With no contract extension expected, Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Surtain has consent to work out a deal with another team according to the Miami Herald.

Surtain was granted permission to seek a trade after his agent and the team failed to work out a contract extension the team needed in order to get salary cap relief.

Surtain, 28, will cost the Dolphins more than $8.3 million against the cap for the 2005 season, the final season of his contract. The Dolphins have until March 2 to trim more than $17 million off the cap. The team can save a little more than $6.1 million by trading Surtain.

A litle Google research indicates that Surtain has played like one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL during the past five years, during which he has a league-high 25 interceptions. Among a group including Champ Bailey, Ty Law, Chris McAlister, Samari Rolle, Charles Woodson and fellow Dolphins cornerback Sam Madison, Surtain has six more picks than the next best on the list (Rolle with 19).

In addition, Surtain has 4 ½ sacks, which is second among that group and is considered an excellent run-support corner.

So, what would it take to get Surtain up here wearing purple next season? Maybe one of our running backs? Recall that the Dolphins lost Ricky Williams to a sudden retirement last season. The Vikings can afford to unload one of the Big 3 (Bennett, Moore, or Smith) and probably some cash to get Surtain. But they better hurry up.

The Dolphins are also trying to work out a trade for Bills running back Henry, and team officials have spoken with Henry's agent Hadley Engelhard, a club source told the Miami Herald last Friday.

Uberstine declined to speculate on what Surtain might be worth in terms of a trade or a new contract. In all likelihood, the Dolphins will seek a deal involving a draft pick after Saban said two weeks ago that he felt the Dolphins would need to rebuild through the draft.

However, getting a the Vikings to not only give up trade value, but also give Surtain a contract he likes could be difficult. But recall that the Vikes have a little bit (OK, a ton!) of salary cap room to get this done. It would be a great disservice to the fans if Surtain was not brought in for a visit.

Vote a Player off the Ship

In light of the boring off-season period, for the next 10-weeks we are going to try something fun. Each of the next 10-weeks we will vote to kick one Vikings player off the ship. Someone you think is the weakest link...or maybe just dislike.

Each following week, I'll repost the poll with one less player and the process will start all over again! So we'll start with ten and end up that you will have to make a choice between two players! We'll select the one player you cannot live without. That one player that gives you the most confidence each time you see him in purple. Who will it be!?!?

Here is Week 1. I selected the players at whim and fancy. This should be fun!

Links and Tidbits

Hey Vikes marketing people, don't even think of trying this! The Redskins have dropped their policy requiring season ticket holders to purchase their seats with a Redskins Extra Points Master Card only a week after announcing it.

And speaking of season tickets, my bill came today. $1364 for two season tickets. That's $68 per seat per game. A $4 dollar increase over last year. I am not happy. I recently did a whole piece on the price increases that Red McCombs has implemented. There will be a breaking point in the future. I'm just not sure what the price will eventually break my back. I may never reach that breaking point, but I know it hurts just a bit more each year that I write the check.

From the Sidelines

Almost that time of year again. Personal Performance review at my real job. Before I started going in for prostate exams, I thought nothing could be worse than to have your nuts splayed open in hopes of getting that coveted 3 or 4 percent bump in pay.

A few years ago, I ran across actual supervisor quotes taken from employee performance evaluations. I have long since lost the link. But here are the quotes. Which ones represent people you have had the thrill to work with over the years?

1. "Since my last report, this employee has reached rock bottom and has started to dig."

2. "I would not allow this employee to breed."

3. "This employee is really not much of a has-been, but more of a definite won't be."

4. "Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap."

5. "When she opens her mouth, it seems it is only to change feet."

6. "He would be out of his depth in a parking lot puddle."

7. "This young lady has delusions of adequacy."

8. "He sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them."

9. "This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot."

10. "This employee should go far, and the sooner he starts, the better."

11. "Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together."

12. "A gross ignoramus --- 144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus."

13. "He doesn't have ulcers, but he's a carrier."

14. "I would like to go hunting with him sometime."

15. "He's been working with glue too much."

16. "He would argue with a signpost."

17. "He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room."

18. "When his IQ reaches 50, he should sell."

19. "If you see two people talking and one looks bored, he's the other one."

20. "A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on."

21. "A prime candidate for natural DE-selection."

22. "Donated his brain to science before he was done using it."

23. "Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming."

24. "He's got two brains, one is lost and the other is out looking for it"

25. "If he were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week."

26. "If you gave him a penny for his thoughts, you'd get change."

27. "If you stand close enough to him, you can hear the ocean."

28. "It's hard to believe he beat out 1,000,000 other sperm."

29. "One neuron short of a synapse."

30. "Some drink from the fountain of knowledge; he only gargled."

31. "Takes him 2 hours to watch 60 minutes.

32. "The wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead."

Posted by maasx003 at February 2, 2005 9:56 AM