Donald Driver

Nah

 

Lets see what our young guys offer before we sign a 37 year old wide receiver.

 

yes, sign to a two year contract
nothing but advantage to the signing
with Driver you have a PlayMaker/Coach

 

What about the cap?

 

No old players past their primes. No other teams' cast-offs. Young people with proven talent and upside only.

 

How could we not go after him? He wasnt his old self obviously last year, but I thought he clearly had some left in the tank. Do we really want Roberto Wallace or a 6/7 round draft pick over Donald Driver?

 

no.

 

I would sign him to a one year contract but that wouldn't guarantee him a spot on the 53 man roster, IMO. It would depend more on what the rookies showed in training camp/preseason on whether he made the final 53.

 

I think signing him right away would be next to impossible, given the cap status. I'm sure, if they really wanted him, they could make the room under the cap so that would really be a moot point...

However, I don't think signing older veterans on their last legs is the way this regime under Irish and Philbin are choosing to go. They've stated several times they want to build thru the draft with their younger players...we passed on quite a few players in FA that are better than what we have on the roster at various positions, including WR. This leads me to believe they are not going to build the team that way...

I don't know whether Driver has anything left in the tank or not, but I don't think we are going to be the ones to find that out unless something happens later in the year closer to TC where either one or more of the young guys they think will step up don't show anything or are injured...

 

From Sports Buzz

If there is one WR than can show the youngsters the type of routes they have to run it would be this guy .A real coach in the field plus a wily veteran to catch those important passes.

 

I'm not arguing but asking, does Driver have a rep as an on field coach/team first guy?

Also, is teaching receivers their routes so difficult they need an extra mentor that takes up a roster spot?

 

I think we essentially have Donald Driver in Davone Bess. A guy that understands coverages and how to get open. However, if the offense is difficult on receivers to pick up, he could be an option. Although, I'd imagine there will be competitors for his services--i.e. Super Bowl contending teams looking for a veteran possession receiver.

 

Bess drops too many balls, this will be a defining year for him. He declined a lil last year so he needs to bounce back or bounce out.

 

I am not nearly as high on the Dolphins receiving corp as some on here appear to be. I don't see any player who can be considered a true #1 WR on the team. I see both Bess and Hartline as #3 or #4 receivers on the better teams in the NFL. Gates still has a lot a prove and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he never really develops into a NFL WR. The rest of the receiving corp is a huge question mark, as far as I am concerned.

So while Driver may be old for an NFL WR. I would have to say that the Dolphins should go after him if he becomes a free agent, because he would still be the best WR on the team. Unfortunately if he does become a free agent, I doubt if he would sign with the Dolphins because he would want to play for a team which will be a legitimate playoff contender this season. I just don't see the Dolphins being a playoff contender in 2012.

 

I think some of the opinions with fans are based on the offense we are going to be running. It doesn't require the true #1 WR that traditional vertical offenses do. Guys who can get open quickly and run after the catch are more the norm for the WCO. Driver isn't a true #1 WR. He would be, even in his prime, a #2 in a Sparano/Turner vertical offense...not a knock on him at all, just what he'd project to be in a different offense... I'm not too excited with our WR corps as it is resting on a few other guys contributing effectively, who haven't in the past (Moore, Wallace and Gates) and Hartline rebounding from last year as well. Gates could be our "poor man's" Jordy Nelson provided he takes the next step and is healthy. This offense also is going to count on guys like Egnew, Fasano and Clay getting involved in the passing game.

But you are right, the WR corps as it now stands has a lot to prove. Most fans seem to be expecting that jump in the young guys development's...

 

-first of all, the style of offense we will use employs 2 Te's
-second, it appears they have taken a Bills approach to the Wr corps, roll the dice on longshot guys.

 

DD could be brought in during camp if available just b/c it's always helpful to have a vet in there who knows what to do in the offense and in practice. You can learn without having an example, but it generally helps people to see an example of what the coaches are expecting. However, I'm not sure he makes the final roster if they do bring him in. He would unquestionably be behind Hartline and Bess. At best they'd be hoping he'd be one of those in the next tier that produces around 30 catches next year. They may wait and see how the rooks, Gates and the others look before doing anything. A declining player at a higher salary isn't as attractive as young guys they see potential in if the production is close enough. The question will be how much potential will they see?

 

I see Tannehill has the guy to show WRs how its done. He knows it all.

 

He's old to the point where he literally could break down any minute. I'd rather they look elsewhere.

 

While I wouldn't mind him as a player, I would rather he retire and offer his knowledge as an assistant coach.

 

Isn't having ONE player on "dancing with the stars" enough

 

Donald does do the "Cha-cha" better than even Jason Taylor if that is taken in consideration of signing him to a contract.

 

If we had higher expectations, then Driver would be an obvious short term fit. However, since the team is in total rebuilding mode, I'd rather give three or four of the young guys a shot and see if we strike gold with them, like Driver himself back in the day, when he was a low round pick.

 

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said “we feel pretty good about the [receiver] position as it stands.” But ESPN Scouts Inc.’s Matt Williamson, the former Browns scout, contends Miami is “worst in the league in terms of weaponry and wideouts. They’re too easy to play against. Mario Manningham [who got two years, $7.7 million from the 49ers] would have been their best receiver” if Miami had signed him…. Two Dolphins veterans say Julius Pruitt has stood out the most this offseason among the team’s young, largely unproved receivers.... Plaxico Burress said Reggie Bush told him he would love to have Burress in Miami. But that's the type of veteran receiver the Dolphins have stayed away from this offseason.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpy​