Dolphins Stifle Dissent on Davis Trade

Karlos Dansby among those subtly questioning GM Jeff Ireland's latest move

By David Hill
|  Tuesday, Aug 28, 2012  |  Updated 3:04 PM EDT
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If you thought the Miami Dolphins were foolish to trade CB Vontae Davis to Indianapolis for a draft pick, you are not alone. Indeed, a few of the Dolphins' own players cannot see the logic in trading away a starting defensive back when the team's roster is already thin at that position.

"It's tough, obviously, it's tough," RB Reggie Bush told the Miami Herald about the move Monday. But before he could say anything further, a team publicist ended Bush's interview from across the room, according to the Herald.

It seems the team has taken extra steps to make sure its players do not buck the party line in media appearances. LB Karlos Dansby was asked about the Davis trade, and he replied, "I'll leave that up to you all."

When pressed further, Dansby wouldn't budge. "He's a great player, one of the best corners in the game," he added. "I'm not sure about the direction of the team. That's not my place. My place is to play hard and be the leader of men."

That is a far cry from the comments Dansby made after the Dolphins released WR Chad Johnson earlier this month. He criticized the move in a radio appearance, saying, "I hate that we didn't stand behind him. I know the guys in the locker room would."

Things are different now. "It's not my place to recommend or OK a trade," Dansby concluded Monday. Even though he did not explicitly deride the move, it is pretty clear that Dansby is not enthusiastic about losing Davis.

Tight end Anthony Fasano said essentially the same thing. "I don't know the situation within our defense that made that move make sense for us," he said, adding, "I trust there's always a reason behind it."

With general manager Jeff Ireland making moves that hurt the Dolphins in the short run (even though they may help in the long run), the Dolphins seem to have a hard time finding the silver lining in the team's recent moves. Sometimes, it's easier to plead ignorance than to risk upsetting a boss who has displayed a quick trigger-finger when it comes to firing perceived troublemakers.

At least Ireland can count on head coach Joe Philbin to have his back. "I fully support the direction in which we moved," Philbin said Monday. He called Ireland's decision-making style "very inclusive," adding, "everything is a joint effort."

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Posted Aug 28, 2012
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