http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/ The Dolphins privately have expressed interest in re-signing Jake Long, Randy Starks, Sean Smith and Brian Hartline, and have told Reggie Bush’s agent they will be in contact. Anthony Fasano and Chris Clemons also will be unrestricted. Smith’s size, speed and steady growth will make him a coveted commodity, considering the value placed on cornerbacks. He has allowed only 41.7 percent of passes thrown against him to be caught – best in the league among cornerbacks targeted at least 30 times. All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald sought out Smith after Sunday’s two-interception game to tell him what a good job he’s doing. If the Dolphins do a longterm deal with Long, it’s conceivable they could use the franchise tag on Smith, which is expected to be worth about $10.7 million for cornerbacks. Now that's a nugget to get excited about.
Best in the freakin league at 41 percent of passes allowed against...hell yeah.. You could see a different player in camp, a different person, a physical specimen who finally understood the importance of work ethic and technique.. SS24... Today you could could become a star, shut down AJ green.
If Bush stays healthy we may have to use tag on him. For as incredible as Starks has been, he's not young and Odrick looks like he is better at DT. As far as Jake...its a tough call. You want a good player protecting our franchise QB, but he will likely want great player $$$.
The most important element on that is the probability that the Dolphins are no longer going to be big players in free agency. Why? He's been solid at worst. You could do better, but you could certainly do worse.
That would be both a waste of money and a franchise tag. I'd like to re-sign Bush, but using the franchise tag on a running back is sheer silliness. Randy Starks probably presents the best bang for the franchise tag buck, though I tend to think Sean Smith will get tagged.
Same here. He hasn't been the same player recently and I wonder how much more his body can take. I think the best thing to do would be to sign Smith and franchise Long just to see how he does next year.
Antonio Brown money would be ridiculous but I can swallow what that non-affiliated agent is saying he could get. $5 million a year is what I had suggested.
I agree the Dolphins should sign Smith to a new long term contract. While he has been inconsistent at times, he is still by far, the best player the Dolphins have in the secondary. One thing Jackson pointed out with the other free agents is the fact that Long is now rated the 4th worst tackle, out of 71 tackles, now in the NFL. Unless his play improves a great deal over the rest of the season, I just can't see them paying him the 10-12 million dollars he is expected to sign for in the off season. Injuries have decreased his ability on the field and the Dolphins can't afford to make a mistake in signing him to another huge contract and then see his play continue to diminish. Hopefully he will pick up his play for the remainder of the season, but if not, the Dolphins need to go in another direction at LT next season.
if the injuries on Jake are not the ones that are career threatening, or career debilitating,you've seen the player play at the highest level, he's only 27, and you know his character, variables favor him returning to form..
One thing to also keep in mind is that the salary cap is expected to take a sizeable jump in 2014, the year the new TV money starts kicking in. I'm not sure how their current salary structure is set for then, but I suspect it should help with being able to afford to re-sign a lot of these guys.
Yes, while he certainly played at a very high level during his first three years in the league, he has been only an average tackle over the past year and four games. That is why I stated he needs to show vast improvement in his play the remainder of the season for the Dolphins to sign him to another huge contract. I am sure his injuries have been the main reason Long has played at an inferior level recently, but the Dolphins can't afford to sign him to new new long term contract based on how he played during his first three years with them. This is a, "what have you done for me lately", league and lately Long just hasn't been very good. He has 12 more games to prove he deserves a huge contract from the Dolphins and I hope he turns it around. I just wouldn't pay him 10-12 millions of dollars a year based on how he has played recently. That is all I am saying.
because that was the perception heading into the season...when everyone said he should be cut, he adapted to another system and he beat his competition...again. I'm not against looking for a replacement next offseason, but show me who's his competition first before I rag. Our secondary has given up some yards, but in terms if being efficient relative to rep count, we're doing really well considering.
He's not playing average right now. Stop going off of the plays the announcers feel like they need to highlight and go buy NFL Rewind or something.
I don't even listen to the announcers. I watch the game and see for myself how he is playing. If you think he has been playing at a quality level in recent games, I question what you really know about football.
He is not 4th worst overall. 42nd overall, out of 68. He is 4th worst run blocking and 9th best pass blocking. Go figure. I don't see how he could be 4th worst in that one aspect.
Hopefully he'll get paid based much in part on what he does this year rather than name recognition and his first 3 years.
Yeah ok. PFF has him as their 6th most efficient pass protector. Many of his "bad" plays have came in a context that should reasonably have you question if it's him getting beat, or it's another issue. Is it a sign of Long's decline that he gives up a sack on a cut block? When Long gives up back to back pressures to Matt Shaughnessy, yet nothing else the entire game, you logically think "Yeah, he's clearly on the decline", or do you think something happened on that series? When he gives up no sacks, pressures, or hits vs. the Texans, but has a flagrant hold on JJ Watt, you think that's an example of him playing poorly, or did he not expect a 300lb. 3-technique to edge rush and do it so well? Stop watching the couple of plays the announcers have highlighted.
I like Starks..but honestly I hope someone signs him to a large contract. If this team is going to stick mostly to the draft and take it easy on free agency...I would love to get a late 3rd for Starks. All depends on Kheeston's growth though for having him as the primary backup. Also you would need to lock up Soliai long term cause losing both would be deadly.
