*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Feb 28, 1998: -- Panthers Keep Campbell --
The Dolphins were unpleasantly surprised Friday evening when
the Carolina Panthers elected to match the Dolphins' offer sheet to
restricted free agent Matt Campbell at the last moment and signed him
to a 3 year contract. The Dolphins had hoped that they would be able
to get Campbell away from the Panthers and use him to upgrade the
offensive line.
After initial reports indicated that the Panthers would not
match the Dolphins' offer, the Panthers surprised the Dolphins by
deciding to match the contract and keep Campbell in Carolina. Head
coach Dom Capers of the Panthers made it clear that the Panthers like
Campbell and felt that it was necessary to keep him.
The Dolphins had hoped to use Campbell either as the right
tackle in place of James Brown or the left guard in place of Jeff
Buckey. Brown is a free agent who may sign with another team.
In related news, restricted free agent wide receiver Billy
Davis of the Cowboys signed a 3 year deal to stay in Dallas. The
Dolphins had hoped to sign Davis, but had not succeeded in signing him
to an offer sheet.
Also, the Dolphins have reportedly been in contact with free
agent fullback William Floyd of the 49ers. Floyd has not been in
Miami for a visit, but the Dolphins have talked to his agent now that
Roosevelt Potts has signed with the Ravens.
And the newspapers in Miami are reporting that the Dolphins
have made an offer to Dallas safety Brock Marion. However, it's
thought to be a smaller offer than the Arizona Cardinals have made.
And last, but not least, Vikings running back Robert Smith was
in Kansas City on Friday to visit with the Chiefs. His agent has said
that he will visit one more team this coming Monday, but has declined
to say which team it will be.
My Comments:
Last week, I was merely concerned about the Dolphins lack of
activity in free agency. Now, however, I'm pissed.
Once again, JJ, Bob Ackles and Eddie Jones have underestimated
another team's resolve in re-signing their old players. First, they
did it with the Vikings and now they've done it with the Panthers.
And suddenly, their failure to sign Jim Pyne and their lack of
interest in players like the Steelers' John Jackson and the Eagles' Joe
Panos leaves the Dolphins in a situation where they almost have to
re-sign tackle James Brown.
Unless, of course, they're content to go with either Brent
Smith or Jeff Buckey at right tackle. The problem with Smith is that
he wasn't good enough last year to get activated for even one game.
The problem with Buckey is that if he's moved to right tackle, who
will step in and play the left guard spot?
Of course, there are still good players available, but the
best ones are gone. And if James Brown now signs elsewhere, the
Dolphins will end up having done almost nothing to upgrade the
offensive line.
Yes, of course Donnalley will upgrade the right guard
position, but without Brown, the Dolphins will have no experienced
right tackle and only the big question mark of Brent Smith to start
there.
Now, maybe Smith will come on and play well. Or maybe JJ can
draft someone to play right tackle. Or perhaps one of the players
currently on the roster will surprise us and step up and be able to
play at that position. But on a team where the running game is
supposed to be taking on a new importance, the Dolphins haven't been
able to get the players they need.
I am willing believe that JJ knows more about how to select
players than I do, but the current situation is terribly frustrating
and almost completely incomprehensible. Perhaps now they will look
harder at the players that are left, like Brian Habib and Aaron
Taylor.
On a more philosophical note, I believe in giving a coach 3
years to put his mark on a football team. If the team isn't
noticeably better in the 3rd season than it was in the first, then
that coach is, at least, suspect.
Oh, I don't hold JJ to the often quoted statement that he
would get to the SuperBowl in 3 years. It would be silly to hold him
to that kind of statement, given the situation with injuries and the
salary cap. However, if the Dolphins aren't noticeably better in 1998
than they were in 1996, my confidence in his abilities will have
vanished.
As it is, I'm just starting to get pissed. But I'm willing to
wait and see what happens in September.
After all, if the Dolphins are significantly better this year
than they have been, I certainly won't remember that I was pissed at
JJ in February.
But right now, the situation in Miami is not encouraging.
Related Info:
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Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
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