Players upset with team's treatment of Gadsden
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Associated Press
DAVIE, Fla. -- Pro Bowl cornerback Sam Madison became the latest Miami Dolphin to complain about the treatment of teammate Oronde Gadsden, saying the veteran receiver should have been offered more money to keep playing this year.
Gadsden will miss the rest of the season because of a torn ligament in his left wrist. He decided to undergo surgery rather than risk playing with the injury when the Dolphins rejected terms he sought in a contract extension. His current deal expires after this season.
"You have a guy who you say is one of your veteran leaders,'' Madison said Tuesday. "For something like this to happen is rough.''
To replace Gadsden, the Dolphins coaxed eight-time Pro Bowl receiver Cris Carter out of retirement Monday.
Safety Brock Marion and receiver James McKnight earlier complained about the way the organization handled Gadsden's situation. But several prominent Dolphins, including linebacker Zach Thomas, defensive end Jason Taylor, quarterback Jay Fiedler and running back Ricky Williams, said they were enthusiastic about the acquisition of Carter. Even Gadsden applauded the move.
Carter signed a one-year contract that guarantees him $550,000, but Madison said the Dolphins should have offered more to Gadsden.
"People always talk about how we have a lot of high salaries,'' he said. "We're not in the top five or top 10. We're in the bottom 10. Where's the money?''
The Dolphins rank 23rd of 32 NFL teams with a payroll of $56 million.
Coach Dave Wannstedt said he didn't plan to address the matter with his players.
"They are going to support each other, and I would be disappointed if they didn't,'' Wannstedt said. "My whole thing is that a guy is hurt; what do I need to do to try to get another player in here to help this team win?
"Our guys know that we have taken care of our guys. I feel great about the last four years, because we haven't brought in any $10 million guys from other teams. We have given the money to our guys and taken care of our guys. We will continue to do that.''
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Associated Press
DAVIE, Fla. -- Pro Bowl cornerback Sam Madison became the latest Miami Dolphin to complain about the treatment of teammate Oronde Gadsden, saying the veteran receiver should have been offered more money to keep playing this year.
Gadsden will miss the rest of the season because of a torn ligament in his left wrist. He decided to undergo surgery rather than risk playing with the injury when the Dolphins rejected terms he sought in a contract extension. His current deal expires after this season.
"You have a guy who you say is one of your veteran leaders,'' Madison said Tuesday. "For something like this to happen is rough.''
To replace Gadsden, the Dolphins coaxed eight-time Pro Bowl receiver Cris Carter out of retirement Monday.
Safety Brock Marion and receiver James McKnight earlier complained about the way the organization handled Gadsden's situation. But several prominent Dolphins, including linebacker Zach Thomas, defensive end Jason Taylor, quarterback Jay Fiedler and running back Ricky Williams, said they were enthusiastic about the acquisition of Carter. Even Gadsden applauded the move.
Carter signed a one-year contract that guarantees him $550,000, but Madison said the Dolphins should have offered more to Gadsden.
"People always talk about how we have a lot of high salaries,'' he said. "We're not in the top five or top 10. We're in the bottom 10. Where's the money?''
The Dolphins rank 23rd of 32 NFL teams with a payroll of $56 million.
Coach Dave Wannstedt said he didn't plan to address the matter with his players.
"They are going to support each other, and I would be disappointed if they didn't,'' Wannstedt said. "My whole thing is that a guy is hurt; what do I need to do to try to get another player in here to help this team win?
"Our guys know that we have taken care of our guys. I feel great about the last four years, because we haven't brought in any $10 million guys from other teams. We have given the money to our guys and taken care of our guys. We will continue to do that.''