Booker trade about system, not talent

By Hugo Guzman  |   Tuesday, April 29, 2008  |  Comments( 4 )

Miami Dolphins
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There was a frenzy of activity over the weekend that carried into Monday when the Miami Dolphins signed eight rookie free agents who went undrafted. But one transaction stood out above all the rest, causing a large portion of the fan base to voice its anger and discontent.

Of course, I’m talking about the trade of promising second-year running back Lorenzo Booker.

Booker endeared himself to fans with a mix of speed and elusiveness that hasn’t been seen in South Florida for many years. He also displayed a penchant for pass catching and a nose for the first-down marker, two traits that made him a key cog in Miami’s 2007 offensive attack. Factor in swirling rumors that head coach Tony Sparano was enamored with Booker’s game film, and you had a recipe for utter disappointment at news of his trade.

Oh, and did I mention that he was traded for a fourth-round pick even though he was selected with a third-rounder just a year earlier?

In any case, the Internet and radio waves were a flutter with negative fan feedback regarding this trade, which is saying a lot when you consider the Teflon reputation that Bill Parcells has flaunted since coming to Miami. The question at hand, though, is whether all of the complaints and accusations were well-founded.

Let’s start with the raw data.

For all the flash and dash, Booker finished the 2007 season with 128 yards rushing on 28 carries. That’s a solid 4.5 yards per try, but nothing to write home about considering the situations in which he was utilized. Booker also snagged 28 receptions for 237 yards, which is very impressive for the amount of games he played (seven), but most of those were of the dump-off variety. And the bottom line is that he failed to find the end zone despite getting 56 combined touches. Not exactly the home-run-hitting capability you might expect from such a dynamic player.

Still, it’s fair to assert that Booker has what it takes to be legitimate contributor to an NFL offense, but that wasn't enough to make him an untouchable. If Parcells and company didn’t feel that Booker was going to be a major factor in their offense, then the best thing that they could do was to move him for a mid-round pick. In some respects, getting a fourth-round choice for Booker was impressive; after all, established NFL commodities like Randy Moss have recently been traded for more or less the same compensation.

Sure, it would have been nice for Miami to get a third-rounder (as mentioned, that’s what was used to snag the former FSU standout in the first place), but that wasn’t an option. Incidentally, the Dolphins promptly traded up from the 115th pick that they acquired from Philadelphia, moving up to choice No. 110 and selecting offensive guard Shawn Murphy. If Murphy ends up starting, which is what some pundits are projecting, that alone should be enough justification for this most unpopular of trades.

Hopefully, this will be a win-win for all parties involved, with Miami adding another key cog to its offensive line and Philadelphia adding an exciting playmaker that fits its offensive identity. If Booker shines while Murphy struggles instead, be prepared to see Parcells’ Teflon reputation melt away in the hot South Florida sun.

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About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
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