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Dolphins nab OT Wade on boring day
Posted: Sunday April 16, 2000 02:12 PM
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -- The Miami Dolphins waited 7 1/2 hours to pick a player Saturday, then selected an offensive tackle. That was the fitting climax to perhaps the dullest draft day in franchise history. "You can't draft skill guys all the time," college scouting director Tom Braatz said. "Sooner or later it's meat and potatoes." Miami used the 53rd pick to take Todd Wade of Mississippi, a 6-foot-7, 325-pound right tackle. He'll compete immediately for a starting job, such is the state of the offensive line. "We're committed to doing what it takes to better ourselves in that area," new coach Dave Wannstedt said. Former coach Jimmy Johnson, who retired in January, was back in the Dolphins' draft room as a consultant. He declined to talk with reporters but apparently endorsed the selection of Wade. "When he was still available, it was really an easy decision. He was the guy we wanted," Wannstedt said. "Jimmy's role was playing devil's advocate and bouncing things off us. Everything worked extremely smoothly."
Johnson and Wannstedt, friends for more than 20 years, had plenty of time to talk about the old days because the Dolphins were the last team to pick a player. They traded their first-round choice two years ago to acquire cornerback Patrick Surtain, now a starter. Wade, who waited at home in Jackson, Miss., had hoped to be taken in the first round but professed delight at being selected by Miami. "I slid, and I'm glad I did," he said. "I love Miami. I always liked the Dolphins and really followed them." For the third year in a row, the Dolphins used their top pick to upgrade the ground game. And for the third year in a row, their top choice was from the state of Mississippi. They took former Mississippi State running back J.J. Johnson a year ago and selected former Ole Miss running back John Avery in 1998. But the running attack was woeful as ever last season, ranking 22nd in the NFL. The Dolphins are hoping Wade fares better than other recent offensive linemen they drafted. Of the 10 taken since 1995, only tackle Brent Smith has made a significant contribution. Wade traveled to Miami for a visit two weeks ago. The Dolphins liked his work ethic, leadership, toughness and size. "He's such a huge man that opponents have trouble going around him," Braatz said. Wade was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder in high school but said he corrected the problem with medication, which he no longer takes. "It's a thing you pretty much outgrow as you get older," he said. Wade graduated in December with a degree in political science and sociology.
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