In addition, was it the right time to go after high priced talent? Marshall has been everything we had hoped for, and then some. He has not brought the baggage, which concerned some. For as much as we paid, he still looks like a bargain, and an All Pro. Dansby has played well with 34 tackles. However, he has one sack and has defended one pass. I remember Barry Jackson (Herald) saying he did not think Dansby was worth what he was asking for because he did not make enough big plays. Over his career, he has averaged about 100 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 FF's, 1-2 picks, and 5 passes defended. Almost Pro Bowl numbers. Normally teams go after the high priced players when they believe we are a player or two away from being a legit contender. Did we jump the gun? Consider that, IF there is football next year, there will likely be more FA top talent than any year in history, as well as a salary cap. In hindsight, I am not saying these were bad moves, just asking if they were the right ones, for this team, at this time?
Dansby is a VG player being paid as a great player. There were no other FA options other than passing. To be fair, he has been the "Lone Ranger" at ILB. Dobbins was disappointing, Edds got hurt, and Carpenter was not much better than our other Carpenter, if he was playing LB instead of kicking. Hopefully, Crowder will allow Dansby to make more plays that make a difference.
Dansby and Marshall were EASILY the 2 of the 4 best players on the FA market Trying to put a financial worth on them isnt possible nor is it fair. We are a MUCH better team with them. Just think what our team would be like without them
absolutely 1000% yes... Marshall, it's easier to say he was worth it because he has essentially been our go to guy on offense, although Bess isn't far behind. Dansby, his worth cannot be measured only by numbers. Leadership is something that had to be replaced once JT, Porter, Ferguson were no longer in our plans. Dansby brings that leadership. He's the one leading the pregame huddles. He's the one calling the signals on defense. He rarely if ever comes off the field when we go nickel, those are hard to find in an ILB. He hasn't made that big turnover yet, but it's coming. Sure, in free agency, you'll overpay slightly... some more than others, that's the nature of the game. But I'm very happy with both he and Marsh.
I make the same mistake on Marshall being a FA but, he did cost a pair of #2's. We could have had another Pat White to talk about. LOL Putting a financial worth on any player is what fans now have to do. Their salary cap restraints affects the future of our team. I don't like it any more than you do but, it is now a football fact of life. GODDAMNIT, we now have to be part time accountants. It SUCKS!!!
Do you think we signed Marshall & Dansby believing we could contend this year or, were they signings looking to next season. No coach or FO will ever admit to that. Fans can.
I disagree with the concept of only adding FAs when you think you're one or two players away, at least as it applies here. That applies when you are adding aged veterans since it presupposes they will help you win only this year. Marshall and Dansby are 26 and 28 respectively. They were signed with the expectation that they would help us win this year and beyond.
Marshall and Dansby, both young and in prime years. Both have made dramatic improvements to their respective sides of the ball. Don't just look at stats....watch the games...what do they do that isn't reflected in the stats. We couldnt really have asked for better value than what those two players are giving us right now.
Beast clearly was worth the price tag, he was not a FA per se, he had signed a one yr RFA tender and Irish gave him the big dollar contract in replacement so he would not hit Free Agency. AS for Dansby, well I don't believe he ever will put up the Stats to be "worth the money" that is not his game, I do think the Defense is vastly improved over this time from in 09, and our record reflects that fact. Fellas..3-2 is our best start in what 8 yrs? The D has given up to long TD's one a JA slip and fall, the other Jennings burning VooDoo for a 87 yd score.
Fair point. My problem with young teams signing high priced FA is that you have no idea of who may fall to you in the draft. For example, IF we really liked Dez but thought there was no chance of getting him. Then, he is there. No way do we pick him. Same for an ILB. I always believed that FA should be after the draft.
They weren't moves that were supposed to be the "final pieces". They were building blocks for the foundation of the team as young studs in their prime...
that was my thinking, that we should have waited for a season before making the marshall pick up. dansby i was fine with. having said that, both players have played well IMO so I'm fine with it
You have to wonder how different the defense would look with Fergie and Merling and Odie seeing the field this year.
I have to add in Edds, who I think is gonna be a difference maker vs. the pass, and Alama-Francis vs the run. And here's a big what if Will Allen was not hurt? Would Jason have seen the field?
Well, here is to hoping that Edds is not getting off to a Carpenter start to his career, and I think Ikaika will see the field often this weekend, we need that edge set, Ike is much more of a run stopper than Misi is imo. I think so, JA beat out Sean Smith to start, Will Allen I'd guess would have to beat out VooDoo.
Dansby is also providing a number of intangibles. His leadership, work ethic, making calls, confidence, level-headiness in the huddle, and the respect he commands is exactly the centerpiece that our young group on defense needed to help their maturation. The Dolphins have had their misstep FA signings the past couple years, but Dansby & Marshall are proving their worth imo. I'm very happy with both.
We wait on Marshall, and maybe we get him for money alone, having 2 #2's on top. Or, another team gets him. High priced poker. IF we don't sign Dansby, maybe we pick and ILB instead of Odrick. I know there are many draft experts here. IF we do not trade for Marshall, or sign Dansby, what would our draft have looked like. A bit of fun to speculate, and everybody loves to do that when it comes to the draft.
The last couple of years, we took chances on players with a history of injuries like Grove and Smiley. That was very surprising of Tuna. He HATES injuries.
There's a difference between going after 2 vets to put you over the top and going after a 28 and 26 year old for huge positional needs. Yes they were smart singings, and **** no we didn't jump the gun
Money talks sure, but adding to what you said Paul...Dansby wanted to play here for quite some time now (before he got franchised last year). You cannot ask for more from a guy that brings leadership, big play ability, and is thrilled to play for your team. With that, I am happy in shelling out the money (especially since its not mine )
my big concern with marshall or drafting a #1 WR this year was the development of Henne. Having our blue collar receiving crew last year forced Henne to find the open receiver, throw the ball away, make the proper reads, study hard, have perfect accuracy. The problem with bringing in a Marshall is it makes it too easy for Henne to just throw to a covered receiver. You can see a bit of it lately. Henne has started throwing into coverage with not only Marshall but Bess and Hartline. Another year of being handcuffed would've forced him to become a better more fundamentally sound QB. Marshall certainly makes our team better and getting a receiver of his caliber is huge but the most important mission of this team is to develop Henne into a top 12 franchise QB.
Dansby is overpaid, but that's the nature of the FA beast and I think it was the right move. They needed ILB help, and I don't think the players in the draft would have contributed appropriately at this point. Dansby is a rare player with his coverage and pass rush skills, but I think you need another good ILB paired with him to get his full potential. He's like a less annoying Bart Scott.. a guy like David Harris or Ray Lewis let's him do what he does best.
In the NFL your QB has to take some chances b/c you can't win without making some big plays on offense. Having Marshall here teaches Henne when he can do that. Having that kind of player that your QB can take those risks with is part of a QB's development. I've heard some claim that a WR is the last position you add, but I've never heard any sound or logical basis for that philosophy. And Marshall was a top 3 player at a core position, coming into his prime. You build a team by adding talent particularly at core positions. It would have made no sense to pass on that when you have an offense with so few play makers and were looking to build with young, core position players.
I'm not so sure about Dansby. I don't care to venture an opinion at this point. But Brandon Marshall is a special player. Those types of WRs don't come along every season, and IMO, he's worth every penny.
I think in the end it doesnt matter...I dont think we have the coaching to take this team, regardless of these two guys, to the post season. There is something about Sprarano that I cant quite figure out or explain. Like, tinkering with the Oline all preseason, and opening the season and the Oline not gelled. Like why our clock management has been such an issue for him. Like, not addressing our STs until it cost us a home game vs a division foe. I think hes slow on the uptake. He tries to appear smart by rattling off "this guy played 234 snaps so far" and that kind of meaningless nonsense. But in the end, I think he doesnt have the mental capacity to lead a team. Unfortunately, this franchise has had so much turnover, you almost want to keep him here for another season or two, (with no chance to win a playoff game) just for the sake of continuity. It sucks, and its a losers mentality, but damn it man....this churning, not being able to find a competant coach just sucks. Not to go backwards, but JJ should have been fired after the 98 season, when we lost 38-3 to Denver. That would have saved us ever hiring Wannstedt. I knew it then, I swear by it now. JJ, who had clearly lost it, coming back for the 99 season has devastated this franchise. If we do make a move, I would suggest we look at Leslie Frazier, the DC from Minnesota. He is a tough guy that coaches tough. We have some very tough players on this squad. The Vikings play fundamentally sound defense, and even though they are struggling now because of Chidress's "deal with the Devil", they are a physical, strong, punishing defensive team. But, unless we go 6-10, we are probably stuck with this poor bastard Sparano for another year or two.
everyone that gets paid what they get paid to play a game is over paid. Having said that, no doubt Marshall has lived up to his contract so far. Dansby is playing at the level I expected him to play at. As others have said, he is getting great player money but he isn't one. He is however, a very good player and I am glad we got him. He is another building block and that is how you build a championship team, one block at a time.
why would we do that ? its a moot point, the beast and dansby are here, we are 3-2 with a home game coming up to get to 4-2 against the apparently best team in the league atm.....thats what its all about
I know that question wasn't posed to me but I'll take a shot at it. Knowing this is just a guess. I think worst case we are 1-4 without them. I don't think we win the Packers game or the Vikes game. Best case scenario 2-3.
http://phinphanatic.com/forum/dolphins/jason-allen-mind-over-money/ Here's a link to a site writer from the Bahamas. He goes by, you guessed it, Bahamas. LOL He is a great guy, and I'm sure he would help if he can.
Comparing Dansby's salary to Peppers, Dansby seems like a downright steal. It's just the nature of the beast the players get more money every year. Give it another year and both Dansby and Marshall's salaries will be average.
