Dolphins Will Become Champs Via the Draft, Not Free Agency

Hate to burst your bubble, but the next two or three drafts will be the determining factor in what turns the Miami Dolphins into a Super Bowl champion; it will not be signing big names in free agency.

The future stars and difference-makers for the Dolphins will be drafted, not signed by free agency or acquired via trades. Take a look at a quote from one of the most respected GM/Presidents in the league just last week at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine.  Bill Polian of the Indianapolis Colts said, “We are not going to be involved in free agency this year, we never are.”  

For starters, look at the Super Bowl Champions the last five years: NY Giants, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and New England. These teams have many things in common.

1. Exceptional quarterbacks acquired via the draft
2. Excellent Front Office stability and general manager leadership
3. Are more known for losing high-profile players in free agency than acquiring them. Never overpay to keep a star player.
4. Can pressure the quarterback with effective defensive rush and protect the quarterback with equal aplomb.
5. Have six or seven stars on each roster, all acquired by the draft. The remaining roster is built up of overachieving no-names that would excel at mediocrity in the wrong NFL system.  

How many times have we seen a former NE Patriot leave for a bigger paycheck and make a big difference on their new team? Other examples include former-Steelers LB Porter and my prediction, the largest signing in free agency this year, former-Patriot CB Asante Samuel.

(Just how motivated do you think this cat is going to be for Philly? He already has three rings via New England is its obvious he is chasing a paycheck not a championship. If he wanted a championship, then why leave NE?)

I understand your position as a fan. You love football, and we have suffered a month now without any meaningful games.  Then free agency begins, and you are excited about each transaction because this is all the football you are going to get till the draft. 

So far I like the moves I have seen with Parcells. He has come in and whacked some significant aging, underachieving deadweight off this roster, and is beginning to replace these losses with bigger, younger, stronger, and faster mid-level-quality skilled “no name” players that represent the majority of space on any championship NFL caliber roster.

These players excel at special teams as well, which is another Parcells mantra to success. Better to bring in three above-average players that can contribute in multiple areas rather than paying the price of signing one superstar that will help with ticket sales. 

I guess I am an idiot, not paying attention, but I did not even know who LB Torbor was till Miami picked him up this past Friday, and I have watched the Super Bowl and NFC championship game about three times apiece now. 

Parcells' initial focus has been building and improving upon the center of the field with the offensive line and defensive front seven. With the current rules and the way games are called by the refs in today’s NFL, successful teams that get to the playoffs year-in and year-out do so by controlling the center of the field or controlling the line of scrimmage: by protecting your quarterback, by getting to the quarterback on defense, dominating the game at the point of attack. 

That’s why the experts say two of the three most important positions on the field are Defensive End, and Left (or blindside) Tackle. Pass rush and protect the Quarterback.  

The Giants

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