Friday, March 12, 2010

2010 Draft Prospect - WR Eric Decker

 Eric Decker making the catch that Ted Ginn Jr couldn't.

Eric Decker isn't Dez Bryant or Arrelious Benn, or Golden Tate.  But he is the best WR in the draft for the Dolphins.  That is my argument and here is my defense of that argument.

First of all, he played for Minnesota, a team not known for having a great QB or high-powered offense that tends to inflate a receiver's stats a la Bryant and Tate, or Crabtree the year before.  Does anyone here have any idea who the Minnesota QB is?  Yet in just under 3 1/2 years, Decker caught 227 passes for 3,119 yards and 24 TDs. 

Secondly, he played through every stinger and sprained ankle he had in his career.  Before missing the second half of the 2009 season with a Lisfranc injury, he had started every game, despite being banged up at times.

Thirdly, he is coming off a Lisfranc injury (something the Dolphins staff know all about), has not been able to do any all-star games or Combine workouts, and will likely be unable to workout before the Draft.   There is plenty of good tape on Decker, but sometimes out of sight means out of mind, and his current draft stock sees him as a steal in the 3rd or 4th round.  This allows the Dolphins to take NT and FS in the 1st two rounds.

Fourthly, The Dolphins currently have a slew of young untested receivers that need reps and bringing in a player who wouldn't jump onto the practice field straight away affords them time to show something to the coaches.  Much like Brian Hartline last year had to miss mini-cap due to school, Decker's missing mini-camp due to injury shouldn't prevent his competing for a starting role when the time comes.  It didn't affect Hartline, and Decker is a bigger stronger player, so it shouldn't affect him either.

Fifthly, Decker was drafted twice by the MLB, and chose to stay in football.  He didn't come out and say this, but he did sort of imply that baseball wasn't tough enough.  He likes getting hit.  See the video below - I don't know how he held onto the ball on the big hit, but I watched that game live, and he came back in on the next drive as if nothing had happened.  He is the Anti-Ginn.

And finally, he's 6'3", 217 lbs and is a good route runner and excellent run-blocker.  He was averaging 8.6 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown a game before suffering the season-ending injury. For the ladies, he's GQ-good looking, and likes to take his shirt off and pole-dance (there is a photo available online).



Quotes about Decker:

"His tape is his resume. I'm sure people are going to want to get a feel for where he's at health-wise. And typically they like to get some of these measurables as well," said Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress.

"A-plus character kid. Has all the tools to be a very productive player in this league," said ex-Gopher wide receiver and Minnesota Vikings VP of Player Personnel Rick Spielman.

"A guy that's going to work every day to be the best. A guy that's going to run good routes, a guy that's gonna get open, a guy that's gonna block, a guy that's gonna high-point the football on the field," said Decker. "That's going to be a leader in the locker room, help out his community off the field."

Decker is eager to get better. Last year he worked out with Arizona Cardinals star Larry Fitzgerald Jr., hoping to soak up pass-catching tips that he can to apply to his own game.~ Eric Nelson, WCCO Minneapolis.

88 comments:

  1. So Tin what exactly does a <span>Director of Player Development do ?  With some of the picks and FA signings I think I'd like to see a new Director of Scouting ?  Oh !! That could be Parcells or Irelands Job !!  Which brings me to this question.  When the team brings in a FA player what should we expect of them  ?  I mention this because of Willford and G Wilson veteran players that should have added to the team.  Not to mention what signing a player does to the locker room. (ala Matt Roth.)
    </span>

    Eric Decker looks good, but it worries me that he gets an indorsement from (Rick Spielman) one of the former dumb as*(^ in Miami.  I would think herd will like the idea of him doing some pole dancing.  But that doesn't do much for me.

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  2. Spielman was on NFLN's coverage of the Combine and he has the only one who
    made any sense whatsoever. Whatever you think of Spielman's history in
    Miami, he's done pretty well in Minnesota and I thought he had a decent
    record in Miami - he drafted little known Dolphins like Todd Wade, Arturo
    Freeman, Jamar Fletcher, Chris Chambers, Travis Minor, Morlon Greenwood,
    Seth McKinney, Randy McMichael, Donald Lee, Yeremiah Bell, Vernon Carey and
    Rex Hadnot. He also brought Ricky Williams to Miami. I think he graded out
    around 50% which is a decent grade.

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  3. Spielman has done an excellent job in Minnesota.  However let me point out that Fletcher was a first round pick that was a disappointing player for us & McKinney was an avergae player at best.  I guess my mind has some holes in it b/c I don't even remember Arturo Freeman (the name sounds familiar) doing anything for us.  As for the Ricky trade, considering what we gave up to get him & the problems that ensued after his first two seasons, as much as it pains me to say this since I love Ricky to death, was a bad decision.

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  4. I'm convinced...make it so!  Pole dancing or not!

    And btw, the caption on the top photo jumped out at me...I don't think that Ginn CAN'T make catches, he can.  It's that he WON'T.  I think mostly out of fear/self-preservation.  I have this conversation with my kids all the time when they say they 'can't' do something...nine times out of ten it's something they don't want to do or never tried before.   

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  5. Tin, the kid looks really impressive. Catches well, is agressive and goes after the ball, jumps well.....................................but did you notice he falls down or goes down after like 80% of the catches?  NO YAC.  just saying.

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  6. Rockphin - I also noticed that he broke about 1 tackle in his entire highlight video.  I didn't see #1 WR material.  Could he contribure in a similar fashion as Hartline, sure.  Being a Big 10 fan, I've seen Decker play... good solid WR, but...  given the condition of our roster and our needs, I can't see us picking Decker unless he's still around in round 6.

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  7. Exactly what I was thinking....a more physical Cam or a quicker Hartline, but not a true #1.  I want to see the guy that catches a 5 yd out and takes it to the house 20 times in his highlight real.

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  8. I don't see him falling down, I see him getting tackled - there's a huge difference. You don't average 14 YPC by falling down after the catch. You also have to keep in mind for much of the video he was playing with a sprained ankle.

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  9. son of a son of a shulaMarch 12, 2010 at 10:55 AM

    Too bad his stock may have risen too much to make him feesable. He could very well go in the second now that he's being pumped so much. Mayock has him as his fifth best WR scrolling on the network all day as well. He's a quality receiver everything we need but we may need Defense more before him. I liked him in the forth but he'll be gone before that. Bookend to Hartline.

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  10. LOL watch the first one again..

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  11. breaking 3 -4 tackles on the way!!

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  12. of the 45 +/- passes in the highlight he took more than two steps after the catch 14 times.  6 of those he took 4 steps before coming down.  No YAC.  I does have amazing concentraction, looks tough a hell and makes incredible catches.

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  13. Tins,

    As for Decker, thanks for the game tape since I love to watch WR's.  I was extremely impressed by this kid for for a number of reasons.   First off, he catches everything with his hands & doesn't use his body to catch passes like some other players do.  Secondly, he's fearless about going over the middle & is definitely NOT afraid of contact.  And lastly, he's a big, strong, physical kid who fights for the ball when it is in the air which.  For the reasons I mentioned above, I'm not overly concerned about his speed & not seeing his times before we draft him BUT the I would need to know that this injury is not going to limit him going into training camp since we need him to contibute right away since we desperately need a that kind of WR in the red zone to score TD's.  That being said if Turner steps up his game up then it might be another story. 

    My question to you is in what round do you take a kid like this?  Coming off an injury do you take him with a 3rd????  Turner was healthy & we took him in third.

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  14. Rockphin,

    I'm with you.  A bigger, more physical Camarillo that just finds a way to make plays.  He might not be a true #1 like Brandon Marshall or Anquan Boldin BUT I'm not so sure that guy is even in this draft.  While Bryant has all of the tools to be a Number 1, his attitude & his past scares the hell out of me.  If I'm an owner of a team, I'd be extremely worried about making a financial commitment to this guy.  He missed most of the season last year for lying to the NCAA & until I see him work out & show that he has something to prove at the next level, I'm passing on him.

    Although it would be ideal to find a true #1, I'm content with getting the big, physical WR that can score TD's that we desperately need.

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  15. Son,

    In the 2nd???  Coming off an injury & not being able to work out???  That's a stretch.

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  16. Herd,

    I like your thinking.  I don't like the word "impossible" since most things are in fact possible but if Ginn "won't" make those catches don't you think we need to replace him with someone who will???

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  17. son of a son of a shulaMarch 12, 2010 at 12:06 PM

    Perhaps a bit of a stretch but a month ago you didn't see him before the fifth and suddenly he's gained momentum to where you see him mentioned up in the third.  We just need so much D it seems to me that he may get away from us.

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  18. Tin, Son, Herd, WHP, Rock, Martin, and Knight,
    I truly beleive that this kid will be special for whomever drafts him. So what if he is JUST a bigger, faster version of Hartline! I will take a team of those types and beat the snot out of the divas every day of the week. Besides, he's not that much bigger. But is big enough to fill the Tuna type of WR.

    I agree 100%. Take him in the 3rd...if he's there.

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  19. The Knight who says Ni!March 12, 2010 at 12:12 PM

    Whoa Tin, Spielman only had final say in 2004 after the GM responsibilities were taken away from Wannstedt. Wanny made the final call on all personnel decisions from 2000-03. Not to say Spielman didn't assist him, he did because Wanny brought him in.

    Spielman is also the one who traded a 4th round pick to swap one spot with Minnesota from 20 to 19 to get Carey because he thought the Patriots were going to trade in front of us. The Patriots took Vince Wilfork at #21.

    I'm not sure what you mean when you say he drafted little known Dolphins?

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  20. son of a son of a shulaMarch 12, 2010 at 12:18 PM

    That's where I have Myron slotted.

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  21. I'd take him in the 3rd - I don't think he'll make it to our 4th

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  22. He's an inch and 15 lbs bigger than Hartline

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  23. I was being sarcastic.
    Anytime you want to harp on GMs of the past, just remember that the current
    one passed on Connor Barwin to draft Pat White. They ALL get it wrong
    sometimes.

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  24. looked like he pulled a couple "hartline's" in the video. unless i missed it what was his 40 pre-injury, anyone? Hartline really impressed me last season, like everyone else is saying if we could just get that true #1 wr ALL of them will look better!

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  25. Sure--replace him.  Long overdue, and I've just been following this team 2 years! 

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  26. How dare he end-up out-a-bounds on that BIGGG HIT,he didn't even get his 2nd foot down(NFL INC)!!

    JUSSSKIDDIN :-P !!!
    Posted/had Decker on the brain until his injury,IFF HEALTHY EASY 3rd rnd choice,(4th rnd STEAL!!) GOFINS!!

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  27. three diff sites have 3 diff 40 times, 4.3 - 4.5 - 4.49.  it is the same injury ronnie has isn't or similiar

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  28. No, he did a lot of falling down in those clips.  He broke only one tackle cleanly (and 2-3 less cleanly) in that entire first video.  He tends to leap for balls falling down ... and usually catch them.  But he went down untouched on many of those dives and he is almost always tackled by the first defender.  Probably because he gets no separation and the DB is draped all over him as he makes the catch.  Good hands, though, and he was catching a lot in heavy traffic.  But possession receiver with little YAC.

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  29. I want Decker in Round 3!!!

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  30. The Knight who says Ni!March 12, 2010 at 2:01 PM

    You made it sound so serious. Even at the end. LOL

    Did Conner Barwin do anything last year? I never heard his name all season.

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  31. son of a son of a shulaMarch 12, 2010 at 3:38 PM

    S tart being dominant
    U nderstand the importance of superior talent
    H ave the balls to get it done

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  32. The Knight who says NiMarch 12, 2010 at 5:11 PM

    To be fair Ginn did make a beautiful catch in 08 on the flea-flicker against Seattle for a 39 yard TD after having a kick return for a TD called back on a penalty.

    He also made the 27 TD catch against the Jets to break that game open to clinch the division.

    He did make the 53 yard TD catch to beat Revis Island and the safety last season to help beat the Jets. He then beat the Jets again with back to back kick returns for TDs.

    Give the man some love. He hasn't always come up with the big play in the big spot but who else has at WR?

    At least he's a Jet killer. LOL

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  33. Tins, I respect your opinion but......look around the league at all the number 1 WR's and tell me what color they are. We have Camarillo and Hartline so we now need a number one and Decker is not that number 1. I'll take Golden Tate any day of the week and twice on Sundays. : )

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  34. Your funny! That's cool Ginn needs some love, but let's be honest with each other. He is not a good WR and his bad plays unfortunatley overshadow his good ones. Do I need to post the youtube video with Snoop Dogg's 'Drop it like its hot' song? LOL

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  35. <span>Tin, Son, Herd, WHP, Rock, Martin, and Knight, </span>

    Hmm. no Fang. Interesting !!! :(

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  36. He's the only one trading up for IMHO

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  37. I was thinking along the same lines.  We wouldn't be so upset he were a 4th round pick.

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  38. I could have sworn hearing about Chris Chambers "mentoring" Ginn (Ginns dad was Chambers' coach?) when Teddy came to Miami, and one of the topics was about self-preservation as a WR.....

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  39. He was the main WR threat in Minnesota and still made the catches. I like him. I dont care if we have a HR threat if the guys catches everything thrown at him. He looks like everything Turner was expected to be and if healthy would contribute early. I didnt see a lot of YAC but his QB didnt look very comfortable in the pocket either.

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  40. Oops, forgot to pop my name in last time, thus the offensively impersonal "guest" title earlier....

    Love this dude!!!  Screw the stats, I'm just basing my thoughts on the pole dancing!!

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  41. Holy Crap dude are you 168 yrs. old?  With that reasoning we should start dunking our entire roster one by one to see if they drown (if so they're witches we must cut them)

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  42. look, no need to be sarcastic. I'm white as well so I'm not putting down white people. It's just a fact. We have Hartline and Camarillo and IMO Decker is just a slightly bigger version of Hartline. I think we need someone who can garner a double team and be our number one, that's all. I look around the league and really I'm just pointing out the obvious.

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  43. son of a son of a shulaMarch 12, 2010 at 10:11 PM

    WOW

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  44. I am still PO'ed at this FO for passing on Barwin for White.
    In fact, this scenario with Decker feels about the same...Hard charging prospect, whom they won't draft, and will instead pick a special project player that will not pan-out.

    For a rookie, Barwin did fairly well with the reps he got. Kind of like Wakes production with his reps I think...Tin, can you eloborate?

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  45. Sorry Fang...My bad!

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  46. Ginn (if we keep him) will still draw the double coverage to leave the other WR with man-to-man. In a three wide set with Ginn, Hartline, and Decker, the defense is going to get burned as long as Henne gets the ball out in time.

    We have to draft Decker, to make up for last year's SNAFU with White over Barwin!

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  47. I felt lonely when you left me out of the loop.  Good to go now.  :)

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  48. Man I wish we could make that up.  You know when a team misses on a draft pick they lose nearly 3 picks for screwing up. They lose 1 for the screwup PW, they didn't get Barwin 2, and they still need, a linebacker they didn't get when they picked PW 3.

    Did anyone follow that mess ?  Oh well, I hope you get my drift.

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  49. Tin, my evaluation of Decker was purely as a possession receiver. He has great concentration in traffic, pretty good body control and excellent hands. He is great on the back shoulder throws. If you look closely at the highlights you will notice that he is rarely contested at the line of scrimmage and his seperation is not all the good when considering his level of competition. All of these attributes point toward a possession guy in the NFL. I'm not saying in any way that this guy is not special, but I would contend that he is similar to most of the WRs currently on the Dolphin roster with the exception that he is bigger. He would probably have to fall to the 6th round if the Dolphins were to pick him. I only say that because we don't have a 5th round pick and the 1st 4 picks will be dedicated to defense.

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  50. i think he had 4,5 sacks as mario williams' backup.

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  51. We Have PlaymakersMarch 14, 2010 at 8:33 AM

    IMO--A move like this would most likely avoid the need to draft an O-lineman.

    "The Dolphins are expected to bring in unrestricted free agent G/C Richie Incognito for a visit next week, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
    Jackson says that the Dolphins put in a claim for Incognito after he was cut by the Rams in December, but lost out to the Bills in the waiver process. If Incognito could control his temper, he'd fit right in with the mauling offensive front of the Dolphins and push Donald Thomas and Nate Garner for the right guard job."

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  52. The Knight who says NiMarch 14, 2010 at 8:33 AM

    I don't think Ginn has had more bad plays than good plays. That's not accurate. He has not become what we hoped he'd become but he hasn't been bad. I still think he could be traded during the draft. He still has value at 24 years old soon to be 25 with his elite speed. Not sure what that value would be but I could see a mid to late round pick with a possible conditional pick next year based on performance. So maybe a 5th this year and a possible 3rd next year if Ginn had a really good year. If not it's just the 5th this year.

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  53. We Have PlaymakersMarch 14, 2010 at 8:48 AM

    « Packers will use third jersey in 2010; unveiling Friday Two shine at University of Washington Pro Day » Did anyone else know this???  This is the first time I read this.

    Steve Wyche Alabama LB McClain reveals he has Crohn’s disease

    Posted: March 10th, 2010 | Steve Wyche | Tags: Alabama Pro Day, David Garrard, Rolando McClain
    new nfl.widgets.VideoPlayer({ contentId: "09000d5d816df8a7", related: "home", adSetting: "2", dartURL: "http://ad.doubleclick.net/pfadx/nfl.special/blog/steve-wyche;s1=blog;s2=steve-wyche;slot=inpage;nfl=ad;tile=3;sz=640x360;ord=?", playerName: "blog_large_embedded", size: "large", uniqid: "09000d5d816df8a7"})<embed></embed>


    TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama LB Rolando McClain, who was projected to be the first player taken at his position and a top-15 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, revealed Wednesday following his pro day workout that he suffers from Crohn’s disease.
    After completing the session of linebacker drills, a fatigued McClain knelt down on a knee and held his stomach. He later revealed that his discomfort probably stemmed from his Crohn’s disease, which he said was diagnosed when he was in ninth grade.
    McClain said he treats the condition — an inflammatory disease of the intestines — with seven or eight pills daily. McClain never missed a game at Alabama or had to leave a game because of the condition, according to his agent, Pat Dye Jr.
    NFL teams are aware of the disease, Dye said, adding that McClain hasn’t tried to hide it. Dye added that no teams expressed any concern about McClain’s health to him.
    Jaguars QB David Garrard also has Crohn’s disease and has been outspoken about his condition.

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  54. sorrry tin, too  slow, he will get jammed at the line-a-scrimg in the nfl and even though he can be a productive possession receiver in the league this isnt the type of wr answer to the phins woes.  they need a big physical speed receiver that can beat doulble teams and stretch the field with ginn, if they find that player, underneath with bess, harlinbe turner will be a dominant office,  here are a couple of thingts i would like to see coming up:

    1. trade ronnie brown for a mid to low #1 pick.

    1. Take CJ spiller
    1A Everson, Griffen, USC (guy is a frickin beast and can dominate games)
    2 Golden Tate
    3 Best NT available
    4 Anthony McCoy, TE USC
    5-7 Best LB and Safeties available

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  55. Probably a little far fetched but if we wound up with this draft I'd be thrilled although I would replace Griffen with Weatherspoon or Kindle. I agree with you about Decker. He is too much like what we already have.

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  56. Sean, I'm a huge Weatherspoon fan... He reminds me of a larger Zach Thomas.  I personally think Weatherspoon is the best ILB in the draft. Yes I said ILB... If you watch him on film he looks out of place at OLB especially in the 3-4. He was the best LB on the Missouri team but his lateral movement is exceptional, his ability to anticipate where the ball is going is special and best of all he is a pure football player. I would love to see this guy in a Dolphin uniform.

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  57. I think SW is a MLB in the NFL, IMO.
    ROFLMAO!

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  58. <span>yeah, i agree brilliant moves, lets trade ronnie for a mid to low #1.  hey while we are at it, lets trade our second best offensive player (long) for a 2nd rounder.  then maybe we can think about trading away, davis, smith, bell, starke and henne for draft picks.  i mean isnt that the name of the game, trade away your best players for draft picks.</span>
    <p><span> </span>
    </p><p><span><span>It is hilarious how this time of year everyone wants to trade away our best PROVEN players for draft picks to be used on UNPROVEN players.<span>  </span></span></span>
    </p>

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  59. Agreed Rob and I can just see someone trading a 1st round pick for Ronnie coming off foot surgery... But I will say this, I like Golden Tate a lot. Anyone who watched any ND games last year could see that this guy is a gamer. He not only made big plays but he made big plays in big games. ND may have lost a lot of those games but it was not due to the offense. The offense would put them in a position to win and the defense just sucked.

    On another note...  I need an accountant.  How do I get in touch with you?

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  60. Well if he is a better fit in the inside then the FO probably won't pull the trigger unless they feel they can kick Crowder to the outside. Then I guess if we are talking LB in the first round then Kindle might be a better pick. Sucks b/c I like SW better!

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  61. I think 12 is a little early for SW, but he would be a great pick at 43 whether he fits a need or not. It is always better IMO to pick BPA and work with it. I see everyone in this draft looking to fill needs and that is usually a mistake. In a deep draft that happens a lot where you see guys go higher than they might otherwise because there is not alot of difference between 2nd and 3rd round picks.

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  62. Patrick,

    you can email me at sunsenrob@aol.com.  put something in the subject so i know it is you.  look forward to hearing from you

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  63. I *knew* you worked for the sun-sentinel!! lol

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  64. Ooooh, a ffr email address....what to do, what to do?   I could have some fun with this!  j/k  lmao  ;) ;) ;)

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  65. I'll send my email address but please don't tell my Wife.

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  66. A latent lesbian cheerleader joining the herd??? Hehehe, I'll send you an email.

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  67. We Have PlaymakersMarch 16, 2010 at 6:26 AM

    Tins,

    I've actually come around to your thinking on the possibility of signing Incognito.  At first I thought it was well worth the risk since he has started 44 games in his NFL career & then I realized that this is exactly the kind of player we don't want or need.  Parcells had said from the beginning of this rebuilding project that he wants high character guys who are not "thugs & hoodlums."  Well what about psychos?  Do we want those guys?  His actions on the field last year speak for themselves & now I believe that this would be a very questionable signing & it would also be sending a bad message to the rest of the players.

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  68. So then why do they even bother bringing him in?  I know when I'm going to interview someone for a position here, I go through the applicants and 'weed out' the ones I already know aren't qualified or don't appear to be a 'fit' for the office.  The fact they brought him in is confusing to me if these types of players are persona non grata. 

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  69. Does that process involve a 'Breast Combine' of sorts? By 'a fit for the
    office' do you mean double Ds?
    Back to the NFL, I'm not saying they won't sign him, but I believe there is
    a rule that teams have to workout/at least look like they're trying to sign
    veteran players. That kind of stuff is never explained to the public but I
    remember reading about it a couple of years ago.
    It's like when a Senator has an apartment in Washington and has to keep it
    on the market in order for it to be kosher....they have to allow offers to
    be made on it and look like they're trying to sell it in order for it to be
    kosher on the books or something.

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  70. If that is a rule, it is one of the most ridiculous things I have heard today....and it's only 10:45 here and I've already heard some whoppers! I know they have to interview a number of coaches, but players?  Really?

    btw, off the topic, but I read an article about how the Giants get the first game in the new Meadowlands stadium, after a behind closed doors coin toss by Goodell....go Roger!!!  I hear the Jets are upset!!!  Made me LOL!

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  71. We Have PlaymakersMarch 16, 2010 at 7:55 AM

    Herd,

    I guess they're bringing him in b/c they're willing to ignore Parcells sanctimonious rebuilding philosophy in certain cases.  I think it's odd that the Dolphins have not made it public that Incognito was scheduled for a visit.  My guess is that we don't sign him & he winds up with the Bengals where he belongs. 

    I'm DYING for us to make some type of signing or trade but Incognito would be a tough pill for the media's talking heads to swallow.  All I want before the draft is a TE who can catch!!!!  I'm assuming we'll know by this afternoon whether Incognito is a Dolphin or not.

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  72. We Have PlaymakersMarch 16, 2010 at 7:57 AM

    This is interesting............."Jets signed DE Rodrique Wright, formerly of the Dolphins.
    Wright was out of football in 2009 after failing to make the Dolphins' roster. At 6'5/300, Wright has enough size to play defensive end in the Jets' 3-4, but the once highly regarded Texas Longhorn has never met expectations."

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  73. yeah yeah yeah, that is why i gave him the email address i created just to sign up to the SS.  i know better then to give out my business email address. 

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  74. We Have PlaymakersMarch 16, 2010 at 7:59 AM

    Herd,

    I agree with you.  That makes no sense. 

    As for the Jets losing the coin toss, well....they're the Jets.  LOL!

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  75. herdfan, the Giants are playing on Sunday and the Jets are playing on Monday
    Night. Hardly something to complain about.

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  76. WHP, they aren't publicizing it because he's incognito!  lol

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  77. We Have PlaymakersMarch 16, 2010 at 8:04 AM

    Exactly!!!  LOL!!!

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  78. As for the rule, it's not fair to the players if teams don't keep a hiring
    cycle going. If there was no rule, the average length of an NFL career
    would be even shorter than it is.

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  79. As for the rule, it's not fair to the players if teams don't keep a hiring
    cycle going. If there was no rule, the average length of an NFL career
    would be even shorter than it is.

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  80. We Have PlaymakersMarch 16, 2010 at 8:09 AM

    Okay Tins.  Your opinion on either Ellis (actually a year younger) or JT???  Bear in mind that I'm not asking you as a fan but if you were our GM?

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  81. We Have PlaymakersMarch 16, 2010 at 8:11 AM

    Tins,

    There are teams that haven't had any publicized visits from FA's like Dallas & the Redskins....

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  82. Wright was one of those guys I was hoping could make the transition.  Too bad he couldn't hack it, hopefully he still sucks and the Jets sign him!

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  83. I actually thought about that yesterday and I think I'd go with Ellis - the
    reason is because I'm not convinced that JT is a great locker room presence
    - he seems under the surface to have the same issues that Porter did with
    the coaching staff last year (although maybe Sparano had those issues with
    Paul Pasqualoni - we'll never know the full picture).
    Unlike JT, I believe Ellis reported to all voluntary off-season events last
    year and the year before (correct me if I'm wrong), and JT will be 36
    whereas Ellis will be 35 (when players get older, each year's decline is
    exponential) and Ellis was with these guys in Dallas for longer than JT was
    with them.
    That said, I'd need to see the game tape as well, because I have always
    avoided watching Dallas and Raiders games and I need to see the motor,
    technique, etc. You may recall I was not a big fan of bringing JT back last
    year and he drove me nuts during the season. I've never seen a football
    player stand around so much during a game as JT did last year. I hope the
    Dolphins draft someone rather than put their eggs in JT or Ellis' basket for
    2010.

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  84. Oh come on, its all the hoopla associated with being the 'first'.  You guys really get into that sort of thing I hear.

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  85. We Have PlaymakersMarch 16, 2010 at 9:15 AM

    Tins,

    Thanks for your insight.  While I'll admit that I thought that bringing JT back last year was smart move considering he was cheap, he could sell seats, & he could be used as a situational pass rusher if we're going to bring in a veteran to do this I think Ellis would be a better fit with Parcells & Co.  I also did not see much of the Raiders last year so I'm not sure how much he has left in the tank but 7 sacks in 14 games sounds pretty good....Who knows?

    BTW--You know as well as I do that JT should not have been playing the strong side last year & he certainly shouldn't have been starting all season.   Considering he was playing out of position at 35 years old, I think he actually played okay.  Initially I thought the move was to spell Porter.  I'd love to know what really happened with Matt Roth last year who apparently played better after the Browns picked him up.

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  86. We Have PlaymakersMarch 16, 2010 at 9:17 AM

    Tins,

    Regardles of whether we sign a veteran to be a situational pass rusher, I'm thoroughly convinced that we're going to draft a guy to play the weak side LB in the first round & hopefully it will be Kindle.

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  87. I didn't have much issue with JTs play, only that he never pursued the ball
    if it was passed him. I thought he did an okay job of setting the edge, but
    he got beat inside so many times and his sacks were often of the 'gimme'
    variety. He was a good overall player, but not really proficient at any one
    thing, especially pass-rushing - he got 7 sacks, but it was more like a 4
    sack year performance wise -same for Porter, he got lucky on a few.

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