Sports Buzz ...Starks contract...other tidbits

This "sides aren't close" thing is going to become fairly prevalant IMO, as players and their agents determine players' value by the supply and demand dynamics of the free agent market, while the Dolphins determine their value based on their performance.

If we could move Odrick back to DT and lure a Kruger or Michael Johnson I would be ok with letting Starks go.

There usually is a lot of posturing during the early stages of negotiations.

"Fin-Omenal wrote:

If we could move Odrick back to DT and lure a Kruger or Michael Johnson I would be ok with letting Starks go.

On Rotoworld yesterday, it was said that Kruger would be looking for eight million a year. Might be too pricy for Miami's taste.

Didn't Starks have a death in the family last year that he was dealing with? That may have had something to do with it.

"Rhody Phins Fan wrote:

On Rotoworld yesterday, it was said that Kruger would be looking for eight million a year. Might be too pricy for Miami's taste.

He has some leverage in Baltimore for sure. They are losing defensive talent and what they have for the most part is aging.

"shouright wrote:

This "sides aren't close" thing is going to become fairly prevalant IMO, as players and their agents determine players' value by the supply and demand dynamics of the free agent market, while the Dolphins determine their value based on their performance.

Negotiations usually never start close. The player will be high and the team will be low.

A lot of NFL teams do not have a lot of cap room. Five teams have 60% of all the current cap room for all 32 NFL teams. Some of these NFL players are going to in for a real suprise this offseason with there FA.

"Rhody Phins Fan wrote:

On Rotoworld yesterday, it was said that Kruger would be looking for eight million a year. Might be too pricy for Miami's taste.

Kruger was my first choice in the second round of the draft the year he came out. That was the year we took Pat White something like 10 picks before Kruger. :pity:

Please do not get me started on the Pat White pick!

I think Randy Starks might be a difficult re-sign. He's close enough to elite to ask for big money with the inherent inflation of free agency, but outside of 2009 he's generally been just pretty good. At this point I think moving Odrick and looking for a replacement at end is more cost effective.

Paul Kruger probably isn't a fit to play Odrick's position. You can improve how much edge rush you get at the position, but you're almost certainly looking for a 280+ pound player. A guy like Carlos Dunlap.

"Fin-Omenal wrote:

If we could move Odrick back to DT and lure a Kruger or Michael Johnson I would be ok with letting Starks go.

Interesting comment, Fin-O... because i just did an exercise to see who I would have drafted if I were the GM since 2008 (based on the 'want' lists I had for each round at the times of those drafts)... and Kruger and Johnson would already be on our team. lol.

"rafael wrote:

Kruger was my first choice in the second round of the draft the year he came out. That was the year we took Pat White something like 10 picks before Kruger. :pity:

Me too, Rafael.

If you have time, it's a very interesting exercise to go back to the pre-2008 roster, then play GM through every draft and Free Agency to today and see what roster you would have had compared to Irelands.

"shouright wrote:

This "sides aren't close" thing is going to become fairly prevalant IMO, as players and their agents determine players' value by the supply and demand dynamics of the free agent market, while the Dolphins determine their value based on their performance.

Which has nothing to do with performance?

"emocomputerjock wrote:

Didn't Starks have a death in the family last year that he was dealing with? That may have had something to do with it.

His mother died I believe and he missed a lot of practice time because of it.

Yeah I'm sure it had an effect on some of his games. I thought he was overall good to very good for the year though.

"ckparrothead wrote:

Which has nothing to do with performance?

It has a lot to do with performance, but its also apparent that the FA market isn't necessarily an efficient one. Teams are at a major disadvantage when signing other teams' free agents.

"shouright wrote:

This "sides aren't close" thing is going to become fairly prevalant IMO, as players and their agents determine players' value by the supply and demand dynamics of the free agent market, while the Dolphins determine their value based on their performance.

plus I imagine the dolphins are initially low balling the players value. I can't see them starting at what they actually think they are worth.

Seems pretty obvious that Kruger-Odrick would be a stronger defensive line than Odrick-Starks. You're looking at an all-around defensive end, a good fit at three technique inside, a nose tackle, an another all-around DE (Kruger, Odrick, Soliai, Wake).

I'm glad Miami wants to bring back Starks. I still wonder with how Coyle started using Olivier Vernon throughout the year if the defense doesn't incorporate more of a hybrid look next season.

"Bpk wrote:

Interesting comment, Fin-O... because i just did an exercise to see who I would have drafted if I were the GM since 2008 (based on the 'want' lists I had for each round at the times of those drafts)... and Kruger and Johnson would already be on our team. lol.

BPK > Ireland.

I would definitely try to resign Starks. The guy has been real solid since he's been here and he was very good this year as well. Some say that his play fell off later in the season, but he was a playing a bit gimpy at that time because he got dinged up in one game. He was a big part of our dominant run D. He gives us a lot of flexibility and good depth, especially when someone else on the Dline gets hurt. He's not old. I wouldn't like to start messing with one of the stronger parts of the team. Definitely hope they resign him.

"Sceeto wrote:

I would definitely try to resign Starks. The guy has been real solid since he's been here and he was very good this year as well. Some say that his play fell off later in the season, but he was a playing a bit gimpy at that time because he got dinged up in one game. He was a big part of our dominant run D. He gives us a lot of flexibility and good depth, especially when someone else on the Dline gets hurt. He's not old. I wouldn't like to start messing with one of the stronger parts of the team. Definitely hope they resign him.

It's all about price IMO, with Odrick at DE it made it very hard to run against us. But that's not an ideal DL against a Tom Brady for example.

Starks has been excellent since we signed him and he is now entering his prime. I understand Odrick is better inside but you have got to re-sign him if possible. The more talent you have on D-line the better.

I dont get it. Re-signing Starks seems like a luxury we can't afford. I'll do what I always do....hope they have a solid plan.