Dolphins have a new starting tailback
8/8/2004 - The Dolphins may have a new starting tailback as early as today by trading with St. Louis for Lamar Gordon.
An NFL source said the Dolphins were on the verge of completing a deal with the Rams that would land Gordon, who has started nine games the past two seasons as Marshall Faulk's backup.
Although it's uncertain how much action Gordon would receive in Sunday's regular-season opener against visiting Tennessee, such an acquisition would likely change the Dolphins' plans of using a tailback-by-committee approach this season with Travis Minor, Sammy
Morris, Leonard Henry and Rob Konrad all receiving snaps.
Gordon probably will not come cheaply, as the Dolphins may have to send a 2005 third-round draft choice to St. Louis for his services.
The Dolphins, though, did acquire an extra third-round draft choice as part of last month's trade that sent defensive end Adewale Ogunleye to Chicago for wide receiver Marty Booker.
Gordon, 24, was selected in third round of the 2002 draft after starring at North Dakota State University. The Dolphins liked Gordon coming out of college but weren't willing to invest a high draft choice after trading with New Orleans for tailback Ricky Williams earlier that year.
At 6-1 and 228 pounds, Gordon is the kind of strong between-the-tackles runner that Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt was seeking following Williams' offseason retirement. Gordon also is under contract through 2005, which makes the trade even more appealing to the Dolphins.
Gordon, who rushed for 526 yards and two touchdowns on 136 carries the past two seasons, is currently mired in a third-string role in St. Louis behind Faulk and 2004 first-round draft choice Steven Jackson.
Alex Marvez can be reached at amarvez@sun-sentinel.com.
