Former Dolphins Pro Bowler reveals true feelings about being traded

While the Miami Dolphins haven't been able to hoist the Lombardi Trophy or even win a playoff game in the last 15 years, have had some really talented players who have accomplished some impressive feats.

Among them was wide receiver Jarvis Landry, who Miami took in the second round (No. 63 overall) of the 2014 NFL draft out of LSU, where he earned All-SEC honors twice. In four seasons with the Dolphins, Landry made three Pro Bowls and caught 400 passes for 4,038 yards and 22 touchdowns.

He was sixth in franchise history in receptions, ninth in yards and 11th in touchdowns. His 110- and 112-catch seasons were single-season records in Miami as well before Tyreek Hill broke them in 2022 and 2023.

However, after four strong seasons, the Dolphins franchised Landry and traded him to the Cleveland Browns for a pair of draft picks, and roughly a decade later, Landry is still upset about it.

"I never played the game for money," Landry told former NFL stars James Harrison and Joe Haden on their podcast. "I played the game like just out of pure love, out of pure respect for the game. When I got to my contract year, I had a decision to hold out or to go to training camp. I said, you know what? I'm going to show up. I'm going to be a team guy. I'm going to go to training camp. I'm going to go do everything, compete at a high level, and show them that I'm a Dolphin. I want to stay here. I want to be here.

"That season ended. [The team said] 'We have $11 million for you.' Top guys at that time were getting paid $14-15 [million]. I was thinking Julio Jones, O'Dell [Beckham] just got paid, and we had a guy on our team named Kenny Stills. Kenny Stills was making about $11 million a year. There's no way y'all see us the same....

"Next thing you know I'm either about to go to Tennessee or I'm about to go to Baltimore. Cleveland was never in the picture. How did that happen? My coach, at the time, it was his thing in team meetings where he'd say, 'If somebody don't want to play for the Miami Dolphins, I'll send your [expletive] to Cleveland.' Oh, [expletive]. Cleveland at 1-15, 0-16, essentially they'd send you to Cleveland so your career could die...

They called me, man, you're going to Cleveland. I'm like, Cleveland? I'm like, what happened to Tennessee? What happened to Baltimore? It was one of those symbolic things. [They were] like, 'Hey, you don't want to be with us? [expletive] you."

Stills went on to play one more season in Miami, catching 37 passes for 553 yards and six touchdowns. In Cleveland, Landry caught 81 passes for 976 yards and four touchdowns on his way to his four straight Pro Bowl and made his fifth a year later.

While he didn't have the longest tenure with the Dolphins, Landry is, without a doubt, one of the most talented wideouts they've had on their roster, especially over the last two decades. And, it makes sense why he's still hurt by the move.

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This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Former Dolphins Pro Bowler reveals true feelings about being traded