Safety Ryan Clark Visits Dolphins
A traffic cone could replace Gibril Wilson, but fortunately Ryan Clark is better than a traffic cone.
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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Ryan Clark #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after James Harrison #92 of the Steelers scored on a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brett Keisel
How ready are the Dolphins to move on from Gibril Wilson's reign of error in the secondary?
If all goes well today, they'll replace their axed free safety with a guy who has neither a spleen nor a gallbladder, and will have to be left at home if the team plays anywhere high above sea level.
Not that we mean to sell Ryan Clark short. After all, last time we saw the free agent out of Pittsburgh he was intercepting Tyler Thigpen and sealing the Dolphins' fate in Week 17.
The time before that, Clark was either nearly paralyzing Willis McGahee or lighting up Wes Welker.
Spleen schmeen, right?
Mostly. Hitting hard isn't everything, and no doubt Clark has benefited from playing alongside Troy Polamalu.
But here's the deal: He can't possibly be worse than Wilson, and he'll be a good bit cheaper. For a team that just made a major upgrade with linebacker Karlos Dansby, acquiring any capable safety from a good organization that has experience in a similar defensive system is upgrade enough. Not only does it adequately and immediately fill a need, but it opens up the draft for the Dolphins to take the best possible talent without an eye toward one more position.
So will it happen? Signs point that way, pending a physical this afternoon (Clark has sickle cell trait, which caused an emergency removal of his spleen and gallbladder during a game at Mile High Stadium in 2007). Clark spoke to the Miami Herald when he arrived last night at the airport, and made it clear he'd like to make a deal.
"Without a question,'' he said. "There were a lot of good offers, and a lot of good fits. But this seems like a good spot. So I'm praying it goes well....The biggest thing is, I want to be in a place where they want to win. Obviously, Coach Parcells and Coach Sparano want to do that.''
So do all of us, buddy. And if you happen to nail Wes Welker again in the process, well, that'll make it all worthwhile.
Janie Campbell is a Florida native who believes in the pro-set and ballpark hot dogs. Her work has appeared in irreverent sports sites around the internet.
Posted Monday, Mar 8, 2010 - 10:38 AM EST
