The Dolphins in the past week have traded WR Jarvis Landry and reportedly will release DT Ndamukong Suh, and in Miami, Greg Cote writes the decision to "get better by systemically getting rid of" all their best players is a "curious business model." Cote: "Alas, until and unless it does prove to be a genius move, the Dolphins volunteer themselves as a laughingstock." The Dolphins also traded starting RB Jay Ajayi to the Eagles last season. The team is "losing much of what little starpower it had" and is becoming one of the "most uninteresting, low-watt teams in football" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/13). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde writes the Dolphins "want to spin this as some 'winning culture' motif." Hyde: "Will it take more losing to build a winning culture?" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 3/13).
TAKING BABY STEPS: In DC, Mark Maske wrote no one "should expect too much, too soon," from the Browns after trading for Landry and QB Tyrod Taylor, as the team remains "quite a distance from respectability" after going 1-31 the last two seasons. However, the "first steps are unusually promising, and there should be plenty more to come" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/10). ESPN's LZ Granderson said, "They have a new GM, a GM that actually knows football. ... He knows players. So, he’s going to go out and make sure he signs players who are capable to execute the things that Hue Jackson wants to do” (“SportsNation,” ESPN, 3/12).
FINDING THE RIGHT PACE: PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Michael David Smith writes Bears GM Ryan Pace has again "tried to bolster" the team's offense, reportedly agreeing to a three-year, $42M contract with free agent WR Allen Robinson. If this move "doesn’t work out, it may be Pace’s last chance to right the ship in free agency." Although Pace "signed a contract extension this offseason, the Bears have finished in last place in the NFC North four consecutive years." Even with a new contract, Pace is "on the hot seat" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 3/13).
