Winning Is Priceless, Brandon Marshall Is Not

This past week, the Dolphin's took by far their biggest gamble of the Parcells Era by trading two second round picks to the Broncos for pro bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

Honestly, I had to read about four different press releases from credible news sources before I believed my eyes. This moves runs counter to everything for which Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano stand.

They do NOT like "diva" (big ego) receivers, they do NOT think that receivers should be among the highest paid players on a team, they do NOT believe in trading away high draft picks, they do NOT believe in spending tens of millions of dollars in the offseason to improve a team, and they do NOT believe in bringing players into their locker room who have a reputation for putting themselves ahead of the team (see Terrell Owens).

Some might see the Dolphins' latest moves, making Dansby and Marshall the two highest paid NFL players at their respective positions, as acts of desperation, and they are right. Let's face it, the Phins regressed a little last season and were, as of two months ago, nowhere close to catching up with the Patriots and quickly falling behind the Jets.

After watching their brash talking arch rivals in New York go on an acquisition spree (Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, LaDainian Tomlinson, and possibly Jason Taylor), the Phins had to do something to stay relevant.

Trading for Brandon Marshall was just what the doctor ordered. I wrote, just a few weeks ago, that the Phins would be foolish to give Michael Crabtree money (nearly $20 million guaranteed) to a first round pick with a 50-50 bust rate when they could get a proven force like Brandon Marshall for $24 million in guaranteed money.

Consequently, I can do nothing but praise the Phins for this latest move. It makes sense on so many levels. It is no secret that the Dolphins are perhaps only behind the Raiders and the Lions when it comes to swinging and missing in the NFL draft.

Jamar Fletcher, Eddie Moore, Matt Roth, Jason Allen, Ted Ginn, John Beck, Phillip Merling, Pat White, and Patrick Turner are all among the dozens of disappointments the Dolphins have selected at the top of the draft. Notice these picks even include a few questionable selections by Parcells and Co.

When one considers this history of draft misfortune, it is hard to argue that the Dolphins were foolish for coughing up two second round picks to land one of the top five receivers in the NFL and fill arguably the teams biggest void.

Speaking of draft misfortunes, the Phins managed to dupe the 49ers into trading a 5th round pick in this year's draft for Ted Ginn, Jr. It is amusing to read the quotes from 49ers brass touting Ted Ginn as "loaded with potential" and "possessing the speed needed to open up a vertical offense." No matter how evolved the human race becomes, there are always some among us who are destined to repeat others' mistakes.

While many local sports writers described the Phins' divestiture of Ginn a as a direct consequence of the Marshall acquisition, I think just the opposite is true. The Phins made a bold move to acquire Brandon Marshall because they feared that Dez Bryant could be the next Ted Ginn.

In other words, for those Phins fans who are wondering what the Dolphins have to show for the three years and millions of dollars invested in Ted Ginn, the answer is the willingness of the Dolphins front office to finally pay whatever it takes to acquire a proven talent like Brandon Marshall.