Wednesday, April 10, 2002

ProFootballWeekly.com asks personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics in football. 

Seahawks interested in Packers OT Dotson

According to PFW’s Joel Buchsbaum, the Seahawks are working out a deal to sign nine-year veteran OT Earl Dotson. Dotson, a 6-4, 317-pounder, has played his entire career for Green Bay and played for current Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren when Holmgren coached the Packers. Dotson, 31, missed the majority of the 2000 season with recurring back problems.

Buchsbaum: If Earl Dotson does in fact go to Seattle, it will give the Seahawks a solid third tackle, provided his health holds up, and a player who could start at right tackle if Chris McIntosh doesn’t develop as well as Seattle hoped he would. Last year, Todd Weiner had to start because McIntosh was hurt most of the year, and Dotson will in effect replace Weiner in the equation. However, unlike Weiner, Dotson doesn’t have the versatility to play many other positions on the line or to be a factor on special teams. Obviously, Mike Holmgren had Dotson in Green Bay and knows him and likes him.

Vikings sign ex-Dolphins DE Bromell

Minnesota signed a second ex-Dolphins player to improve its defensive line when it reached an agreement to sign DE Lorenzo Bromell to a five-year, $11 million contract. Incentives could push the value to $15 million. Bromell, 26, has played all four of his NFL seasons with Miami and is a strong pass rusher. He has 21.5 sacks in four seasons, including 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and a career-high 32 tackles in 2001. He will be reunited with DE Kenny Mixon, who left Miami to sign a five-year, $17 million deal with the Vikings.

Buchsbaum: Bromell, who frustrated the Dolphins by showing flashes of great pass-rush ability but never turning into a consistent player or a good enough run defender, goes from Miami to Minnesota, where he joins another former Dolphin, DE Kenny Mixon. Both players came in touted as players with great potential, but Mixon developed as a run defender, not as a pass rusher, and the reverse is true for Bromell, who also has been somewhat inconsistent as a pass rusher. However, with his speed, quickness and long arms, he still could come into his own with a change of scenery.

The key to the Vikings’ revamped defense may be how well Mixon and Bromell play — because with Chris Hovan inside, they could be pretty strong up front if both ex-Dolphins really come through in a big way for them.

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2001 - 2002 Season