I don't think we're quite at the optimal point for re-signing Clay. I don't think you want to go off of one-season of performance. Maybe approach him a third or halfway through the season if he looks like he's continuing the same form.

 

I think I would follow this opinion, especially when this dude is the one of the few who believed in him...however,

Here's why I think you might want to invest into him Pate if you can save some money doing so, three main reasons.

1) this player is fully committed to his craft, weight room, classroom, no character flags.

2) Lazor used this dude well at Tulsa, so he's familiar with how his coordinator likes to use him.

3) with the addition of Jarvis, who I expect to knife up the bloodzone, with Wallace occupying two players consciousness, I expect extra space for this very good player to play his game..

I would project a better year.

 

Is this the final year of his contract? If it is, I'd try for a bargain payraise / extension now to see if he bites.

 

Could backfire like with Reshad Jones

 

ahhhh, the voice of reason....so refreshing

 

If our LBs weren't so terrible, I feel like Jones would've been better last year.

 

I didn't know Lazor was at Tulsa. Was it the year Malzahn was there?

 

I think he's worth an extension. It's better to sign him now than later when he is expected to be a bigger contributor and demanding more money, also considering we don't have another reliable TE and he is currently making the min. They can probably lock him up for up to $2 mil per for 3 years. That's not bad. Maybe even in low $1 mils.

 

brain fart..

 

He's gotten a lot of pub lately, Graham contract upping the ante on the position, these are not easy decisions but his character, age and work ethic does it for me, I would inquire early to see where he's at..I'm sure Dawn is on it.

 

Lazor coached at Tulsa?

 

Wouldn't that be cool.?

 

Since the thread is still less than one page, I guess I should have scrolled through to see if the question had already been asked. :)

 

I do it all the time, when I read Wolfs post to me I immediately thought of you..lol...for some reason I have been reading and watching a lot about Gus Z, in some context me and wolf were talking about both Z and Clay...lol idk.

 

It's cool. You were getting me excited there for a minute. I thought he might of been under Malzahn or something. I still don't know much about Lazor...just thought you hit me with a new fact.

 

I think that like Jones, Clay had one solid season as a starter. Jones took a step backwards after signing a large contract and therefore I would like to see Clay follow up his play of last season with another solid season before the Dolphins decide to sign him to a long term contract.

I still think the Dolphins need to upgrade the TE position over the long term. Clay is good for what he does, but he certainly isn't the type of TE who can block on running downs and also run deep patterns down the middle on a consistent basis when called on to do so. As an H type back he is very good, but the Dolphins remain weak overall at the TE position. Personally I don't think he worth more than 2.5-3.5 million a year.

 

I think there are more factors then just taking the approach that a previous player regressed after getting contract.

 

never pay for one year of production. Do it again and we'll talk.

 

Pretty much how I feel. But I believe that Clay will be able to do it again.

 

No way. Charles Clay would more likely gamble another year on himself and hold off on signing a paltry extension like that. Players and general managers are both involved in the deals. Jordy Nelson signed a cheap extension early and claimed vehemently that it was a mistake, yet a lot of people (this isn't towards you specifically TGFD) like to bring this up when discussions like these come up as if it's an everyday thing when it isn't. Charles Clay is an ascending player, and while I don't see him having a year like he did last year, I can see him being a consistent part of this offense which will in turn lead him to a bigger payday then proposed. I expect Tannehill to spread it around a bit more, which will lead for diminishing individual statistics for Clay but result in an improved overall offense. I feel like the backs will be taking some of his targets. Also, I know he hasn't warranted it from us fans, but keep an eye on Michael Egnew, he might be a much bigger piece in this new system.

 

I think it was Malzahn that coached there. Not Lazor as far as I recall.

 

This 100%

 

Where are the Ireland bashers on this one?

 

I wonder if, on the Detroit Lions boards, when they talk about Calvin Johnson, someone asks, "Where are the Matt Millen bashers on this one???"

Lol.

 

any chance Julius Thomas hits the market? Denver paid out big money this offseason to a handful of players, not sure they can still afford to hand out huge contracts to both Demaryius and Julius...if JT's available we should go hard after him and let Clay walk.

 

I ask you all to remember Reshad Jones.

 

He's got to show more in my opinion... had a solid season, nothing great... still isn't a seam threat, mostly a boundary guy.. he will always be 6'2-6'3... rather have a bigger target at tight end.

 

I wouldn't. We aren't even talking about a full season of great or consistent performance. It was more like half a season. In the front half of the season he was very up and down. His brain farts contributed to losses at times. He started to be more consistently in positive territory during the last 7 games. You don't give a guy a big contract extension based on 7 games.

There's no real danger here. No real reason not to be patient. This position is still inexpensive and a little top-heavy. The guys at the very, very top get a lot of money but then you've got a whole bunch that teams can take or leave. Right now Clay would probably be asking for $5 million per year. The most you risk if you be patient is he ends up with a great season and then he demands $6 million a year. On the other hand you pay him $5 million per year and then he could be relegated to the #2 tight end role, and suddenly that's $4 million too much to be paying the backup tight end.

 

Right here. So Charles Clay 2014 season validates Jeff Ireland as a GM? Ok.

 

If we're going that route who would be Ireland's Charles Rogers, Joey Harrington, Charles Johnson? Lol.

 

I was just wandering why his name only comes up in threads about players who aren't doing well. Would giving him credit damage your psyche or something?

 

Misi got a new contract last year, didn't seem to affect his play. Sometimes guys have a down year, doesn't mean they were shamming cause they got a new deal.

 

I think Jonathan Martin trumps that trio.

 

Of course he trumps them, only for jaded Dolphin fans though. I'm pretty sure everyone else can see the difference between Long, Davis, Odrick, Pouncey, Tannehill, Jordan vs the guys Millen took.