Well it won't be McGahee or Henry, but how about someone from Minnnesota or Oakland's stable of backs? Or maybe even Stephen Davis? Could that work?

[QUOTE=Carnage]I gotta think this puts O-gu out of our reach now. There are too many other teams with good running back depth, and Miami needs a real back in the worse way. I expect the trade to involve a TJ Duckett or Larry Johnson type backup.[/QUOTE]

I agree with your overall conclusion, but not Duckett. I can't see Falcons letting him go with the shakey early-season status of Dunn. They don't want to bring down the early curtain on another season.

could you imagine being anything to do with the Dolphins right now? player? coach? staff member? fan? you can almost smell the burning jerseys.

hopefully he never developed any kind of serious relationship with any of these people, cuz he's seriously letting them down. sounds like his personal need for this was enough to risk that, so i hope he finds what hes looking for.

yeah none of our backs are worth anything in Miami's eyes. Ogun just became vet running back bait. :doh:

What a self centered jackhole. You have a team that is depending on him and this guy totally lets them down. I can understand if your heart is not in it that he should not play, but quitting a week before camp starts is just thinking of himself. He should of at least gave some warning so the Fins could of drafted or gone after a rb. Enjoy you dope you looser. By the way you might not want to step foot in Miami again.

[QUOTE=smootsmack]Well it won't be McGahee or Henry, but how about someone from Minnnesota or Oakland's stable of backs? Or maybe even Stephen Davis? Could that work?[/QUOTE]

Trading henry could be a great move for teh bills. Yes its a risk becuase they havent seen Willis play, but if they see that hes healty then they have a star waiting to be born right there. If they traded henry for the dolphins first round pick wouldnt that give the bills three 1st round picks for next year? Could be a great way for their new coach to build the team, and get rid of a controversey at the same time.

of course the dolphins are a division rival team...

wow, they even called Trung

[url]http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?id=1846119[/url]

Stacey Mack is a talented back, but going after Trung. They must be desperate.

[QUOTE=Daseal]Stacey Mack is a talented back, but going after Trung. They must be desperate.[/QUOTE]

course they are. you would be too. i dont know another contender team's offense based more on one player than theirs. ouch.

Well, I mean they must have absolutely no talent at backup or anyone in mind =p

It really doesn't matter who they pick up, filling Ricky's shoes is nearly impossible this late in the offseason. The Dolphins season is officially done.

His timing sucks, but I always wondered if there would be more people after earning several million, just quit and ride off into the susnset. He has enough money to be set for life and while he could make millions more, doesn't need more money.

ugh, how many times are we gonna hear after every Dolphin punt or short yardage stop, 'Miami really misses Ricky Williams right about now'. its the story of the nfl this year.

unless Gibbs wins the Super Bowl :silly:

[QUOTE=SKINSnCANES]Trading henry could be a great move for teh bills. Yes its a risk becuase they havent seen Willis play, but if they see that hes healty then they have a star waiting to be born right there. If they traded henry for the dolphins first round pick wouldnt that give the bills three 1st round picks for next year? Could be a great way for their new coach to build the team, and get rid of a controversey at the same time.[/QUOTE]

Except of course, they are in the same conference. Unlikely.

[QUOTE=SKINSnCANES]of course the dolphins are a division rival team...[/QUOTE]
OOps I didn't see that you'd added that on the next page.

[url]http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?id=1846178[/url]

they didnt even mention the skins as being interested in trading. I guess they just put the teams that were interested prior to teh draft.

[QUOTE=Mattyk72]It really doesn't matter who they pick up, filling Ricky's shoes is nearly impossible this late in the offseason. The Dolphins season is officially done.[/QUOTE]

Its well known that the Phins are facing a massive cap crunch. If I'm them, (barring a mega trade) I would start to cut the cap now, since with Feeley and no running game they are essentially rebuilding anyway.

i dont think they are rebuilding. If they can get some sort of hb. I mean, they have won atleast 9 games the last few years, in a tough tough division. Theyve got a good set of receivers now, they defense is still great. If their defense still is great then they can ride that for a while.

Maybe, in an ironic twist, they can lure Barry Sanders out of retirement.

Seriously though, this is a crushing blow to the Dolphins and barring some huge surprise, they look destined for the AFC East cellar and Wandsteddt (sp?) looks like he'll be seeking a new job really soon.

side topic, I thought it was really cool that after reading all these articles about how Ricky left the fans and his team, that i saw an article about how shaq had a full page ad in the la newspaper thanking the fans. i just thought that was really cool of him to do something like that.

Can anyone say "made for tv movie" ?

a trade between minnesota and miami would make a lot of sense with minn. darn good depth at rb, but a cheap pick up who could fill a similar type of role as williams if healthy could be James Stewart. If I were phins management I'd try to trade for either michael bennet of the vikes or anthony thomas of the bears plus a second or third round choice with either player.

about the sanders thing, when does his contract with the lions end or is it finally a dead contract?

Ricky did screw by not mentioning he was considering leaving earlier, if just to the coach or GM... may still have leaked, but at least they'd be able to draft or trade and keep the season together.

err, thats screw up, sorry... and shaq is really a prett decent guy from everything i've heard, that's cool that he'd do that.

[QUOTE=skinsfanthru&thru]a trade between minnesota and miami would make a lot of sense with minn. darn good depth at rb, but a cheap pick up who could fill a similar type of role as williams if healthy could be James Stewart. If I were phins management I'd try to trade for either michael bennet of the vikes or anthony thomas of the bears plus a second or third round choice with either player.

about the sanders thing, when does his contract with the lions end or is it finally a dead contract?[/QUOTE]

The vikings wouldnt get rid of Bennet I dont think. Maybe Moe Williams though. One of my professors is like a step dad or somethign to Moe, he would always brag how he doesnt get any credit, but every start he has had he got 100 yards or more. The guys definitly a trooper.

Moe Williams was phenominal last year. He's an older dude but still has it in him. He regularly put up BIG numbers for both of my fantasy leagues. Probably my most consistant performer, and I had LT in one league and Stephen Davis in another.

From what I've heard about Bennett, the Vikes are really high on him bouncing back strong this year and expect him to be their workhorse. I doubt they'd move him.

I don't really think James Stewart is anyone's answer at RB. He couldn't even keep a job with Detroit's pitiful "O". And MINN is not going to trade Bennett - right now they expect him to carry the load at RB. The other guys they have are not going to bring much value.

I would think Onterrio Smith would be the Vikings back traded

By the way, this is probably nothing more than just a coincidence. But does anyone have a theory as to why whenever an NFL player retires "early" it's always a running back; Jim Brown, Robert Smith, Barry Sanders, Ricky Wiliams?

Is running back the most physically and mentally challenging position? Is that why?

[QUOTE=smootsmack]By the way, this is probably nothing more than just a coincidence. But does anyone have a theory as to why whenever an NFL player retires "early" it's always a running back; Jim Brown, Robert Smith, Barry Sanders, Ricky Wiliams?

Is running back the most physically and mentally challenging position? Is that why?[/QUOTE]

good question. prolly is the most physically demanding, running headlong into guys bigger than you, with a huge target on your chest. practically every down (if you're a star back like these guys ALL were).

i'd say that and the singular pressure put on you second only to the QB. there is more than one WR in an offense, but only one 'real' back

they get the crap beat out of them and break down pretty fast... i imagine at some point a person would get tired of it, or get too old for it. speed, strength, and reaction time gets worse too as you age, and i imagine they're more important for RBs then just about anyone else...

or maybe all the knocks just does something to them... I mean, if mike tyson hit my head twice i'm sure i wouldn't be thinking straight for very long...

[QUOTE=Hogskin]I don't really think James Stewart is anyone's answer at RB. He couldn't even keep a job with Detroit's pitiful "O". And MINN is not going to trade Bennett - right now they expect him to carry the load at RB. The other guys they have are not going to bring much value.[/QUOTE]

He lost his job due to a severely dislocated shoulder injury in the last preseason game of 2003. He has a career 4yard per carry average and fits the mold of a similar style back as williams. So if healthy he could be a cheap plug in for atleast this year.

[QUOTE=SKINSnCANES]The vikings wouldnt get rid of Bennet I dont think. Maybe Moe Williams though. One of my professors is like a step dad or somethign to Moe, he would always brag how he doesnt get any credit, but every start he has had he got 100 yards or more. The guys definitly a trooper.[/QUOTE]

But with Minnesotta's depth at rb, it wouldn't be a complete suprise if they traded bennet because both williams(moe) and smith filled in incredibly well last year for them and I think they'd do quite a bit if they could strenghten their defense.
Overall I think they'll go with someone they can get out of the pretty thin free agent pool so as not to give up a player or pick(they just lost 2 1st rounders for williams for only 2 years of performance w/o making the playoffs in either year) or just totally switch around their offensive mind set and practically throw 60-70% of the time.

[QUOTE=smootsmack]By the way, this is probably nothing more than just a coincidence. But does anyone have a theory as to why whenever an NFL player retires "early" it's always a running back; Jim Brown, Robert Smith, Barry Sanders, Ricky Wiliams?

Is running back the most physically and mentally challenging position? Is that why?[/QUOTE]

I gotta say the toughest position physically is either running back or lineman(defensive or offensive). RB's r getting hit normally while going full speed and btheir being hit by someone else going full speed. Lineman have to worry about constant chips and stepping on one person's foot the wrong way can completely blow out your ankle,knee, hip or a combination of the 3 and others.
I know I for one am glad I gave up dreams to play professionally and instead lended became an armchair qb,lol.

Thanks God we passed on him!!!

What a Jerk!!! He could have told them before the draft!!

RB is definitely a grueling position. There's a reason why most wear down significantly by the age of 30-31.

[QUOTE=skinsfanthru&thru]I gotta say the toughest position physically is either running back or lineman(defensive or offensive). RB's r getting hit normally while going full speed and btheir being hit by someone else going full speed. Lineman have to worry about constant chips and stepping on one person's foot the wrong way can completely blow out your ankle,knee, hip or a combination of the 3 and others.
I know I for one am glad I gave up dreams to play professionally and instead lended became an armchair qb,lol.[/QUOTE]

don't know why the heck I put lended in there, lol. I guess I was more tired last night than I thought.

There was a prescient article posted on SI.com on Friday about Robert Smith (who retired early from the Vikings in 2001). A quote: "I think a comeback would be possible, but not advisable."

If I was Wannstedt, I'd be on my way to Smith's house with a bouquet of roses.

Smith would help alot!! But he's not coming!! The Dolphins are screwed!! Serves them right for beating our Redskins last year!! Especially after I flew across the country to watch it!! J/K ;-)