My expectations haven't been this high since the 94' season. I can hear it in Boomer's voice he knows Miami is taking no prisoners this season. Super Bowl or bust.
I've felt for a long time like 94 was the last great team that we had. I don't think that this group is that good, but they could and should take some steps forward with development, and then hopefully we can add to some weaknesses next offseason.
I 100% think that this is the case. His agent is trying to get the Dolphins to bid against themselves. Unless some big injury happens, I do think that this one gets done.
Why we shouldn't pay him when we should be paying others: Running backs are confused. They’re angry. And for good reason. Pro football has targeted the running back position as a vehicle for saving cap dollars that can be devoted to other positions. While it has become a major point of contention in recent weeks for the league’s current veteran running backs, it has been happening for years. At one level, it’s a basic matter of supply and demand. Every major college produces every single year a tailback capable of performing in the NFL, if: (1) the line can open holes; (2) the player can keep possession of the ball when hit by NFL-caliber defenders; and (3) the player can be trusted to pick up blitzers in pass protection. Every year, dozens of running backs head to the draft. Some are drafted. Plenty aren’t. Some who aren’t get signed as free agents. Some of those who are undrafted (like Austin Ekeler) become great running backs in the NFL. This guarantee of a constant flow of more players at the position makes those already playing the position interchangeable. It’s no different than kickers and punters. There are more good ones than the game needs. So, as a matter of basic NFL business, why not flip from an older and more expensive player to a younger and cheaper one? Look at what the Cowboys did after the 2014 season. DeMarco Murray set the franchise single-season rushing record, with 1,845 yards. More than Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett. More than Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith. Murray also led the league that year. And, in 2015, the Cowboys let him walk away in free agency. To replace Murray, the Cowboys signed McFadden signed a two-year, $5.85 million deal. Murray inked a five-year, $40 million contract with the Eagles. In his first year in Philadelphia, Murray rushed for 702 yards in 15 games. That same season, McFadden produced 1,089 yards. That’s the mindset. All players are interchangeable parts in a broader football machine. Some are more interchangeable than others. Running backs fall into that category. One source with extensive knowledge of the dynamics that have resulted in the current running back market explained it like this: “Fundamentally, people don’t think that it’s a position that leads to greater expected points and surplus value. It’s a salary cap league, with finite resources. That matters. So teams will spend on quarterbacks, receivers, pass rushers, and corner. Those are the positions that provide the most surplus.” Surplus value is the key. When paying more to a player than most players at a given position get, what is the team getting? Is it enough to justify the investment? At key positions where the best players are so much better than the average player, it is. At positions like running back, it isn’t. As the source added: “Blame Mike Shanahan and the analytics community.” It was Mike Shanahan who first showed that he could plug any running back into his system and have success moving the ball on the ground. After Terrell Davis suffered a torn ACL, Olandis Gary stepped in with a 1,159-yard season. The next year, Mike Anderson had 1,489. Mike’s son, Kyle, has done the same thing. Every year since he was hired, Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers have had a different rushing leader: Carlos Hyde (2017); Matt Breida (2018); Raheem Mostert (2019); Jeff Wilson (2020); Elijah Mitchell (2021); and Christian McCaffrey (2022). The irony, of course, is that the 49ers currently have the highest-paid running back in football, in Christian McCaffrey on the roster. They clearly believe he has surplus value. Surely, at least a few others in the NFL do, too. McCaffrey, while great, isn’t an outlier. Contractually, however, he is. So that’s the problem. That’s the issue. As much as the veteran running backs want it to change, it won’t. Not in an environment with a salary cap that lumps all positions into the same bucket. Any solution must come from some other place, whether it’s a quicker path to free agency or (our preference) a league-wide fund that pays running backs for yards and touchdowns and playing time. The current system for playing players created the market dynamics. It’s hard to imagine the current system dramatically changing simply because older players aren’t happy about their financial situation. Especially when there’s an annual group of young players waiting for the chance to eventually become underpaid veterans.
I believe the player dictates the result.. I don't believe in whats happening to the market and this narrative that the position isnt as important and is interchangable.
In the example above the Cowboys back had 1800 yards. His replacement 1089, that sure does not feel like a win for them
To replace Murray, the Cowboys signed McFadden signed a two-year, $5.85 million deal. Murray inked a five-year, $40 million contract with the Eagles. In his first year in Philadelphia, Murray rushed for 702 yards in 15 games.
I agree. When a player changes teams, you just don't know what might have been were the situations reversed. A lot of the time, the player and the team are the right fit, and both are better together than they are apart. There have been a lot of guys who's careers fell apart after they walked away or were traded away from one situation, where I thought had they stayed they'd have been good for a long time. Eric Dickerson with the Rams is a big example with RBs. LeSean McCoy with the Eagles is another.
They saved a ton of money for sure. If that is getting it right, I don't know. If their goal was to save a ton of money they got it right, but no one can say they got the same production
Yeah when the team does a lot worse after they got rid of a guy, did they really win? You never really know, but it's fair to think thar some of the times, keeping him would have been the better football decision. Money of course often gets in the way.
True, but in this case the following year Murray rushed for 1287 yards, so does not look like he sunk.
In contrast in that same year Elliott rushed for 1631 on a rookie contract. So it indeed looks like they did the right thing.
Well looks like we might be outta the race if this is to be believed. According to CBS sports they have turned down Miamis current offer today 7/20/2023! this could be smoke to get the dolphins offer up as well. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...itors-turns-down-dolphins-bid-per-report/amp/
That's potentially devestating for this season, not only us not getting him but those guys winning. They could just run all day behind the Cook/Hall combination.
Well, if Cook did in fact physically or sexually abuse a woman, regardless of whether he was found guilty or punished for it, I would absolutely not want him on the team. We already have too many of those scumbags.
As much as I would love to have Cook as a Dolphin, I’m really not too worried about him signing with another team, and why? Im a true believer in Vic Fangio’s defense…and if you believe Fangio was a great hire…if you believe in his defense, you shouldn’t be worried about who signs with who.
I can't wait to watch a consistently competent Defense again! No more dialing up Cover 0 as one of the only ways to pressure the QB.
I like Fangio and am very hopeful. I'm not a true believer in anything or anyone, and I don't trust defense either.
and that is one big settlement too. one does not offer that amount unless some serious stuff going on.
that and the fact most every team in the NFL does not value the RB much. They are not suddenly going to start running the ball 80% of the time.
The Cowboys have had a guy rush for at least 1300 yards 16 different times in their history, including four in the past decade. Meanwhile, the Fins have seen it just twice in their whole existence, in back to back years by Ricky in 2002 and 2003.
They could just run it down our throat all day to beat us though. How many times have we been on the bad end of that equation over the years? Being helpless to stop the other team run the ball is one of the worst feelings.
I just want to see a Dolphins defense that can force a lot more 3 and outs than we’ve seen in recent years. Nothing aggravated me more than seeing the Dolphins getting an opposing offense in 3rd and 10/15/20 and they still give up the first down. I don’t care how good your offense is, if your defense can’t stop 3rd and long, you’re watching the playoffs instead of participating in them.
Offensive scheme is everything. If you have a heavy run game, like the Titans…like the Vikings…like the 49ers, a great back like Cook will excel, but if you’re a pass happy offense, a great running back will contribute, but not to the extent of great success.
Not worried at all about that. We will score so much they would have to give up on the run. Our DL is a strength of the team now.
Will be interesting to see how the Vikings do this year without Cook. The Titans are not as good with other RB's so depending on what they do they may go down hill.
They really seem to like that Mattison kid - small sample size, but he did pretty well when he got his chances. Now they have another headache to contend with - rookie Jordan Addison got busted for reckless driving (140 in a 55 in a Lamborghini suv at 3 am). No mention yet of being under the influence.
I don’t care about Cook.They should be looking for any OLinemen they can. That is the one glaring weakness on the team. I’m still amazed of the neglect at that position .
At this point, there just aren't any linemen to get though, that's the problem. So you add where there are options
Agree...but sometimes...like with the Greatest Show on Turf, Faulk was still a massive part of that high powered passing attack.
