C hris Chambers and Marty Booker today become the first Dolphins receiver tandem to start four consecutive season openers since Mark Clayton and Mark Duper in the 1980s. And their personal stakes have never been higher.
Both have big 2008 cap numbers ($7 million for Chambers, $5.2 million for Booker). Both have ascending young players behind them ( Ted Ginn Jr., Derek Hagan). And both have been mentioned in trade rumors, with Miami denying a report that Chambers has been shopped (NFL Network's Adam Schefter insists otherwise), but not denying that Booker was shopped (those reports were true).
With the Dolphins coveting young, fast, explosive receivers, both must convince Cam Cameron they are worth keeping long-term. The Dolphins' starting receivers averaged a league-low 6.7 yards per pass attempt in '06, although the quarterbacks deserve lots of blame. ''You have an older receiver in Booker [31], and Chambers hasn't really shown up [last year],'' ESPN analyst and former receiver Keyshawn Johnson said.
Chambers, 29, has said he won't ''let happen again'' what occurred in 2006, when his yards dropped to a career-low 677 (on 59 receptions) after a career-high 1,118 (82 catches) in 2005. ''It was deflating,'' he said, confident he will top last season's four touchdown catches. Although Miami values Chambers, his drops (14 last year) concern at least one team executive.
Although he insists he's not bothered by criticism, Chambers says some ''might be unfair,'' and mentioned Santana Moss and Reggie Wayne, who were drafted before him in 2001. ''I'm pretty much right there with those guys in the numbers.'' (Chambers' 43 career touchdowns top Wayne's 39 and Moss' 34.)
Chambers sees Cameron and Trent Green as potentially the best play-caller/quarterback combo he's worked with. ''This is probably the best feeling I've had about the situation since I've been [here],'' he said. ``I really like the philosophy. I love it here and I don't want to leave without being a winner.''
With Booker, the question is whether the faster Ginn seizes his starting job before the season ends. Booker bristles when his speed is questioned. ''I turn it on when I have to,'' he said. 'This is a big year for me to show everybody I can still play and [make the Dolphins say], `We might need to keep him around a couple more years.' '' But he won't worry about the long-term future because then, ``I'll have five ulcers and tear my hair out.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/616/story/231034.html
Stakes high for Chambers, Booker
Stakes high for Chambers, Booker
Theres no stoppin' us, no holdin us back. This is the trick of our trade, this is exactly what we do best!
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