Miami Not Interested In Bidding Wars In Free Agency

Penny, Grove, Smiley have missed 24 games in the last two seasons.

Agree about Starks, Polite was NOT a FA per se, he was out of the NFL in 2008, he was a street FA.

That type of player (whom I suspect Ireland was behind signing) the typically hit on, Bess, Wake, Polite, Haynos, the hidden/scout driven FA's they tend to hit, the big name/established Vet they are shakey on.

That gives me some hope for Tsoumpas and Grice and Lulmbala

 

That's where we are with the WR and at least one of the ILB positions.

WR is notoriously the highest-risk for draft flops in the 1st round; and Receivers take as long as 3-4 years to properly develop to where you're recouping your investment on them - unless it's this year's crop, which seems to be - as a class - defying the norm.

By the time a WR develops, he's ready to sign his second contract; and if he's really good, that means big bucks.

So, yes - by all means - draft one or two Receivers this year, even one in the 1st if a guy like Bryant fell to us.

But spend some bucks, for the team's sake, and sign a top-tier guy to help what should by all rights be a contender next season.

 

That is such a tired, lame, worthless cliche of a comment. The fact is, through the last several years, MANY people who post here and elsewhere could have made better choices than the previous FOs---and most people knew it at the time.
This FO has done a better job, but they've still made mistakes and they will probably make them in the future. We hope they will continue to improve with experience and I appreciate the job they've done, but that doesn't make the above criticism.

 

I haven't seen a season by season improvement of Bell. What I have seen is Bell torched by opposing TEs and dropping interceptions, while playing in his natural position, yet people still let him slide. It's not like he's young, either. He's 31.

 

JS: 1, GW: 0

 

Besides, that's what we're HERE for, isn't it? To discuss the team - OUR team, the one we're ALL fans of?

 

What counts is this season. Pennington did miss more than half the season. Grove missed 6 games and Smiley missed around 4 games if I remember correctly. But we luckily had Joe Beger, another FA acquisition to play for Grove.

And Polite definitely counts. He was signed as a FA, meaning he was a FA acquisition.

 

Polite was a scrub who hit big in Miami, he was pounding the pavement.

They had cleverly signed Boomer GRigsby to play Fb, then cut him, then signed someone else, then finally ended up with Polite in Week 5 of 08.

As for Grove, L2G had him nailed, he has played 1 16 game season, and we gave him what 40 million?

 

Doesn't take away the fact that was he a FA. He played with Dallas, then Chicago.

Grove is injury prone. But, he is one hell of a center. And can you stop exaggerating. His contract was for 30 Million.

 

I agree with you, with the exception that I don't think a time table should be put on the rebuilding. You know as well as I know what Parcells inherited when he took on this job. This was never going to be a 3 year project. I think the 11-5 season last year made some feel we were closer than we really are.

I don't plan on addressing every major need this team has this offseason. I agree that we need two new inside linebackers. I agree that we need at least one young outside linebacker that can eventually take over for Jason Taylor on the strong side and possibly another that can compete with Cameron Wake on the other side. I agree that we need competition at free safety, possibly another nose tackle to play in rotation with Paul Soliai, a wide receiver, a tight end, and some interior offensive line depth. I don't think all of that is going to be addressed this offseason. We needed some of this last year, and it didn't get addressed. What did get addressed last year was wide receiver, to an extent (Hartline is going to be a good one) and cornerback. I think we blew some early picks that should have gone to positions that would helped us long term. With what we have, I'm perfectly content going into the season with Channing Crowder starting at inside linebacker with a rookie starting alongside him (McClain/Spikes).

Four examples out of how many big money free agent deals? Need I remind you about free agent deals made when this first began? Deals like the Sean Gilbert deal, the Eric Swann deal, the Eric Green deal and current deals like the Albert Haynesworth deal, the Nate Clements deal.

It's possible. I doubt you see very many player for player trades. The teams with those "star" players want draft picks in return for them.

I still think with free agency, you have to concentrate on trying to find players you feel are on the ascending part of the curve. For example, I think our deal with Randy Starks is a steal. I think this guy is a player who will continue to get better. For whatever reason, he was a bad fit in Tennessee's defense, but in Miami, his career has taken off. We paid $25 million for a guy who is now a Pro Bowl alternate. Injuries are a part of the game, but I think Jake Grove was well worth the money he got when he was on the field. He had something like the 2nd or 3rd highest grade among all centers when he was on the field.

If it were me, I wouldn't go after Brandon Marshall or an Anquan Boldin in the offseason. I'd look to get a deal done for someone like Jason Avant who is young and has improved in each season. You could probably get Avant for around $15-18 million.

 

Brother, I don't know; what I saw in Wilson this year was a guy who could not make a tackle once in position to do so.

That has NEVER historically been Bell's problem.

Given the choice of just those two players, give me Yeremiah Bell 100 times out of 100 over Gibril Wilson.

 

Both Bell and Wilson leave a lot to be desired in pass coverage. Upgrading both would just be to much to ask. They have similar skill sets and both are better suited to play Bell's position. Wilson is younger and IMO faster than Bell. He's also has had a better career. One position should be upgraded which means one will have to be released. I think it should be Wilson who stays, plays the SS position. Draft someone like Earl Thomas to play FS, and Clemens is Wilson's eventual replacement.

 

Typically, you would be correct, our Safety play was legendarily poor this season, I haven't seen a secondary on a decent team scorched that much since the days of Olivedotti.

WE had very little to lose by playing Clemons just to evaluate him more fully, heck, even Jason Allen, when he was at his worst, never was scorched as badly as Wilson and Bell were.

Allen's last 7 games in 07 were much better than any 7 game stretch Wilson had this year, and he at least created turnovers.

 

Oh, **** me - you're right!

 

It's were we are Bro, our inside four, the box from behind the Ilb's to infront of the safeties was known as "the happy place" to opposing Offensive coordinators...

 

Drew Brees.

OUCH...


EDIT: Ooh it's been covered. But there have been. The key is to draft, and also uncover improperly used free agents if any.

 

it is where we are
safeties leading the team in tackles
inside linebackers that cant run
old olbs with no one behind them to develop
lets go out and throw the big band aid on this team and sign a big high priced free agent
that will solve it

 

true. too often here posters dont actually understand the Parcells philosophy
nor understand the history
inside out build is still on for now

 

I agree, which is why I said it's like the draft, you have to make smart moves or pay the price....

Grove has looked fine on the field.....I just have a bad feeling we're gonna end up owing this guy a bunch of money, to ride a stationary bike for a good part of his career here.

And not all that opposed to your idea of grabbing someone like Avant......but is that really taking care of the position or are we still in a spot where we're forced to spend a good draft pick on another player as well? If so, isn't just safer to grab the sure thing and be done with it?

I have to admit, I'm kinda straddling the fence right now with this situation....

 

Basically that was my point. To simply state that throwing big money at some guys doesn't work is flat out incorrect. Of course it works the other way as well, where alot of FA's turn out to be busts. But I'd venture to say alot more draft picks don't pan out than do FA's. To simply ignore signing FAs because they may cost alot of money doesn't seem like the logical answer to me.

Now I know the article didn't state this. I agree we shouldn't get into bidding wars with other teams, ala Calvin Pace. But we cannot afford to ignore free agency when there is no guarantee that our draft picks will pan out, much less turn into starters.

 

Things change tho over time......No one expected Shula to change from his 1973 mold, to that pass happy 84' team either.

 

For one I think that article is being pretty generous.....I'd say his career has been closer to average than the spectacular player they suggest he was. He's been cast away twice in a row for a reason.......

And I could dig up some articles written this season, that make him sound as tho he might be the worst player on the planet....

 

Bell's $14 million (or whatever it is) roster bonus leaves little to the imagination what will happen to the future, IMO. It is said that Wilson was brought in as our future strong safety. We are playing Wilson out of position and he really was not bad after his first four or five games. Most of Yeremiah's interceptions were gift-wrapped and I don't understand how some can call him a better ball hawk. 3 out of his 4 interceptions came from this year... Wilson has 13 interceptions in his career when he wasn't being played out of position.

I see either us drafting another free safety in this year's draft as our future starter and Gibril Wilson as our starter at strong safety. I really doubt Yeremiah Bell will be on this team without renegotiating..

 

I guarantee you, if Parcells had Peyton Manning as the starting QB, his team would not be a run happy team. It all depends on the talent you have on the roster, and what their strengths are.

Of course since he is in charge of what talent is Miami Dolphins roster worthy, then yeah, we'll always be a power running team until he is gone. Which is not a bad thing IMO. I just don't want to be stuck with Phil Simms or Jeff Hostetler as my passing attack.

 

Cast away? That is incorrect. Oakland offered him an idiotic contract (especially at the time) then just dumped him. That's what Oakland does and it's why they are a terrible franchise. Oakland gave Tommy Kelly a $50 million contract that year and spend a good amount of money on Javon Walker too, what does that tell you?

 

Wilson Vs. Bell deserves it's own thread, good stuff.

 

OK point taken.....and your other post as well concerning Bell's roster bonus.

However, based on his most recent year of play, I think not renegotiating with Bell and just going with Wilson would be a mistake. Personally, I feel Bell is a better tackler and hits harder.....which is what I want to see paired with the ball hawking FS we better be finding and in a hurry.

 

He'll probably get Jason Taylor Syndrome... get cut and end up back on New England's squad.

 

Seems fair, I'm really unsure which I'd rather start at strong safety... however I think Wilson is a couple years younger and neither really are head and shoulders better than the other at strong safety.

 

Oh..joy.

Gibril WAS terrible even after the 6 games (how can 6 games of crappiness just be excused? the man was stealing money from Ross for most of the season)

13 career int's...this year..-0-..MT...9...nothing to do with "playing out of position" and it is interesting to note, Wilson was sat in favor of Clemons, not YBell.

Wilson is a dud, he calls to mind the heady days of Travres "asbestos helmet" Tillman.

 

Hey JS, Maybe this will make you feel a little better. Ya, Grove was hurt for the later part of the year and it sucks but look how much better he and Berger did over Satele lol =)

 

It tells me that old man Davis has moments of clarity amidst clouds of playful insanity.

 

And Oak still has to give up their 1st round selection. That team is the epitome of "fail". Perhaps he would like to come play for a division rival!?

 

I'm a Wilson lean, but thinking about the above bold makes kinda question it. Bell is nothing special either and having the roster bonus makes him less likely to stay. One of these guys will probably be released, It will be interesting to see which one the FO keeps.