Tuesday, April 15
Updated: April 16, 11:57 AM ET
Packers have talked about acquiring Rodgers
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
While the Miami Dolphins have yet to officially acquire Junior Seau, they already are making plans for the departure of Derrick Rodgers -- the player Seau will replace at weakside linebacker.
Dolphins officials have discussed a trade, league sources have confirmed, that would send Rodgers to the Green Bay Packers. The Dolphins presumably would receive a low-round draft choice in return.
It is not known if the Dolphins have spoken with other teams about acquiring Rodgers, but the Packers certainly have a need at linebacker and Miami would prefer to trade the sixth-year veteran rather than releasing him outright. Green Bay released former starting weakside linebacker Nate Wayne last month for salary cap-related reasons.
By trading Rodgers, the Dolphins would reduce the amount of cap space they would be rebated but would at least gain a draft choice in return. A trade would create $250,000 in cap space for Miami, while releasing him after June 1 would mean a $1 million rebate on the 2003 cap.
Rodgers, 31, has been a six-year starter in Miami, which took him in the third round of the 1997 draft. He has started 89 of 93 career games and never fewer than 14 in a season.
The former Arizona State standout has 378 career tackles, nine sacks, three interceptions and four forced fumbles. He started 15 games in 2002 and had 74 tackles and two interceptions.
Rodgers faces a one-game league suspension, likely the 2003 opener, after pleading no contest in January to charges that he attacked his wife and another man in a South Beach restaurant. The Packers, as are all NFL teams, are aware of the pending suspension.
The much-rumored trade of Seau from the San Diego Chargers to the Dolphins should be completed in a matter of days. The teams already have decided on draft choice compensation, with Miami set to send San Diego a low-round pick in the 2004 draft. Seau arrived in Miami on Tuesday afternoon and will have a physical Wednesday.
Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowl selection, facilitated the deal Monday when he agreed to delay a $2.7 million roster bonus he was due Tuesday. Seau must sign a new contract with the Dolphins, who are expected to pay a portion of the roster bonus, but negotiations between Miami officials and agent Marvin Demoff have proceeded smoothly.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1539532.html
