Booker gives Dolphins much-needed help

DAVIE, Fla. – Marty Booker spent Monday meeting new teammates and getting used to his new surroundings.

That was the easy part.

Now Booker has to learn a new offense — and fast.

The Chicago Bears traded Booker and a third-round draft pick to the Miami Dolphins on Saturday for Pro Bowl defensive end Adewale Ogunleye.

Booker joined his new team Monday, giving the Dolphins a much-needed boost after a series of unexpected setbacks on offense. Now he has to get up to speed.

“I feel I’m a complete receiver,” Booker said. “I can go down the field, I can go over the middle and I can block. I can do it all.

“I just want to add a piece and help this offense out.”

The Dolphins surely need it.

Running back Ricky Williams retired a week before training camp, leaving a huge hole to fill on offense. Making matters worse, receiver David Boston — the team’s top offseason acquisition — sustained a season-ending knee injury two weeks later. Then No. 3 receiver Kendall Newson also was sidelined for the year with an Achilles’ injury.

Now, Booker steps right into a starting role opposite Chris Chambers. The Dolphins hope Booker will play like he did in 2001 and 2002, when he caught a combined 197 passes for 2,260 yards and 14 touchdowns.

He made his only Pro Bowl in 2002 after signing a seven-year, $28 million deal.

A third-round draft pick in 1999 from Northeast Louisiana, Booker missed three games because of an ankle injury last season and was limited to 52 receptions for 715 yards.

“He’s not a possession receiver as everybody classifies him,” Dolphins general manager Rick Spielman said. “He has production down the field. He has very similar athletic ability to what Chris Chambers has. He can make circus-type catches. He has extremely large hands, very soft hands.

“He’s a very good route-runner and is explosive to run with the ball after the catch.”

Booker didn’t practice Monday. He was in uniform and on the field, but couldn’t do anything until the trade was approved later in the day.

He spent practice shadowing assistant receivers coach Judd Garrett and meeting his new teammates.