Trade Winds Brewing Down In Miami?

Ok, so the Dolphins started with the front office guys. Then they got a head coach and then three more assistants.

They’ve signed a few players who were with the Cowboys at training camp in the past.

And now it’s time for the big-named players.

The Cowboys and Dolphins apparently are close to a trade that will send defensive tackle Jason Ferguson to Miami in exchange for draft picks. But don’t get too excited about that part.

Don’t expect the Dolphins to be sending any first-day picks. It’ll probably be in the neighborhood of a fifth- or sixth-round pick, possibly both.

But should anyone really be surprised?

Ferguson tore his biceps tendon in the season opener against the Giants and spent the rest of the year on injured reserve. He’s 33 with 11 years of NFL experience and if that’s not enough, the Cowboys shelled out big bucks to keep Jay Ratliff and already have Tank Johnson coming back next season, playing for the NFL minimum.

As for Ferguson’s contract, it is hardly for the minimum. He was scheduled to count $5.62 million on the salary cap. While the Cowboys do wipe off his $4 million base for 2008, they will take a signing bonus proration of $3.2 million this season. So add it all up and if Ferguson is not on the team in 2008, the Cowboys will save about $2.4 million.

Ferguson shouldn’t have any problems fitting in. This will be the third time to reunite with Bill Parcells and he’ll even be coached by Kacy Rodgers, the defensive line coach here who jumped ship to Miami to join Tony Sparano, Todd Bowles and Paul Pasqualoni.

--- Nick Eatman

Published Feb 28 2008, 09:21 PM by nickeatman

Comments

	MBIII said: I'll take it, for multiple picks? Definitely. February 28, 2008 9:47 PM
	tremely2 said: This would make sense. Ratliff turned out to be the real deal, and so far so good with Tank. Sometimes you have to cut your losses. February 28, 2008 10:00 PM
	Danny578 said: Lets see we went 13-2 without him (last game doesn't count) and got the # 1 seed and we'll save money and get a couple of draft picks...am I missing a downside. Like Mick says you can't have steak at every position and this a position where we can trim some of the fat off of our rib eye and use that money to resign barber to an extension. BTW, do we even know that he will fully recover from this injury and be back to his old form? February 28, 2008 10:12 PM
	"DaBigDog" said: Put Fergy with Brady James and Carp and get that first pick of the second rd and free up some cap space February 28, 2008 10:30 PM
	USBoysFanInCn said: As menioned we have proven that we can perform at a high level without Jason......so this is a good move. Prior to his injury I would expected more signs of missing him if he was not in the line-up. So we did a good job replacing him last year and didnt really miss a beat in our performance. Certainly with all that said......looks like this would be a good move if it happens!! Does Parcells feel good enough about Carpenters abilities to take him to Miami as well?? I always had the opinion that Parcells was not really a Bobby Carpenter supporter.....maybe my opinion was wrong. For me till now........I have not seen BC make a significant contribution to this team. February 28, 2008 10:38 PM
	Romo to Witten said: just give bill all of our old timers for there young ones haha he did it to dallas hes doing it in miami watch keyshawn be there wr or the one under his desk tieing his shoes make that brown nose more brown. February 28, 2008 11:15 PM
	denveraic said: Fine with me, nothing to lose at all. Very good move for us, I like where we are headed, picks, and youth, always a great thing. February 29, 2008 12:33 AM
	Starbuck said: I like this move. Makes a lot of sense if you ask me. February 29, 2008 1:12 AM
	dcowboy3535 said: what else is new to that.. just what else will bill get from us.. lets just see if miami goes after barber, so that way will still get their first pick.. and a third. hell we should just shell out more to them and get their entire draft picks lol/ seeming how bill likes davis so much watch for him to go down there as well.hell i hope they take reeves as well lol February 29, 2008 1:32 AM
	DcFootball said: Great news, he probably wasnt going to start this coming year anyway and this just gives us some more money to bring in Berrian.........? lol. February 29, 2008 5:25 AM
	cowboy freak said: dont know how many NT a team needs so yeah great move February 29, 2008 5:37 AM
	Boys64 said: Let's Do It! February 29, 2008 6:15 AM
	Ruffnek said: That trade, to use a trite expression, is a win-win for both clubs. Miami would get a good NT that we really don't need and we would get a couple of draft picks that any team can always use. Of course, I don't care if it's a win for Miami and the Tuna...just as long as it's one for the 'Boys. Too bad we would take too big a cap hit by trading Carpenter or maybe we could package him for another late-round from Miami....or anybody. Same thing goes for Roy Willy. February 29, 2008 7:10 AM
	BigCat78 said: Now Let's get Keith davis signed! one spot of stability on our special teams. It's a big mistake to let him go, mark my words. February 29, 2008 8:48 AM
	Gregory jones said: Jason who?? been so long since he made a tackle I thought for sure he would retire. glad we can get something for him, the Meat of the team is drafted in the later rounds. February 29, 2008 9:00 AM
	Gregory jones said: Rather they get Ferguson than Barber, Barber brings a toughness that we need in the NFC East. February 29, 2008 9:05 AM
	Donnell said: I think that it is a good idea. We could use these picks along with what we already have and bundle them up and get MB3 some help in the back field. This Free Agency period scares me more than any other in my time. February 29, 2008 9:09 AM
	handsumjimi said: Good move..Fergy is on the downside, now he can join "the tuna" who is also on the downside..Glad there's no trade for M. Barber, that would have been the worst/dumbest trade in Cowboys history..Jerra would have been run out of town February 29, 2008 9:22 AM
	cowboys4life22 said: lets make it happen February 29, 2008 9:22 AM
	richman said: Bye Fergie..... February 29, 2008 9:27 AM
	CavTrooper73 said: hopefully we get more than the projected sixth round pick. February 29, 2008 3:59 PM
	CoWBoyDwNuNdA said: i think Jerry is just buttering ol' Tuna up for that 1st pick trade. Lets Ferguson go for a 6th and a swap of 6th. Lets him take our coaches and front office because he wants Bill to owe him something when the dolphins finally go on the clock. Everyone thinks it will involve barber but they have Ronnie Brown and if they are getting our two 1st they will find a decent back up to him later. I would have thought he would want carpenter involved in the trade as he and his father are "Parcells Guys" I dont think Jerry has put the notion of Run DMC to bed yet............ February 29, 2008 8:45 PM
	the_romonator said: Starting to look like the Miami Cowboys. March 3, 2008 12:11 AM