*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***

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Mar 12, 1996: -- Draft Rumors - Defense First --

According to Dolphin Digest Editor Andy Cohen, the Dolphins will not be drafting a running back with their first draft pick. Jimmy Johnson has said that he is satisfied with his current trio of running backs and will most likely be spending all of the Dolphin draft picks on defensive players.

This flies in the face of the conventional wisdom that Jimmy Johnson desperately wants a running back to build his offense around and will draft on with the first pick. However, with the recent departures of three of the Dolphins' defensive starters, the Dolphins are more in need of defensive talent than they are in need of a new running back.

Of course, this could change depending on who's available when the Dolphins get their draft choice, which will be at the #20 position of the first round. Jimmy Johnson has spoken with Tim Biakabutuka of Michigan and apparently thinks highly of him, but he will probably not be available by the time the Dolphins draft choice comes around.

Even if he is, however, the Dolphins will still most likely select the best defensive player available.

In other news, the Dolphins have talked to Safety Brock Marion of the Cowboys and defensive end Darren Mickell of the Kansas City Chiefs about coming to play in Miami, but it isn't likely that either will be signed. Marion is a restricted free agent, but Mickell is an unrestricted free agent.

Finally, the Webb-for-Faulk trade rumors have proven to be just rumors, as the Colts have publicly said that they are not interested. There have been no serious discussions between the Dolphins and the Colts about such a possibility.

My Comments:

It is no secret that I think that the current set of running backs that the Dolphins have is good enough - at least until they get the defense straightened out. I was pleased to hear that JJ will be concentrating on defense.

However, having said that, it is important to remember that JJ is a man who likes to make deals. If he can craft a deal that gets the Dolphins one of the top two or three running backs in the draft, it may just happen. Otherwise I would expect JJ to pick up the best linebacker or cornerback that he can find.