Signing both Mike Wallace & Greg Jennings/The Pat Riley effect

Because we are the Knicks of pro football, sadly.

 

It would be a ballsy move. I'd be on board with it just for that. How smart it is or realistic....I don't know...but definite points for ballsy.

 

Regardless of whether this scenario happens, this offseason is one of the biggest the franchise has faced, probably in the last decade. Maybe longer.

Jeff Ireland can shut all his detractors up (myself included) with an offseason for the ages.

I wouldn't bet much on him doing it, but I'm hoping like hell he does.

 

I really want this to happen. Just don't see it though.

 

I don't think Miami would try and sign both guys. I think a more realistic option would be to sign one of them and try and draft a Keenan Allen or Cordarrelle Patterson. Maybe you mix in another dynamic guy like Bailey or Goodwin as well.

 

Big money free agency is treacherous as hell, and signing two contracts like that pushes you back into the boom/bust cycle that is way more damaging to teams ability to compete regularly than most people care to consider. Most big money free agent signings will be failures. Signing two in one area, and essentially going overkill just exposes you to greater risk that your money will be spent inefficiently.

I'm not sure I want the Dolphins to go after big money free agents outside of maybe Jennings. That's not really where free agency success comes from, it comes from getting more than your money's worth in low to mid-range guys.

I'm not entirely convinced Mike Wallace is a safe investment, either. He switched offenses and looks pedestrian this year. That should be way more alarming to people than it appears to be. Bruce Arians was willing to bend over backwards for Wallace, Haley less so and I'm not sure Philbin/Sherman are going to want to either. Without running a limited route tree, all the motion releases, and Ben Roethlisberger, are you going to get the 1,200 yard, 20-yards a reception Wallace, or the rich man's Ted Ginn from this year?

 

I had a feeling Bron was close to leaving eventually, and once "the decision " came around and talked about all his suitors and possible places to go, I had no doubt in my mind Miami was a done deal. But this... Bleh.

 

We need a Te more than two Wr's.

 

I don't see two WRs having the same kind of impact in football that you had with the Heat. Football is more about teams growing together than it is about stars. That's why you generally see teams that go for broke in NFL FA rarely succeed.

 

Signing both Mike Wallace & Greg Jennings/The Pat Riley effect

I'm fine with signing Jennings, but Wallace isn't worth the money he will get IMO.

 

I'd prefer a draft WR and a FA WR. History has shown that players switching systems are question marks just like draft picks are except they cost a whole lot more.

 

Well....Your theory is great. I don't know that it is very practical in reality though....

1) Martin, Miller and Odrick are FAR from viable replacements for Long, Bush and Starks. Long has medical issues and will want a huge payday (and likely will get it somewhere else), but Martin is not proven on the left side even though he played adequately, but remember the run game was not the same without Long in the lineup. Miller may the closest to a replacement for Bush as there is, but can he learn the pass pro parts of his position and is he durable enough to hold up to being an every down player... Even Bush wasn't that... and Odrick is ok and arguably would be playing in the right position that Starks has been doing (versus what they've been doing with Odrick) but is he really as good as Starks ? I'm not convinced. Let's face it, if we lose those three, we are drafting a RB, an OT and DT/DE without a doubt. Creating more holes...is that really the way to go ?? For the record, I can get behind letting Bush go, but there has to be either a FA or drafted RB replacement in that case...takes away from the TE, WR, DE, LB, S spots that we need to reserve for this draft...

2) Jennings is going to want a one level down from elite WR pay likely...He fits here and knows the system, would help Tanny tremendously, but do you want to pay him at that rate? I would be happy if he comes here but not overly disappointed if he doesn't come...I remember that a year ago, it was a lock that the Fins would have Matt Flynn because he was so familiar with the system and the coach and he was a sure-fire lock after 3 starts to be the next Brat Favre...How'd that work out ??

3) Wallace is a head case, ok, maybe not as bad a headcase as Marshall, but a headcase nonetheless. He wants elite money and while he seems capable of being that guy, doesn't his play always leave you expecting just a little bit more ?? I've yet to watch him in a game and say "He's elite"... It's always he's very dangerous but.... He doesn't want to conform to the Steelers way, which is proven to be a winning organization and they've been in contention forever...why is it that he can't work with that organization ?? There is something I just don't like about acquiring him, but I can't quantify it very well...

Like I said, in theory, this looks like a great plan...but in reality...I'm not too sure it actually works out that way...

 

I don't really see how you can say this. Two of those three veterans have serious questions as to their continued performance, and all those rookies have shown upside when their number has called. It's not always going to work out, but what's the difference between Cameron Wake replacing Joey Porter/Jason Taylor, Reshad Jones replacing Yeremiah Bell, etc.?

 

Where are people getting this "Wallace is a head case" thing? I haven't heard anything that would make this true.

 

Signing Jennings and Wallace would not be Rileyesque. It would be Dolanesque. And a sport that fields 11 players at a time isn't very analogous with a sport that fields 5 at a time.

 

Bc of the holdout I guess. The, "he can only run limited routes" thing is also untrue.

Yea, he had a down year but so did everyone else in PIT after they lost how many starters off that OL?

 

What will Wallace get?
I'd rather pay Wallace 8 mil than pay Hartline 6.

 

Just saw on the bottom of ESPN, the Ravens are considering releasing Boldin to free up some space on the Salary Cap. What would be his asking price compared to Jennings/Wallace/Bowe?

 

I'd rather sign Wallace/Bowe (Bowe is my personal #1 target) but obviously wouldn't complain. Though I don't see it as likely.

 

Should be a lot cheaper but the fact that they'd release him says a lot about how they feel about his future, imo.

He'd be a really bad idea for investing in a guy you'd want to be your stud WR for years to come.

 

Yeah Boldin at this point is a REALLY good #2 on a passing team or a "viable" #1 on a team that does more pounding on the ground than airing it out.

 

Yea but even then I def wouldn't be surprised if he looks dramatically worse off next season and def the year after.

Not someone you want here unless he's asking very little, which I doubt.

 

The Pat Riley affect doesnt apply to football. Look at San Fran at all that talent they have and no one is comparing the team to the Heat.

I see them going after either Wallace, Bowe, or Bolden. They definately go after someone who can spread the field and yes i think Bolden qualifies. I look for his price to be high. I would love to have Jennings or Hartline as a number 2. After last season i believe they will grab 2 WRs in FA( i include Hartline as a FA). I also believe they draft another in the 3rd or 4th round ( Swope most likely ) .

I believe our top needs going into the draft will be CB, OL, Safety then WR.

 

Big money FA's rarely are but i think you have a better chance of wallace living up to a 10M per year contract then Jennings at 7-8M. Wallace is younger, faster, better, and is less injury prone.

 

No, I get the point. I was politely telling you that you are completely wrong. Now I'm just going to bluntly say you are completely wrong in everything from your basic analogy to your concept that signing two not-elite WRs is the equivalent to signing the best player, the third best player, and a top ten player in a smaller sport.

I'm one of the biggest advocates on this forum for quickly and seriously improving WR, but "Jennings + Wallace = Riley" is so absurd that I have to stop myself from writing more, because I feel like I'm becoming Disgustipate right now.

Just to make it pretty clear: the closest an NFL team could come to what Riley did would be to somehow sign Aaron Rodgers despite the fact that Rodgers is still under contract with another team.

 

For some reason Bowe isn't getting the love but he's my choice between the big 3. Sign him and draft a WR or two. We'd be looking at Bowe-Allen-Bess-Bailey-Binns-Matthews-Moore in camp fighting for slots. And that group would cost less than what Jennings-Wallace cost alone. We'd still have room to resign Starks and Smith, plus Fasano or another #1 TE.

 

Agreed on Bowe. In my eyes he's the entire package at WR. He has the speed to get deep against most corners and the size to out muscle the rest. He's basically my idea of a #1 guy.

I wouldn't be against signing Bowe and drafting someone in the first. You need weapons in the NFL today and we severely lack weapons.

 

IMO there is ZERO chance of Wallace living up to a ten million a year deal. In general guys perform better before their 2nd or 3rd contract. Wallace specifically is a speedster but we run a lot of quick game, shorter passes with YAC potential. That's not Wallace's game. We'd basically have to change our pass game to suit his strengths, I'm not even sure how to do that considering his best routes or take offs and deep comebacks. The Steelers don't let 25 yr old players walk if they are worth keeping, that scares me too. They paid Antonio Brown but are content with Wallace kicking rocks?

Not saying Jennings is worth 8 million but he's a complete player, the only risk there is the diminishing returns over he life of the contract as he gets older. If he stays healthy its possible he could earn the 8 million though the unwritten rule w top tier FAs is that you're going to pay for more than you get, even with guys who play well on their new deal. Dansby for example.

 

I think a lot of the same stuff that lead to them trading Marshall is reflected in Bowe. He's less of a malcontent, but he's got the same focus/effort issues and looks like he has to have a heavy workload to get into the game. If he were just Dwayne Bowe the physical profile in the 2013 draft, they'd probably love him.

 

That's not what happened at all, nor does Jeff Ireland desire players who might see Miami as a destination rather than as something to be tolerated. When was the last time Richie Incognito or Richard Marshall were spotted on South Beach?

Jeff Ireland's assembled core has collectively played through their contracts. This wasn't done in preparation for some super free agency period like the NBA's, where the elite players in the league were coming off expiring contracts. This NFL free agency period has a decided lack of elite players, much like the rest of them. The closest this FA class gets to elite is maybe Ryan Clady and Jake Long.

Your analogy is wrong.

No, they wouldn't. Jennings is best fit, but he's turning 30 years old: "years to come" is not an accurate forecasting of the rest of his career. Meanwhile, Wallace is a one-trick pony. It's a very nice trick, but it's just one trick, and that trick isn't worth the money he's asking for. As for Bess, I have my doubts that he will ever be more than what he currently his, though I'll step out on a limb and say he and Hartline might not be able to coexist on the same team.

Neither Jennings nor Wallace are anywhere near in stature in the NFL as LeBron, Wade, or Bosh are in the NBA. Signing them would not be a coup on the level of what Riley did. It would actually be a little disconcerting, given that we would be acquiescing to the salary demands of Mike Wallace in that scenario, despite all the other holes on the roster left to fill.

Signing Jennings is a good move, but not a Rileyesque move. Signing Jennings and acquiring two more WRs, preferably through the draft, would be ideal.

Stop tossing out ad hominem lines when someone on a public forum disagrees with the conceptual underpinnings of the idea you posted on said public forum.