsburgh Steeler Coach Bill Cowher confirmed that Duce Staley, not Jerome Bettis, will be the starter at running back. The move had been considered a formality since Staley was given a $4-million signing bonus in March, but the Steelers had never made the change official and Cowher played them both during the exhibition season.

The New York Giants changed kickers five days before their opener at Philadelphia, signing veteran Steve Christie and releasing Todd France.... Tennessee kicker Joe Nedney left practice early after suffering an undisclosed injury while kicking off a tee.