The failure of Porter's termination a concern

Every NFL team has a salary cap specialist. These people are highly educated, highly specialized sorts that normally have many degrees and many hours of training in all things NFL salary cap.

So how the heck could the Dolphins so royally screw up the termination of Joey Porter on Friday?

I mean, seriously, talk about adding stink to a pile of trash.

The club announced Friday afternoon it had terminated Porter's contract, ending three interesting years with the enigmatic linebacker.

Routine. After all, a handful of teams cut a handful of players last week with zero problems or issues.

But two hours after announcing Porter's termination, the Dolphins had to basically eat their press announcement because the NFL determined the termination to be invalid. Seems the Porter termination would have violated the 2009 salary cap as it would have cost more than Miami has the ability to handle in cap space.

Problem.

And this one arose out of one of several possibilities:

A. Somebody in Dolphins management messed up when figuring Porter's cap acceleration as it pertains to 2009. This is hard to do because it really is a simple math issue. The responsible party here would have to be the team's capologist.

B. Somebody in Dolphins management didn't know or fully understand the league salary cap rules as they currently stand. The responsible party here would have to be the team's capologist.

C. Somebody wasn't fully up to speed on the Dolphins salary cap situation. Again, the responsible party here would have to be the team's capologist who is supposed to be able to recite the team's cap situation from memory if need be

D. Somebody in Dolphins management took it upon themselves to release Porter without consulting the team's capologist. The responsible party here would be whomever didn't work with the capologist.

Although it is possible, it is hard to fathom D. Somebody doesn't just get a hankerin' to cut Joey Porter one Friday afternoon and simply do it without consulting anyone. The Dolphins pore over decisions such as these (I hope) and plan the steps to carrying them out. One of those steps is typically to check with the capologist to see what salary cap ramifications the move has.

I'm more inclined to think A, B or C betrayed the Dolphins on this matter. And that points directly to new senior vice president of football operations Dawn Aponte.

Aponte is Miami's new capologist. She started only three weeks ago after Matt Thomas, Miami's capologist the past dozen seasons, left to go to Cleveland. Thomas was hired in Cleveland by former Dolphins president Bryan Wiedmeier, who left to go to Cleveland in January.

Aponte, incidently, came from the Browns.

Call it a capologist trade of sorts.

[Quick aside: When Thomas was hired 12 years ago, I quizzed Wiedmeier about the hiring because I had gotten wind of it through league circles. He couldn't understand why I would be curious because, as he put it, "Your readers care about players and coaches, not administrators." I mostly agreed with him and still do today, which is the reason I only reported Aponte's hiring on my twitter page which you should follow. But when the work of administrators drifts into the lane of competitive advantage, I become interested.]

So now I'm interested.

Friday's error -- and don't be fooled, it was an embarrassing one noted around the NFL -- will be glossed over by the fact Porter will eventually be released or traded as I've been reporting for weeks.

But it nonetheless calls into question not only how much Miami will miss Thomas, but also to what degree Aponte is reliable. I don't want to sound harsh here, but if she can't get the routine termination of a veteran right, how can we be confident she can maneuver the coming maze of capped-uncapped-possible lockout issues facing the Dolphins, and every team, the next two years?

The NFL's horizon is littered with uncertainty about labor issues. We don't know what the new rules will look like in 2011, but every team wants people in place that will gain an expertise on the new issues virtually on the fly.

How can the Dolphins have confidence they will successfully navigate and, indeed, master those new issues in the future when they couldn't successfully cut a player under the old system on Friday?   

Comments

[David]

This shows how startlingly stupid it was to allow Brian, and then Thomas to go. Ego's at Dolphin headquarters always reign supreme over intellegence. Pick 2 Wr's soon + why didn't we get Jones a quarterback/receiver?

[SoiledBottom]

There makeing the Male luge-ers start from the ladies tee's to cut back there speed because of the death that happened yesturday

[Chemtrails from above]

David , Matt Jones ??? You know it snows in miami too.

[odinseye]

Ah

um.....

I mean HAPPY.

Yeah, yeah happy that's what I am.

[carlito from golfito]

good night

[TNPhinFan]

sb
What exactly happened to the Luger.

[Chemtrails from above]

That's me impersonating NJ

[Chemtrails from above]

Chemtrolls , chemtrolls chemtrolls chemtrolls , chemtrolls.

[Captain Ace]

ALL Aboard.Good Night.

[Chemtrails from above]

My son who gets homeschooled is a nutjob like me. Chemtrolls chemtrolls chemtrolls

[TNPhinFan]

troll go sleep it off.

[Chemtrails from above]

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH Chemtrolls just got me. i'm melting !!!

[Chemtrails from above]

....meds meds meds meds meds meds i need my meds my meds my meds my meds my med. where's my meds.

[SoiledBottom]

Mouth

Just look up Luge death on you tube

The guy flew off the track at 100 mph and hit a concrete pole

[Rob in OC]

Carlito @ 9:24,

Might be a bit of a stretch but, I am not sure how far you can fall back and still get him? I think there a bunch of players from 10-25 that are of similar caliber. It's a deep draft so we will have see if the Fins can pull off a trade back or if they want to.

He seems to be climbing a bunch and with a solid combine I could see him in the top half of the round 1. Was MVP at the Senior Bowl, made a ton of plays at Michigan. Has a nose for the ball. Has an array of pass rush moves. Kind of like Jared Allen as to look at him you wouldn't think he would be a beast to stop but you will have your hands full all day. Hustles down plays and doesn't quit after one move if he gets stopped. Adjust well to runners trying to get outside of him. Remember there is a premium put on any player scouts feel can get to the QB and I think he can.

I think he has great potential as a disruptive force for many years.

I look forward to drills they will put him through at the combine.

Cheers,

[Ace]

Soiled I will check out the luger death on you tube. 100mph and hit a pole,God damn...poor guy

[Chemtrails from above]

The olympicr committee had the video removed . watch chemtrail video.

[PriceMaster]

Mrs. Aponte is smokin yo!
Nice pretty, educated face and a really nice big a s s!

[PriceMaster]

Was that the Korean team that just wiped itself out or was it the Polish team?

[TNPhinFan]

looked like chemtrolls

[SoiledBottom]

Your right they did remove the actual video of the crash from you tube....it was there this morning

[who]

stephen baker is an @zzwipe

[chivato]

chemtrails from above sounds alot like NJ

[po' black trash]

> Your article has a very sexist tone.

You are high.

[LipsinToronto]

Nodar Kumaritashvili was going about 95 mph when he made a mistake going into the last corner. He overcompensated when trying to correct his error, and the gforces and his speed allowed him to get airborne and drift outside the 'safety' of the track. He smashed directly into a metal pilar, going from 95mph to 0 INSTANTLY. Even if he was in full equipment, his internal organs are not equiped to go from 95mph to 0 instantly. He never had a chance. Even if they had covered the pole...
Really, the only way he could have survived that was if there was a wall that prevented him from hitting something that would stop him instantly.
I was PVRing the opening ceremonies and the news and got the clip of the young man's accident. It was not graphic in a gory way, but the impact was shockingly significant. He basically flew like a doll in the air and when he hit the high part of the pilar - he just stopped and kinda slid down to the ground.
*sigh - sad to start such an event with such a dark cloud.. but all I could think of was this 21 yr old about to be a part of his dreams.. and it is all gone.. just like that.

[Chemtrails from above]

I assure you , i'am not NJ . You must learn about chemtrolls and chemtrails.

[LipsinToronto]

err, I meant a wall or barrier on the side of the track that would have redirected him back down the track.. kind of like the side wall they built last night or this morning...

[TNPhinFan]

ok I nam tired of the game. This conversation was fun NJ aka Carlito aka Chentroll aka dolphin4life. have a good night.

[TNPhinFan]

good night john-boys

[pie]

goodnight stephen baker tnfinfan

[pie]

where is the devil?

[Chemtrails from above]

Hi dying Breed. Chemtroll Chemtroll Chemtroll Chemtroll. Dying breed dying breed dying breed dying breed dying breed chemtroll chemtroll chemtroll chemtroll chemtroll chemtroll chemtroll dying breed dying breed dying breed chemtroll chemtroll chemtroll chemtroll chemtroll chemtroll chemtroll chemtroll dying breed dying breed dying breed dying breed dying breed chemtroll chemtroll chemtroll my son is retarted my son is retearded chemtroll dying breed dying breed chemtroll . my son is a retard my son is a retard my son is a retard. cheeeeeeaaaamicals chemtrolls.

[Mouth of the South]

NJ did you have fun today

[Chemtrails from above]

I'm a gay old man . I need hairy balz.

[Chemtrails from above]

I have sexual relations with my son.

[Chemtrails from above]

Mouth of the south. are you an idiot ?? Do you really think NJ would be typing this about himself ??. I told you it was me. You cn't be that dumb. DUHH !!

[DyingBreed]

Guy i'm back and i need a man badly. I need a big fat hairy arse bad, Is rex ryan around ?? I also enjoy big hairy balz in my mouth. Can somebody stick a banana up my arse ?? Thanks and call me.

[DyingBreed]

i can do it myself or chemtroll can help me.

[DyingBreed]

maybe chemtrolls/home super bowls son can help me.

[Mouth of the South]

Ok guy(s). I am done with this blog. I thought it could be fun, but, I am a dumb country boy and cannot tell who is who. Whoever you are enjoy the madness. You win.

[DyingBreed]

Nah !! Home super bowls/chemtroll son can do it better. He's a little pu^^y like his dad. Retarded like him too .

[DyingBreed]

home super bowl/chemtroll's mom and my mom have no teeth , they could be better .

[DyingBreed]

i neeeeeeed balzzzzzz

[DyingBreed]

mine too maybe i can it to myself but home/chemtroll has no teeth and spits on it too

[DyingBreed]

Yeah , i know alot about gay so does my my partner chemtroll/home super bowl and the impersonater NJ. we have threesome's.

[payuengsnwings]

what you don't like what I have to say?IDIOT

[payuengsnwings]

women have taken over....never played

[payuengsnwings]

Who's fault is this?Good bye bill it was nice you were here.Do you think bill is gonna be led by a girl?Or listen to or belive after this?This is the worst thing to EVER happen to the Miami Dolphins.

[IMAWriter]

I read info concerning Joey's termination date on ESPON a week or more ago. Said 3-10. I believe it was in Jon Clayton's blog.
I believe Al may be on to something, a chance to fire his bad self twice.
You wonder if Joeys big mouth could actually be a contract violation, and the Fins could use that as termination?
Guess not, as long as the the guava brain heading up the players association is holding the cards.
"Dr. De" has no prior qualifications for his job, and is, most likely going to lead the players in a work stoppage in 2011.
This could be avoided if the players association agreed on a moratorium of these OUTRAGEOUS contracts for guys who have NEVER played a down in the NFL.
The owners, in turn could pledge millions to the retired players benefit funds, especially those guys in the 50's 60's and 70's who are nearly crippled.
Maybe increase the cap, to allow veterans to stay with their teams, increase players with "tenure."

[Wayne Fontes]

Relax Mando.

[Rick]

If she has only been with the Dolphins for three weeks, I can understand a mistake. It takes a while to know every ones name in a large organization much less all the cap numbers and situations. I would give her a pass.

[Jim]

Doesn't make a difference to me. Anybody new to an organization makes mistakes. Better to have a small screwup now than a big one later. Armando get a life will you.

Jim

[DCFinatic]

I'm going with Mando on this one people. To say the capologist (and I don't give a flying f*&% if it's a woman, man or beast) has only been there a few weeks is a copout. THAT'S HER JOB!!! She's done it before in Cleveland. This is a new organization, but the same damn rules. All she needs to know is how much the Dolphins are under the cap, that's it. I think the people trying to give her a pass are sexist (doubt they'd give a man a pass). And Jim, to say that it's just a mistake by the "new guy" is waaaay too nonchalant buddy. If the Dolphins want to be an elite team then EVERYONE in the organization needs to do their job to the fullest. We don't need any weak links in the chain. Plus, you're telling me this capologist wasn't given a heads up that her first job would be cutting Joey Porter? Please, Bill Parcells was born at night, not last night! I'm scared that we have Cleveland's capologist too (not a very good team, and EXTREMELY CHEAP!!!). They don't even want to pay their ONLY playmaker. This doesn't bode well Mando, please do more to uncover the deal with this woman, to see if she's really reliable and can do the job. Oh, and I read Spike Lee saying it's a racist move, dude, get a life. I'm black and think that's totally crazy, THIS IS BUSINESS!!

[Hennegivensunda]

I'm with Mando on this. This was an embarassement. I don't get too hyped up about this stuff usually but this is cause for great concern. Coming from the Browns organization is not saying much.

[Brad]

My option E) is this: they KNEW it would be invalidated but did it anyway just to piss off Porter!! Make him think he was gone, onlt to make him dangle a few more weeks. I like THAT option...

[Mark]

relax armando.the sun will come out again .

[Bob Dole and a Treasure Troll snuck into the Superbowl]

Everybody knows there's two things women can't understand...sports and math.

[sammo]

who's to say she messed up? and really who cares if she did? did it cost miami draft picks or a cap penalty? her job is to crunch the number's and make them work. it's the organization's job to give her the information needed to do her job. obviously it wasn't up to par. some have said it's bad she came from cleveland but really look at what she had around her in the front office? your only as good as the people around you. maybe she shines in miami around parcells and co. maybe not. like other's have posted at least give her time to learn how miami does things.

[Victor Barney]

I myself think likewise: "I do find it a bit suspect that our previous cap person goes to Cleveland and we take their old one. What's up with that?"

[sammo]

maybe miami gave them our capologist in turn for cleveland's cap person and cash. Ross is always looking for a way to recoup money he spent to buy the team.