Might as well forget it, then.. It makes too much sense, so much so that even Omar could guess that - sort of like the blind hog finding the acorn once in a while! One big IF - will a year in the weight room and a year as a player make Martin a better LT in the league? That, actually, is a 5-10 Million dollar question! I have to think that the collective braintrust in the War Room saw enough in Martin to make him a 2nd round draft choice. As well, maybe some of the nay sayers will stop harping on the number of picks spent on the offensive line... which is absurd from my point of view.
I don't know guys. I live in Chiefs country. It got so bad here that the fans actually cheered when Cassel went down. Guess who repeatedly allowed him to get his head taken off? Having average tackles at each side with a year 2 QB doesn't sound to good to me. You can forget about bringing in an exciting TE with average blocking skills.
That is exactly right. We could also sign a corner like Dunta Robinson and he'd not count either. Then losing Long and Smith through system free agency, we'd likely get two premium comp picks in 2014. Maybe a 3rd for Long and a 4th for Smith or at the least a pair of 4s.
I compare Martin's rookie struggles to those of Duane Brown in 2008. He was the Texans 1st round LT that year, and was thrown into the fire as a 16 game rookie starter and I believe has missed only one game since then. Anyway, he stunk up the joint as a pass blocker his first couple of seasons. The 3rd year things began to turn. Now over the past two seasons, he has been the overall best LT in football. Allowed zero sacks in 2011. I see no reason that Martin cannot follow a similar course.
I agree. Winston (a zone blocking, always been healthy RT) at $7 mill and a possible 3rd or 4th round compensatory pick next season sounds a heck of a lot better than Long (oft injured and diminishing man blocking LT) at $10 mill.
If we sign Winston and lose Long, wouldn't that make a compensatory pick go down to maybe a 6th or 7th?
Do compensatory rules change for players cut before the new league year? Pretty sure we could sign him now before free agency starts.
apparently the eagles and texans have been the first 2 teams who contacted him http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/dneagles/Has-Andy-Given-Eagles-an-Assist.html?ref=twitter.com
Hopefully he's not mad at the Phins for not giving him the money last year and would still like to come here.
I don't think Winston counts towards that since he was cut. If his contract was running out and we signed him, then that would make it go down.
what? the Texans cut him last March and they want to resign him? Unless he still has a home there, I can't see him going back.
The draft is not very deep at CB, IMO. And WR is not deep so much as it is a collection of guys on whom no one can agree. However, the draft is fairly deep at OT. And the question isn't about value. The question is about priorities.
As has already been stated in the thread, cap cuts like Winston, Dunta Robinson, John Abraham, et al, do not count when calculating the following year's comp picks.
One thing to consider with Winston is I don't believe players released by their old team count towards the compensatory pick calculation. Miami is going to lose a number of guys this offseason to some very healthy looking contracts. I know (at least we hope) they'll sign their share but with Winston not counting we could be due a pick next offseason. I know its not a huge deal and over a year away but it's at least worth considering
This is the player I want now more then any out there in FA. Yes, more then Wallace. =) He plays all 16 games. He plays the right side allowing Martin to move to LT. Doesn't factor into the compensatory pick equation. The list goes on and on. If I remember last year when we were flirting with signing him, he has some ties to the Dolphins also. I know his college ball was played down here, but don't I remember something about family working for the organization?
The draft is deeper at WR than it is OT in the first 4 rounds. So many players to choose from that all have high potential. Tackle is a priority and getting Winston for 4 mil less than Long we have extra money to fill other needs in FA.
Solidifying the RT position would seem to fit this staff's philosophy. Last preseason, they essentially penciled in players into a specific position and worked them to improve conditioning and technique. With Winston, the focus can be on a battle for the LT spot between Martin and Yeatman. Hopefully, competition produces a better player as well as provide info if these players belong in the team's long term plan. With the contracts for both Gs expire next year, the team can use the draft this year and next to find potential replacements. Assuming Winston signs a contract with no dead money implications, the team could choose which veteran OL to keep and which newly drafted OL to start. Another potential philosophy change is what they pay back-up OL. Last pre-season, Garner, Murtha, and Cook had salary cap hit over 5 million. It may make sense to see if young players can play before their salaries get bump as restricted free agents.
If we can get Winston, let Long walk, move Martin over to LT (and if he's actually decent at it, I don't need elite), get our WR corps into shape via FA and Draft, I'm going to give Ireland major props. Oh TE too
Not sure I see the Dolphins being interested here. They brought him in when he was a free agent but never gave him an offer. They were too worried about his medical situation. Two years later I doubt his medical situation got any better.
That was so stupid. They brought in Jake Scott too for what seemed like a dozen visits, and never signed him. Then signed an old worn out infirm like Steinbach. WTF?
NFL_Draft_Insider @NFLDraftBites Dolphins considering multi-year offer to O-Tackle Eric Winston. Only fit for ZBS in Tackle FA Group. Rosenhaus wants 3-4 years at 7 M per.
That Winston news would obviously mean no Long re-signing here.... Incarcerated Bob has a story out there that we're have an agreement in principle with Wallace and are in neg. with Long as we speak....Can't believe any of it, I guess...
I doubt a serious deal would be offered until they know what's going on with Long. I think they are using this as a negotiation tactic with Long.
Can't understand for the life of me why people are hung up on Steinbach. Do you honestly think he was signed to be a starter?
People aren't hung up on Steinbach. People are hung up on the juxtaposition of signing a broken Steinbach but passing on a less broken Eric Winston and Jake "Stop Jerking Me Around With These Visits" Scott, especially since the latter two would have started on the 2012 OL.
The point is, why do you think they signed Steinbach? To play or to be a guy Philbin trusts with the lineman during camp in his first year as HC?
