Atlanta Falcons President, Rick Mckay, Chairman of the NFL Competition Committee.
Last week it was reported the NFL Players Association wanted the NFL to look into the way the Miami Dolphins have been doing business this off season. On the surface, I can understand they are looking out for their players and want to make sure every NFL team is putting their best foot forward to putting a competitive product on the field, but the reality is the NFL can’t do anything. They can look into this next year to try to prevent teams from tanking, but until that time nothing can be done. The NFL has better things to worry about than how a team conducts their business, such as the off the field behavior of Antonio Brown or getting a new collective bargaining agreement deal. This all strings from a series of moves in the last few weeks of the Dolphins trading away some of their best players.
However, if you take a closer look at a couple of those deals you have to ask yourself would you or any other team have made that deal as well? A few weeks ago, the Dolphins traded Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Still to the Houston Texans for 2 first round picks and a second-round pick. 2 ones and a two for an up and coming left tackle and a number 3 wide receiver–why wouldn’t you make that deal? The Dolphins are getting a lot of draft capital to rebuild this team in the future. Then just last week, the Dolphins traded Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a first-round pick in next year’s draft. The interesting part of this deal is the Steelers just lost their starting quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, for the entire season and this first round pick could potentially become a top 10 pick so again why not make the deal? The Dolphins also traded linebacker Kiko Alonso to the New Orleans Saints in a player for player deal, so the trade didn’t really amount to anything other than the team saving money under the salary cap.
Alonso and Fitzpatrick didn’t want to be here because they didn’t like the direction the team was going or the way they were being used on the field so if you can get the best deal for them and they don’t want to be here, why not make the move? The Stills and Tunsil deal were just one of those deals in which the Texans made the Dolphins an offer they couldn’t refuse. I highly doubt any team in the NFL would turn down a deal in which they would receiver two first rounders and a second. The trades don’t look good from the outside because the Dolphins are giving away talent, but they are receiving quality picks.
The Dolphins, as I’ve stated in previous articles, are rebuilding and trying something new, so you can’t fault them for trying a different approach because their previous approach was getting them nowhere. This roster is being gutted and it’s probably too excessive, but it’s part of their new way of doing things. If the Dolphins can make good on these extra picks and extra cap space the next few years to put a winning product on the field, no one is going to look back and say this was terrible. However, right now it’s short term pain for potential long-term success.
Well said
The NFL could look at a team(s) for Tanking. Especially if groups pressures the NFL to look at it. I think using the word tanking is wrong or ignorants and you are calling them out as purposely losing for a next years first pick. This has been a issue in professional sports and fines was issued. We all know that all great draft picks don’t always come in the first round. Zack Thomas! The players and coaches at this level are not losers. Purposely losing could cost huge problems in the locker room and with fans.
You said it right by saying the Dolphins are “gutting and rebuilding” and it’s that simply. If there is a great trade deal, make them. If there is a player(s) that don’t want to be there, get what you can for him and get them out ASAP. I think the Dolphins management are making good decisions and looking into the future. Only time will tell.
I will still support the Dolphins through what ever storm rolls through. I’m thinking of flying in for either the Redskins or Jets game.