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Dolphins News: Panthers Keep Campbell
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Dolphins News: Panthers Keep Campbell
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*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Feb 28, 1998: -- Panthers Keep Campbell --

The Dolphins were unpleasantly surprised Friday evening when the Carolina Panthers elected to match the Dolphins' offer sheet to restricted free agent Matt Campbell at the last moment and signed him to a 3 year contract. The Dolphins had hoped that they would be able to get Campbell away from the Panthers and use him to upgrade the offensive line.

After initial reports indicated that the Panthers would not match the Dolphins' offer, the Panthers surprised the Dolphins by deciding to match the contract and keep Campbell in Carolina. Head coach Dom Capers of the Panthers made it clear that the Panthers like Campbell and felt that it was necessary to keep him.

The Dolphins had hoped to use Campbell either as the right tackle in place of James Brown or the left guard in place of Jeff Buckey. Brown is a free agent who may sign with another team.

In related news, restricted free agent wide receiver Billy Davis of the Cowboys signed a 3 year deal to stay in Dallas. The Dolphins had hoped to sign Davis, but had not succeeded in signing him to an offer sheet.

Also, the Dolphins have reportedly been in contact with free agent fullback William Floyd of the 49ers. Floyd has not been in Miami for a visit, but the Dolphins have talked to his agent now that Roosevelt Potts has signed with the Ravens.

And the newspapers in Miami are reporting that the Dolphins have made an offer to Dallas safety Brock Marion. However, it's thought to be a smaller offer than the Arizona Cardinals have made.

And last, but not least, Vikings running back Robert Smith was in Kansas City on Friday to visit with the Chiefs. His agent has said that he will visit one more team this coming Monday, but has declined to say which team it will be.

My Comments:

Last week, I was merely concerned about the Dolphins lack of activity in free agency. Now, however, I'm pissed.

Once again, JJ, Bob Ackles and Eddie Jones have underestimated another team's resolve in re-signing their old players. First, they did it with the Vikings and now they've done it with the Panthers.

And suddenly, their failure to sign Jim Pyne and their lack of interest in players like the Steelers' John Jackson and the Eagles' Joe Panos leaves the Dolphins in a situation where they almost have to re-sign tackle James Brown.

Unless, of course, they're content to go with either Brent Smith or Jeff Buckey at right tackle. The problem with Smith is that he wasn't good enough last year to get activated for even one game. The problem with Buckey is that if he's moved to right tackle, who will step in and play the left guard spot?

Of course, there are still good players available, but the best ones are gone. And if James Brown now signs elsewhere, the Dolphins will end up having done almost nothing to upgrade the offensive line.

Yes, of course Donnalley will upgrade the right guard position, but without Brown, the Dolphins will have no experienced right tackle and only the big question mark of Brent Smith to start there.

Now, maybe Smith will come on and play well. Or maybe JJ can draft someone to play right tackle. Or perhaps one of the players currently on the roster will surprise us and step up and be able to play at that position. But on a team where the running game is supposed to be taking on a new importance, the Dolphins haven't been able to get the players they need.

I am willing believe that JJ knows more about how to select players than I do, but the current situation is terribly frustrating and almost completely incomprehensible. Perhaps now they will look harder at the players that are left, like Brian Habib and Aaron Taylor.

On a more philosophical note, I believe in giving a coach 3 years to put his mark on a football team. If the team isn't noticeably better in the 3rd season than it was in the first, then that coach is, at least, suspect.

Oh, I don't hold JJ to the often quoted statement that he would get to the SuperBowl in 3 years. It would be silly to hold him to that kind of statement, given the situation with injuries and the salary cap. However, if the Dolphins aren't noticeably better in 1998 than they were in 1996, my confidence in his abilities will have vanished.

As it is, I'm just starting to get pissed. But I'm willing to wait and see what happens in September.

After all, if the Dolphins are significantly better this year than they have been, I certainly won't remember that I was pissed at JJ in February.

But right now, the situation in Miami is not encouraging.

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Curt Fennell, curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
     
   

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Curt Fennell
curt@phins.com
DOLFAN in New England