FOX Sports on MSN - Alex Marvez - Top 10 cases of buyer's remorse 4. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Ernest Wilford: Even Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland has called Wilford a "disappointment" during a recent interview with South Florida reporters. Miami inked Wilford to a four-year, $13 million free-agent deal that included $6 million guaranteed. This came after he notched a team-high 45 catches for Jacksonville in 2007. That's 44 more receptions than what Wilford has made for Miami through three games. He isn't among the top three players on what is arguably the NFL's worst wide receiver corps. 6. Miami quarterback Josh McCown: The free-agent contract McCown received -- two years, $6.25 million with $2.5 million guaranteed -- was in line with what other low-end starters and top-tier backups earn at his position. McCown, though, couldn't cement himself as either in Miami despite facing modest competition from second-year quarterback John Beck and rookie Chad Henne. Shortly after signing Chad Pennington, the Dolphins ate the $2.5 million cap hit and traded McCown to Carolina for a 2009 seventh-round draft pick.
I figured Wilford would be on this list, I had forgotten all about McCown... Never thought id say this... again... but thank god pennington became available. At the time, I guess we needed McCown, but once we snagged penny, that 2.5 million dollar cap hit to dump McCown and manage to at least get a draft pick, doesnt seem so bad.
I never expected much from McCown, despite his contract... so, there's no real disappointment there, as far as I'm concerned. Wilford, however, has been one of the two biggest head-scratchers on this football team. The other being Ted Ginn not returning kickoffs. I don't know what's going on with Wilford. I think it was Vonnie Holliday who pretty much said the same thing. Whatever the problem is, he needs to do whatever it takes to correct it. This football team needs him, and he's in a perfect position for himself as a player. It would be a doggone shame if he didn't take full advantage of what he has. But, if he doesn't get it together... the Dolphins will find another WR to quickly replace him. You can count on it.
I didn't like the Wilford signing (wanted DJ Hackett or Bryant Johnson) and I didn't like the McCown signing. With guys like Roy Williams, Lee Evans, and Housh likely on the market with a pretty good looking draft at WR (presuming juniors declare), we have to get at least one of them if not 2. I've been keeping my eye on Adarius Bowman and so far, he's been doing well (got injured recently). He just looks like the kind of guy who does well in games but not necessarily in workouts.
I don't think the philosophy behind these 2 signings was bad at the time. They know what they were getting in McCown, and there really wasn't a better vet presence to get at that time. Wiford was just the type of WR that the roster was lacking. I'm sure the coaching staff also took into account their own ability to help these guys be major contributors the the team, but what can you do when these vets let themselves get outplayed by the rookies???? Besides, you cannot expect every player you pick up to be a hit. These 2 may be pickups that did not pan out, but there are way more that are working out wonderfully right now. If Parcels and Ireland can continue to build this team like it has, this is going to be a dominant team once again in the near future.
I agree bk...JMHO, but I thought they wanted Wilford to be their 'TO' and Ginn to be their 'Terry Glenn', but things haven't worked out that way. Wilford hasn't shown much, particularly after catching the ball (which is TO's forte) and besides that, he's a big guy, but certainly doesn't have the speed that TO has. They haven't been able to throw deep to exploit Ginn's speed due to the OL inconsistencies (at least the first two weeks) and CP learning the offense and of course CP's physical inadequacies. Like it or not, either he physically can't throw deep accurately or he just doesn't feel comfortable doing it and avoids it... I think at the time they made these pickups they were sound. Who'd have thought in March that CP was going to drop into our laps. Wilford was coming off a decent stretch in Jax and looked to be 'turning the corner' on his career...it just hasn't happened yet...
no surprises really. honestly i never knew what happened to McCown... we traded him to carolina? lol.... wow i'm paying attention.
Very, very true. Unfortunately, Wilford plays a position that we've desperately needed help at ever since the 'Limp-Noodle Regime' traded Chris Chambers to the Chargers. That, and the fact that there wasn't another solid WR prospect (in free agency OR the draft) that became available to us... so, Wilford's shortcomings are amplified due to how much this team was leaning on him. Just like Pennington would have done to us at the QB position, if his impact on this team had been as poor as Wilford's. You can't win 'em all... at least, in year one.
I dont think McCown should really be on the list. He wasnt intended to do much at all. Wilford has been a big dissapointment though. Nice list overall, cant argue with to many of the names on there. Thanks FFIC
That was probably pretty much the whole rationale behind signing so many low-to-mid priced FA's: retain those that work out and relatively painlessly (in terms of cap hit) weed out those that don't. What they needed more than top-tier players at one or two positions (and then filling other spots with marginal talent) was good players at several positions.
Except that's two different regimes: Chambers was traded during Mueller/Cameron, Pennington was signed during Ireland/Sparano. And wasn't the pick gained through the Chambers trade the one they used to draft Henne with?
