As we all know the 2013 off-season is filled with Miami Dolphin impending free agents with 7 of them being starters. While we have cap room to re-sign most of them, I wonder if a few of them will get caught up in the free agency process and end up signing elsewhere(especially if the Dolphins are playing hardball with negotiations). I wonder fellow posters how many do you see them being able to re-sign? Jake Long Reggie Bush Brian Hartline Matt Moore Anthony Fasano Randy Starks Sean Smith Chris Clemons Tony McDaniel Pat Devlin Nate Garner (has 3 game tryout, could surprise) *Starter
It's so hard to predict. Of the 7 starters I'd like to bring back 4 of them, but I don't even know which ones I'd want. A lot of this is going to depend on the price tags.
Very hard to predict but I would guess 4-5. I would say Hartline, Smith, and Starks are likely to re-sign. Long, Fasano, and Devlin are up in the air but probable to re-sign. Meanwhile I would say guys that probably won't return are Moore, Bush, McDaniel, Clemons, and Garner.
At the right price - 8. But that is NOT going to happen. Long will want more than we are willing to pay. Yes at the right price. I think he flies the coop... or Swims away from the pod. Bush probably will also. Also, yes at the right price.. But - I think the right price is lower than he thinks the right price is. Don't need dancers, JoJo! Hartline - yes...Not superlative - better than most. Lot of Guts, not a lot of Glory! Moore - No Wants his own gig! Unless he feels security is better than high risk! Probably another one to swim from the pod! Fasano - yes. Security at TE. But, this is probably one on which I am wrong! So..................... Starks - Lord, I HOPE SO! Sean Smith - probably. But, it should be highly structured to induce him to play with passion, and not five yards away! How to do that - Damifino! Chris Clemmons.... Why?!?!?!?!?!?!? Tony McDaniel..... If Clemmons is "Why?!?!?!?!?!?" McDaniel is a close second for the head scratcher category! Besides... if we resign Starks, he is more than redundant! Devlin.... Who are you? Who, whooo, who who?? A back up QB - If Moore leaves - YUP! Garner - Thought it was supposed to challenge for starter. Think he should be better. If he can be replaced (which should not be a problem) - Do So!!!
I voted 4-5. Pat Devlin Randy Starks Sean Smith And after that, I'd say 2 out of 3 between Jake Long, Brian Hartline, and Reggie Bush while leaning more towards the first two if the price is right with Jake Long.
Who I Want To Keep Long Hartline Fasano Smith Garner Devlin Who I Think We Will Keep Sean Smith Chris Clemons Tony McDaniel Pat Devlin Nate Garner Everywhere else Ireland doesn't want to 'overpay'.
I think they'll keep: Hartline Fasano Devlin I have a bad feeling that Smith, Starks, and Long will sign for more elsewhere than the Dolphin's are willing to give. Clemons, Moore, Bush, McDaniel, and Garner I have a feeling are not in their plans.
I'd like to keep: Jake Long: Both Long and the Dolphins have good reason for a one-year "show-me" type year- The Dolphins letting Long walk based on one mediocre year is really difficult to justify, and Long is hitting the market in a bad negotiating position. The franchise tag is not palatable, but if you're otherwise not spending the money? Pat Devlin: He looked decent in pre-season, and seems like a good guy to continue developing Brian Hartline: You're not going to be able to replace him without spending more money on a guy you can't be as sure will perform as well here, or handcuffing yourself to multiple high picks and short-term decline in free agency. Re-signing him the last offseason before his injury issues would have been nice, but I think you're still ahead of the curve. Chris Clemons: He's a solid starting player, and probably not expensive enough that you can't afford to have him as a back-up if you can replace him. I'm less sure about... Randy Starks: He's a quite good player, but he's slumped the second half of the season, and I think it's a pretty eminently replaceable position, and given no contract talks with him I think there's a good chance they're going to put Odrick here. Sean Smith: He's too inconsistent to be your best cornerback, and I'm not sure the price will be back as a #2. Nate Garner: He seems to play like **** off the bench, which isn't a great trait for a back-up, but he plays pretty well when he's got the week to prepare as a starter. I'd like to see him back depending on how he finishes the season. Probably/should be gone Anthony Fasano: The coaching staff almost assuredly likes him in the role he's in, but I'm not sure Fasano does. They need to get better, and I think there are roster math issues. Reggie Bush: He's got a pretty narrow skill-set and I don't think they want to pay him the money to have to micromanage him between the areas he's effective and the areas he's not when they need more consistency. Tony McDaniel: Kheeston Randall is the same guy but younger and cheaper.
Wow. Long, Smith, Hartline and Clemons are the only players drafted from 08 and 09 still on the team. That's depressing.
hmm starks better pass rusher Soliai better run stuffer I dunno I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see them let starks go and move odrick over.
I was huge on re signing Bush, but seeing how he is being used I don't see the point. Starks is still the guy IMO you save money by letting walk. Odrick, Randall and re sign McDaniel and I think we will survive. I believe we have no choice but to keep Long one way or another. Same with Smith. Our cb situation is a disgrace! If Ireland is here next year he better fcking knock this draft and free agency out of the park because this roster is borderline pathetic, especially after trading Vontae and Marshall. Here we are still needing to plug the same holes we've had for a few years.
Of all the free agents, the only two I would like to see the Dolphins sign to new contracts are Starks and Devlin. I think Starks is a quality starter and Devlin is a Qb the Dolphins can make their backup next year. As for the remaining free agents, Long has had too many injuries in recent years and he just isn't worth paying all the money he will demand in free agency. I like Bush, but he doesn't seem to be a player the Dolphins are interested in signing to a new contract and his contract demands would probably be too high anyway. I don't see McDaniels with the Dolphins next season because of his numerous injuries this season. I think the Dolphins will probably use a mid round draft selection in an attempt to provide depth for the defensive line. I think Hartline, Smith, Fasano, and Clemons, are all starters who need to be replaced. Hartline will probably be looking to be paid as a top receiver is the NFL and he just isn't one. He is a good #3 on most good teams and I hope the Dolphins don't pay him the salary of a #1 or #2 receiver on the better teams in the NFL. Fasano is merely adequate at the TE position. He is slow and his blocking ability isn't what it was a few years ago. The Dolphins have been trying to replace him for the past few years, but Clay and Egnew just don't seem to have what it takes to be quality TE's in the NFL. I would rather see the Dolphins go after some of the other free agent TE's than sign Fasano again. In the secondary, Clemons has been merely mediocre and hopefully the Dolphins will upgrade this position in the draft or in free agency. A lot of people want the Dolphins to sign Smith to a new contract. If he is willing to take less money to remain with the Dolphins, fine, sign him. If he wants to be paid like he is one of the top CB's in the NFL, let him go somewhere else to get the money. He is ranked 31st of 110 CB's in the NFL. While this may be in the top third of all CB's, he certainly isn't one of the best CB's in the NFL. I don't see Matt Moore wants to remain with the Dolphins, since he wants a chance to be a starter again in the NFL. He has no chance of being the starter in Miami. As far as Garner is concerned, he is what he is. A backup offensive lineman who can play more than one position, but isn't really good enough to pay starting money too. If he is willing to sign for backup money, the Dolphins should try to sign him. If he wants starters money, the Dolphins should just let him walk. I don't see any free agent the Dolphins should put the franchise tag on, because none of their free agents are worth the money it would cost them by putting the tag on one of these players.
I'll guess 3 or 4. I see Smith re-signing. Hartline is a solid #2 and will probably sign for about $6 mill/per. Fasano, I think will be back. Long is a question mark, my gut says he'll leave. Starks has faded and Odrick has played better. I wouldn't be surprised if they let him walk. I expect that one or two of the remaining guys will sign, but have no idea whom. My guess is Devlin is the most likely.
Obviously you and I are far apart when it comes to wanting the Dolphins to re-sign the majority of their free agents. The one I most disagree with you on though is Hartline. He might be worth keeping at a maximum of $2 million a year, but he is no where close to being worth the $6 million a year you see him signing for. I also don't see him as a solid #2. He is a very average #2 and would be a good #3, IMO. I also think that Starks is a far superior defensive lineman, when compared to Odrick. I would rather see them sign Starks and trade a very average Odrick for a fourth or fifth round draft pick.
Hartline has had three games this season in which he has over 50% of his receiving yards. He has averaged only 45.4 yards per game in the other ten games he has played this season. He also has caught only one TD pass this entire season. These are not the statistics of a quality #2 receiver in the NFL. Hartline is a very average NFL receiver and he certainly isn't worth $6 million dollars a year. To me the Dolphins would be wasting at least $4 million, if they signed Hartline to the contract you recommend. They need to provide Tannehill with legitimate #1 and #2 receivers and have Bess as the #3 receiver. He is a better slot receiver than Hartline and if Hartline wants the type of money you are writing about. The Dolphins would be better off without him. Average receivers like Hartline are a dime a dozen in the NFL, and they certainly don't deserve to earn $6 million dollars a year.
In the Miami Herald this morning, A.J. Duhe was interviewed and he gave his comments regarding the Dolphins. Duhe was a great player for the Dolphins and someone I feels has a lot more knowledge about the NFL than any of us on here. While he was generally positive about the future of the Dolphins. He feels the Dolphins will still be in a building mode next season and that it is going to be at least another three years before this team is a team he says he can be proud of. I tend to agree with Duhe that this building process is going to take another three years. The worst thing in regards to this three year process is that many of the best players on the Dolphins defense will be at the end of their careers in three years. Starks, Soliai, Burnett, Dansby, and Wake will all be in their early to mid thirties in three years, if they are still members of the Dolphins. These are the primary run stoppers on the defense at this time. So while the offense may improve over the next three years. It is likely that the defense will lose many of their most productive players as they age or as they leave in free agency. The defense, which is the best unit on this team, is also the unit with the majority of the older players. So while offense is the priority this coming off season. If the defense is neglected and suitable replacements aren't found for these older players over the coming years. The Dolphins may find themselves with a better offense and a worse defense in three years. Hopefully Ireland, or whoever the GM might be over this period will be able to bring in solid defenders who can take over for these older players over the next few years, while at the same time, providing quality play makers for Tannehill on offense. I do agree with Duhe though, it is going to take time to build this team. Anyone expecting a quick turnaround in the next year or two are just not facing the fact that this team is going to be mediocre for at least two more seasons beyond the 2012 season.
as always it will come down to money ! Jake Long- i let walk ,move on from injury prone fading talents ,if we reign him you can right off any chance of fa activity Reggie Bush- i resign , thomas is too soft injury prone to take over , Brian Hartline- re sign number 2 or 3 wr next year ,his a solid wr no thrills no spills ,keeper Matt Moore - he walks preseason he was horrible and for me even tho he did well in relief in 1 game ,he dosent suit the west coast offense , Anthony Fasano- keep him as a number 2 te and pay him as it $1.5m-$2m tops Randy Starks - re sign talented ,young top 10 dt in nfl hopefully $5m a year or so Sean Smith- re sign and hopefully draft a cb in top 3 picks Chris Clemons- again re sign ,move marshall to free safety where he belongs and clemons is a gd back up Tony McDaniel -release not needed ,odrich moves to his back up dt spot Pat Devlin - re sign could well develop into number 2 qb in a year or so ,making strides Nate Garner (has 3 game tryout, could surprise) , 50/50 call isnt doing too bad but for me he isnt worth the money he is getting this year and not sure he suits the offense ,
