Tuesday, March 9, 2010

New Dolphin - Jason Ferguson?

According to preliminary reports, the Dolphins have re-signed Nose Tackle, Jason Ferguson, to a new contract.  This comes in the same week he was suspended by the NFL for violating the illegal substances policy.  He will miss the first 8 games of the season which means he can rehab through training camp/pre-season and be placed on the PUP list, thereby technically only 'missing' 2 extra games.

The Dolphins will likely still draft a replacement in April.

38 comments:

  1. We Have PlaymakersMarch 9, 2010 at 4:02 PM

    This one is a head scratcher.  I love Ferguson but he's going to miss half the season & then when he's finally able to play he won't be in "game shape" for a couple of more weeks.  I guess he'll be good to go for the final 6 games after that.

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  2. There must be some level of belief on the Dolphins' part that part if not all of the suspension will be lifted.  There could be some extenuating circumstances, like Ferg thought he was retiring so he got a booster shot to help his leg heal then decided he'd return to football.  Or they could argue that it's been over 10 years since his first infraction, so the 8 game suspension should be adjusted accordingly.

    Then again they may just think he is that important to the team's success and are willing to only have him for half a season (obviously his contract will be for 1/2 a season's worth of play)

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  3. He's a high character guy. Maybe they just want to have him around for offseason workouts. They'll probably appeal against his 8 game ban. If the ban is upheld, they could easily cut him before the season starts or put him on PUP.

    Assuming they didn't give him a lot of guaranteed money (any details on contract terms???) it's not a risky move at all.

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  4. Tin since when do the Dolphins catch a break from the league offices ?  Our owner is not Robert Craft, and we do not have a Logo of a flying Patriot on our helmets.

    Man that Logo is worse than a Dolphin wearing a helmet, and that is pretty bad.  :)

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  5. son of a son of a shulaMarch 9, 2010 at 4:36 PM

    Oh no you di-ant   just denegrate the Dolphins Logo.
    Stand down cease and dissist immediately.

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  6. son of a son of a shulaMarch 9, 2010 at 4:40 PM

    2 things first you must be sure no one snags him from under you he must remain our option.
    Secondly I think this ties into what I was asking yesterday that in order for him to available after week 8 must have served his suspension while under contract essentially "part of a team".

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  7. son of a son of a shulaMarch 9, 2010 at 4:50 PM

    We may finally get to see him in December.

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  8. I do remember Fergie was really active mentoring Soliai and the other DTs.  He probably got popped trying to lose weight (remember the weight clauses).  This keeps us stocked, and opens options.  And if we are targeting a NT, Fergie is a good 'cover'.

    Hey Tin, do you mind trying to point out some of the differences in the styles of a 3-4 D?  I remember watching the Ravens defense introduced before a game....they had Ngata listed as a DT, and someone else listed as NT, and someone a DE.  Whereas we go NT and 2 DEs.  What's up with that?  Different alignment or TV error?  Take it easy on me man, I ran track.........

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  9. Hey Ted Ginn is a track guy right ?

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  10. The Knight who says NiMarch 9, 2010 at 5:57 PM

    Hear me out. Does it seem like Penne and Fergy will be mentors and coaches but may not make an impact on the field until later in the season?

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  11. Half a real NT is better than none.  The free agent bin is pretty dry and things don't always work the way you want in the draft.  They can go in wanting a NT and yet still never get a shot at someone they don't think is a real reach in each round.  They have too many holes to fill even with a great draft.  I'll take Ferguson for eight games.

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  12. The Knight who says NiMarch 9, 2010 at 6:15 PM

    Don't forget. Straight line speed? Ginn is frightening fast. No moves? I must be blind.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i94csWUxu6o

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  13. He's got moves for sure, but he has straight line speed like a mo fo.  I bet if he conditioned for it for 3 months he could probably break 45 seconds in the 400m.  My little white butt puked out a 50.8, although I am (was?) a miler.  I can only juke like Ginny when my wife blocks the beer fridge........

    I guess when you see Cribbs and Bush and Leon, they seem to have more of that quickness, yet that clip you posted Knight does not lie!

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  14. The Knight who says NiMarch 9, 2010 at 6:48 PM

    Red Dog, Ginn's pure speed is friggin scary. Once he gets a step on you it's over.

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  15. We Have PlaymakersMarch 9, 2010 at 6:54 PM

    Knight,

    I think you're right about them being mentors & coaches but I find it unlikely that either player will make an impact on the field this season.  Think about it.  If we find an NT in the draft good enough to start the season for the first 8 games then why wouldn't he be good enough to finish the last 8????

    The problem with Ferguson is that once the season starts he can't be around the team or the facilities for 8 weeks.  Maybe Ferguson should just retire so we can have him teach the young NT's--that we will surely draft-- how to play the position.  

    I'm hoping that the next player we sign is actually someone who can still play, not injured, & will not besuspended for half the season.  Maybe Jason Taylor or Greg Ellis???

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  16. The Ravens and other teams often play a 4-3 hybrid where they have a nose
    guard in a 4-3 base but from what you're describing it just sounds like a
    typo.
    'Nose' literally means you're lined up on the nose of the ball as opposed to
    in a gap. That's why you rarely see penetration from a nose tackle as
    opposed to a 4-3 DT who can squeeze into the gap or slip off a 1 on 1
    block. The nose is meant to hold the middle so that the ILBs can hit the
    gaps (one gap should always be open in a 3-4) and if the ILBs get in the
    backfield, the FB/RB would have to block them, thus leaving the OLB on a
    collision course with the QB. The 3-4 is all about taking away angles and
    closing down on the backfield like a net. The 4-3 is more structured and
    more about outpowering people on the line and out running them in the flats.

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  17. We Have PlaymakersMarch 9, 2010 at 7:07 PM

    Now this is interesting, Ryan Clark's agent is a f#cking liar.  LOL!  Shocking.  According to Fox 31 KDVR, it WAS about the money & Parcells didn't want to overpay.

    “What it came down to was the inability for us to agree on a deal. (The Dolphins) offered what they thought was fair, but in the end I didn’t agree,” said Clark.........“It’s a situation where before I left to visit Miami I didn’t have an offer from Pittsburgh. I had every intention of going to Miami with an open mind.” However, what became immediately evident to the veteran safety upon his arrival is that both sides were further off than what he previously thought. “They were definitely straight forward with me. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a Bill Parcells team. I thought that I was going to be paid like a starter, but unfortunately for me the negotiations didn’t reflect that.” Clark insists he wasn’t insulted by the Dolphins financial offer as much as he was just merely disappointed. “It wasn’t an emotional response. There just comes a time in negotiations where you have to give a player reasons as to why you won’t stretch yourself financially. In the way that they responded to me, I could tell that they were being honest so that’s why I can’t be insulted, but I just didn’t agree,” said Clark emphatically...........“They told my agent, ‘look, we just don’t know this guy. After we evaluate him more out there with us, maybe we’ll feel different about it.’ But I just figured, if this is how they<span>  </span>feel, these things aren’t going to change about me overnight,” said Clark.

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  18. We Have PlaymakersMarch 9, 2010 at 7:11 PM

    Knight,

    And if he could catch the ball maybe we wouldn't have to trade him.

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  19. I have a random conspiracy theory... Last year when CP went down I thought what a weak hit to get hurt so bad... What if that was a ploy to get Henne in? Seeing as Parcells has the three year plan, why not see what you have in Henne? & It's not like CP was tearing it up. & the plan all along was to have CP be a mentor/coach/bu player (i don't really think you can argue he's not a good bu qb- if you do go back to all of the terrible back ups we've had). Then enter the whole Ferg thing, what if this is a way to see what we have with potential draftee/Solia/Mcdaniels/Merling, etc. & then have a good NT for the last half of the season, when were making our playoff push ;) . Granted abusing the leagues drug policy isn't the best idea, but really it gives the look like maybe NT isn't our biggest need. I don't know, I think being a "Parcells guy" is a big deal to some of these guys & I think it shows by the following Parcells has every time he ups & leaves. & Parcells rewards them by also being loyal to them...  Anyway it was just a thought I've had since CP went down...

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  20. We Have PlaymakersMarch 9, 2010 at 7:36 PM

    I've been reading that Scheffler is definitely on the trading block & that the Broncos are looking for a "mid-round" draft pick.  He's a very good receiving TE which needs to be addressed.  Why not???

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  21. now that's a TE I would be interested in.

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  22. If Scheffler is on the trading block, he could be a nice fit.  I don't think he is much of an upgrade over Fasano.  Plus no one is knocking the door down to sign Fasasno, so he may come back to us yet.  I'd just wait with this one out and see what happens.

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  23. lol for the record i posted my last comment b4 i headed over to SS & Omars article about "parcells guys"...

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  24. If I am correct on this, from what I have heard.  Injured players are not on the side lines or with the team on game days.  So Penny was of no use to Henne during the games and that makes no sense to me at all.  I think Pennington is here to play hoping he gets some chances here and there.  If he wanted to coach I think Ireland and/or Sporano would welcome him into the coaching fold.

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  25. Fasano will be back if the Fins want him.  His tender was low and no one will give a second round pick to sign him.

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  26. The Knight who says NiMarch 9, 2010 at 8:46 PM

    WHP, he had a bad 4-5 game run dropping passes and not making tough catches. But to be fair, he stepped up late as part of the WR rotation. His speed is still something nobody on this team can replace.

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  27. The Knight who says NiMarch 9, 2010 at 8:51 PM

    WHP, my saying they might play late in the season is just in a pinch. I think some loyalty is going on here from both sides. Pennington is going to be good for Henne and Thigpen. Fergy for all the DL and especially the NTs. He can participate in camp and the preseason. His suspension starts opening day.

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  28. Thanks Tin, clears up a lot.........'til the fog rolls in again........!

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  29. I try to figure out the next move or the motivations behind the last one but most of the time I'm lost....

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  30. I'd sooner believe in chemtrails than that.

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  31. Guest that is true, but since we are talking abour Parcells guys here Fasano seems to fit that mold.  He just may be back with the team for next year. 

    Hey herd I just heard from Chicken Little that the Chemtrails are falling.  Run for your lives !!! :)

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  32. We Have PlaymakersMarch 10, 2010 at 9:11 AM

    Tins,

    I can see your point about not giving up a 2nd round pick for Olsen who like you said doesn't really stretch the field (10 ypc) as much as I thought.  I guess I'm more desperate to get him than you & our brass.  LOL. However, if Scheffler is not a complete jackass & the jackass is really Coach McDaniels (that late season swoon raises concerns about his leadership) I think it's definitely a good idea to trade a mid-round pick in order to get an established pass catching TE.  With that compensatory pick we're going to have a total of 10 picks.  Whether it's four 6 round picks or three seventh remains to be seen.  I'd rather use a 4th on proven commodity with someone like Scheffler than take the risk on a younger player that might not even see the field.

    Interesting that the Broncos have had 2nd half of the season meltdowns with both Shanahan & McDaniels in back-to-back seasons...

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  33. We Have PlaymakersMarch 10, 2010 at 9:30 AM

    "Restricted free agents Elvis Dumervil, Tony Scheffler, and Brandon Marshall will not attend when the Broncos' offseason conditioning program begins on Monday.

    Marshall's absence is no surprise, and Scheffler's isn't either. The rising fifth-year tight end understandably wants out after being heavily underutilized in his first year under Josh McDaniels. Dumervil will instead work out with his father, an ex-marine, as the sides work on a long-term contract. With the first- and third-round tender, Dumervil will not move on."

    Source: Denver Post

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  34. We Have PlaymakersMarch 10, 2010 at 9:40 AM

    Fang,

    From everything I read, I'd be very, very surprised if Scheffler at some point before the draft.  As for being an upgrade over Fasano although I can't attest to Scheffler's blocking ability (not sure if he can) but as a receiver???  OMG!!!  Have you seen Scheffler play???  Forget last year's number of catches since he was under- utilized, he's good for AT LEAST 40 receptions & 4 or 5 TD's & a few highlight reel moments.  For a TE that just turned 27, this move makes a lot of sense & would really help Henne.

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  35. We Have PlaymakersMarch 10, 2010 at 9:41 AM

    ...I've read....if Scheffler wasn't traded at some point....

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  36. Hey PHINS FAN, Penn shoulder came out before he got hit. During the forward monition it came out on its own.

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  37. I had Scheffler on one of my fantasy teams and I only played him one time on a bye week, funny I also had Fasano in the other league and it was the same for him.  Now you why both my teams were bad.  I didn't play Scheffler enough plus I drafted Fasano.  Figures :)

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  38. hawk, good call. I remember watching an interview I swear the week of that game he was saying he didn't want to make a habit of blowing out his shoulder & then a loud bang, thounder struck... & then he went down.

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