April 16, 200323 yr ESPN.com MIAMI -- Linebacker Junior Seau joined the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday after passing a physical, completing a long-anticipated trade with the San Diego Chargers. Seau goes to the Dolphins in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2004 that could upgrade to a fifth-rounder depending on playing time, according to ESPN.com's John Clayton. A 12-time Pro Bowl selection, Seau flew from California to Miami on Tuesday after agreeing to a restructuring of his contract, which runs through 2005. The Chargers last month gave the 34-year-old Seau permission to seek a trade. Seau has spent his entire 13-year career with the Chargers, his hometown team. In Miami, he's expected to replace Derrick Rodgers at outside linebacker. The trade, which had been in the works for several weeks, is the first major deal for the Dolphins since a dismal December collapse. The team had seven Pro Bowl players, including NFL rushing leader Ricky Williams and sacks leader Jason Taylor, and still failed for the first time in six years to make the playoffs. Seau hasn't led the Chargers in tackles since 1999, and he started a career-low 13 games last season because of an ankle injury that required postseason surgery. But he was attractive to the Dolphins because they're in the market for better veteran leadership following a succession of late-season failures.
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