*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Sep 07, 1999: -- Druckenmiller Acquired --
The Dolphins have acquired QB Jim Druckenmiller from the San
Fransisco 49ers for a conditional 6th round draft pick in the 2000
draft. Druckenmiller was originally a 1st round draft pick of the
49ers back in 1997, the same year that the Dolphins took Yatil Green.
JJ has said that he would have taken Jim Druckenmiller in the
1997 draft if Yatil Green had not been available. JJ had rated
Druckenmiller very high from his days at Virginia Tech and had
interviewed Druckenmiller before the '97 draft.
Druckenmiller has not played very well for the 49ers since he's
been there and the 49ers have been trying to trade him since Bill Walsh
took over the team. Druckenmiller has only started one game in his 3
years in the league and his career quarterback rating with the 49ers
is a dismal 30.2.
Druckenmiller was charged with rape earlier this year, but
after a 4 day trial, the jury deliberated just 45 minutes before
acquitting him. He is still facing a lawsuit for allegedly attacking
someone in a bar earlier this year.
Druckenmiller is signed through the 2002 season. His base
salary is $559,500 this year, $652,800 in 2000, $746,000 in 2001 and
$839,300 in 2002.
As far as the roster is concerned, JJ has a 2 week roster
exemption for Richmond Webb and so he doesn't have to cut anyone right
away to put Druckenmiller on the roster. Right now, the roster has 54
players on it, including Richmond Webb.
In related roster news, Shawn Wooden has been officially
promoted to starting strong safety ahead of Calvin Jackson on the
latest Dolphins' depth chart. Whether he will actually start ahead of
Jackson against Denver depends on how well his thumb heals over the
next week.
My Comments:
Druckenmiller is very likely to be a non-factor this year. He
won't get enough real practice time to learn the playbook and to get in
sync with the receivers.
If he can even play in the NFL, which still hasn't been proven.
Personally, I can't work up much enthusiasm for this trade. Of
course, it is a no-risk deal. If the Dolphins cut him, they take very
little in terms of a salary cap hit and they've already saved about $1
million this year by cutting Craig Erickson.
And a future 6th round draft pick is not exactly a major loss.
Eventually, JJ will have to cut someone to keep Druckenmiller
on the roster, but he's got a couple of extra defensive backs and
linebackers on the roster right now. I suspect that a lot will depend
on Anthony Harris' recovery. If it looks like he will be able to play
this season, a defensive back - most likely Ray Hill - will be let go.
If Harris' recover is not proceeding smoothly, Harris will be placed on
IR.
Related Info:
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Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
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