Free Agent Frenzy Leaves One Team’s Fans With a Bitter Taste

As soon as the NFL lockout ended, all hell was set to break loose as players looked for new homes. It seemed as if most teams were organized, had a plan and began executing it. Apparently the plan for the Miami Dolphins (I am a Dolphin die-hard) was to continue down the road of being a terrible football team.

The Miami Dolphins last year had an above average defense, a fairly good running game, and a TERRIBLE passing game.  All logic pointed to the Dolphins going out and acquiring an NFL starting-caliber QB. And let me stress starting-caliber, because as we sit here on August 4th they have two NFL 3rd stringers and an undrafted FA (might be the best option) on their roster. Jeff Ireland watched Kevin Kolb and Donovan McNabb get traded, Vince Young and Matt Hasselbeck sign with other teams.

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Depth All Around

The Miami Dolphins and the Minnesota Vikings did the unusual in the NFL yesterday.  They completed a trade that adds depth and consistency in places of need. The swap sent Greg Camarillo to the Vikes and Benny Sapp back to his hometown Dolphins.
 
With Sidney Rice going down for at least half the season due to hip surgery the Vikes need help at the WR position.  They certainly got that in Greg Camarillo. Camarillo has been the model of consistency for the Dolphins the last three seasons. He is a great route runner and possesses great hands.  He did not drop a pass last season before he was injured.
 
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Teams Ready to Make an Impact

Let’s look at the five teams that have made the best moves of the offseason via trades or free agent signings:

N.Y. Jets: The Jets made a flurry of moves in an effort to cement themselves as a Super Bowl contender.  They went out and added Antonio Cromartie and Jason Taylor on the defensive side of the ball. Cromartie provides the Jets with depth at the CB back position.  If/once Revis returns to the team, Cromartie most likely will be the Nickel DB with the emergence of highly touted rookie Kyle Wilson.  Taylor comes over from the Dolphins and immediately improves the Jets pass rush, even at his age.

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Playing Devil’s Advocate with Brandon Marshall

The Broncos and Dolphins pulled off a blockbuster trade Wednesday that sent wide receiver Brandon Marshall to Miami in exchange for a 2nd round pick in this year’s draft and another 2nd rounder in 2011. Of course we won’t know which team got the better of the deal for quite some time but it’s always fun to speculate, no? Let’s play a little devil’s advocate:

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‘Phins Lose Ronnie Brown for Season, Wild Card Hopes Fade

Miami’s road to their second straight playoff appearance took a serious hit Wednesday when it was learned that Ronnie Brown would be lost for the rest of the season (foot). Put it this way: not even our resident ‘Phins fan Pat G. is giving his team much of a chance against Carolina on Thursday night. In fact, all of our staffers like the Panthers to take care of business and propel themselves back into the NFC Wild Card hunt.

Look for your Week 11 Staff Picks and Weekly Assignments on Friday. GOOD NIGHT.

Tuesday Morning Headlines: ‘Fins Ground Jets with Wildcat

Chad Henne out-dueled Mark Sanchez in South Beach, but the real story was the inability of the Jets defense to stop the Wildcat. ‘Fins win an AFC East thriller, 31-27. (Miami Herald)

Rex Ryan sure took the loss hard. Complete embarrassment? Take it easy man… (New York Times)

Redskins CB Carlos Rogers is saying what everyone else is thinking – may not be good for job security though. (Pro Football Talk)

The Chiefs will be the sixth straight winless team the Redskins have faced this season. Cupcakes lined up every week and they’re 2-3 – awesome. (Shutdown Corner)

BREAKING NEWS: Wade Phillips will increase Miles Austin’s role after his 250 yard, 2 TD performance on Sunday. Good idea Wade, way to make those tough decisions. (Dallas Morning News)

Good news for Rams fan: the Kyle Boller era is over…for now. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Bad news for Rams fan: 0-5, turnovers, bad defense, bad offense, Rush Limbaugh, etc. We’re sorry. Hey, at least you’re not the Raiders. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Check out Bills QB Gibran Hamden interview Marshawn Lynch. Beast Mode in rare form – funny stuff. (Bills.com)

From One Chad to the Next…Or Not

On Sunday afternoon, the season and potentially career ended for one of the most underrated QB’s in NFL history.  Chad Pennington was put on IR today by the Miami Dolphins due to a torn capsule in his right shoulder.  This will be Pennington’s third surgery on his right shoulder and might force the quarterback into retirement.

Pennington, who is one of the great guys in the NFL, also is the most accurate QB in NFL history.  He never had a laser for an arm, but was always able to put a great touch on the ball to complete passes.  The ball just seemed to float into the receiver, and it always drove opposing fans and players crazy as they were left wondering how they weren’t able to get to the ball.  As a Dolphins fan, I have witnessed both sides of Pennington.  I have been driven crazy by the Fins defense not getting to the ball when he was the field general for the Jets and then last season fully appreciating his abilities as he led the Dolphins from a 1-15 season to an 11-5 season and an AFC East Division title.

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Morning Headlines: Carolina’s Blue

The Panthers dropped to 0-3 after a 21-7 loss to the Cowboys last night in Jerry World. Stick a fork in Jake Delhomme – three more turnovers?! You can’t expect to compete when your QB is more likely to throw a pick 6 than a touchdown pass. At this point I’m just concerned for Jake’s safety – Steve Smith was losing his mind on the sidelines. Bank on some fireworks during Carolina’s upcoming bye week. (Charlotte Observer)

Bad news for Dolphins fans: Chad Pennington’s season, perhaps his career, is finished. Chad Henne will be responsible for leading Miami to their first win in 2009. Yikes. (Miami Herald)

Alright, I’ll say it: I feel bad for Jim Zorn. It truly is not IF, but WHEN. (Washington Post)

The Niners learned that Frank Gore will be sidelined for the next two games with an ankle injury sustained in Sunday’s loss to the Vikes. I say his replacement Glenn Coffee gets off this week against the Rams. (San Francisco Chronicle)

David Clowney was inactive against the Titans on Sunday because he complained about his playing time via Twitter. Rex Ryan don’t play that, Clowney. (New York Daily News)