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Dolphins Q&A with Alex Marvez
Sun-Sentinel.com
Posted May 14 2007, 4:40 PM EDT
 Q: Should we be concerned about Ronnie Brown reporting to minicamp 20 pounds overweight?
A: Not at this point. For the past two offseasons, Brown has gone over his listed weight of 232 pounds. While that obviously isn't ideal, Brown should be fine if he continues to lose weight during the team's offseason conditioning program (which he has been doing) and reports to training camp in shape.
Q: With Ricky out, isn't depth at running back as big a concern as any position on the team? What are your thoughts on Jesse Chatman and Lorenzo Booker? Also, how could the Dolphins not be interested in free agents Corey Dillon or Chris Brown?
A: I don't know if depth is any greater concern than it was before Williams' latest setback, as there seemed a strong possibility that he wasn't in the Dolphins' future plans beyond serving as trade bait for a team seeking a talented-but-troubled backup running back. Booker adds some much-needed speed to the Dolphins' backfield and also is deceivingly strong, ranking as one of Florida State's most powerful players pound-for-pound during his senior season. Booker, though, will have to show more consistency in the NFL than he did at Florida State. After spending last season out of football battling weight problems, Chatman is trying to regain the form that made him a productive backup with San Diego in 2004. Chatman has lost 40 pounds in his comeback efforts and is familiar with Cam Cameron's offense from having played under him in San Diego. As for Dillon and Brown, there is a reason both players are unsigned. Dillon doesn't have much left in the tank and is more of a plodding-style back at this point of his storied career, while Brown has struggled with injuries throughout his first four NFL seasons and wasn't even re-signed by the Titans despite Tennessee's unsettled running back situation.
 Q: Is it true the Dolphins were hoping to trade Ricky Williams to the Rams before he failed another drug test? And is there any chance the Dolphins bring him back? Or any team for that matter?
A: While Rams coach Scott Linehan publicly expressed interest in Williams before last month's draft, my impression is that St. Louis was just one of the teams the Dolphins were going to contact about a possible trade. Williams now has essentially no trade value after recently failing a fifth drug test under the NFL's substance-abuse program, which reportedly renders him unable to apply for reinstatement until at least September. The Dolphins would be making a statement about character by releasing him, but it would probably be in General Manager Randy Mueller's best interest to wait until learning whether Williams will be reinstated before making a roster move. That's because Williams would potentially have some value to the Dolphins if the club desperately needed running back depth because of injury.
 Q: Will Andre Goodman ever be healthy? Wasn't he supposed to be a starting cornerback? Now I hear he may not be 100 percent when the regular season begins. Does that mean Travis Daniels could start? And does Jason Allen move up the depth chart to nickel corner?
A: A 14-game starter last season, Goodman re-injured his surgically-repaired shoulder during a minicamp practice earlier this month. If the injury lingers into the preseason, Daniels will move into the starting lineup and Allen will have every chance to play in the team's nickel package. Allen will be competing for playing time against Michael Lehan and Shirdonya Mitchell, who is currently playing in NFL Europe.
Q: What's with Ricky Williams' possible September reinstatement? I thought four strikes and you're out?
A: It's believed that Williams will potentially be allowed to return because his positive test occurred during a medical evaluation phase and not after he was reinstated. That being said, Williams isn't automatically guaranteed reinstatement when he reapplies for admission to the NFL. Remember this, too: Trying to predict anything with Williams as far in advance as September is a waste of time.
 Q: Why don't the Dolphins just renegotiate Daunte Culpepper's contract? To me, it would be really simple, "Hey Daunte, last year you made $6 million for four games. If you want to stay on this team, you will need to re-negotiate your salary."
A: The Dolphins could try to restructure Culpepper's contract, but all signs are pointing toward the club either trading or releasing him should the team finally acquire Kansas City quarterback Trent Green as expected. The Dolphins have made an investment in John Beck as a potential future starter, while Cleo Lemon already was tendered a one-year, $1.2 million contract to serve as a likely backup for 2007. The fact that Cameron has never spoken about Culpepper being in the team's plans for 2007 seemingly speaks volumes about his future.
Q: What's up with Rodrique Wright? Is he healthy and do they expect him to have any impact?
A: My co-worker Harvey Fialkov said defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday is very impressed with Wright serving as his backup. Wright was projected as a mid-round selection in 2006 but he slid to the seventh-round because of a torn rotator cuff. Wright has recovered from the surgery that kept him from playing as a rookie, lost weight from his college days and will compete for snaps as a backup in the Dolphins' defensive line rotation.
Q: Who on the Dolphins do you see being the next face of the franchise like Jason Taylor or Zach Thomas?
A: The Dolphins would love for it to become Ted Ginn Jr. and/or John Beck, but it's way too early to judge whether either player will ever enjoy as storied a career as Taylor and Thomas have. Right now, no Dolphins player has shown signs of being able to match the heights Taylor and Thomas have reached with the Dolphins.
 Q: Trent Green said he won't play for the Chiefs, but if he's not released by the team, does he even have a choice? Would he then have to retire before signing with the Dolphins?
A: Retirement won't get Green out of his contract, but he has made it crystal-clear to Chiefs management that he will not be playing in Kansas City this season with the franchise grooming Brodie Croyle to start. Ultimately, I believe Green will land with the Dolphins because it makes no sense for the Chiefs to carry him with a $7.2 million base salary for 2007. I still expect the Dolphins and Chiefs to reach agreement on a trade, but neither side seems willing to blink at this point.
Q: Who on the Dolphins would you most want on your side in a bar fight?
A: Keith Traylor. You don't last 16 NFL seasons being soft.
Send questions to askalex@sun-sentinel.com
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