Dolphins break the free agent bank record

The Dolphins reported no free agent visits Tuesday. Fact is, they haven't had an unrestricted or restricted free agent visit since Demarcus Faggins did so on March 18.

So is it fair to believe the Dolphins are pretty much done with free agency for 2009?

"I wouldn't say we're done," general manager Jeff Ireland said. "You never know what's going to fall off the tree. In that case, you're not done."

The Dolphins piggy bank, tired and not nearly as fat as it once was, hopes Ireland gives it a break. That's because the team has already spent more money during this free agency period than in any previous year since free agency began in 1992, according to figures from the NFL Players Association.

Despite having a reputation for being cheap fiscally conservative, Bill Parcells has given the green light on approximately $136* million in free agent contracts so far. While that doesn't come close to the $142* million the Jets spent last season, it is a Miami club record. The Dolphins added 11 free agents a year ago to contracts worth a reported $103.6* million, which broke the previous record set in 2006.

Safety Gibril Wilson and center Jake Grove cost a combined $57 million. There was the re-signing of safety Yeremiah Bell, offensive tackle Vernon Carey and linebacker Channing Crowder, which coach Tony Sparano has said was an investment of  "$70 million on three players to make sure those players were here."

Then there was the combined $9 million more on cornerback Eric Green and offensive lineman Joe Berger.

Do the math. Carry the one, that's $136 million spent by Miami on unrestricted or soon-to-be unrestricted free agents this offseason. And that is so far because although Ireland doesn't expect it, a player can unexpectedly become available much the way Chad Pennington suddenly became available last season.

"Never say never," Ireland said. "You never know when someone falls off a tree and you might go down that road."

Jason Taylor, perhaps?

[*No team pays every cent it is committed to paying, as sometimes players are cut, traded or retire before the end of their contracts. But this figure relates the total amount of money the team has agreed to pay through the end of every contract signed.]

Comments

[carlito from golfito]

There is no Vachlito in Golfito

[Jeff Matta and Maxx]

Jason jason jason jason . we want jason. We love you jason . please come back and bring us the super bowl .

[vachlito from golfito]

there's no carlito in golfito,and you can ask jose if you don't believe me.

[carlito from golfito]

I am from Golfito, there are lots of Carlito's in Golfito and I am not one of them, because I know live in the great land of Florida, but rest assured, there is no Vachlito.

[Sad to see ....]

Armando,

I used to love to read your blogs and the comments, but I must admit it is a complete waste of my time now. And it has nothing to do with your blog, rather all the moronic and petty comments people are making lately. These comments are more about personal attacks and child's play than they are about Dolphin football. Sadly the old Herald Dolphin forum was ruined by the same type of posters. Unfortunately unless you can police the village idoits better you will continue to lose long time followers and true fans of Dolphin news..

[vachlito from golflito]

i have known three vcachlito in golfito.so what make the know it all in golfito?

[ricky CT]

alien man is back as....Sad to see,nice guy he starts to make trouble then he acts like mr clean

[carlito from golfito]

You probably couldn't even find Golfito on a map

[Mr Bunglito]

YOU know what's SAD TO SEE ? You have all these things to say , but YOU don't have the balzzzz to put your name to it. Now , don't let the door kick you in the azzzz on the way out of here.

[Mr Bunglito]

RICKY and carlito. sad to see is NYSCOTT or ALIENMAN. Either way they're both wendy whiner.

[mark VT]

every time i see you ALIEN MAN or REX RYAN or NY SCOTT or SAD TO SEE or BIG.H i say to my self this guy doing 100 percent the same thing that he's complaining about signing with many names,it's amazing ,well WENDY you can't attack people and think they will say thank you alien man from romania.

[vachlito from golflito]

carlito, i just spoke to jose and he told me that you are one of the very nice guys on this blog and he told me to say hey to you .By the way jose told me that he knows 3 carlito and 5 vachlito from golflito.any way we should get togather and have some food from golfito

[Nando]

I still say we should have let Crowder go we could have gotten a lot better for that money.

[Sad to see ....]

Bung hole - you're what's sad to see. Why bother putting my name to anything here - all you get is a smart aleck come back or an insult. You're one of the jokes that has ruined this thing, be loud be proud - someday you'll grow up and figure it out - or maybe not..

[steve]

Never before have so many genius' gathered in one place to figure out the % difference in two numbers.

Lets play Mr. Rogers boys and girls. 136,000,000 X 1.0441 = 141997600

[Jamie]

I think Miami should pursue Michael Vick if he becomes available this year.

[MIA4LIFE]

F**K every team in the afc east its fins all day nuff said