This just in from Pro Football Talk:
"Roth's odyssey ends on the waiver wire
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on November 24, 2009 5:52 PM ET
Dolphins linebacker Matt Roth's odd journey this season with the Dolphins has concluded in a surprising place: the waiver wire.
Adam Schefter reports the Dolphins waived Roth Tuesday and signed former Lions defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis. The Dolphins also picked up defensive back Evan Oglesby.
Roth, a former second-round pick, was a starter for Miami's playoff team last season and generally considered a key part of their defense. But a mysterious injury and some friction with the organization about a possible new contract soured Roth's '09 campaign before it started.
Expect plenty of teams to put in a waiver claim for Roth, especially team that run a 3-4 defense. The 1-9 Browns make for a sensible destination."
"Waiver claim order for today on former Dolphins LB Matt Roth is Browns, Bucs, Rams, Lions. So if Browns want Roth, Browns have Roth."
So it doesn't look like the AFC East will be Roth's next destination.
Adam Schefter reports the Dolphins waived Roth Tuesday and signed former Lions defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis. The Dolphins also picked up defensive back Evan Oglesby.
Roth, a former second-round pick, was a starter for Miami's playoff team last season and generally considered a key part of their defense. But a mysterious injury and some friction with the organization about a possible new contract soured Roth's '09 campaign before it started.
Expect plenty of teams to put in a waiver claim for Roth, especially team that run a 3-4 defense. The 1-9 Browns make for a sensible destination."
And from Adam Shefter:
"Waiver claim order for today on former Dolphins LB Matt Roth is Browns, Bucs, Rams, Lions. So if Browns want Roth, Browns have Roth."
WTF?
ReplyDeleteWTF is right. There's gotta be more to his injury or ?
ReplyDeleteI like the term in Jeff Darlington's twitter : "The Dolphins have waived
ReplyDeleteMatt Roth, according to a source. It was "strictly a football decision," the
source said. Unexpected end for Roth."
This actually makes no sense as a football decision UNLESS the Dolphins need
to sign 2 offensive linemen. Which would mean the Jake Grove injury is
serious as is Joe Berger's. Yes, we could spare an outside linebacker, but
surely Walden would be the next to go.
Personally, I don't think this is a football decision at all. I think he
did something to end up in the doghouse. Matt Roth has trade value, there
is no reason to release him - even if he sat on the bench for the rest of
the year they could've gotten a pick for him.
i agree tin. It wasn't like his production was terrible considering he only played a handful of plays... this one kinda bums me out...
ReplyDeleteIf this was a 'football decision' then it was a horrible one. The Dolphins
ReplyDeleteare on a little streak heading into their final two divisional games. They
have lost some key veteran players - Will Allen, Chad Pennington, Jason
Ferguson. The last thing you want to do is to upset the balance of the
locker room, and create grumblings that weren't there before by axing one of
your proven vets, and not even for compensation. That will cause some
dissonance and heartache you don't need in the locker room.
Like I said in the pre-season, if Roth wasn't going to play, they should cut
him, but you don't wait this long. What value comes from the timing of this
transaction? I guarantee he'll be a New England Patriot, Buffalo Bill or
New York Jet TOMORROW!
Well Nate Ness was released so Oglesby takes his spot and Francis takes Fergy's spot. So now there is another open spot with the release of Roth.
ReplyDeleteThe reports I've read say Roth was not producing and the organization viewed him as a serviceable player and nothing more. Meaning the trifecta wasn't overly impressed with him or his upside at OLB and they weren't going to re-sign him.
Maybe there was something fishy about his injury in camp. If there is anything to that, about faking an injury because he wanted a new contract, he went about it the wrong way. His body of work does not equal a big contract so what the hell is going on?
What 'term' is that? LOL
ReplyDeleteMaybe the locker room knows more about it and this was a good thing for the team. Maybe the feeling in the locker room is Matt let them down and wasn't honest, and that's not sitting well with the team.
ReplyDeleteMaybe KC who is still trying to build a 3-4 defense.
ReplyDeleteLet's talk about this Francis guy. He was a 2008 2nd round pick selected in the 50s. He had a pectoral muscle injury that hampered him. The Lions organization was impressed with his work ethic and positive attitude. He was released at the beginning of the season this year. He has NFL bloodlines with his father and brothers and the trifecta likes that quality. So he has the good stock. He's 6-5 290 and fits the mold for 3-4 DE. He must have talent to be selected that high. What's going on here?
Just very surprised by the move. I really thought they viewed Matt Roth as a young talent. I was really happy when he came back for the 2nd Jets game, I thought he would really help the run defense. Heading in to training camp, I thought the Roth/Taylor combo at strong outside linebacker was a solid position. Now LB becomes even more of a priority next offseason.
ReplyDeleteIf he was a 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (he was drafted in 2007, not 2008), and the Dolphins are picking him up now, I think it is an interesting move. To me that means that Jeff Ireland really liked him in that draft and just didnt have a chance to pick him up. Now he can pick him up w/o spending a draft pick.
ReplyDeleteThere is no question we will target LBs in the draft both inside and outside. With all the talk about NT, WR and TE, teams all want pass rushers and we haven't targeted that position in the draft yet. The way passing rules are today and DBs not being able to breathe on receivers, the pass rush becomes more important than ever.
ReplyDeleteI heard an interview with Tony Dungy and he said if he was a GM he'd target pass rushers and not so much DBs perceived as shutdown guys. He feels that position has been diminished in this era. He's a former CB so it's not like he's biased against them or anything.
Wake is a keeper and he'll be a starter next year. They like Anderson's versatility and speed. Maybe they still see something in Moses. What do they do with Porter and JT next year? Either way those two guys are getting up there in age and now is the time to draft pass rushers and develop them so they're ready when needed.
I think we'll look to free agency for a NT. It might be a guy who nobody really knows, he's not a big playmaker but on film the guy can hold up in the middle. We'll still probably draft one at some point but young D-linemen usually need some time to develop, especially NTs.
We should target WR and TE in free agency as well. I'd rather bring in guys who already know how to play so we can give Henne reliable receivers in his 3rd year. We can still look to the draft for them without having to hope for the stud or we bust in that area again.
My bad, I read it wrong. Agreed about Ireland liking Francis in the 07 draft. That's who the trifecta targets. Guys they've had their eyes on to make their team reflect their style of football.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I've always felt that 2010 would be the year we make the jump and have a 12-4 season. Maybe not win it all or even make it to the big game, but take that next step. That starts with having players you believe can get you there. We're watching it being built right now and having fun along the way. Good stuff!
This Roth thing was a mess for the start of the season. I think he is a good player no doubt, But he or agent handle it worng from the start. I agree with Knigth on the locker room thing. No one player is above the team. Time to cut lost and move on. ( Oh knight saw picture you posted on SS, I was down in Key west 2 weeks ago I think I saw him walking around down there.)
ReplyDeleteLOL@Hawk
ReplyDeleteThis could be a message to the team that you either go to battle with us or we'll find someone who will. Look at the benching of Porter a week ago. The trifecta means business. It's football first than everything else. LOL
I am just afraid he is going to go to the Pats---right before we play them. I agree why not wait? It is not like they even picked up a NT or OL person who are the ones that seem to be hurting. Confusing...well at least to this mind.
ReplyDeletedayum, shoulda read all the replies before posting mine. I see you think the same thing about him going to the competiion.
ReplyDeleteArmando sums it up pretty good in his blog from the Herald. Pffftt and what do I know, I just sit my ass on the couch on Sundays and yell really loud. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh well, in the Trifecta we must trust.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2009/11/miami-dolphins-cut-matt-roth-for-lack-of-production.html
What's Roth going to do to us if he goes to the Pats? He's not having a good year in any way and he's not a big time pass rusher. What's he going to do, tell them our schemes? They already know what we do. It's not a secret. He can't tell them what we'll call when. No one knows that yet.
ReplyDeleteSlush, it does not madder where he goes. Knight has the wright thought you are with us or not. May not be smart, but this is football.
ReplyDeleteHawk, it's football smart. That's all coaches can look for, guys who can play. Guys who can't play are of no use to them. That's football at every level, if you can't go someone else has to.
ReplyDeleteIt's football smart in that you want the the guys that want to play. They may not be the best at there positions compare to the best out there. But they show up and play.
ReplyDeleteOf course! What other way is there? A great talent who doesn't want to play isn't a great football player. Roth wasn't a great talent though. He was marginal with what I hoped was a new potential and career as a SOLB. If the trifecta felt that way why would they release him? Teams don't release good players for no reason.
ReplyDeleteRoth is not a proven talent player in years played so far, he may be but not with this team.He 's not a Zack attack in the way he plays. All out every play.
ReplyDeleteWonder if they'd fill that spot w'one of the interior D projects we had earlier in the yr,
ReplyDeleteor ANY NT project???
Who the heck are the gyz gonna go to the bar with now??
Guess we should'a realized on Thurs nght that something was up,
when the announcers said they took a poll among DOLPHIN plyrs,
and LPOLITE was the guy they all wanted to go to a battle with!!
I thought(to myself),what about MROTH??
There MUST HAVE BEEN some locker-room disapproval w'MR 09 strategy,
cuz everybody wanted to get drunk w'him last yr!!
NOTHING BUT PROUD OF 09 "OUR" MIAMI DOLPHINS!!!
6 PRE-SEASON STARTERS/LEADERS/#1 GYZ @ their position's of expertise OUT,
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE in football,and we're STILL MAKING NOISE!!
A few plays away from an IMPRESSIVE 09(still pending) inspite of it all,
we're GONNA BE GREAT in o10 (IFFF HEALTHY)!!!
Pre-season I said we'd need to stay healthy for 9-7,10-6..
IFF we get near that w'all thats taken place,it's been a very succesful season in my eyes!!
GO SAINTS,ravens,PANTHERS,COLTS,CARDINALS,49ers,GIANTS,
VS pats , pitt , swepts , hous , tenn , jax , den !!!!
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH D O L P H I N S !!!
Tin,
ReplyDelete<span>Shocking to say the least, not sure I quite understand this move though. If we held onto him until free agency and then lost him, wouldn't we have gotten a compensatory draft pick?</span>
I don't think you get compensation for losing an unrestricted free agent -
ReplyDeleteonly a restricted one - but I'm not sure about that.
However, I fail to see the production issue as a valid one - he barely
ReplyDeleteplayed - he was third string. The Dolphins may have felt like he wasn't
going to be a part of the team next year, but still they could have finished
the year with him. They could have felt that they wanted to allow
Walden/Moses some development, but they've been inactive for most of the
year. There just doesn't seem to be a 'football decision' behind this. It
has to be a personal one. I thought he was playing hard, even if he wasn't
racking up big numbers.
Has to be a sort of "Notice is served" to the rest of the team. Especially considering we just took a major hit to our front 7, now obviously Roth isn't going to replace JF, but he could have played some DE snaps and allowed Starks to play on the inside more.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, in the Trifecta we Trust, right?
I don't think Roth could've playd any DE anymore, he looked a good twenty
ReplyDeletepounds or more lighter than he did two years ago. And personally, I have
watched enough to have very little trust in the trifecta. Yes, it's their
team, they can do what they want, but I don't have to like it...what are
they going to do - fire me?