No Parker Trade, Big Injuries & A Crucial Jets Game

The 2018 Season needs a spark, but a Parker trade could have helped the future.

Vincent Taylor is done for the season, but the tenure of DeVante Parker lives on

The NFL trade deadline is kaput and so is the excellent season of Vincent Taylor. You can put a big, fat zero next to the mid-round pick from a DeVante Parker trade… because he’s staying. 

Really, a Parker trade was a pipe dream for the fans once Albert Wilson went down.  

Parker did look good in his one appearance this season… but talent has never been an issue. Health and consistency was, and is, the crux of the ‘Parker problem’. Maybe Parker goes on to a Hall of Fame career and we all laugh at how much we hoped for a trade. But the more likely scenario is Parker is who we thought he was: inconsistent. Parker will likely be let go for nothing.

I’d love to write about a Cinderella story here… But the loss of Taylor seems a harbinger that darker times are coming. I hope I’m wrong, but man, Taylor was putting together an excellent season. His loss stings. Now, this crumbling defense has lost its best interior defender and must go on a tear to make something of the season.

That can’t be good.

Only a few weeks ago this Jets game seemed like it would be nutin’ but a speed bump…

…Now this game is as crucial as any game left in this season.

Even though the Phins are clearly in the playoff hunt with their 4-4 record, the reality is Miami is playing like they are heading for a Top 5 draft pick. Although knowing them, they’ll end up around 7-9 to 9-7 and pick somewhere in the middle.

Without a doubt, this downward spiral could turn on a dime… could. But, the pay per heads aren’t going to giving much of a chance on that outcome. Dolphins endless cycle of mediocrity seems the best bet.

Yet, if we are somehow to get a 2016 type of shock Playoff birth, Miami must win this week. Phins need a 6-2 over the last 8 games to have a legitimate shot at the playoffs. Yeah, maybe 9-7 could work… even that would take 5-3 over the next 8 games. Neither 6-2 or 5-3 will be easy to achieve. And if they drop a game at home against the struggling Jets, it’s all but goodbye to the Playoffs.

Things haven’t been made any easier this week

Add in the loss of Cordrea Tankersly this week to go along with Taylor, Gray, Allen, Wilson, Sitton, Kilgore, and Hayes.

The sting of Hayes has been felt and Taylor will be deeply missed as well. Recently signed Ziggy Hood won’t offset these losses. Not a bad pick up, but he won’t make you forget Hayes or Taylor.

My biggest worry continual mediocrity. 

Look at the Oakland Raiders. They came to a quick conclusion about their situation and have amassed a total of 5 first round picks in the next two years.  I’m not saying the Dolphins would have gotten anywhere near a first round pick for Parker. But, I would have settled for anything. Does anyone truly think Miami should keep Parker next season and paying him over $9 million in 2019?

However, this is what mediocre teams do, they fail to plan properly for the future. Meh organizations believe that squeezing into the playoff that will solve all their problems.  But even if Miami were to sneak into the playoffs this year then what?  One and done doesn’t mean jack to me.

It’s time Gase prove he’s worth keeping

We haven’t seen hide or hair of Steven Ross this season. So, if anything it seems clear, Gase & Co. must be aware that they’re skating on thin ice. At least I hope they’re on the last 8 games with the Dolphins… if they fail to show something special. Very likely, Gase and Parker are gone in 2019… sadly, at least we could have received compensation for Parker’s departure.

What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins News fans thoughts about the Dolphins direction or lack thereof?