Dolphins may swap DE Ogunleye to Bears for WR Marty Booker

[Awsi Dooger]

And a 3rd round pick.

I'm vacationing in Miami and this deal appeared to be a cinch an hour ago. Now it's 5 minutes to the supposed deadline and the Bears might not have the cash to pull it off. DE Ogunleye was a Pro Bowler last year and is holding out, seeking a massive contract.

As a Dolphin fan, I hope the deal falls through. Booker is no superstar and already 28, unlikely to be worth more than one extra win to Miami this year. Ogunleye is only 26 and entering his prime. You can't panic and get less than full value for him, especially when the season seems lost already.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?id=1864611

[lil-petunia]

1. marty was the emotional support for da bares players. a class act

when all else fails. And it always does. Trading him would be horrible for us.

well, a team that had 5 offensive penalties on its first drive - tells you where we are gonna be this season.

[Awsi Dooger]

3. Perhaps I'm underestimating Booker

Several Bears fans have posted raves about Booker to the Dolphins newsgroups tonight, similar to lil-petunia's assessment. I know he's a class act and clutch playmaker, but no speed merchant and I would rather keep a defensive star and try to plug in a WR next year, if Boston is not full strength.

[Mojambo]

2. It's a desperation move for Miami

They need some depth, but I think it would be much more advisable for them to just play a practice squad guy and keep the defense intact.

They're not going to compete this year either way.

[TSIAS]

7. Miami would be better served by losing this year

A team usually has to hit rock bottom before they can win anything substantial. Miami has been decent over the last decade, so we haven't had any high draft picks.

Of course, Wannstedt and Spielman want to keep their jobs. They have to keep the team decent in order to be back next year.

This was truly a desperate move. If you watched that game, you'd have seen that the Miami offense is absolutely terrible. If Booker plays as he did two years ago, we might be able to average more than 2 TD's per game.

[Awsi Dooger]

4. Trade is official; Bears cough up $15 million signing bonus

Bob Griese just announced it suring the Miami/Washington telecast. Looks like the original deal is intact, Booker and a 3rd round draft pick in 2005 for Ogunleye.

While watching Miami's pathetic offense tonight, I really have to question what impact Booker will have. I doubt Miami will average more than 3 yards per carry with these backs and such a revamped and questionable offensive line.

[Awsi Dooger]

5. More Miami offensive patchwork to come

Supposedly the Dolphins may send the 3rd round pick from the Ogunleye trade to Cleveland for halfback James Jackson, a former Hurricane who is buried on the Browns' depth chart.

[TSIAS]

6. Miami is desperate

I was at the Washington game this evening. The offense was the worst I've ever seen it. Travis Minor is so obviously not the answer at RB. Neither is Sammy Morris or Fred Russell.

I do like the acquisiton of Booker. Two years ago, he did catch 100 balls. He'll make up for the loss of David Boston. There's no way Miami could go into the regular season with Derrius Thompson at #2 and J.R. Tolver at 3.

It's disappointing to lose Ogunleye. He was a real difference maker on Defense. But the reality is that Miami needs more offense. It still might take until mid-season for this group to come together. Hopefully we get some definitive answers about Fiedler/Feeley.

[Awsi Dooger]

8. 98 yards total offense

In an exhibition game, often vs. 2nd and 3rd teamers. Agreed, the most pathetic I've ever seen.

The offensive line is more of a mess than I expected. Even free agent pickup Jeno James was beaten soundly tonight.

I hate losing Ogunleye. He was the lone brilliant acquisition of the last half dozen years, a free agent steal after blowing out a knee as a senior at Indiana. Only going to get better.

At least Booker will keep Derrius Thompson off the field. He is the classic "looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane." A stupid penalty tonight, followed by a lousy drifting pass route when a decisive cut would have netted a first down.

This regime simply will not sensibly forfeit a season to set things up down the road.