Saturday, April 23, 2011

The Daily Rant 4/23: Miami Vice(s) of BMarsh & the Fins


Last year on my way to work I received a text message from a friend, JM, saying congratulations on the trade. Just the night before I had been talking to another friend saying that the Broncos were going to trade troubled WR Brandon Marshall, most likely to Seattle, and potentially, my own Miami Dolphins. I texted my friend back asking what trade, and he told me that my Dolphins had acquired Brandon Marshall for two 2nd round picks. This was their biggest trade since they gave up two 1st round picks for Ricky Williams in 2002.

Despite Dan Henning's archaic offense and atrocious playcalling, and missing two games due to a hamstring injury, Marshall turned in a 1,000+ season. I've got a feeling he'll better those numbers in 2011, barring serious injury.

Well, things almost got serious Friday night as Marshall, who had played good soldier since coming to Miami, was stabbed by his wife in a domestic dispute. Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that Marshall's wife was arrested for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

As much as I've liked the addition of Brandon Marshall - he's the first legitimate receiving threat in Miami since well, O.J. McDuffie in the twilight of Dan Marino's career, this isn't the first time he's been involved in an off-field incident. Miami knew what they were getting into. My message with the Daily Rant today goes out to my favorite team, the Miami Dolphins, and it is this: Stop trying to be like the Cincinnati Bengals.

Often criticized for their penchant for crime and becoming the butt of jokes, the Bengals might have relinquished that title to Miami for now.

Here's a look at some of the charges Dolphins players have faced the past few seasons:

Brandon Marshall: He was arrested multiple times between 2006 and 2009 for repeated domestic violence incidents with his ex-girlfriend. He was arrested for drunken driving charge while with the Broncos. He was suspsended for the entire preseason for punting a football and swatting passes in practice his last year in Denver. And now this. While he appears to have reformed and has become a team leader for the Dolphins, it does raise some eyebrows.

Phillip Merling: The reserve DE with a penchant for making big plays was arrested for hitting his pregnant girlfriend. No team action was taken as Merling tore his achillies tendon a few weeks after the incident and he missed most of the 2010 season.

Randy Starks: The Pro Bowl DE was acquitted of charges of attempting to run over a police officer on South Beach with one of these.

Will Allen: A former starting CB who missed all of the 2010 season, and was supplanted by Vontae Davis in early 2009 due to injury, was arrested for a DUI and was investigated by Police for allegedly pulling a gun on a bookie to whom he owed money. Allen restructured his deal with Miami earlier this offseason. Wonder why? Also, if you've never seen the Last Boy Scout, give it a look see. Decent flick. The opening scene is the video clip in this story.

Ronnie Brown: Currently a free agent, the former Pro Bowl RB was arrested for a DUI driving in his home state of Georgia.

As a life-long Dolphins fan, please, clean up your act Miami.

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