Marshall traded to the Bears!

[Spider-Dan]

Here's my problem with it: this is the move of a team that is rebuilding.  So basically, in the last 24 hours, I have went from thinking:

"If we get Manning and Wayne, this team will have an elite offense and be a championship contender"

to

"The front office gave up on this season less than 1 hour into free agency"

[Pappy13]

Romo > Henne/Moore


PLUS:  Robinson was their slot WR..doesn't command anywhere as much attention as Marshall did

Robinson only played in 14 games and only started 4 of them. Robinson can play anywhere, not just in the slot. If we picked him up he'd become our #1 WR without question. Would he be better than Marshall? I don't know, probably not, but he'd probably keep his mouth shut rather than trying to get kicked out of games.

[Pappy13]

Here's my problem with it: this is the move of a team that is rebuilding.  So basically, in the last 24 hours, I have went from thinking:

"If we get Manning and Wayne, this team will have an elite offense and be a championship contender"

to

"The front office gave up on this season less than 1 hour into free agency"

Thank heavens the Dolphins season doesn't ride on your opinion.

[Pappy13]

Unless Robinson's YPC is in the 50s, it won't matter how many TDs he caught in DAL, because Miami's offense will be fizzling out before they even get close enough for a FG.  Which Marshall's 1200 receiving yards kind of help with.

Also: it's a lot easier to get open when Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are on your team.

5 of his 11 TD's were when Austin was hurt and on the bench and he had 2 over 50 yard TD's.  Keep trying.

[mecadonzilla]

Thank heavens the Dolphins season doesn't ride on your opinion.

At this point, I'd trust Spider over Jeff Ireland any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

[Spider-Dan]

In regards to the trade value, ask yourself this:

Is Marshall more valuable or less valuable than when we acquired him 2 years ago?  I say less...by a lot.  He underperformed expectations and had a host of off-the-field crap.

I think that is missing the point by a long shot.  The question should not be what is he worth then compared to now; if NE traded Wes Welker for a 2nd and a 6th tomorrow (having originally paid only a 2nd to get him), that would be a horrible deal for the Patriots.

The question should be, what will it cost you to replace this player?  Again, it's not like his contract was expiring soon and Miami had to make a choice between getting something or nothing.  If you simply do nothing then guess what?  You still have a top ten, multiple-Pro Bowl WR.

[Pappy13]

I don't know what all the doom and gloom is about. This is the most excited I've been about something the Dolphins have done since...well since they traded for Marshall. LOL

I don't know how this is all going to turn out, y'all might be right, but on the other hand I think ya'll are giving Marshall WAY too much credit. I'd like to see what they do with the salary cap space and the 2 extra picks before declaring the trade a failure.

[bsfins]

Anyone else hear about this? It's the first I've heard about it,and it was posted by Jay Glazer's twitter account...(using Twit longer)
Statement from Brandon Marshalls Attorney Harvey Steinberg regarding Club incident:

"On March 12,2012 Brandon Marshall was the key note speaker at a charitable event in New York. After the event was over he, his wife and close friends attended a function at a local club.
While at the function a fight broke out NOT involving Mr. Marshall or his friends. While attempting to leave to avoid the melee Mrs. Marshall was struck in the face by a thrown bottle. She suffered serious injury.
While attempting to leave and take his wife to the hospital, the mayhem continued outside. Finally Mr. Marshall was able to take his wife to the hospital where she was treated for serious injuries.
Mr. Marshall is hoping to assist authorities in regards to this matter."

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/gdqa1o

Must be a strange day in the Marshall house today...Honey,I hope you feel better...We're moving to Chicago,I've been traded to Chicago to be with my boy Jay!

[Spider-Dan]

Pappy13, before I respond to your post, let me point out two things.

1) Laurent Robinson is not a member of the Miami Dolphins. This would seem to be a moderately important detail in a discussion that presumes that he can make up for the offensive production of the receiver that Miami just traded.  You see, if you are an intelligent GM, and you have plans to swap out your #1 receiver, what you should do is sign the free agent receiver you want BEFORE you trade your existing one away! It's not like Brandon Marshall is going anywhere, since he's still under contract!  Even if you wanted to make this deal, why would you make it in the first 5 minutes of free agency?  What, do you think CHI is going to take their offer for 2 third-rounders off of the table if you don't pull the trigger immediately?  It's idiotic.

2) Laurent Robinson is a free agent.  As you should recall from earlier experiences dealing with free agents (and by "earlier" I mean this morning), free agents can choose which teams they do and do not want to play for.  There is no guarantee whatsoever that Robinson even WANTS to play for a team that hasn't had an established QB in over a decade.  And based on my recent memory, I believe wide receivers occasionally do realize that the person throwing them the ball matters.

Now that we have established that any talk of how well Robinson will replace Marshall is pure, unadulterated wishful thinking, I will address the substance of your reply:

5 of his 11 TD's were when Austin was hurt and on the bench and he had 2 over 50 yard TD's.  Keep trying.

How many of those TDs did he catch as the #1 receiver on the field?  You know, the receiver that the opposing DC specifically gameplans to eliminate.  Because this would be his role in Miami.  (spoiler:  the answer is zero)

I have seen nothing to indicate that Laurent Robinson is not the next Alvin Harper, Az-Zahir Hakim, or Steve Breaston.  There's a huge difference between being the #3 and being the #1.

[Pappy13]

1) Laurent Robinson is not a member of the Miami Dolphins.

I didn't say he was. I said I'd like to see him be a member of the Dolphins and oh by the way I said it in February.

You see, if you are an intelligent GM, and you have plans to swap out your #1 receiver, what you should do is sign the free agent receiver you want BEFORE you trade your existing one away! It's not like Brandon Marshall is going anywhere, since he's still under contract!  Even if you wanted to make this deal, why would you make it in the first 5 minutes of free agency?  What, do you think CHI is going to take their offer for 2 third-rounders off of the table if you don't pull the trigger immediately?  It's idiotic.

The decision had been made. Marshall didn't fit the Dolphins anymore. It's obvious that Philbin and company were going a different direction, to a more west coast offense, so they figured they could find someone cheaper than Marshall and get a couple draft picks in return. Chicago clearly wanted to see Marshall in a Bears uniform. The deal made sense for everyone involved. Heck maybe the Bears started at a single 3rd round pick and the Dolphins finally got the Bears to agree to two 3rd round picks and Chicago said they weren't gonna give a single thing more. That wouldn't shock me a bit.

2) Laurent Robinson is a free agent.  As you should recall from earlier experiences dealing with free agents (and by "earlier" I mean this morning), free agents can choose which teams they do and do not want to play for.  There is no guarantee whatsoever that Robinson even WANTS to play for a team that hasn't had an established QB in over a decade.  And based on my recent memory, I believe wide receivers occasionally do realize that the person throwing them the ball matters.

So where did I say that Robinson WAS coming to Miami? I said I'd like to see them do that deal. I said it in February. I'm saying it again now. That would be true regardless of whether or not Marshall was here or not, so stop putting words in my mouth. I'm not saying that trading Marshall AND getting Robinson is a good move or that Robinson will replace Marshall, I'm saying that trading Marshall for 2 picks and saving his salary cap space was a good trade or at least has the potential to be a good trade. Robinson is also a good move in my opinion if it happens.

Now that we have established that any talk of how well Robinson will replace Marshall is pure, unadulterated wishful thinking, I will address the substance of your reply:

This has NEVER been a part my thinking, you just put 2 and 2 together in your head and made the assumption that's what I was thinking. It never was.

How many of those TDs did he catch as the #1 receiver on the field?  You know, the receiver that the opposing DC specifically gameplans to eliminate.  Because this would be his role in Miami.  (spoiler:  the answer is zero)

Fair enough, but he still caught more TD's in Dallas in 1 year than Marshall did in 2 in Miami. I'm sure he won't come here and catch 11 TD's as Miami's #1, but could he maybe catch 5 or 6? Yeah I think he could. Guess we'll never know.

I have seen nothing to indicate that Laurent Robinson is not the next Alvin Harper, Az-Zahir Hakim, or Steve Breaston.  There's a huge difference between being the #3 and being the #1.

EXACTLY. YOU haven't seen it. Well I watched most of the Cowboys games this year or at least caught parts of all of them and Robinson was the best WR that Dallas had by the end of the year. Better than Dez Bryant and better than Miles Austin (even though Bryant was supposedly Dallas' #1 and Austin their #2) the last couple of games. Ask anyone who watched Dallas through the end of the season. Tony Romo was looking for him over both Bryant and Austin near the end of the season. Most everyone in Dallas knew it or believed it, I'd be willing to bet that a few defenses knew it or believed it too.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

[Cathal]

Here's my problem with it: this is the move of a team that is rebuilding.  So basically, in the last 24 hours, I have went from thinking:

"If we get Manning and Wayne, this team will have an elite offense and be a championship contender"

to

"The front office gave up on this season less than 1 hour into free agency"

This is exactly how I felt. Unless something big happens, it seems like a waste already. No QB, no #1 WR, no nothing. I'm curious to see what their plan is, but knowing the people in charge, I doubt there really is anything exciting in the works.

[JVides]

Here's my problem with it: this is the move of a team that is rebuilding.  So basically, in the last 24 hours, I have went from thinking:

"If we get Manning and Wayne, this team will have an elite offense and be a championship contender"

to
.
"The front office gave up on this season less than 1 hour into free agency"

This is EXACTLY how I feel.  Last year's team + Manning would be exciting.  Last year's team less Marshall who, for all his drops, still posted an 80 catch, 1,200 yard year, and I'm not so excited.  Now I'm "eagerly" awaiting the drafting of our first-round RT.

Basically, I went from my usual optimistic outlook to how so many of you constantly feel.  I liked optimism better.

[Dave Gray]

I think that is missing the point by a long shot.  The question should not be what is he worth then compared to now; if NE traded Wes Welker for a 2nd and a 6th tomorrow (having originally paid only a 2nd to get him), that would be a horrible deal for the Patriots.

You're missing out on a big part of my explanation -- that Marshall's stock has depreciated since we picked him up.  Welker has far outplayed his trade cost, thus his trade value would have to go up considerably to match.

[Dave Gray]

Do any of you who are bashing the ineptitude of the organization for trading Marshall feeling the need to eat a little bit of crow after the new report that Marshall slugged a woman?

[EKnight]

I have defended Marshall consistently throughout his stay in Miami. After hearing the report about the assault claim, I have done 180 on the trade. It seems likely that he will be suspended for the year. I'd rather have two third round picks than nothing because he's suspended. -EK