Karlos Dansby questions Miami's direction

[Spider-Dan]

From James Walker on ESPN's AFC East blog (link):

"We saw this one coming.

After the Miami Dolphins traded another talented player -- former first-round pick Vontae Davis -- it was just a matter of time before veterans questioned if the team's goal was to make the playoffs this year. We wrote Monday about the Dolphins sending a message to their locker room that they are sacrificing 2012 for future seasons and the potential to rub veterans the wrong way.

Enter Karlos Dansby.

The Dolphins veteran linebacker questioned the release of former Miami receiver Chad Johnson and had another telling quote this week on the Davis trade.

"He's a great player, one of the best corners in the game,” Dansby said, according to the Miami Herald. "I'm not sure about the direction of the team. That's not my place. My place is to play hard and be the leader of men."

Veterans like Dansby, tailback Reggie Bush and Kevin Burnett want to win now. It's tough to tell a competitive veteran it's going to take two or three years before Miami is ready to make a playoff run. But with a rookie head coach, a new program and so many holes on the roster, that's the reality. It's clear in the way Miami is shaping its roster."

--

So what's the solution here?  Dansby has mouthed off twice.  Should Miami trade him away, too... immediately after naming him to the "leadership committee"?

I think we are approaching the point where you have to be concerned about whether the front office's choice to Do Things Their Way is going to lose the players.  As MikeO is fond of pointing out, the team finished in 3rd place with Dansby and Davis and Marshall, and can (probably?) do just as bad without them.  But at a certain level, you need your players to buy in to your system, or this is all a waste of time.

Ireland and Philbin are behaving as if they have earned respect in this league.  They are painting themselves into a corner; either they strike gold fast, or they will be dynamited from all sides.

[Phishfan]

Little or nothing to the comment. If he wanted to raise a stink he could have done so much more effectively.

[Brian Fein]

I wish he'd keep his mouth shut, but of course by now reporters are going to him for the story.

We'll have to see how the new leadership handles this kind of thing.

[tubba marxxx]

Non story.  Media trying to pour gasoline on some embers.  Kinda like how Matt Moore being "a little frustrated, but whatever" turned into "Matt Moore demands a trade."


I'll say this though.  If Dansby, Bush, and Burnett want to "win now," then they're playing for the wrong team.

[Dave Gray]

What an idiot.


Shut.   Up.

[Brian Fein]

Non story.  Media trying to pour gasoline on some embers.  Kinda like how Matt Moore being "a little frustrated, but whatever" turned into "Matt Moore demands a trade."

'

Great example.  Media trying to create the story.

Its not like "I don't know about this" as in expressing doubt.  Its more like "Hey Karlos, what do you think about this?" Karlos: "I don't know, you're asking the wrong guy"

Especially given the first line of his article, "We saw this one coming" pat myself on the back as he links back to another of his own articles where he said "the locker room is going to fall apart!"

Stupid media.  Report the story, don't create it.

[Spider-Dan]

So set aside the particulars of this "incident."

Do any of you see a danger in Philbin losing the locker room, particularly if a) he does nothing to address WR and b) the team sucks?

[Spider-Dan]

Its not like "I don't know about this" as in expressing doubt.  Its more like "Hey Karlos, what do you think about this?" Karlos: "I don't know, you're asking the wrong guy"

Brian, come on.

If the Baltimore press asked Suggs if the Ravens can win the Super Bowl with Joe Flacco at the helm, and his response is, "It's not my job to pick quarterbacks... my job is to stop the opponent from scoring," you think that's perfectly fine?

When the media asks you if you think your front office knows what they are doing, you don't say "I don't know" or "It's not my job to evaluate that"; you say "Yes."  Any answer but "yes" is an intentional snipe at the front office.

[Pappy13]

Enter Karlos Dansby.

The Dolphins veteran linebacker questioned the release of former Miami receiver Chad Johnson and had another telling quote this week on the Davis trade.

"He's a great player, one of the best corners in the game,” Dansby said, according to the Miami Herald. "I'm not sure about the direction of the team. That's not my place. My place is to play hard and be the leader of men."

I don't have a problem with what he said because of the part I highlighted. I don't mind him saying that he's not sure about the direction as long as he says that he's going to play the best he can regardless. I'm fine with that. That's what he should have said when Chad was cut. Sounds to me like he listened to what Philbin told him after they chatted about what he said about Chad. It's fine to voice your opinion, it's completely something different to let your opinion effect the way you play or the way you lead etc.

[Cathal]

But you're not supposed to voice your opinion to the media I thought.

[Pappy13]

^^I would prefer he didn't say anything to the media at all, but when you put it the way that he did here I think it's acceptable. He's clearly trying to show that he's still "on board" with Philbin. I believe there was an interview with Philbin after Chad was let go where Philbin pretty much said that it was fine for them to voice their opinion, but it couldn't become a distraction and they all needed to stay focused and team oriented. I think this is Karlos' way of doing it the way that Philbin wants it done.

So yes I realize it's not exactly what I said earlier, but after hearing what Philbin has said on this, I think this matches up with what Philbin wants, so I'm okay with it and I think Philbin will be okay with it too.