Satele could be first of many casualties in Miami

By Brad Wilbricht  |   Tuesday, March 24, 2009  |  Comments( 5 )

Miami Dolphins
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The recent trade of offensive lineman Samson Satele to the Oakland Raiders surprised many fans in South Florida, but there is a logical explanation from the Miami Dolphins -- whose fans may not be concerned as much regarding Satele’s departure but more so about the minuscule sixth-round pick the team received in return.

While Satele started 32 games during his two-year tenure with Miami, the addition of center Jake Grove made him dispensable. There were concerns within the Dolphins’ organization that Satele would be unable to hold up against defensive linemen over the long haul. While he displayed the ability to do just that, there were other factors contributing toward the decision to move Satele.

In fact, Satele could be the first of several upcoming trades as the Dolphins’ front office attempts to accumulate picks for the future. The main reason behind the potential fire sale is that Miami is slated to have 12 unrestricted free agents in 2010. The Dolphins are being proactive and believe that stockpiling picks is the best way to compensate for the inevitable losses coming a year from now.

In addition to Satele, there are numerous other players rumored to be on the trading block. Backup quarterback John Beck can certainly be had, as can wideout Ernest Wilford. Bill Parcells may even have an ace up his sleeve and pull the unexpected. If value is on the table, Miami will be listening. There’s even a chance the team will offer up its first-round selection in order to gather additional draft picks next month.

Coming off a tremendous turnaround which resulted in an 11-5 record and AFC East title, the timing is inopportune, but it makes sense for the Dolphins’ long-term future. Last year’s success came earlier than expected and it’s still a work in progress in Miami.

Parcells is smart enough to realize that short-lived success is just that, and he won’t get caught up with the immediate gratification of winning now. His vision of the future should be welcomed by Dolphins fans, although there could be some backlash if the team's record regresses in 2009.

Before Miami fans begin to gripe, they should ask themselves a question: Do we want a few years of winning, or do we want to resurface as a perennial contender in the AFC? While it may cause some undesirable actions at this time, the latter is the better way. However, it may be one step forward, two steps back, with the end resulting in relevance back in South Florida for years to come.
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About Brad Wilbricht

Brad Wilbricht covers numerous sporting events including the NFL, NFL Draft and college football. His analysis is simulcast through several media outlets across the country. Additionally, Brad is a regular guest on a variety of talk radio shows and can be frequently heard on the airwaves. To ...
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CommentsComments: 5  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
marc christophe		07:51 AM
03/25/2009
Good point. I have been a fan since 1967, and I can remember the time during the 70's and 80's when the Dolphins were always in ...
No.2
JimmyD		08:32 AM
03/26/2009
Marc, you were one of many who had to watch the fins lose 50 to 49 against the Jets. Those were tough drafts because the solid ...
No.3
Dfan		11:06 PM
03/26/2009
Satele was on his way out according to the new regime. Sporano is a offensive line coach, and they want the center to be bigger, ...
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