Dallas just put Ratliff on the PUP. Perhaps they emerge as a trade partner? If anyone wouldn't blink at paying Starks his 1-year deal, it would probably be Jerry.
Not at all. Starks was offered a multi-year deal and declined it. He knew they had the option to franchise him and rolled the dice. I'm one of those guys who still see playing as a privilege, and considering most of these guys lack the intellect or ability to make over $100K a year otherwise, being stuck with $9M for a single season nothing to whine about. He could retire on it easily from now own if he were smart with his money. As for Keller, I do feel bad for the guy. I wished his salary had been guaranteed as he is most likely done. He'll be lucky to be able to walk without a limp, much less run. I hope he has invested wisely.
Absolutely IMO. While we dont have a ton of footage of Starks due to him being out... in the last game where Starks was able to play, Odrick made more plays and was more disruptive. (2 solo tackles, 1 for a loss, 1 sack and another QB hit). You disagree? If so, please elaborate as to why you felt Stark's performance this past Saturday was more impressive...
I fail to see the problem. The 28th selection in the 2010 draft shouldn't be starting 3 years later? But don't undervalue Starks as I have seen some of you doing. The guy is a very good player. It's just the circle of life and it'll be a very nice circle rotation. I worry about a disgruntled Starks. Will he give it his all? I like to think most players stay proffesional but nothing and I mean nothing can get more personal than when it comes to a man's pocket. And you can take that to the bank.
You start based on merit, not draft status. I'm not saying Odrick hasn't earned it. I like him enough, but I think Starks is the better DT as of now. Also think he's better than Soliai.
The commercial is about fandom and young dolphin fans loving and mimicking the pee wee Herman dance...
Agreed. But if your #1 pick is showing that hes starting to successfuly rumble with the big boys, you have to play the young 1st rounder. What are you waiting for in that scenario? Now, of Starks was a star, no question. The man can play and play very well but he's not a star. The way I see it, you've got a young, up and coming 1st rounder vs an aging player on a franchise tag. Given the recent moves Ireland has made, I'd be surprised to see Starks in a Phin uni next year not that I wouldn't love to have him back.
I think he has. Odrick has been fantastic thus far in pre season and camp. Many of the beat writers who are at practice every day have said Odrick will and should win the starting job.
Odrick right now has the best defensive pair of hands on the front 7, his weight looks right for him, and he's just becoming more disruptive..
If they felt they had players on the roster who were as capable as Starks, there would have been no reason for them to put the franchise tag on him. Starks is one of the top defensive linemen in the entire NFL and that is why the Dolphins didn't let him sign elsewhere in free agency. If the Dolphins don't want to pay him long term what he wants, just let him go and see how many other teams will quickly offer him a long term contract. After this season is over, he will again be a free agent and I am sure he will get that big contract from another NFL team. Hopefully the Dolphins do have players under contract that can fill the void, once he leaves.
Soliai is the kind of guy who's best value is now he makes the other players around him better, by doing the grunt work.
Defensive tackles are a highly rotated position. If a team has the cap space it makes plenty of sense to franchise Starks even if they feel they have two better defensive tackles.
Yes, please explain how my logic is faulty. The fact is that if the Dolphins had players just as capable as Starks on their roster, there would be no reason place the franchise tag on him. My believe is that the reason they placed the franchise tag on him is because the understand he is one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL and they need him on the roster to remain a top defensive unit. The reason they didn't put the franchise tag on Sean Smith, Reggie Bush, or Jake Long was because they felt that they had other players who were CAPABLE of filling these positions. They obviously didn't feel there was anyone better than Starks on the team as a DT and that is why they decided to franchise him. Perhaps Odrick will eventually prove to be an effective DT, but right now, Starks is still a much better player than Odrick.
I agree that Starks is the better player..but randy has a lot of miles on his and Odrick is 25 years old and getting better, so it should be an interesting dynamic this year.. We have seen our defense this year play well without their 2nd best p,Ayer in Starks and their potential future stud in Jordan..
Doesn't matter if the position is rotated, as for the argument of whether or not they have players they feel are better. JW never specified a number. If they felt there were players on the roster as capable as Starks in his role, whatever it is, as JW said, there would be no reason to Franchise him. They apparently hold him in high regard.
Your logic is the one that makes no sense. Why in the world would any team franchise a back-up DT, if as you state, there are two better defensive tackles on their team. If they are paying top dollar to a player they feel is only their third best DT, I would have to question the way they are spending their cap money. In fact if they are paying what you consider their third best DT franchise type money, they are being foolish. I just think that they made the right decision to franchise him because he is the best DT they have on their roster.
It does matter if they are rotated. If there are players on the roster as capable as Stark in his role, there is absolutely a reason to franchise him. Due to the fact that haven't three good defensive tackles is extremely helpful. Especially ones that are good at interior pass rush.
No one can or should pay a backup DT, (your opinion) that type of money. Whether or not they have the cap space. They could have used that money to upgrade the offensive line, where they have definite needs. They paid Starks the money they did because he is presently their top defensive lineman. Not because they happen to have extra cap money to overpay a replaceable defensive lineman. If in fact they are wasting their Franchise Tag on a player they can easily rotate with other players at his position. Perhaps that is the reason this team has had a losing record for four straight years. It also would make be wonder about the people making the decision to overpay a player who you admit isn't even one of the best two tackles on the roster. Your argument that they could afford to pay him that much money and that's why they did it, just doesn't make any sense at all.
It is not back up DT. It is rotational DT. If a DT plays the same snaps as the DT ahead of him, and yet does not start, is he really a back up? They didn't pay Stark the money of a top defensive linemen. They gave him a one year contract based on Franchise Tag. It could be because they think he is their best, even though they didn't offer him nearly as much as he wanted or they did it because it could help the team. Winning teams do not let go of interior pass rush defensive linemen easily. You are just closed off to my idea for some reason.
A franchise player or a first round draft pick is gonna be sittin on the bench..it should pay dividends this year in terms of how good we'll be on defense and who knows, maybe it will pan out to show that hi resources in that area can become a viable way to dominate.
No, I am closed off to your logic because this hasn't been a winning team for the past four years. Please tell me one winning team that has signed a player to the Franchise Tag and used him as a rotational player. Especially when they had two better players at the same position, as you infer the Dolphins have now.
I feel Reggie Bush would have been worth keeping for the release of aforementioned DT. I know for that kind of money, 9 mil, we could have made Bush happy ( and for missing a couple games I believe, did ok last year) and picked up a reasonable talent to back up Paul and Oddy. Bush getting 100+ yards of offense the other day isn't a fluke, it's what he does. With the growth of Tanehill ( who relied on Bush like one would typically a tight end ) it would have been an even more explosive offense this season. Still think we are in for one hell of a ringer this year!! GO PHINS!
Aubrayo Franklin tagged by SF. Pretty much an identical situation. The New England Patriots once franchise tagged Matt Cassel, their backup QB. New York Giants tagged Brandon Jacobs.
Perhaps the play of Starks will decline this year and Soliai and Odrick will take over being the top two DT's on the roster. We don't know that at this time. My argument is that the Dolphins decided to sign him to the Franchise Tag because they knew he was one of the top DT's in the NFL and they didn't want to lose him in free agency. Not because they had a ton of extra cash or because they thought he would be a good third DT coming off the bench. Next year I expect Soliai and Starks to both be with other teams and we shall see how effective the defensive line will be without them. I still think Odrick is a very average DT and I just don't see him ever being the quality player Starks has been with the Dolphins. They may keep Odrick after the 2013 season because of his age, but it won't be because he is a better player than Starks, IMO.
In a vacuum maybe...but if we were to lose both of those guys, I have to believe we'd address the position through a number of avenues. I'd agree it would suck to lose them though.
