Nick Piccone
Eagles fans had to deal with a little uneasiness yesterday morning when reports started surfacing that the proposed trade sending Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso to the Dolphins was dead due to Maxwell’s shoulder. Apparently Maxwell had told the Eagles his shoulder was fine at the end of the season and then told the Dolphins it was bothering him enough for him to be unable to do pushups or the bench press.
I have to admit – when I saw those reports, I got a little pissed. It seemed like Maxwell was being a punk and trying to screw with the Eagles and Dolphins, whereas nobody really worried about Alonso. That’s sort of his thing, I guess. Nobody really notices him. I bet you couldn’t notice him when he was on or off the field.
Anyway, the trade finally did go through after the Dolphins pretty much said, “F— it, pass him,” regarding Maxwell’s physical. But the Eagles also swapped first round draft picks with the Dolphins and were able to move up to eighth overall. It felt like it was too good to be true, and then it seemed like it really was too good to be true, and then the football gods just showed mercy on us. But how about the people in Florida? It’s an entirely different feeling down there.
Last night on 560 WQAM in Miami, Alex Donno ended his radio show by nominating three Jabronies of the Week, which will be picked on Friday. It’s very similar to Angelo Cataldi’s Winner and Weasel of the Week if you’re familiar with the WIP Morning Show. Donno didn’t pull any punches, and basically said Dolphins executive vice president of football operations, Mike Tannenbaum, doesn’t seem to have a plan in place as he’s pretty much the de facto general manager at this point. Donno’s probably right. Here’s what he said:
Mike Tannenbaum. Jabroni of the Week nominee. I don’t exactly know what he’s doing. What his plan is in free agency. This is making me nervous going into the draft. You’ve already traded out of the top 10. You’ve swapped your eighth overall for 13th overall. And you do that to bring in a troublesome, injury-prone, overpriced corner in Byron Maxwell, who’s got a bum shoulder.
How is it, because I – do we have the same team doctor that wouldn’t sign off on Drew Brees because of his shoulder – and this guy is signing off now on Byron Maxwell?
And you also get Kiko Alonso … I’m more excited about him than I am about Maxwell because going back to his rookie season in Buffalo, the dude was a monster. But now three knee injuries later, he’s struggled to stay consistent. But he’s still on his rookie deal, that’s the good news. Kiko Alonso is costing you under a million and Maxwell next year is going to cost you about $8 million. But hey, you’re getting two starters under $10 million if you do the math that way.
The problem that I have with the deal is you’re giving up your number eight overall pick. I’m really annoyed with that.
Donno makes some good points and generally that’s the opinion of most folks around the league. The general feeling is that the Eagles won that trade hands down regardless of how it helps the Dolphins’ defense – if it does – because it allowed the Eagles to go out and spend money on good players to fit their needs. The Dolphins just seem like a mess.
Donno then goes into a rant on Lamar Miller not being respected by the Dolphins. It’s quite entertaining, so listen to the audio below.
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