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State if the Franchise: Dolphins before Free Agency

March 9th, 2014

Jake Mendel

Posted in Features, Main, News, Opinions

So close, yet so far is the perfect way to describe the Miami Dolphins in 2013. Miami’s biggest issues last year were protecting Ryan Tannehill and stopping the run. Tannehill has done enough to prove that he can be the guy for the Dolphins. Last year he was sacked 59 times, if you take away half of those (30 is around league average), The Dolphins could of arguably won 2-3 more games. It is clear that the Dolphins will go after linemen, specifically left tackles, Eugene Monroe and Brandon Albert being the two “prizes”.

With Randy Starks and Paul Soliai on the way out, the Dolphins will need to find another tackle to start next to Jared Odrick. Linvall Joseph would be a solid fit, young and room for improvement. Aaron Donald out of Pittsburgh would be another great option, he may be gone before the Dolphins pick at 19 in the draft.

The Dolphins had a great start to the off season by locking up Brent Grimes, (one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks) to a very fair contract. Other than Grimes, I don’t see the Dolphins focusing on any of their own free agents. Starks and Soliai are focusing on getting one last big payday and I think it is time to move on.

Players like Nolan Carroll, Chris Clemons, Tyson Clabo, and even Bryant McKinnie could all be back next year on team friendly contracts for depth. With the Dolphins having enough money to make another big splash in free agency, it is likely the Dolphins will look for upgrades from all these players.

I think the Dolphins are on the right side of 8-8, a solid off season will push Miami to have the potential the be a playoff team.

With Ireland out and Dennis Hickey as the new General Manager, I expect the Dolphins to focus on holes and not trying to improve on positions the Dolphins are already solid at. I also expect Hickey to put the Dolphins in a situation where they can draft the best player available in the draft.

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Richie Incognito Smashes His Own Ferrari

February 27th, 2014

Brandon Sweeney

Posted in Main, News

Well not that many Dolphins fans want to hear the name about to be said (Richie Incognito) but he is at it again. This time, obviously showing signs of anger management. TMZ Sports was the first on the scene when finding out that Incognito smashed his own Ferrari with a baseball bat.

Another tale that looks like will go into this disturbing case. If you need a refresher (which I doubt you do), Johnathan Martin left the Miami Dolphins on October 28th, due to bullying in the locker room. The leader in the harasment and bullying, Richie Incognito.

So far no one has heard word back from Incognito instead of police. Incognito told the police it was him who smashed the Ferrari. It is starting to look more and more clear that Richie Incognito will not be getting another shot in the National Football League.

No matter how many Ferrari’s he smashes…

Brandon Sweeney is Co-Editor of the Gab Network. Follow him on Twitter @NFLNSTUFF, Like him on Facebook , add him to Google+, and Trust him on Sulia.

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CB Brent Grimes Feels He’ll Be Back In Miami In 2014

February 25th, 2014

Matt Loede

Posted in 2014 Free Agency, News

Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes said today he’s optimistic but not certain that he will re-sign with Miami, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

He said his agent Ben Dogra has spoken to the Dolphins a few times.

“I’m pretty optimistic,” he said. “They said they like me here and want to have me back. Hopefully, it happens sooner than later, and I don’t have to worry about it.”

Grimes said the Dolphins have not discussed slapping him with the franchise tag, which likely will top $11 million. “Nobody wants to get franchise tag, another one-year deal.”

The deadline to use the franchise tag is next Monday. But even if a player is given the tag, negotiations on a contract can continue, and the tag can be lifted, until mid-July.

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Evaluating the Miami Dolphins roster: Running Back

February 24th, 2014

Jake Mendel

Posted in Features, Main, News, Opinions

In 2013 the Dolphins running backs were like the Dolphins as a whole, inconstant. The combination of Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller combined for the 26th ranked rushing game in the NFL at 90.0 yards a game. These two got no help from the offensive line, but I think Daniel Thomas has to go, Miller is still unproven and I think he can be a good NFL running back.

Daniel Thomas had only 5 good games according to pro football focus. Not 5 good games in 2013 either, five in his entire career. He was on the roster because he was a good pass pro running back aswell…. He didn’t have one good game in pass pro, according to PFF. In his career he has only two 100 yard rushing games, he has twice that many averaging one yard or less in a game. He has averaged 3.6 yards a carry for his career, I think it is time for the Dolphins to move on.

Lamar Miller has shown enough upside to where I think he can be a good running back in the NFL. Part of the reasoning behind his struggles is because he had to share carries with Thomas, poor play calling doesn’t help either.

Miller averaged 4 yards a carry in 2013 with two touchdowns. When he got 10+ carries he averaged 60 yards a game and 3.8 yards a carry (this includes a game with an average of 0.3 and 0.8 yards a carry) . When he carried the ball less than ten carries a game he averaged 24 yards a game with an average of 3.6 yards a carry.

According to PFF he had more good games than Daniel Thomas and even was better in pass protection. His pass catching needs work though as he finished the season with a -0.5 grade. Miller should get the starting job at running back in 2014, the Dolphins should also sign someone.

Donald Brown and James Starks are two names that pop out at me as good fits for the Dolphins. They would both be relatively cheap and would be experienced back ups. It would also be wise for the Dolphins to sign a real fullback. Some teams can survive without one, if the Dolphins want to run the ball in 14 I think a football is a must.

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Dolphins Won’t Commit To Using Franchise Tag On CB Grimes

February 21st, 2014

Matt Loede

Posted in News

Cornerback Brent Grimes was arguably the best player on the Dolphins defense last season but that does not mean the team is willing to use the franchise tag to keep him according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Tagging Grimes would cost the Dolphins $11.3 million in 2014, which is an awfully big gamble for a corner who will turn 31 in July.

Grimes himself seems to want no part of the franchise tag. The veteran gambled on himself by accepting a rather paltry one-year deal to play for the Dolphins last offseason and responded with one of the most stellar seasons of his career, grading out as the No.2 corner in the league according to Pro Football Focus.

He would like to land one more long-term, big-money deal but the Dolphins likely do not want to commit long-term money given his age.

That does not necessarily mean that Grimes will not end up in Miami again next season. The front office is negotiating with his agents and are likely gambling that Grimes will not find an offer anywhere near $11.3 million on the open market.

Grimes does have some leverage of his own as the Dolphins can not afford to lose him. Grimes may be the best corner in the free agent market this offseason.

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TMZ: Incogntio Leaves Hollywood Nightclub With Five Girls

February 21st, 2014

Matt Loede

Posted in News

From: TMZ

Incognito was lady-killin’ in Hollywood last night … with 5 GIRLS getting into his car outside of a Sunset Strip nightclub … and TMZ Sports has the footage.

Incognito was partying at 1OAK last night … where we asked him if he had any advice for another NFL star in crisis, Ray Rice.

But Richie was more focused on another situation — the 5 ladies from Wisconsin who were clearly interested in spending some private time with the embattled football star.

The girls all piled into his waiting ride … but got out after only a few minutes. They hinted they were gonna meet up with Richie later in the evening.

But the best part … when we asked the girls if Richie could be considered a good role model — one of the ladies shot back — “NO!! Because we are 18-years-old!”

Ha.

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Dolphins fire offensive line coach

February 19th, 2014

Jake Mendel

Posted in Features, Main, News

The Dolphins continue today’s firings with offensive line coach Jim Turner. Turner has been expected to go since the Martin/Incognito saga started. The Wells report talked about how he played a major role in the whole thing.

He spent the last two seasons in Miami, he was brought in with head coach Joe Philbin. Turner deserved to go not only for knowing about the locker room turmoil, but more importantly for Miami’s poor offensive line. Not a single member of the Dolphins offensive line improved from 2012 to 2013, some actually regressed.

At one point, the Dolphins were on pace to give get the record for most sacks in a season. Miami’s offensive line was viewed as a weakness but was never thought to be this bad.

Among the issues in the Wells Report, Turner participated in a joke that a member of the offensive line (player A) was gay, and “endorsed the humiliation” of the same player. He was also a part of the “Judas Laws” (don’t snitch) and was in on picking on linemen Nate Garner who “looked like he was going to cry 24/7″. He denied knowing any of this.

Turner had to go, the entire locker room, specifically the offensive line needs a culture change. It will start with former Texans line coach John Benton who was hired as an assistant in the past few months. While in Houston, Matt Schaub was sacked an average of 22 times a season, that’s almost three times less than Tannehill was sacked in 2013.

It will be interesting if the Dolphins will make any more coaching changes within the weeks leading up to free agency and the draft.

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Dolphins fire head athletic Trainer.

February 19th, 2014

Jake Mendel

Posted in Features, Main, News

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen has reported that the Dolphins have fired Kevin O’Neill, he spent 17 seasons with the team.

O’Neill was mentioned in the Wells report, he apparently knew that Martin was getting bullied and also pulled him aside saying he was too nice. O’Neill has been in the league for a long time, maybe he knew the only why for Martin not to get bullied is for Martin to stop being nice, for him to stand up for himself.

The firing doesn’t come as a surprise, as O’Neill also knew that an assistant was also getting bullied, (possibly the worst part of the whole part of the report) which there is no excuse for. He also didn’t cooperate fully with Wells when the investigation

O’Neill was originally hired by Jimmy Johnson when he joined the Dolphins and has remained with the team since. That means he spent time under 8 head coaches (including interim head coaches). He did his job well, especially to last through so many different coaches.

It can only be assumed that more firings are on the way, likely when suspensions are handed down from the NFL. Ross should of waited, fire everyone who is deserving at once, instead we get the slow process of one being fired at a time.

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