Ok, I spent all day on Friday monitoring the Dolphins' free agency situation, and nothing happened until I was in traffic on my way home when we signed 2010's top FA prize, Karlos Dansby. I know someone (you know who you are) has been giving me shtick for stating there would be no way Dansby came to Miami about 3 weeks ago. For the record, when I made that claim, Dansby was asking for $30 million guaranteed. The Dolphins signed him for 27% less than his asking price. There's no way I could have seen that happening.
In any event, I'm glad we signed him and for a much more reasonable amount - although still silly money for an inside LB in a 3-4 system.
Now the big news is that Free Safety, Ryan Clark, formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is the next target. I gotta be honest, I don't see why everyone's willing to give a big contract to a 31 year old. I think this year's draft is as deep a free safety draft that you're going to find, and wouldn't mind waiting until then to get one (or even two).
Anyway, this article is basically meant to be an announcement that I will be posting my Mock Draft version 1 this week (it has been a massive struggle - there's just so many good players).
Tin,
ReplyDeleteI basically agree in principle. However, the question remains is "will a STARTING caliber FS be available to us when we draft?"
If not, then we have to find the best availble veteran FS to fill that hole and help groom the FS we do draft.
Keep up the excellent work Tin!
I think the best move is always to draft a rookie and to bring in a veteran,
ReplyDeletebut I question if Clark really is that guy. Bringin him in would give us
two starting safeties who are 31 - it could be setting us up for next year
having to draft and/or shop for more safeties, and the class won't be as
good as this years.
And to answer your question, yes there will be starting caliber FS available
to us in the draft., IMO.
There are definitely mixed reviews on Ryan Clark - but I know Pittsburg has a decent DL & some good LBers and I know their secondary was still torched week after week... What kind of contract do you think we'll give him? 4 years, $16 Million ($8Mil guaranteed)? I think the signing allows to to wait on drafting a FS, which is a good thing, but that means we won't be drafting a true, starting-caliber FS like Earl Thomas or Nate Allen or Kam Chancellor or... So, providing flexibility on draft day - positive, waiting to find a long-term answer on the position - booo.
ReplyDeleteTin, I think the trifecta likes having some experience at safety. Not that we have to agree with it but that seems to be the way it is. I also think too many people underrate the ILB position in a 3-4. If you have a really good one who can do a lot of things, you can do more with a 3-4 defense. The Giants had Harry Carson in their 3-4 back in the 80s and he made a huge difference because he was so good.
ReplyDeleteAgreed - that's the whole point. At 31 years of age I don't see him getting
ReplyDeletebigger than a 3 year contract and I hope they don't go higher than $8 M
guaranteed.
Who's to say that our young guys don't break-out this year in training camp and the next starting FS is one of them?
ReplyDeleteA veteran is good to have around...at the RIGHT Price. Is Clark that guy. I am not completely sold. But is there another one out there that would not cost a draft pick?
Tinshaker
ReplyDeleteU R a great sport
always look for your insight and observations
and please its NostraHome Us
LOL
keep up the great work!
Tin,
ReplyDeleteI await your first mock with baited breath.
I still think that the Trifecta will surprise us with the first pick...who know...OL?
I wish we could package-up something to get up high enough in the draft to get Suh!
I don't know, but draft picks aren't worth anything unless you use them or
ReplyDeletetrade them, so we shouldn't be so scared to use them. You guys know I like
a big FS like Chancellor, but there's plenty of Trifecta-sized FS in the
draft - Eric Berry, Nate Allen, Major Wright, Van Eskridge, etc and there's
some cheaper RFAs like Atogwe (not a fan, but Omar Kelly has a man-crush on
him) out there.
And, I have to mention this, there's always Jason Allen....
I was not for signing Dansby for that kind of money 30mil. As it work out we got, I think a good fast player @ that poistion. With the cuts we made we save some money in the long run. Let Home gloat for a while.
ReplyDeleteEven if we sign Clark it doesn't mean we won't cut him after training camp if Clemons, Culver, and/or draft pick(s) show more.
ReplyDeleteHow can they even think of signing Clark? He can't play in Denver and that's where all the Dolphins go after they leave Miami. Duh! 8-)
ReplyDeleteEspecially now the Rams look like they're going to pass on Suh. Sam
ReplyDeleteBradford = next major QB bust.
It must be weird to know you're making the wrong pick and do it anyway. LOL
ReplyDeleteGood point, but if he signs with Miami, he'll likely end up retiring in
ReplyDeleteMiami. But maybe that's where the AWOL Jason Taylor is....skiing in Aspen.
Who mentioned the Raiders?
ReplyDeleteHow could he be skiing? He just had surgery on something...I thought he was going to that MBA thing at Penn?
ReplyDeletethats not entirely true, he can still go to denver and play, he just may not finish the game on his feet.
ReplyDeletelooks like we will keep you around as a fan for another year. :)
Hey Tin after your mock, you think you could highlight some smaller school prospects? If I'm remembering correctly, wasn't Langford a small school guy? A wild guess is Hampton....which employs a 3-4 defense, the reason why he transitioned into a starting player immediately. You might have already compiled such a post and if so I apologize, it gets pretty foggy here in the santa cruz mtns. and sometimes I can't see the computer screen.......
ReplyDeleteGotta admit, I became infected with the "trade up and get SUH" virus...
ReplyDeleteI also think we might see OL early in the draft, if for no other reason than I'm guessing wildly because all my predictions to this point have whiffed...
I really hope the Rams don't take Bradford, but it is the Rams and I remembered I don't care...
Once again, I never said I wouldn't be around. What does it take to convince people, short of a tattoo? I am sporting a pedi in dolphin colors right now though. ;)
ReplyDeleteok easy does it, it was just a comment. i know you said you would still be around. and what the heck is a pedi?
ReplyDeleteRams=Losers
ReplyDeleteOpen toed sandals/flip flops to show that you are the consumate fan. Good job.
ReplyDeleteLOL@Red Dog.
ReplyDeleteI was stationed at Moffett many years ago and when that stuff gets rolling it is like a wall.
Perhaps some yellow tinted shades will cut down on the fog. :)
right over your head....
ReplyDeleteLike Tin mentioned earlier...what about Jason Allen?
ReplyDeleteDo you guys think that he will suddenly have an epiphany this year or something?
Oh...I get it...so thats how you play the position!
Maybe some Pouncey if he's on the board at 43. Beast
ReplyDeleteHi. My name is Jason Allen. I have tremendous athletic skills, but my pea brain has difficulty figuring out how to use them. LOL
ReplyDeleteI don't usually make a separate list - I prefer to include them in my
ReplyDeleteoverall list and top ten (had quite a few this year). Last year I
highlighted Chris Baker, who played at Hampton, in my Nose Tackle list.
LOL...I could get you all excited and tell you it's some kind of lingerie...but I won't...pedicure
ReplyDeleteTin, take a look at Chad Jones FS LSU... This guy is an example of how deep this draft is at safety. The guy is a beast and will be there in the 2nd and could last till the 3rd. Great athlete, big hitter, huge safety, great speed. The knock is he allows receivers to get on him a little too much before turning his hips and relies on his athletic skills. What I like about him is the things he doesn't do well are very coachable. If you look at the draft board there are a bunch of Safeties available in this draft. I think that is why the Dolphins are not concerned about picking one up in FA unless the price is right.
ReplyDeleteIf Ferguson does indeed have an 8 game suspension riding over him, we may not see him at all. He may choose to retire. I think we will see some serious action with NTs in the draft and we need another OLB. Any thought of us drafting more than a late round WR is probably not going to happen. I'm of the opinion that WRs are a dime a dozen once you have a decent QB.
Yes, tattoo required.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Ferg’s suspension – If he remains unsigned while the season starts do the games he miss go against the suspension or do the suspension games only count while he is under contract?
ReplyDeleteThat is a good question....I would think that they count.
ReplyDeleteRedDOG,I lived in CAPITOLA(JADE ST) through the entirety of the 90s,(MANNN I MISS THAT PLACE),
ReplyDeleteDON'T EVER LEAVE!!!
Who KNOWS we may have been acquaintences,IFFF your the red-eye's type,..
(SURE we probably know some of the same people)...
I KNOWWW,I've trimmed your trees,I've trimmed practically every tree on that mountain @least once,
as I worked for PGE/DAVEY/Asplundh/Arbor for 25 yrs from both sides of the mountain!!
I don't miss those night-time drunk drives over HWY 17,
but I sure MISS SC!!
I have a fantasy league that includes myself(FLA),and 9 of MY BEST FRIENDS that are still in SC CNTY!!
GO SLUGS,LOL!!!
When Ricky went to India he still had to do his time when he got back if I recall.
ReplyDeleteWe have Dansby
ReplyDelete* We Want Suh Too *
Patrick,
ReplyDeleteChad Jones is on my top 10 Safeties list (check the archives) at # 6. He is
one of those bigger players I like in the def. backfield. He is expected to
play strong safety in the NFL, at least that's what the scouts say.
WRs are a dime a dozen, but if you want a receiver who plays like he's a
dollar bill, you usually have to go in the first 2 rounds.
not just a tattoo, but a tramp stamp with the dolphin logo. :)
ReplyDeleteand what makes you think just saying 'pedicure' doesnt get me all excited LOL
Duhhh, No.
ReplyDeleteAll logic points to the Raiders taking C.J. Spiller at #8.
ReplyDeleteI think they would count too because with a suspension comes loss of pay and if you're not signed you're not getting paid. Not sure if the NFL would look into whether or not Fergy had a lemonade stand during the time and did earn a living. :-E
ReplyDeleteThey were overloaded at RB, but now that Fargas is gone, they only have 5 or
ReplyDelete6 so Spiller is possible. I think they're more likely to go with Taylor
Mays or Bruce Campbell.
I don't think I'd stop to buy a lemonade from a guy of Jason Ferguson's age
ReplyDeleteand stature.
I started to get a tattoo a lonnnnng time ago, my friend and I were going together for moral support. We never got them though. We must have sobered up!!! lol
ReplyDeleteNow I'm just too old for it. And I can't tell you the calls I take at work from people who regret them and want them removed. So I think I'll remain un-inked!
The Colts just released Ryan Lilja. The Dolphins will swoop on this one.
ReplyDelete"And I can't tell you the calls I take at work from people who regret them
ReplyDeleteand want them removed. "
Those are people who got them on a whim and weren't thinking that maybe
getting the name of their high school boyfriend tattooed on their pudenda
would come back to haunt them.
He's a little on the short side no?
ReplyDeleteDon't think the Dolphins will go after Lilja. He's a better pass blocker than run blocker (Parcells likes his Guards to be maulers), seems better suited in a zone blocking sheme.
ReplyDeleteAny news on the possible Clark signing???
True, but he was a 5 year starter for the Colts and is 28 so he should get
ReplyDeletesome attention..
THIS JUST IN!!!
ReplyDeleteClark has re-signed with the Steelers!
Shocking news since they signed former Bucs safety Will Allen earlier today.
Was he released because of a large contract?
ReplyDeleteThey must be concerned about Polamalu's injuries.
ReplyDeleteNFL network just reported that Clark has re-signed with Pitt. So we are still looking for a FS, unless Clemons is the answer. I stioll think we draft Berry or Thomas at 12.
ReplyDeleteClark signed for 4 years. His agent stated that he had a change of heart and wanted to keep his young family in Pittsburgh.
ReplyDeleteHEY TIN,I just did my DE rankings,
ReplyDeleteseems like theres just as many OLB prospects as "PURE DE" prospects
@CBSDS DE section!!
As I said b/4 even looking seriously into the DE rankings,
it looks like we can get a BP type DE/Hybrid/OLB anywhere in the draft!!
I've liked Everson Griffen for a while,(size/speed),above/among several of the obvious others...
As I did my DE rankings,I was intrigued by CJ & EJ WILSON's size/speed ratio's,
CJ(ECar)6-3,290,4.88, EJ(NCar)6-3,286,4.84...
In comparison to all the others those numbers alone pushed them wayyy-up my DE rankings,
4th-5th rndrs,CBS has'em @ 5th-6th rndrs,but that size/speed thing is BIGG from my POV!!
They BOTH have 35plus lbs on your boy,and are apparently faster,
(though I realize the 40s are laughable,esp Selvies),and the WILSON's DEs and Selvie OLB are likely to not play simular positions!! So, I'm just KIDDIN w'ya ;) !!!
Are they Brothers?? (Seems to make sense)!!
Other OLB prospects I like from the DE section are
ReplyDeleteJ Cunningham Fla, L Witten UConn, K Basped Nev, R Alem LSU, D Te'o-Nesheim Wash, D Batten SDakSt,
and G Johnson Rutgers...
We can wait till @least the 3rd and still get a BIGG/FAST OLB,
but I like Everson Griffen or Jerry Hughes IFFF they fall to the 2nd,
along w'ALL the 1st rnd projected OLBs..
I usually react less calmly when a man claims to have trimmed my trees......!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, on the valley side by Summit/Old Santa Cruz Hwy, have family in Capitola, I'm sure there's a common name or two. Just moved back out here from Palm Bay, FL........
Right-on,GOOD to know'ya/EXACTLY where your located!!
ReplyDeleteI came back to Fl in 1999,PESENTLY in Pt St Lucie,
I'd trade places of residence w'ya any-day!!
Culture Shock from SC/Ca to PSL/Fl as you KNOWWW!!
You play golf??
I miss playin @ the DaLaViega,and Boulder-Creek courses
MISS Ca PERIOD,though I was born in Miami!!
ANYHOW,GOFINS!!
he had a big bonus due...
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised how many NorCal Dolfans there are.
ReplyDelete