The most prominent ex-Dolphins were wideouts Wes Welker and Chris Chambers, but Packers tight end Donald Lee and Giants cornerback Sam Madison also pitched in. In addition, New England had another former Dolphin, fullback Heath Evans, starting and employed a special teamer, in Larry Izzo, who was once Miami's property.Oh, and the Patriots have some guy by the name of Junior Seau playing linebacker.Fans have been quick to point out that most of these players have either maintained their level of play or have vastly improved since leaving their South Florida confines, making some wonder if letting them get away is part of the reason why the Dolphins are now so bereft of talent. However, it's very likely that the reason these and other Miami castaways have done so well in their new locations has more to do with the overall ineptitude of the Dolphins than with the departed players' own intrinsic talents.In layman's terms, guys like Chambers and Welker are talented, but their newfound success has more to do with the talent around them than anything else.Consider that Chambers was already a productive wide receiver in Miami, notching one Pro Bowl berth prior to being traded to San Diego in October. Now he's playing with a vastly superior quarterback and an array of offensive talent around him the likes of which he never came close to enjoying in Miami. Instead, it's Miami's lack of overall talent and continuity which are glaring, and it's the main reason that the Dolphins are considered to be little more than a stepping stone to future NFL success.And until Bill Parcells and Co. create a true foundation of personnel and progress, this most embarrassing perception will continue to persist. This article is also featured on Realfootball365 .

Curtiss-Wright Reports First Quarter 2009 Financial Results; Updates Full YearGuidancePARSIPPANY, N.J., April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Curtiss-WrightCorporation (NYSE: CW) today reports financial results for the first quarterended March 31, 2009. "Despite a challenging first quarter, we experienced increaseddemand in some of our key markets, most notably commercial power, naval andground defense, which grew organically by 33%, 18% and 11%, respectively.""Our organic operating income performance in the first quarter of 2009 waslower by 19% as compared to the prior year quarter due to the significantunder absorption of overhead costs resulting from a dramatic decline in salesin certain commercial markets, as well as business restructuring costs."SalesSales of $424 million decreased 2% in the first quarter of 2009 as compared tothe prior year period.Organic sales were lower by 4%, while incrementalsales, primarily from our 2008 and 2009 acquisitions, contributed $8 millionin the quarter. Organic sales in our Flow Control segment grew 3%, while ourMetal Treatment and Motion Control segments declined 23% and 7%, respectively,as compared to the prior year period.From a market perspective, we experienced lower organic sales to the generalindustrial market, primarily automotive, as well as lower sales to thecommercial aerospace and oil and gas markets, which were partially offset byhigher sales to the commercial power and defense markets. In addition, foreigncurrency translation negatively impacted sales in the first quarter of 2009 by$15 million as compared to the prior year.Operating IncomeOperating income of $31 million decreased 24% in the first quarter of 2009 ascompared to the prior year. Organic operating income declined 19% in the firstquarter of 2009, while incremental operating income, primarily from our 2008and 2009 acquisitions, was negative $2 million. Organic operating income inour Metal Treatment segment declined 50% from the first quarter of 2008 mainlydue to under absorption of overhead costs resulting from significantly lowervolumes.Our Flow Control segment also experienced lower organic operatingincome driven by under absorption of overhead costs due to lower sales volumesin certain commercial markets, and business restructuring costs.

Thesedeclines were partially offset by an increase in our Motion Control segmentwhich benefitted by $5.4 million from favorable foreign currency translationin the first quarter of 2009 as compared to the prior year period. Excludingthe impact of foreign currency translation, organic operating income in ourMotion Control segment was lower due to under absorption of overhead costs dueto lower volumes and business restructuring costs. Foreign currencytranslation favorably impacted consolidated operating income and operatingmargin by $5.3 million and 140 basis points, respectively, in the firstquarter of 2009.Our segment operating margin was 140 basis points lower in the first quarterof 2009 as compared to the prior year period. The lower segment operatingmargin was mainly driven by significantly lower volumes and resultant underabsorption of costs and business restructuring costs mentioned above.Non-segment operating expense increased over the prior year due to higherforeign exchange transaction losses and higher pension costs.Net EarningsNet earnings for the first quarter of 2009 decreased 27% from the comparableprior year period. The lower net earnings were due to the decline in operatingincome and a slightly higher effective tax rate, partially offset by lowerinterest expense.

Our effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2009 was35.5% versus 35.2% for the first quarter of 2008. Lower interest expense forthe first quarter of 2009 was mainly due to lower average interest ratespartially offset by higher average debt levels resulting primarily from our2008 and 2009 acquisitions, as compared to the prior year period.Cash Flow Our free cash flow, defined as cash flow from operations less capitalexpenditures, was a negative $50 million for the first quarter of 2009 ascompared to a negative $42 million in the prior year period.Net cash used byoperating activities was a negative $33 million in the first quarter of 2009versus a negative $19 million for the comparable prior year period.Thedecrease is mainly due to a higher reduction in accounts payable primarily dueto timing of payments and lower earnings. These decreases were partiallyoffset by a higher reduction in accounts receivable resulting from improvedcash collections and a lower increase in inventories versus the prior yearperiod. Capital expenditures were $17 million in the first quarter of 2009versus $24 million in the comparable prior year period.The AP1000 programaccounted for the majority of the decrease as our facility expansion isnearing completion.Segment PerformanceFlow Control - Sales for the first quarter of 2009 were $230 million, anincrease of 5% over the comparable prior year period. The sales improvementwas due to solid organic growth of 3% and the contribution of our 2009acquisitions, which provided $3 million in incremental sales in the firstquarter of 2009. The organic sales growth was driven by higher sales to thecommercial power and naval defense markets, partially offset by declines inthe oil and gas and general industrial markets as compared to the prior yearperiod.