Apr 1, 2008 11:30 am US/Eastern
Dolphins Can't Find Buyer For Number One Pick
MIAMI (CBS4.com) ―
Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga said no other teams appear interested in trading for the 'Fins number one overall draft pick, according to CBS4 news partner, The Miami Herald. He also said he has no issue paying a huge signing bonus to the player the Dolphins select, even though the player has never set foot on an NFL field.
But Huizenga also expressed the fear associated with selecting in the top 5 picks of the NFL draft, "it's important no to make a mistake (because) it could screw up your whole program."
For perspective on the pay for a number one pick, last year's number one overall pick, Jamarcus Russell, was paid $31.5 million in guaranteed money. The risk is that Russell held out into the season and put up dismal numbers in the games he did play. This year's number one overall pick should receive a contract in the neighborhood of $35 million in guaranteed money.
"If you hear Bill Parcells or anyone saying, 'Hey, I'm not going to pay that for that person,' it doesn't mean they don't want to spend the money – it means that person is not worth the risk for five or six years…If you make a mistake this year, it's harder to undo that mistake…Just like it's important to get the right guy, it's just as important not to make a mistake," Huizenga said.
The history of the NFL draft is littered with huge successes and colossal failures. The successes include the Manning brothers, Richard Seymour, LaDainian Tomlinson, and others. On the flip side, the busts at the top of the draft are countless including: Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Tim Couch, Aundray Bruce, Ki-Jana Carter, Alex Smith and Tony Mandarich, just to name a few.
(© MMIX CBS Television Stations. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)
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