This surprises me: A pretty good source is confirming pretty much what Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reported earlier today and that is that the Dolphins have OOs Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M and Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher rated considerably higher than Oklahoma’s Lane Johnson. As such, the Dolphins don’t appear to be all that interested in trading up for Johnson as has been speculated around the league in recent days, but are very keen to move up for either Joeckel or Fisher. In fact, according to sources the Dolphins won’t rule out trading all the way up to the #1 pick to get one of those guys if that’s what it takes. In fact, Miami G.M. Jeff Ireland confirmed at a pre-draft presser yesterday that the Dolphins, who have extra selections in both the second and third rounds, are prepared to move up in this year’s open round and won’t rule out dealing for the top pick. http://www.gbnreport.com/draftbuzz.html
This is a perfect example of why people need to WATCH interviews instead of just quoting transcripts and second-hand hearsay. Watch Jeff Ireland's answer about trading up, and tell me he really believes going to #1 overall is an option. Just watch it! Seriously.
Yeah, they are misreading his answer about moving up to 1. Or Jeff bluffs well. Remember his 2008 pre-draft presser, when he said our #1 overall would be a pillar of our defense for a long time... Then he turned red, as if he'd effed up and was embarrassed as the reporters squawked "Defense Jeff?! So he's a defensive player?" A week later he selected Jake Long.
Ireland said he has the ammunition to move to 1 overall, but in the very next breath said that such a move is very very unlikely. I came away from that press conference thoroughly convinced a move into the top 3 was NOT going to happen.
That was exactly my interpretation as well. His talking about how he COULD move all the way up to #1 overall, if he really wanted to, was said very sarcastically. Then he followed up with, "but that's not something I can imagine myself wanting to do"...or something like that. And what I took away from it is these rumors about moving to Oakland's pick at #3...are bull. I don't think he'd do it. It's too close to #1 overall which he considers to be ridiculous. Trading up to #6 overall, that might be more in his wheelhouse. The ammunition you need to go from #12 to #6 is only 400 "points" on the chart. The #54 pick is worth about 360 "points". I would imagine that pick could get the job done. But they could even opt for giving up #77 which would be 205 "points"...and then perhaps making up the difference with a player.
This why people think there are so many smoke screens at this time. Ireland wasn't creating any kind of misdirection. He just wouldn't provide specifics about what he would do (obviously) and everybody else engages in hole filling based on their own assumptions. And IMO it's more rampant in the so-called real media than anywhere else. Honestly, I find a report from Crazy relaying what his source told him to be far more credible than anything in the media. It isn't Crazy's job to constantly come up with something to fill a column or a website. If he relays something it's most likely really something the team is considering/exploring. The vast majority of everything else you read out there is speculation based on need assessments from people who know the team and/or football less than many here or on inaccurate information from someone who just skimmed a transcript (or talked to someone else who did) but didn't take the time to actually watch the interview.
That is one of the most fun of the offseason. Reading people's opnions who have become expert body and face readers.
I don't think Joe Banner appreciates your joke, lol. Seriously that guy must have it out for Dimitri. He got rid of him in Philly if I'm not mistaken. Takes over in Cleveland and first thing he does is cut him less than a year into a three year deal.
I love that stuff. I use it in one of my jobs all the time (PI). I'd love to take the FBI course on lie detection. I've studied some of Gottlieb stuff and it's fascinating.
Truthfully, The "Draft Game" has inflated my expectations so much that anything less than 15 picks in the first three rounds will be met with dissapointment. Trade em away, Jeff! Trade em all away!
