Could Chambers and Brown be traded?
By Brian Miller
Could two of the veterans of the Miami Dolphins offense be on the trade block? What are we to think about the future of WR Chris Chambers and RB Ronnie Brown?
During the off-season, the talk centered around trading Marty Booker, that ebbed and the talk then quickly become the future of Chris Chambers. After yesterdays game, one is left to wonder if Chambers is not playing his last season in Miami. Or, could his time here be even shorter?
Chris Chambers is set to make close to 7 million dollars next year, a fact that is not lost on current GM Randy Mueller or HC Cam Cameron. Already both have denied any real talk concerning the rumors of a Chris Chambers trade. Perhaps a trade for an offensive lineman would not be a bad thing.
Chambers caught 6 passes for 96 yards yesterday but also dropped at least 2. Still, it is not out of the question that Chambers finds himself being dogged by rumors of an impending trade as the deadline for such draws nearer in mid-October. Most assuredly he may be asked to take a pay cut next season, and if not, may find himself looking for work. He has another 15 games to show that he is and will be the number 1 WR for the Dolphins, something that he has shown once in his career thus far.
If the questions surrounding Chambers seem to be pretty obvious, the questions surrounding former number 1 draft pick Ronnie Brown are a lot more clouded. Brown still runs with the “bust” tag by fans. Although he managed to miss 4 games last year, he still put up rushing yards over 1,000. He is one of those running backs that gets better as the game goes on. He needs the touches to get going…yesterday, he got very little. Yesterday, he took a backseat to Jesse Chatman, the guy who has been out of the NFL for almost 2 years.
Ronnie Browns absence in yesterdays game will only add more fuel to a burning ember at the bottom of a dead wood pile. If the use of Brown continues to be as it was on Sunday, that ember could ignite into a full blown bonfire.
Brown is not one of Cameron’s favorites if you watch what the head coach did in pre-season. Brown was rumored to be overweight and out of shape in off-season training, but showed up fine to training camp and mini camp. However, this use of Brown or lack of, will start the trade talks.
One friend of mine has already brought up this question…OrlandoNole of the Miami Herald. He surmises that there could be a possible RB change next year as San Diego Charger back-up Michael Turner will be a free agent. Cameron has a history with Turner and can guarantee him the starting spot. That leaves a big question on the future of Brown. Brown is going to be too expensive too keep as a back-up.
If this is true and is something that may be in the future of the Dolphins, then it may be interesting to watch the league and see if any RB injuries take place. An injury to starting RB elsewhere could throw that gas on the burn pit ember.
In the meantime, the questions surrounding the futures of Chambers and Brown will not likely be settled anytime soon, and their persistence as rumors should linger the entire season. Miami has an offense that is not what Cameron wants it to be. Vital elements are missing, the question is where will he find them, and at who’s expense?