A serving of Peppers would spice up Miami’s ‘D’

By Adam Sweeney  |   Monday, February 16, 2009  |  Comments( 4 )

Miami Dolphins
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The Miami Dolphins' 2008 trade of disgruntled defensive end Jason Taylor wasn’t quite on the scandal scale of Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers, but that doesn’t mean things were pretty. For a while, it appeared that a bloodbath might ensue between Bill Parcells and Taylor, then the face of the Dolphins. But both sides got what they wanted. Ultimately, Miami received a second-round draft pick in 2009 and a sixth-rounder in 2010 from the Washington Redskins, and Taylor got out of South Florida. One season after the deal, it already appears that the Dolphins won.

Unlike Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, the Dolphins in the last two years successfully picked free agents (i.e., Joey Porter and Chad Pennington) who helped lift them from the cellar last season. The message: Carefully evaluate talent and don’t overpay for it, instead choosing hungry players who won’t put you in the red financially.

Sometimes there are exceptions to the rule, namely game-changers. Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers fits that bill. The stellar defender issued a statement reading that “At this point in my NFL career, I am seeking new challenges that will allow me to grow, develop and reach my personal potential on the football field.”

Who would be better to challenge Peppers than Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano? Peppers has reportedly expressed interest in playing for the Dolphins. But are the two sides a good fit?

There are a few questions concerning the potential acquisition of Peppers. One is how well he would fit in the scheme of the Dolphins’ 3-4 defense. We think he would be able to make the adjustment relatively quickly; after all, Peppers does fit the athletic type of Taylor before him, and at 29 he is still playing at a high level, registering 14.5 sacks in 2008 for the Panthers. No Dolphin aside from Porter tallied more than three sacks last season. In addition to sacking quarterbacks, Peppers' presence -- namely, his ability to get in the backfield quickly -- would help a secondary that needs all the aid possible.

The biggest drawback to picking up Peppers would be his price tag. The star will undoubtedly demand one of the biggest contracts in the NFL, and there is the distinct possibility that the Panthers will place the dreaded franchise tag on him, forcing teams to trade two first-rounders for him.

The question is whether to follow the pattern of the New England Patriots, not placing any defender on a pedestal, or to roll the dice on a player who would hugely benefit Miami. Sometimes you have to take chances to get to the top. But if we were to look into our crystal ball, it would say that the Dolphins will pass the Peppers and find another dish that’s more affordable.
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About Adam Sweeney

Adam Sweeney spent 4 years as an opinions and arts & entertainment columnist with the Lone Star Lutheran, also working with Sports Illustrated.com. Along with his work on Realfootball 365 he currently is a contributor for Film School Rejects, SLAM Online, Talkhoops.net, and C-Heads Magazine.
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