Barry Jackson Sunday notes..NFL circles dolphins getting buzz.
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djphinfansubscriberOPhttp://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/
But know this: From talking to people around the league, there’s clearly more optimism about this team’s long-term potential than we're accustomed to in recent Decembers. No, we’re not talking Super Bowl-optimism, not with this offensive line, the unknown variable of Ryan Tannehill’s ceiling and other issues.
But when you combine the talent assembled, the improvement of Tannehill and several other key young players, the portent of at least $38 million in cap space this offseason and other factors, “I see no reason why the future isn’t bright,” ESPN analyst and former Colts general manager Bill Polian said last week.
“They have a good defense already. If you’re going to go far, you need pass rushers and they have that. The running game is good now and will get better as the offensive line gets better. It’s a good group of talent in the passing game. Tannehill is right on schedule. Fixing the offensive line is not as hard as you think. If you get the tackle situation squared away, you can manufacture guards.”
Another former GM, Charley Casserly, also told me the Dolphins now look like long-term playoff contenders: “I would be optimistic. I like the moves they made, and they have a nucleus to work with. Tannehill is an above average quarterback. I like their long-term prospects better than the Jets and Bills because it starts with the quarterback, and I have a lot more confidence in Tannehill than Geno Smith or E.J. Manuel.”
Said CBS analyst Phil Simms, by phone: “I would be encouraged about their future. But the difference between making the playoffs and going to the Super Bowl is dramatic. There is a long way to go. But at least it’s a start. They are a fast team. They have some great elements that do well in the NFL.”
More reason for hope: The Dolphins have just $106 million in cap commitments (including dead money) for 2014, well under the projected cap of $126 million. They also have about $18 million in unused 2013 cap space that can be carried over.
That adds up to $38 million in space for this upcoming offseason, and they can clear even more space if they cut Dimitri Patterson (which would be a $5.4 million saving) or ask him to take a pay cut after he played in only five games. (I'm not endorsing that, because Patterson was very good when he played, but his inability to recover from a groin injury raises questions about whether Miami will want to pay him that much.) They also could clear space by restructuring Mike Wallace’s contract to reduce his 2014 cap number from $17.2 million.
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpy
Cap space is interesting..restructing of Wallace contract, fingers crossed..
BlameItOnTheHenneforum_veteranWe gotta cut Patterson, right? 15 games in 2 years.
finfansince72subscriberWell cap space is nice but if Ireland is the one signing the free agents.....well we know how thats turned out over the years. We also have a lot of decisions to make on a lot of young players who are going to need to be signed long term over the next few years so its not like we can just blow the cap up and use all the space on big name free agents, we will have our own guys to extend and sign long term as well.
Fin-OmenalNew MemberKind of makes me rethink the job Jeff has done, to have a budding perennial contender AND another opportunity to get some big FA's is kind of impressive.
Not So Fastforum_veteranPatterson is so frustrating. He could be a special corner if he could just get rid of the injury bug.
Nappy Rootsforum_veteran"BlameItOnTheHenne wrote:
We gotta cut Patterson, right? 15 games in 2 years.
Unless he takes a pay cut. If he does I keep him.
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Nappy Rootsforum_veteran"Fin-Omenal wrote:
Kind of makes me rethink the job Jeff has done, to have a budding perennial contender AND another opportunity to get some big FA's is kind of impressive.
But we have a lot of free agents as well. That 38 Mill gets swallowed up really quick when you resign Starks, Clemons and Grimes.(the 3 I am saying are must resigns) Then you have Carroll and our entire offensive line outside of Pouncey are UFA.
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mrozsubscriber"Nappy Roots wrote:
But we have a lot of free agents as well. That 38 Mill gets swallowed up really quick when you resign Starks, Clemons and Grimes.(the 3 I am saying are must resigns) Then you have Carroll and our entire offensive line outside of Pouncey are UFA.
dont know if you need to add Soliai to that list… You have Pouncey and Brenner on the OL… I think they will pick up a guy or two via free agency but the rest come from the draft IMO
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xphinfanxforum_veteranEnjoy the realistic views of a very football savvy person not on a sabotage mission just speaking straight up common knowledge.
That's why they play the games!:yes:
xphinfanxforum_veteranOn patterson they should restructure his contract into a performance bound contract eliminating the large salary if he isn't on the field producing.
That's why they play the games!:yes:
rafaelforum_veteran"Fin-Omenal wrote:
Kind of makes me rethink the job Jeff has done, to have a budding perennial contender AND another opportunity to get some big FA's is kind of impressive.
With guys like Polian and Casserly praising the young talent and our bright future, that flies in the face of those claiming that Ireland has done a bad job.
GMJohnsonNew MemberYawn.
Fin-OmenalNew Member"rafael wrote:
With guys like Polian and Casserly praising the young talent and our bright future, that flies in the face of those claiming that Ireland has done a bad job.
I've jumped the fence a time or two on Ireland over the last few years, but fact is our teams arrow is pointing up, we finally have stability at QB, we have a fantastic young defense.
Yes the OL needs a lot of work, but the big jump into dominance for this team comes next season.
Unlucky 13subscriberI'm not expecting the team to go crazy with UFAs this offseason, but its nice to be able to retain our own guys and maintain the core, while adding a few pieces (OL!) from other teams and the draft. All at the same time not screwing up the cap in 2015 and beyond. If the team lets go of Patterson and Moore as I expect them to, that could be almost 50 million in cap space.
djphinfansubscriber"Unlucky 13 wrote:
I'm not expecting the team to go crazy with UFAs this offseason, but its nice to be able to retain our own guys and maintain the core, while adding a few pieces (OL!) from other teams and the draft. All at the same time not screwing up the cap in 2015 and beyond. If the team lets go of Patterson and Moore as I expect them to, that could be almost 50 million in cap space.
I think with our free agent situation, your gonna have to release some players, saving 10 mill with Moore and Patterson is the right call, Just by doing that you can sign one of your biggies and a smallie...our rookie corners and Devlin will be developed and ready to go..
If Patterson wants to go incentive, I'm in.
mrozsubscriber"Fin-Omenal wrote:
I've jumped the fence a time or two on Ireland over the last few years, but fact is our teams arrow is pointing up, we finally have stability at QB, we have a fantastic young defense.
Yes the OL needs a lot of work, but the big jump into dominance for this team comes next season.
I think we are two years out
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Fin-OmenalNew Member"mroz wrote:
I think we are two years out
I don't think so, just need some OL help.
KB21subscriber"rafael wrote:
With guys like Polian and Casserly praising the young talent and our bright future, that flies in the face of those claiming that Ireland has done a bad job.
Two guys who are currently unemployed in the NFL for a reason.
The most important line in this was Phil Simm's saying.............the difference between making the playoffs and going to the Super Bowl is dramatic.
I agree. We are in a playoff hunt with a 7-6 record. Honestly, that's not something to be proud of. But, when you look at the quote, we aren't in any way a threat to make the Super Bowl. We aren't even close, IMO. Fixing the OL would be a big step, but I don't think that is the FINAL step.
Desidesforum_veteranMore reason for hope: The Dolphins have just $106 million in cap commitments (including dead money) for 2014, well under the projected cap of $126 million. They also have about $18 million in unused 2013 cap space that can be carried over.
That adds up to $38 million in space for this upcoming offseason, and they can clear even more space if they cut Dimitri Patterson (which would be a $5.4 million saving) or ask him to take a pay cut after he played in only five games. (I'm not endorsing that, because Patterson was very good when he played, but his inability to recover from a groin injury raises questions about whether Miami will want to pay him that much.) They also could clear space by restructuring Mike Wallace’s contract to reduce his 2014 cap number from $17.2 million.
This cap space comes because players are coming off contracts, not because their contracts are somehow structured in a way that benefits the team. Starks, Soliai, Grimes, Clemons, Incognito, Jerry, Clabo, and that's just off the top of my head.
We're not getting free cap space. The cap space exists because a lot of starters are about to walk.
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finfansince72subscriber"Desides wrote:
This cap space comes because players are coming off contracts, not because their contracts are somehow structured in a way that benefits the team. Starks, Soliai, Grimes, Clemons, Incognito, Jerry, Clabo, and that's just off the top of my head.
We're not getting free cap space. The cap space exists because a lot of starters are about to walk.
Yep. Something the article and the guys giving the quotes just don't really mention or understand.
"Desides wrote:
This cap space comes because players are coming off contracts, not because their contracts are somehow structured in a way that benefits the team. Starks, Soliai, Grimes, Clemons, Incognito, Jerry, Clabo, and that's just off the top of my head.
We're not getting free cap space. The cap space exists because a lot of starters are about to walk.
Not entirely. Jeff deserves some credit for having some money in the account to write checks w/.
Desidesforum_veteran"77FinFan wrote:
Not entirely. Jeff deserves some credit for having some money in the account to write checks w/.
… You don't get it. There is no free money in the account. The $106 million figure includes the expiration of those players I named and then some. That's why there's $20 million there in the first place. That money is going to go away very quickly once, you know, we fill those holes.
"Not you." — Tywin Lannister
rafaelforum_veteran"Desides wrote:
This cap space comes because players are coming off contracts, not because their contracts are somehow structured in a way that benefits the team. Starks, Soliai, Grimes, Clemons, Incognito, Jerry, Clabo, and that's just off the top of my head.
We're not getting free cap space. The cap space exists because a lot of starters are about to walk.
It does benefit the team. There were a bunch of one year "show me" contracts. Contracts for Clabo and Keller could have been an albatross. Assuming they can sign Grimes then those contracts were very beneficial.
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