With on-again, off-again talks regarding the Dolphins trading tight end Jonnu Smith, Smith has decided not to attend this week’s mandatory minicamp.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel confirmed today that Smith will not participate. When asked why, McDaniel declined to get into any specifics but said there has been communication between the team and the player.
“You will not see Jonnu on the field today, or this week,” McDaniel said. “That’s something that we’ve been in communication with and I don’t really need to get into personal matters. I’m not really hiding anything, it’s just not about today and I’m better suited to answer questions about that.”
Smith signed a two-year, $8.4 million deal with the Dolphins last year and had a good first season in Miami, with 88 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. He was the Dolphins’ only Pro Bowler. But Smith reportedly wants a pay raise in the second year of his deal, and that could make the Dolphins decide to trade him to a team willing to pay him what he’s asking for.
McDaniel has previously said Smith is an important player in the Dolphins’ offense and trading him is not a focus of the Dolphins. That could change, however, if the two sides can’t come to an agreement on a new contract.
The 29-year-old Smith was a 2017 third-round pick of the Titans who played four years in Tennessee, two in New England and one in Atlanta before arriving in Miami last year.
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So sick of these guys signing a contract, then turning around after a year and wanting more. I know I know, the owners are trash too.
But like, he signed a two year deal. GFY JonnuTuanon4Life likes this. -
Also important is that our second round pick is holding out for a guaranteed contract or something.
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Miami needs to trade him.
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I don't give a **** what teams are gonna do, and I addressed that, it's not like Jonnu is locked into an unfair, 5 year contract. He has one year left.
He should play his contract out.Pennington's Limp Arm and Tuanon4Life like this. -
What makes it worse is the timing. Free agency came and went as did the draft. Now Smith decides to pull this stunt. So I only see two options here for the front office. Trade him or let him hold out. If we don't get fair value in a trade then I'd be perfectly content letting him sit out the entire season. Giving him another penny should be off the table.resnor likes this.
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I do think that owners should honor contracts. If there was a story about that in regarding the Dolphins, I'll comment in that also.
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Exactly. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES can you give him more money. Then why shouldn't every player on your team do that? They should, if they see you cave to oneTuanon4Life likes this.
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The thing is that they do honor contracts. If the contract stats that there is no guarantee, well there is no guarantee.Pennington's Limp Arm likes this.
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They don't honor them in the respect that they do dump players under contract all the time.
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It's crazy you want to argue this.
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Exactly. Teams still honor the contract even after they release/cut players.
The contractually guaranteed money keeps getting paid out. Don’t know why people can’t comprehend this.
Couldn’t care less about a trade. What are we gonna get a 4th rd pick ? Would rather hard line this diva. Dude is a 30 year old tight end who has bounced around the league for 7 years and had one good season (Thanks to the Dolphins).resnor and Tuanon4Life like this. -
^ this.. the thing about Smith is that while he did overperform last season it was due to several factors. Hill was banged up all season and Waddle was in and out of the lineup. The line was trash so Tua had even less time to get rid of the ball. Smith benefitted from both of those situations getting more targets than he ever has and more than he probably ever will. Like I mentioned in an earlier post I would trade him if it's a good value for us. If not I'd love to see him miss the season holding out or rot on the bench.resnor likes this.