Dolphins acquire linebacker Seau

Davie, FL (Sports Network) - The Miami Dolphins acquired veteran linebacker Junior Seau from the San Diego Chargers on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional 2004 draft choice.

The trade had been in the works for several weeks, but was finalized after Seau passed a physical on Wednesday. He also restructured his contract to help complete the transaction.

"The truth is Junior Seau needed the Miami Dolphins more than the Miami Dolphins needed Junior Seau," Seau said during a press conference. "This organization is doing everything possible to commit itself to winning a ring."

The 34-year-old Seau had spent his entire 13-year career with San Diego after the Chargers made him the fifth overall pick of the 1990 draft. He has appeared in 200 regular-season games, starting 199 of them.

Seau has also started all six playoff games in which he has participated. In 1994, he led the Chargers to the AFC championship, before San Diego was defeated by San Francisco in Super Bowl XXIX

The 12-time Pro Bowl selection missed three games last season because of a left ankle injury and underwent surgery in January to have bone spurs removed.

Seau has 47 sacks and 15 interceptions in his likely Hall of Fame career.

He joins a star-studded Miami club which placed six defensive players in February's Pro Bowl. However, the Dolphins still failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in six years.

"Even last year, when things didn’t work out for us, we had so much talent," Pro Bowl linebacker Zach Thomas explained. "If we started off this season with the same team we had last year, I felt like we had a team that could win the Super Bowl and now we have upgraded and made us a better team. Now we just have to put it together and not talk a big game, but just go out and do it."

Seau is expected to take the spot currently occupied by Derrick Rodgers.

04/16 14:37:17 ET