Miami ships WR Chambers to SD

FOX Sports Net ^ | October 16, 2007 | Jay Glazer, Alex Marvez

[Terpfen]

San Diego has acquired wide receiver Chris Chambers from the Miami Dolphins for what it believed a second-round draft choice, FOXSports.com has learned.

Chambers confirmed the trade in an email to FOXSports, but declined further comment until speaking with Dolphins coach Cam Cameron and general manager Randy Mueller.

[admiralsn]

Is Huizenga pulling a Florida Marlins with the Dolphins??

[Terpfen]

Hardly. Huizenga was told this would be a playoff team. Mueller did not expect the defense to collapse the way it has, which means we need draft picks—lots of them—to fix the team ASAP.

The Dolphins are probably in the top five in terms of professional sports teams with pressure to win. I guarantee you that Huizenga is not pleased, and the decision to trade Chambers is only one decision in a larger scheme to put the younger players out there, as stated by Cam Cameron today. This means Huizenga has approved, and has basically given up on the playoffs for this year.

Randy Mueller’s job is on the line, and he needs to rebuild the defense NOW.

[Badeye]

I think thats a fair assessment.

I don’t see them beating the Pats, but they could beat the Colts. Just my opinion.

[The Pack Knight]

You're right about QB, but Darren McFadden has to be looking good at this point, though. Ronnie Brown's solid, but 2-back systems seem to be becoming mandatory in the NFL these days. Yeah, they'll probably get Ricky Williams back, but I for one am not convinced he's worth anything anymore.

Other than someone like McFadden, it should be just about all defense in the draft for them, maybe taking a steal at WR in the mid to late rounds if one pops up. Glenn Dorsey would be good first round pick. Nothing takes the weight off a developing defense like a dominant run-stopping DT.

[The Pack Knight]

“In spite of” is right. I’d like to think the Chargers are so good no coach could screw them up, but then I remember we’re talking about Norv Turner, who’s made a career of screwing up perfectly good teams.

[Terpfen]

Ronnie Brown's solid, but 2-back systems seem to be becoming mandatory in the NFL these days.

"Solid?" Ronnie Brown is one of the top 3 RBs in the NFL, and is currently leading the league in yards from scrimmage. Behind him is Jesse Chatman, Lorenzo Booker, and Patrick Cobbs. Miami is not taking Darren McFadden. Ricky Williams is gone the second someone proposes a draft pick for his rights, and Patrick Cobbs is likely going to be sent away for a draft pick as well. Using Chatman to spell Ronnie, and Booker as a play-action demon plus slot receiver means the RB corps is probably the brightest spot on this team.

Other than someone like McFadden, it should be just about all defense in the draft for them, maybe taking a steal at WR in the mid to late rounds if one pops up.

WR in the late rounds may happen, but I doubt it. It depends on how Marty Booker handles being the #1, or if he doesn't get traded away. Ginn is on the fast-track to becoming the #1 WR. Derek Hagan will be getting a LOT of playing time, and if he comes along, then we have a solid starting WR corps.

WR Kerry Reed will likely be activated off the practice squad at some point, and he's notable only because he and John Beck were playing so damn well together during training camp. If they can translate that connection to touchdowns during real games, then Reed will be on the team for a long time.

[GraniteStateConservative]

From 1998-2003, the Dolphins drafted or traded for on draft day a total of 59 players (49/10).

0 of those 59 are on the 2007 active roster.

[mainepatsfan]

I heard that stat yesterday. You’d think a blind squirrel would eventually find an acorn.

[dfwgator]

Can the Dolphins bring back Don Shula?

[Badeye]

Wow, thats pretty bad.

I’ve always wondered what caused Dan Marino to run away from the GM job with the Dolphins a few years back....

[Terpfen]

Indeed. That’s the main problem this franchise has dealt with; crappy drafting.

Thankfully, it appears as if the 2007 draft has changed that trend. 9 of the 10 rookies drafted have made the roster, and a good number of them are contributing significantly.

[Terpfen]

It wasn’t the GM job. It was a position Huizenga had created specifically for Marino. Marino didn’t understand what the job entailed, and after a week he just called it quits. Better for both him and the Dolphins that way.

[Badeye]

Hmmmm, so when he’s mocked about being the ‘GM of the Dolphins for ten minutes’ its more about the the fact it was a meaningless figurehead position, huh?

Thanks.

[Terpfen]

No, it had real authority. He agreed to be the Senior Vice President of Football Operations. It wasn’t the GM role, it was just a supervisory position to have someone with actual football knowledge—keep in mind that Dave Wannstedt was the coach at the time—track what was going on and advise Huizenga on what the heck to do with Wannstedt. Huizenga probably approached Don Shula for the job first, but Shula’s too old to work a stressful job like that.

I wouldn’t mind seeing the position revived for Marty Schottenheimer, but Cameron probably doesn’t want to work under Schotty again when he’s trying to make a name for himself as a head coach.

[Badeye]

Hmmm, Marty still has a couple of years to go on the Chargers contract doesn’t he?

Personally, if I were him I’d just keep playing golf and collecting San Diego paychecks...laughing all the way to the bank.