Vontae Davis Trade: Does Joe Philbin Know What He's Doing?

Not all of the reaction to the Vontae Davis trade has been positive for Joe Philbin and the Miami Dolphins.

Dave Hyde of the Sun Sentinel poses a question in his latest column: "Does Joe Philbin know what he's doing?"

Does Joe Philbin know what he's doing?

Because this latest, boldest move of trading Davis two weeks before the season opener started with Philbin, not Jeff Ireland. It was the new coach demanding to dump the second-best player on last year's defense, not the old general manager who drafted Davis in the first place.

Don't be fooled by Philbin's self-deprecating approach and good-uncle demeanor. Look at his hard-boiled actions in these opening months. He's making Nick Saban and Bill Parcells look like pansies.

Hyde points out that Philbin also was behind the Brandon Marshall trade. Though Marshall was a headache, he was clearly Miami's top playmaker last year, and the Dolphins haven't acquired a legitimate replacement for Marshall yet.

Hyde does credit Philbin, too.

This isn't about value for Philbin, though. This is about a first-year coach doing what he believes. Give him courage-of-his-conviction points. But he'll be judged on wins and losses. Talent decides that. And talent keeps going out the door.

We'll see how it goes for Philbin in 2012, as he and Ryan Tannehill look to turn the Miami franchise around.

For the latest on the Dolphins, head over to The Phinsider and join the discussion.