If necessary, Miami Dolphins should give up four first-rounders for Aaron Rodgers | Commentary
Running off at the typewriter. …
With the Miami Dolphins having four first-round picks in the next two NFL drafts, somebody asked me the other day how many of those picks I would part with if the ‘Phins had a chance to obtain league MVP Aaron Rodgers in a trade with the Green Bay Packers.
My answer:
All of them!!!
Granted, I would start out by offering the Packers two first-round picks and then negotiate up from there. It’s no secret the Dolphins have been looking for a franchise quarterback since Dan Marino’s retirement more than two decades ago. That being the case, why not go sign a QB who is already better than Marino was in his prime?
Rodgers has made it clear he wants out of Green Bay purportedly because of a fractured relationship with general manager Brian Gutekunst. Personally, I think Rodgers is using the rift with management as an excuse to save face with Green Bay’s passionate and loyal fan base.
Isn’t it entirely possible that Rodgers, a native Californian, is just tired of living in shivery, small-market Green Bay and wants to tear a page from the Tom Brady playbook and spend the final years of his career in a warmer climate? Is it so far-fetched to think Rodgers, who was recently engaged to actress Shailene Woodley and just finished a Jeopardy guest-hosting gig, wants to live in a glitzier, more glamorous place than Green Bay?
If you disagree with my assessment, I have Final Jeopardy question I want you to answer honestly:
If given the choice, where would you rather live — in South Beach or on the Frozen Tundra? …
Short stuff: Memo to Gov. Ron DeSantis: If you really want to get sports betting legalized in the State of Florida then just have McKenzie Milton start tweeting about it. … I have to admit I’m more than a little disappointed in all of my fellow Central Floridians who waited in line for hours earlier this week just so they could buy a sack of gut-bomb burgers from White Castle? Isn’t that sort of like camping out to buy tickets to the Milli Vanilli reunion tour? And, by the way, Krystal burgers are better anyway … Thank God the Magic’s two-game winning streak FINALLY ended on Wednesday night against the Celtics, when the Magic got back to business of doing what they’re supposed to be doing — losing as many games as possible in hopes of getting the best draft choice available. Sheesh, guys, if you’re going to tank, do it right! ….
The Tampa Bay Bucs took Houston linebacker Grant Stuard with the 259th and final pick of the draft, which made him “Mr. Irrelevant.” After he was drafted, Stuard told ESPN his amazing story about growing up with “my dad being in prison and my mom being a drug addict who used to work in the sex industry.” Stuart went on to explain how he spent much of his youth hopping around from home to home while trying to take care of his four brothers and sisters. During the most trying times, he recalled telling his siblings: “OK, we have a problem here. Now are we going to cry and complain, or going to find a solution?’ I was always that dude that said, ‘Let’s find a solution.’ " Mr. Irrelevant? I think not. Grant Stuard sounds more like “Mr. Incredible” to me. …
First, we had a proposed super league in European soccer that was supposedly going to ruin the Champion’s League and now there’s a proposed super league in golf that supposedly will ruin the PGA Tour. And we already have a super league in college football ruining that sport as well. It’s called Nick Saban. … Speaking of the Sabanator, when asked at the Houston Touchdown Club earlier this week what it would take to beat Alabama other than the retirement of the 69-year-old Saban, Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher replied, “We’re going to beat his (Saban’s) ass when he’s there, don’t worry.” Memo to Jimbo: Don’t let your alligator mouth overload your hummingbird butt. That said, I believe Jimbo will eventually lead the Aggies to the promised land. To paraphrase the late, great Howard Schnellenberger: “Texas A&M is on a collision course with the national championship. The only variable is time.” Of course, that time may be after Saban retires. …
Did you see where a 15-year-old girl is suing the National Women’s Soccer League on antitrust grounds over its refusal to allow her to play because of her age. I’m wondering if the NWSL legal team has offered up this deal: “Hey, would you consider settling out of court for a cool hoverboard with a Bluetooth speaker?” … Can you believe the first night of the NFL Draft drew nearly 13 million viewers, 3 million more than the Academy Awards a few nights before? What’s it mean? It means next year Mel Kiper Jr. will kick off the Oscars coverage with his Best Picture Big Board! … From Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “The Milwaukee Bucks offered COVID-19 vaccinations to any fans attending Sunday’s game against Brooklyn — but only the first dose of Pfizer. You’d think a championship-caliber NBA team might have a better shot selection.” …
Hard to believe those Manchester United soccer fans who broke into the stadium Sunday, stormed the pitch at Old Trafford and forced the game against Liverpool to be canceled. What hooligans! What thugs! What punks! In this country we are far too civilized to storm our sports venues. Oh, that’s right, we stormed the Capitol building. Never mind. … Now that the Lakers are in danger of falling into the NBA’s new play-in tournament and possibly missing the playoffs, LeBron James says, “Whoever came up with that play-in (expletive) needs to be fired.” Unless, of course, it was the Chinese government — and then LeBron probably would have thought it was a great idea. Just wondering when did LeBron go from the ultimate winner to the ultimate whiner? …
Last word: In honor of Friday being National Space Day, this from late, great Orlando astronaut John Young: “Anyone who sits on top of the largest hydrogen-oxygen fueled system in the world; knowing they’re going to light the bottom — and doesn’t get a little worried — does not fully understand the situation.”
Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on Twitter @BianchiWrites and listen to my Open Mike radio show every weekday from 6 to 9:30 a.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and HD 101.1-2
