Dolphin Draft disasters

[Dphins4me]

We passed on a lot of good WR talent (including Randy Moss) in drafts due to his presence, and when his presence netted the team zero gain, he becomes a ROD inductee.

Miami passed on Moss?  When did this happen?

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Miami passed on Moss?  When did this happen?

The 1998 draft.  Jimmy had the 19th overall pick and traded down with Green Bay to the 29th pick.  Green Bay selected Vonnie Holliday with that pick, and with the 20th pick, the Vikings selected Randy Moss.

Jimmy then drafted John Avery with the 29th pick. 

[Phishfan]

I still don't understand all the playa hatin on Yatil Green.  The guy was injured.  It's not like he was lazy.  It's not like he quit one year like one player in our history did.  It's not like he played and never lived up to his talent.  He tore his ACL twice.  Career over.   Chalk it up as bad luck.

Because the question is the worst draft pick. I can see you defending the guy if the question was the worst talented player drafted. The question is the worst pick though. Considering the time he spent on the field (even compared with the other guys) I do not see how you can defend the pick itself.

[Dphins4me]

The 1998 draft.  Jimmy had the 19th overall pick and traded down with Green Bay to the 29th pick.  Green Bay selected Vonnie Holliday with that pick, and with the 20th pick, the Vikings selected Randy Moss.

Jimmy then drafted John Avery with the 29th pick. 

Doesn't passing on a player actually mean the team had the chance to draft him? 

  JJ traded down prior to the start of the draft.   That is not passing on Moss.

That is making a stupid trade & falling in love with your rep.

For Info: Terry Fair was the 20th Pick.  Moss was the 21st.

[Dphins4me]

Because the question is the worst draft pick. I can see you defending the guy if the question was the worst talented player drafted. The question is the worst pick though. Considering the time he spent on the field (even compared with the other guys) I do not see how you can defend the pick itself.

I'm trying to figure out how Yatil is worse than Jim Grabowski ( '66 ) or Mike Kadish ( '72 ).

Both No. 1 picks, neither ever played a down for Miami.  Seems to me if Yatil played one down then he produced more than those guys.

Or for that matter.  What about David Overstreet?

Signed with the Montreal Alouettes, then came to Miami to only play one year before dying in a car wreck.  If you are going to hold it against Green for his ACL tearing, then you have to hold it against Overstreet for dying.

For Info. There were only two players drafted in Rd. 1 after Green that ever did anything worthy of being a No. 1 pick..  Tarik Glenn ( 19th pick ) & Trevor Pryce ( 28th Pick )

[Brian Fein]

JJ traded down when they were on the clock, not pre-draft.  They coulda used the pick to grab Moss.  They traded down.  I remember it vividly...

[run_to_win]

Doesn't passing on a player actually mean the team had the chance to draft him? 

JJ traded down prior to the start of the draft.   That is not passing on Moss.

Agreed.

They missed out.  They didn't pass.

[Dphins4me]

Welcome to the boards Dolarltexas.  When you get a chance, please tell us about yourself in the Off Topic forum.

There are quite a bit of players that are deserving of this award.  I'll name a few that aren't in the Ring of Dishonor:

Eric Kumerow
Jackie Shipp
Billy Milner
John Avery
Eddie Moore
Jamar Fletcher

I wonder about the hatered for Billy Milner from Miami fans.  Milner did a good job @ RT his rookie year, under Shula.  Then JJ came in & wanted a more run blocking RT, which was not what Milner was about & traded him for Drayton.   A neck injury ended his career soon after the trade.

 How does this make Milner a bad pick?

Eddie Moore?  He was a 2nd Rd. pick.  Not his fault Wanny wanted a 5th Rd. Linebacker in Rd. 2.

[Dave Gray]

I'm trying to figure out how Yatil is worse than Jim Grabowski ( '66 ) or Mike Kadish ( '72 ).

Both No. 1 picks, neither ever played a down for Miami. Seems to me if Yatil played one down then he produced more than those guys.

At least with guys that never play a down, you can cut your losses and move on.  Yatil limped along for years, not only costing us cap space and a roster spot, but kept us from going after another Wide Receiver for years.

[Dphins4me]

JJ traded down when they were on the clock, not pre-draft.  They coulda used the pick to grab Moss.  They traded down.  I remember it vividly...

  Hate to tell you, but you remember wrong, very wrong. 

JJ traded down before the draft ever started.  That is why he tried to cover his arse with the comment about Shannon being bigger, faster & having better numbers than Moss.

He knew he screwed up with that trade. 

He also made this comment "We would not have taken Moss had we stayed at 19.  We would have taken Holliday."  He said Moss had too many off the field problems.

Yea, JJ we really believe you would have been scared of taking Moss because of his off the field trouble.

[Dphins4me]

At least with guys that never play a down, you can cut your losses and move on.  Yatil limped along for years, not only costing us cap space and a roster spot, but kept us from going after another Wide Receiver for years.

  What a spin.   Green is worse pick than two players who never played for Miami after being No. 1 picks.

Green did not prevent Miami from going after another WR.  Miami drafted Larry Shannon in Rd. 3 the year after.

After Green tore his ACL again in '98.  Miami never looked to him as a player who would play for them.

[run_to_win]

JJ traded down when they were on the clock, not pre-draft.  They coulda used the pick to grab Moss.  They traded down.  I remember it vividly...

Is there some source we could use to resolve this?

I remember JJ being interviewed afterwards and saying that had he kept the pick he would have taken Vonnie Holliday.  He also said that he wouldn't have drafted Moss at 19 but would have considered him at 29.

[Phishfan]

I'm trying to figure out how Yatil is worse than Jim Grabowski ( '66 ) or Mike Kadish ( '72 ).

Both No. 1 picks, neither ever played a down for Miami.  Seems to me if Yatil played one down then he produced more than those guys.

Or for that matter.  What about David Overstreet?

Signed with the Montreal Alouettes, then came to Miami to only play one year before dying in a car wreck.  If you are going to hold it against Green for his ACL tearing, then you have to hold it against Overstreet for dying.

For Info. There were only two players drafted in Rd. 1 after Green that ever did anything worthy of being a No. 1 pick..  Tarik Glenn ( 19th pick ) & Trevor Pryce ( 28th Pick )

Good you brought them up then. FYI, I never said anything about Green being the worst pick so no need to call me out on something I never said. I was only explaining why Green's pick would qualify in this discussion.

[Dphins4me]

Good you brought them up then. FYI, I never said anything about Green being the worst pick so no need to call me out on something I never said. I was only explaining why Green's pick would qualify in this discussion.

Was not calling you out.  I just picked your post to bring those names into it.

[Brian Fein]

I'm looking for information to support your claim regarding the trade happening pre-draft, because I am certain it did not.

This is all I can find thus far.

DT Vonnie Holiday (1-19-98) to Green Bay from Miami for RB John Avery (1-29-98) and a 2-60-98 pick that Miami traded to Detroit for LB Brad Jackson (5-143-98), G Scott Shaw (5-143-98) and QB John Dutton (6-172-98). Detroit chose QB Charlie Batch (2-60-98).
http://www.drafthistory.com/transactions/transactions.html