per Miami Dolphins on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiamiDolphins/status/314858541208977408 Solid, if unspectacular, move. I like what he brings on ST. Now that this hold-up is over, Ireland can focus on Brandon Moore and Eric Winston
Most won't remember this, but Ck called when Spitler was drafted, he judged that Spitler is a great ST guy. And he really is that good at it.
I liked what little I saw of McCann last year, and would have liked to see him offered too...but I thought Spitler did ok, and happy that we've got him locked up for backup/special team purposes too.
I remember Ireland talking about Spitler after the draft and his voice quivered so much I thought he was having a party in his pants. Needless to say, Jeff was really happy to get him in the 7th round.
Which to me is one of the problems Ireland has, it is as if rd #1 and rd #2 are guys he has -0- passion for, the later rd guys he really digs as he is allowed to be himself. TBH, if you look at his rd 5-7 guys, UDFA's and CFLers, his performance is probably better than his rds #1-#4 performance. My hope is taking OV and Miller last yr was a sign that he is more willing to break script and take guys he likes and is willing to bang the table for instead of "rd #3 pick 13, should go here". I don't say stuff like this often, if ever a guy needed to go to strip club, snort a line of coke off of a hooker's body and buy the entire place a drink..it would be Jeff Ireland. His instincts away from pressure are great, when the pressure is on though..he makes the safe play He has said "..you can put Chad Henne on me, that is fair.." Lo and behold 2012..he takes Ryan Tannehill..the opposite of Henne. Perhaps there are some glimmers from the lad.
Spitler adds to STs, along with Trusnik. Pads, I do think Ireland is improving. I give some of the credit to him working closely with Philbin on assessing players.
I read that they weren't opposed to bringing him back, but I agree, I figured he'd be worth a tender.
Well, one of the reasons why I liked the THill pick (though I wanted Kuechly) is it finally made Ireland push "all in". And it mostly worked out, I'd like to see him take a player with no doubts and actually go "Cam Cameron" when Ginn was picked, Cameron was a poor HC of course, at least he showed some passion for Ted Ginn. He oddly drewls over later rd picks, and early rd guys he is perfunctory, to me this is one of his issues as GM. It's dude, if you are not excited, why should we be?