Ronnie Brown May Not Be in Miami When the Season Starts ... Unless He Is

Last night, in the minutes before the Giants put the smackdown on the Browns, ESPN's Chris Mortensen "reported" that the Dolphins might start the season without their 2005 first-round pick, running back Ronnie Brown. I say "reported" not to point out that Mortensen has a spotty track record when it comes to breaking stories, but because the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero has a theory as to what's really going on.

After hearing Mortensen on Monday Night Countdown's "Sink or Swim" segment, here's what Salguero wrote on his Dolphins in Depth blog:

Mortensen was asked about Ricky Williams and while talking about how he would "swim," he went on to say that the Dolphins are so pleased with Williams he "would not be surprised if Ronnie Brown sinks," to the point where "he is playing with another team this season."

Mortensen's reason for Brown being out of here is that the player is "struggling" this preseason. Wow. ...

I would think if Mort, an outstanding reporter by any measure one uses, had the story nailed, he would have come stronger than he just did. I think it would have been his lead comment, not following the Williams sink or swim bunk.

I have a hard time believing Brown won't be in Miami when Week 1 rolls around, but I was also the guy who called Mort out for claiming that Brett Favre wanted to re-un-retire. So what do I know?

One of the issues for the Dolphins -- assuming they're even thinking about moving Brown -- is finding a willing trading partner. Since he was a top-5 selection, I imagine Miami would want a first-day pick in return, and I can't see too many teams making such a deal given the abundance of above-average backs and Brown's injury history.

Plus, that would make Ricky Williams the team's feature back, which seems like a huge leap of faith for a guy who's been in and out of football the past few seasons.