Fin D, I have been stating since the end of last season that I see this as a 2-3 year rebuilding process. So I would rather see them rebuild around younger players who will still be in their prime years when they hopefully turn this team around in a few years. Even if they sign Miller, Vernon, and Matthews, I don't see them being a team that wins more than 5-6 games next years, but I can see these players still being very productive in 2-3 years when this team finally and hopefully becomes a legitimate playoff team. Signing Williams and possibly letting Vernon go just doesn't make sense to me. Now if they keep Vernon and sign Williams, I wouldn't have a problem. Because they do need another DE to fill in for a year or two, even if he won't still be with the team by the time they might eventually become a good team. As I stated earlier. I prefer rebuilding through the draft and by retaining the few young talented players now on the roster. You obviously are okay with continuing to try and win the off season by signing the biggest free agents. I am more concerned with the regular season and right now losing Miller, Vernon, and Matthews would be a far greater loss for the team, than signing Williams and the trade for two injured players would be an upgrade for the team, IMO. Obviously you and I differ on how long it is going to take to turn this team into a winner. My projection is it will be 2019 before we see a team in Miami that finishes above 500. I know you predict a winning record every year and that is why I think you are more acceptable to these off season free agent signings and trades than I am. It is just a difference of opinion on how this team needs to rebuild for the present and the long term future. Hopefully you will be right this year when you once again predict a 10 win season and a spot in the playoffs. I certainly hope I am wrong about a 5-6 win season, but I just don't have any faith in Tannebaum's approach to building a football team.
LOL, I have only been on this forum since 2010 and I don't remember you predicting the Dolphins to have a losing season prior to the season over the last 6 years, but I could certainly be wrong. It won't be the first or last time I will wrong about something.
I've only predicted a record twice. The first time you and I got into it was because I predicted 8-8 in Philbin's first year. You (and many others) acted as if I was gleefully drinking Kool-Aid while ignoring the death ray aimed straight for the planet.
I think they can turn it around in 1 year, but moves have to be smart. So far not convinced they are smart
I will have to take your word for it that we got into it because you predicted an 8-8 record. I don't remember that particular disagreement, but then again I am an old man and my memory isn't what it used to be. Personally I have been predicting mediocre records over the past five years, so I am surprised I would have given you a hard time for predicting an 8-8 record. Those type records have basically been my prediction, plus or minus one win or loss ever since I've been on this forum. I have grown to respect your opinions over the years, even when we disagree. I realize you and I both want the same thing with the Dolphins. We just want a consistently good team who can be a legitimate SB contender. You tend to be more positive toward the front office and the ownership than I do. I never was a Philbin fan and you gave him the benefit of the doubt until you too realized he wasn't the answer at the head coaching position. I respect you for that. I am not a Tannebaum fan and haven't been from the beginning. I have no problem with him proving me wrong. In fact I would love to see him prove me wrong. I just don't agree with his method of building a team for the long term. I'm afraid he will leave the Dolphins in the same cap hell he left the Jets in before he was fired. Perhaps because I am quite a bit older than you, I don't have the patience or the years left to wait for them to rebuild this team correctly. I don't think they are rebuilding the right way by relying on veteran free agents or players other teams are looking to trade because they weren't productive for them. I prefer to build through the draft and once you have a solid nucleus of players good enough to make the playoffs, then is when they should be adding a few solid veterans to take them to that next level. This is what the better teams in the league have been doing for years and the Dolphins just aren't one of these better teams at this time.
Thanks and likewise. TBH, a lot of people gave me grief over that prediction, and it is entirely possible I'm remembering incorrectly that you were one of them. Its true, I try to be optimistic because it makes the season more interesting (for a bit anyway). I'm not sold on anything this offseason so far, ftr. I'm just saying until the facts are in, there's no need to get upset yet. Getting Williams may seem bad, but his deal is pretty compelling. OV walking is a good and bad thing for me as he's a nice piece but not at a price higher than $12m. i don't want to lose Miller (and we technically haven't yet). RBs are a dime a dozen, but good ones aren't. Now, when its all said and done, and we lose OV and Miller for peanuts, and traded out of a good spot for Kiko & Maxwell and they suck or ride the bench, and Williams implodes, then sure its time to *****. But to me, and likely because I'm more optimistic, why get upset until those things happen?
AS I stated earlier, perhaps it is my age that causes me to be more pessimistic about this rebuilding process. I just figure I don't have a whole lot of years left to see this team get to another SB. When I was in my 40's I was much more optimistic in regards to the Dolphins, but of course they had Shula as their HC and Marino was just starting out as their QB. So it was easy to be optimistic then. Even in 2007, when they went 1-15, I attended every home game and traveled to London to watch the game there. I was positive that the hiring of Parcells after that season would be the long term answer for the Dolphins. The last seven years and me now being old enough to be on Medicare has drained a lot of that positivity from my Dolphin soul. I will be a Dolphin fan until I die, but I won't pretend that the frustration level doesn't rise every year that goes by and the team shows no improvement on the playing field. The best thing about moving to Hawaii is that I can watch the game early in the morning and win or lose, I can still be on the golf course by noon each Sunday. I can take my frustration out on the golf ball if the Dolphins lost that day. I realize I have a great life and I am thankful for all the good things in my life. Really my only frustration seems to be the Dolphins. Yet after being a fan since 1966, they get in your blood. As much as I would love to just watch the game and not be frustrated by their mediocrity in recent years, I just haven't figured out a way to be optimistic in regards to this team under this ownership. I doubt I'll still be around when you reach 65, but I would love to know if you will still be as patient and optimistic then as you are now. Especially if the Dolphins have experienced years of mediocrity prior to you reaching my age. Hopefully you won't have to deal with a mediocre Dolphin team by the time you reach my age. Well it has been enjoyable touching base with you again. It's been a while. I have a 9:15 am tee off time and that is less than an hour from now. So you have a great day and I'll be checking back on the forum in the near future to find out the latest Dolphins updates.
age might have something to do with how we all look at things. I know that I feel time is running out for them to be good.
We are going to be pretty mediocre to bad soon.. Losing Oliver, Lamar, maybe Mathews. I mean those are actual good players we drafted and we are letting them go just like Smith and Vontae. Oh well, maybe they want to start at ground zero.
Losing miller is a kick in the gut, he deserved better than what philbin and lazor did with him. I wish him all the luck in the world
That is a contract I probably would of matched if I were Miami. Thought he would get more. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Losing Lamar does suck but I do hope we don't try to get Elliott. Yes, he's a nice talent but I have some hopes on Ajayi because of the limited chances he had he showed that he got the talent to be as good as Lamar.
We offer him 5.5 and he goes to HOU for 6.5 ? Thanks but no thanks, then. At that amount its probably about more than just the money. Would have been great to keep him but it is what it is. I like how some people get upset about us overpaying for FAs yet also get mad when we don't severely overpay our own (moreso talking about Vernon).
This is not a knock against you JW in any way. That said we've been in a 2-3 year rebuilding process for well over a decade. I don't even get in these discussions anymore because I'm out of gas. IF our situation is ever turned around it will start at the top. A change of culture led by a successful, organized and intelligent FO. Still don't see that we have that. Tannenbaum has many doubters and many that think he'll sink us even more. I'm not high on him either. Look at this trade we just tried to pull off. Now it may not even happen because of a physical issue they weren't aware of. The other LB hasn't been able to stay healthy. We still just seem to make decisions that are doomed to fail. We'll see.
Signing Lamar at that number HOU gave him should've been a no-brainer. Especially with how little wear-and-tear he has. It's possible he just wanted to get out of Miami after being under-utilized, but money is usually what matters. I'm a little surprised. Hate losing a mid-round pick who was developing, making strides every season. He had been flashing some serious ability lately. Definitely a legit starting-caliber back who can play 3 downs and hit big plays. Ugh.
The Miami Dolphins - starting over at running back since 1975. Why it seems so easy for every other team and so hard for us is so confusing.
Will miss his production. He's not built to be a 4 quarter, every down back, nevertheless, he was decent at what he did. Don't know that you pay "decent" RB 6/5 Mil / year, though.
I think we shut down Miller a lot during games because Tanny and Co. didnt want to overpay for him. I think there was at least a 60% chance he was not coming back. So now that he's gone, we have to hope Ajayi stays healthy and improves from his rookie year. Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
Big mistake in my book. Guy was a weapon for us, not just another RB. Three and a cloud of dust types? Yeah that has little value anymore. But a weapon that can snap off chunk plays like Miller can? You pay for that. Really hope we have a plan that is not just what we have on the roster atm.
No offense and seriously not personal... but if I had a dollar for every time I want to slap the crap out of anyone who says this! I could have paid Miller to stay here! How does saving 1 million a year on not having miller on our team make us better? Ajayi looks good but I watched miller take it goal to goal. Can't coach that. Not happiness inducing. Most perturbed am I. And Matthews to the Titans. Even better. F.N. Dolphins
I couldn't agree more about this perception that RB's are no longer a valuable component to a football team, and Miller in particular. I really think he's gonna blow up in Houston. I think they (unlike Miami) realize what they have in him. I will admit I'm a little bias though, as I was a big fan of his during his time in Miami, and I'll miss what he brought to the table in terms of his skills, ability and character.
And from me, as well. There's no hard-and-fast blue print as to how to assemble a winning team. Just get the best players, develop them and build a winning culture. I get not overpaying OV, but losing Miller feels like a dumb move.
I heard on the radio earlier that CJ Anderson is talking to the Dolphins. I don't know if its true...
It was certainly his coming out party. He did almost literally nothing until two weeks before that game, when he had 90 yards vs the Raiders. Of note is that his best game in September or October is 43 yards rushing. In games from 11/1 onward, he's rushed for 70+ yards in 14 of 21 games. Seems to take his time warming up.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texans/article/Lamar-Miller-chose-Texans-hoping-for-heavier-6883452.php?t=adcb0ebf2f438d9cbb&cmpid=twitter-premium Yep, they get it.