NFL Teams Begin Offseason Shakeups

As the NFL Offseason gets into full swing several teams attempt to superman the MO-mentum.

It is nice to see teams that had such disappointing performances last season not settling. I mean as a Vikings fan I have watched several offseasons come and go wondering why nothing was done to improve, when I assume they were as unhappy with the previous season as I was.

This Offseason the long suffering Dolphins and Falcons fans can at least take solace in the fact that their teams seem commited to getting better. The Panthers fans while not nearly as bad off as those two camps, can at least see small signs of improvement.

The Dolphins began their offseason remodel under Bill Parcells. They kicked things off first by dumping Marty Booker(WR), Trent Green(QB), L.J. Shelton(OT), Keith Traylor(DT),Anthony Alabi(OT), Anthony Bryant(DT), Marion Dukes(OT), Marquay Love(DT), Joe Toledo(OT). Then they commited the de-aging process by telling Zach Thomes(LB) he would no longer be needed. Honestly, it would seem lik a scary proposition to dump almost 20 percent of your teams roster, especially a face of the franchise guylike Thomas. Then again when you're 1-and-15 you probably ought to look to dump even more. Bottom line while I may not be sure move to move about the Dolphins decision. I am sure I would have confidence in Parcells.


The Panthers came to the get younger, and cut salary party just a little later than the Dolphins. The cut Dan Morgan(LB) as well as Mike Wahle(OG). While Wahle is a little better right now, and will probable alnd a gig sooner. Morgan is still a great prospect, he won't draw the kind of interest(or money for that matter) that he did a few years ago as a free agent. But there are teams that will take a shot on him recovering his health. Especially teams that could use the kind of leadership he has shown, for their defense.

The Falcons are rounding out this trend for now. They announced to day that they are releasing Alge Crumpler(TE), Byron Leftwich(QB), Wayne Gandy(OT), Lewis Sanders(CB), Jamin Elliott(WR), Marcus Wilkins(LB), Rod Coleman(DT). Ok some of this was clearly the other shoe dropping. I mean even Leftwich had to figure he was gone. I am surprised to see Gandy and Coleman on this list. They will be on new teams by the time, it really matters. But those could be the result of financial concerns so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.


Where I can't seem to keep from flapping my arms(Read: Dirty Bird) in disgust, is Alge Crumpler. You have got to be kidding me. Hey new gm, (who's name I am not even taking the time to look up, because with moves like this he'll be gone before I can research it) don't make a big move to make a big move. No matter who your quarterback is next season I am sure it wont be anyone established. With that as a given, you might want to consider hanging onto that security blanket of a tight end. Every new quarterback loves a safe dump off guy, and hates new gm Thomas Dimitroff(Did you really think I wasn't even gonna look it up. :-). It really is a blessing to Alge Crumpler though. He is definitely moving up no matter where he goes. He will have a new jersey by the time I hit publish on this post.


Like I said the expected portion of this Leftwich. If he was on thin ice as the season ended. He had to hear that ice cracking when head coach Mike Smith was brought over from the team he was just released from to start last season.


While all the turnover is interesting. The best part of this is the fact that the league gets better overall. Being a huge football fan every move that makes the whole league more interesting I am a supporter of. Is it pre-season yet??

Jerry Jones don't let Cleveland Browns Out Smart You

Alright Jerry, that trade you made last year didn't turn out to be as sweet as you thought it would be.

When you gave up your pick last year for the Browns’ 2nd round pick in 2007 (#36) and their first round pick in 2008. You know you weren't thinking that pick would be #22. So you already lost a little on your investment. Let's try and get as much as we can for it.

If you can't get the value you expected in draft selection, let's get that value in life lessons. Look at the Browns. They have the guy they took with that pick they got from you last year, Brady Quinn. They also stumbled on a gem in Derek Anderson, but they have the good sense to keep both, this is the NFL you know.

Do you really want to let Marion Barber and a few draft picks out the door to Miami to get the #1 pick for one guy. Don't let that Razorback alumni blood of yours get so hot you can't think clearly. Let's look at the success rate of the two major trades for big time running backs.

The Saints traded away every pick they had in one year in order to get Ricky Williams, but hey at least they got a Superbowl out of it. Oh wait nope they never really got a return on thier investment.

You might actually remember the other trade considering you sent away Herschell Walker and in turn got several Superbowl rings, errr I mean you got several picks and players. Some of those picks shored up your defense but the key pick got you Emmit Smith. The Vikings on the other hand have yet to celebrate a Superbowl.

Don't let the Cleveland Browns pull smarter offseason moves than the Cowboys

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Miami Dolphins Offseason

Trade this pick, NOW. It doesn't even have to be that good fo a deal. With the talent evaluating skills of Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland, you will make more out of several later picks than you can out of one early one.

Ok, Now that we have my opinion slightly clarified. Let's talk about what they need to do in either situation.

The whole complexion of the team has changed due to the fact that Bill Parcells was brought in to run the franchise. He promptly hired Jeff Ireland away from his director of talent evaluation with the Cowboys. They then announced the forgone conclusion that Cam Cameron would be leaving, and as soon as he was available they brought in former Dallas Cowboys offensive line coach Tony Sparano. With all this change it is easier to determine the plans for the future of Miami by looking to Dallas than it is looking back at Miami

If they stick with that #1 spot, they need to shore up their defensive front. With aging Joey Porter and Zach Thomas, they need to strengthen the defensive front in order to pull some focus off of those two. They still have the skill to play, but they can't be the guys getting doubled and focused on by the other teams blocking scheme.

The popular talk is to have them take Darren Mcfadden. I don't like this and I know Parcells wont do it. For starters they have some talent in the backfield already. If they can keep that talent on the field and out of the trainers room. ALso looking at Bill Parcells past drafting strategy, he clearly feels you can get good backs later on in the draft. Neither Julius Jones or Marion Barber were picked very early.

If the Dolphins are capable of getting deper in the draft through a trade they will be able to select multiple players throughout these positions of need. If not then they will take a defensive player. While Glann Dorsey(DT-LSU) is the bigger name , slightly than Chris Long(DE-VA). I think the Dolphins are more likely to turn to Long in the draft. He is a much nicer fit for the 3-4 defense that Parcells will likely have team running.

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Heat or the Dolphins Who ya got?

So the Heat finally pulled out of a 15 game slide, by defeating the Indiana Pacers in a close one. The coincidence of the losing streak hitting 15 begs the question.

Which is worse Dolphins 1-15 season or the Heats 15 game losing streak?

My initial reaction was to go Dolphins being worse. I mean the heat lost 15 games out of 82 that isn't nearly as bad as the Dolphins losing all but one of thier games. Right?

After I started looking at the two teams I think I would take the Dolphins scenario. I mean why sit here and figure out which season is worse. Neither are going to the playoffs this year so at that point there is no worse , there isonly didn't get the job done. Now the Dolphins have the number one pick in the draft a new core of executives and a new head coach. A head coach who said in his introductory press conference that he didn't care about what came before he only cared about now.

The heat on the other hand have almost exactly the opposite situation. They have a Coach/GM in Pat Riley who has another year on his deal and he will fulfill that obligation at least upstairs if not courtside as well. The player situation doesn't look much better. They have another year of ridiculously over paying Shaq and they have only that same year to convince Dwayne Wade to stay.

No after giving it some thought, I got the Dolphins.