| Make no mistake. Miami is far and away the
NFL’s center of attention at the moment.
The Dolphins’ offer to make free agent Olin Kreutz the highest-paid center in the
league is just one of the reasons.
As I write this, the 24-year-old Kreutz continues to have a genuinely hard time
deciding whether to move to Miami, where the first-time Pro Bowler would be reunited with
numerous coaches and players who were previously employed by the Bears, led by head coach
Dave Wannstedt, or remain in Chicago for about $2.5 million less than what the Dolphins
appear to be willing to pay him.
Kreutz says he will make his final decision tomorrow.
In the meantime, there’s no rest for the weary, with Saints RB Ricky Williams
claiming he could become a Dolphin any minute now.
"From what I hear, it is going to happen today," said Williams, who has been
the subject of trade rumors involving both the Dolphins and Browns since the 2001 season
ended. "Common sense tells me that the Saints really want to get rid of me."
While you have to wonder just how much common sense Williams really has — have any
of you ever driven your car 126 mph? How about 100 mph? — there does appear to be
more than a little validity to the rumor that Williams could be Miami-bound.
Heading into Thursday, the Dolphins were said to be offering their first- and
fourth-round choices in this year’s draft and a conditional third-round pick in 2003
— that could become a first- or second-round selection based on incentives — in
exchange for Williams and the Saints’ No. 3.
The Saints were apparently not quite satisfied with those terms and were looking for a
little bit more booty before dispensing with their offensive centerpiece and replacing him
with the unproven but supremely talented Deuce McAllister.
"We’re about as sweet as we can possibly be because we’re giving them
the opportunity to get two No. 1 picks," Dolphins senior VP of football operations
Rick Spielman told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "One of them is based off
performance, but I don’t think they can get any deal better than that."
Spielman is right on the money. Considering the tight market around the NFL at the
moment, the Saints couldn’t do much better. Having said that, though, it would be a
great deal for the Dolphins, whose need for a punishing inside runner couldn’t be
greater.
With Williams pounding away behind a line anchored by Kreutz, the Dolphins instantly
become my pick to go to the 2003 Super Bowl from the AFC.
We’ll find out soon enough.
Interestingly, officials from both the Dolphins and Saints — and numerous other
teams, no doubt — were gathering together today to attend the pre-draft workouts of
University of Miami (Fla.) players in Coral Gables, Fla.
The Hurricanes figure to have at least five bona fide first-round prospects displaying
their wares today — mammoth OT Bryant McKinnie, TE Jeremy Shockey, S Ed Reed, CB
Phillip Buchanon and RB Clinton Portis.
For the next 24-48 hours, Miami is clearly where the NFL action is. Even in Chicago,
you can feel the heat.
Just ask Olin Kreutz. |
