I agree. We had more talent than you. We also had more team leadership than you.

Hell, you guys have NONE on the defensive side of the ball. ZERO. Zip, nada. You think you don't need leadership on the defensive side of teh ball? You're insane.

And you wonder why your defense flat sucks? It's more than talent. It's youth and lack of leadership and alot more besides.

You want to focus on TALENT exclusive of all else. That's absurd. It's TEAM, not just talent.

We haven't had a defensive leader in a decade man.

The Dolphins "improved" because they only beat 2 teams with a winning record in 2008. They "improved" because they added several of "Parcells Guys" through trades and free agency. They "improved" so that the owner could sell the team for more money.

My guess is that they're no better than .500 in 2009.

There is no one answer for this team. It's utterly bereft of talent outside of a few players who aren't even a good fit for the new system that's in place. If we drop a 4th rounder for a guy who can provide two or three years of diminished production, at most, it's ****ing ridiculous.

There's a place for leadership, but I would rather upgrade the talent significantly first rather than trying to sprinkle some pixie dust on the turds who currently make up the team. You can do both, but my hope is just that we added the pixie dust for a reasonable price.

And they're going to fall right back off next year. Who cares about the Dolphins?

And you haven't had a half-decent defense in a decade either.

Coincidence? I think not.

I agree. But they still showed 10 games of improvement, and it wasn't just luck and a weak schedule.

No, I don't underrate toughness or intelligence.

I just don't think that 1 year of Jesus Vrabel is the answer to our problems, especially when there's a damn good chance that the majority of the players he's mentoring will be sent packing. Vrabel can "lead" the charge right out the door.

He's a 1 year rental. I don't see his "influence" carrying over for 3-5 years when this team is competing for a championship.

We give up 7th for Vrabel = anyone seriously complaining is a ree-tee-ard

We give up 6th for Vrabel = perfectly acceptable

We give up 5th for Vrabel = ehhhhhh

We give up 4th for Vrabel = WTF? No.

We give up 3rd for Vrabel =

http://i41.tinypic.com/2wp3xvl.gif

A major part of it WAS luck and a weak schedule.

First, they started out with the Wildcat.

Then as the veterans began to play together, the team improved.

The problem is that in 2010, they'll be back to square one.

An old, old team and very little youth on the roster.

I'm not saying yay or nay till we see what was given up...either way I expect alot of lower tiered cheap moves as opposed to 50 million for 1 guy.

First, if the team currently is a bunch of turds, then Pioli will likely cut alot of guys and be assembling from scratch. If not, then he'll keep a fair few players.

Either way, the team you see in 2009 will have the nucleus of the team going forward into 2010 and 2011. The team that wins tomorrow is being formed NOW. You need to show them how to get from the piece of crap the Chiefs currently call their team to a team that is "big, tough, strong, and competes for championships year after year", whcih is the BB/SP motto.

And you are going to spend one or more relatively high picks on the defnsive side of the ball. Thsoe guys are your future too. And they need leadership too.

I agree luck and a weak schedule did play a significant factor. They won't win 10 again.

But +10 wins isn't just luck and weak schedule. They won 1 freaking game last year. ONE.

The Dolphins beat two teams with winning records. Two. They paid for a lot of FAs and signed a game manager to get up to that Carl Peterson era of mediocrity.

When they go 6-10 next year, people aren't going to be as impressed with that core.

I hope we can be, like, the Oakland A's of the NFL.

I don't see much chance of the pick you gave up being on the team in 3-5 years.

Who knows. Maybe you gave up a 4th or something, which completely changes the complexion of this discussion. But mainly, I think it's a low pick and more likely than not you gave up very little to get someone who can help start rowing your team's boat in the right directon.

And you have no idea, and will never know, what influence Vrabel might have on the younger players that helps carry over 3-5 years down the road.