On Incognito Dolphins must weigh risk, reward

Since the topic of this blog is Richie Incognito, I must explain the idea of risk versus reward.

Incognito, whom the Miami Herald reported Saturday will visit the Dolphins this week, is undoubtedly a risky proposition for the team.

He is only 26 years old and already looking for his third team. Icognito joined the Rams in 2005 and after two years as a starter in 2007 and 2008 started being viewed as one of the dirtiest players in the league by a poll of his peers. During a terrible season for his team in 2008, Incognito taunted Rams fans after a home loss. Last year he got into a sideline argument with head coach Steve Spagnuolo after head-butting two opponents in a Rams game versus the Tennessee Titans.

The guy has been referred to as "immature" and a "tool" by St. Louis media.

And yet the Dolphins like Icognito.

They like the guy enough to bring him in for the visit and while that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to sign, it goes a step beyond last season when the team claimed Incognito on waivers. The Bills also claimed him -- getting him because they stunk more than Miami -- but promptely threw him back to the talent pool this offseason where the Dolphins have on the hook again.

So one supposes you see the risk in chasing Incognito. He could still be the same immature player he's proven himself to be. Perhaps he's not that good a player which is obviously Buffalo's opinion.

But ...

Assuming the Dolphins don't do anything crazy like offering major guaranteed money -- or any guaranteed money for that matter -- this risk could pay a dividend if Incognito signs and becomes a good player.

The risk could bring a big reward if Incognito solves Miami's festering right guard problem. The position has been a turnstile for five different starters the past two years. Donald Thomas and Nate Garner shared the job and starts last year.

So what if at 6-3 and 320 pounds, with strength that is unquestionable, Incognito becomes a staple on Miami's line?

Who will complain then?

I know there are questions out there why the Dolphins would flirt with Incognito but not show any interest in other troubled players such as Brandon Marshall?

There is a difference. A big difference. Marshall presents a much greater risk. I detailed what a high risk proposition Marshall is over the weekend.

Marshall would require a big contract, draft picks and a long-term commitment atop his troubled history. The Dolphins don't need to give Incognito a big contract, give up picks and show a lifetime commitment to the offensive lineman.

So if Incognito becomes a player, great. The gamble worked.

If Incognito signs and then disrespects coach Tony Sparano as he did Spagnuolo, if he costs the Dolphins yardage with personal foul penalties, if he's the same immature player he's been to this point, then the gamble failed.

It wouldn't be the first time the Dolphins blew it on a free agent.

Except this one hopefully comes with the appropriate amount of measuring risk versus reward.

Comments

[Finatic]

I agree matalmic420! Amen!

[Finatic]

If parcells does not pick Wr w/first pick we must take action Now!!!!

[Finatic]

SOMEONE TELL ME WHY GINN IS STILL A MIAMI DOLPHIN? WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bobbyd12]

Here we go!! Marshall blah blah blah back to this crap again...Parcells HATES Marshall and will NOT be taking him...move on pls

[Jeremy in the Canadian Cowtown]

The Dolphins won`t take a reciever before the 4th round this year. No Marshall and more Ginn for us all.

[bobbyd12]

And that's fine with me, receiver 4 th round, many great receivers have came out of the forth round

[ALoco]

FINTIC, TED GINN IS WAY BETTER THAN A LOT OF PLAYERS LIKE WILSON,CROWDER,TURNER,AND FASANO .

[Jeremy in the Canadian Cowtown]

You`re right bobby. Diddn`t we get the guy who just may be our #1 reciever last year in the fourth. Yeah that guy named Hartline!!!

[Rob in OC]

Finatic,

SPEED! He won the 2nd Jets game single handedly pretty much with the 2 returns.

His value is lower to other teams than the Fins because he is the one scary speed guy we have at WR. He will be with Henne for a second year...they left some incomplete bombs on the table. I know he ran by everyone a few times and didn't get the ball.

I am pissed about the lay downs, alligator arms, not getting first downs, heading out of bounds too early like others but until we get another speedy WR or a RB with wheels like Spiller or Best I don't think they will move him this year. The speed element keeps people out of the box as much vs the run. If Ginn and Henne ever got any rythm it would be insane. I have always thought the GO / Fly pattern was his best route as if he doesn't think he can get hit his concentration gets a little better.

If they draft a guy like WR Jocoby Ford 4.28 40 in the late rounds 4rth round area Ginn may be shown the door in a trade sooner rather than later.

Cheers,

[Jeremy in the Canadian Cowtown]

And even then it may not be resiever it may be Tight end or running back or Guard.

[bobbyd12]

Jeremy, blah blah blah so let's talk about a guy that Parcells will NEVER take just so we can kill time....Marshall blah blah blah

[Finatic]

Finding the next great WR is simple because drafting one is like trying to win the lotto.so what do we do..... We sign one who is already show the world he's great or even close. TO or marshal( hint hint) they are the only options.

[bobbyd12]

Rob In OC, I have stuck up for Ginn for a long time on this blog...I watched him closely the last half of the season and u can see the second he receives a kickoff he is bee-lining the sideline..the guy is scared and I don't think that is fixable

[Jeremy in the Canadian Cowtown]

You`re right on again bobby. Blah blah blah!!!
No reciever till the fourth at least.

[Truefan]

Rumor is the jets are willing to give up there first this year, and another pick next year for Marshall who is scheduled to visit the jets this week

[bobbyd12]

Yea, TO LMFAO...Marshall is less then 1% TO is ZERO percent or less

[Finatic]

Whatever spirit ginn had during those two kick returns was something special but I don't get it.

[ALoco]

GINN DID FOR THE DOLPHINS MORE THAN ANY ONE LAST SEASON .

[bobbyd12]

Truefan, now expain to me why the Jets would give up their 1st round this year AND next year when Denver is only asking for one first round pick??? There is no other team competing for him less Seattle who doesn't seem to care, so the Jets are going to give up MORE then Denver is asking???

[Truefan]

Don't shoot the messanger, mike tannenbaum said it on a radio show. I might be wrong about next years pick though

[Rob in OC]

Bobbyd,

I don't think it is fixable either. He won't wake up one day and be confused for WR Steve Smith of Carolina or anything. So they have to give him a set of play packages tailored to getting him breaking free. The good thing is since these would be all out bombs they could only run so many of them as he should be tired doing the long sprints. This would open up touches for other players on offense.

He seems to be able to catch better when he thinks he is clear of contact. He has run by some safties and it was either not seen by the QB or some where uncatchable... (Pat Whites only bomb to Ginn was one example).

I think Ginns days are numbered it's just a matter of when and for what in trade? As chicken as he is if they released him today he would probably be signed by Wed.

[Finatic]

Fat Rex is doing that crap Just to get us back.... I'm tellin y'all, Rex wants our Blood and won't sleep till he gets it. I hope dansby smashes LT and sanchez face on first game.

[bobbyd12]

I don't see what we or anyother team sees in Ginn...The guy got great speed, given, but being scared in the NFL I would think is a negative trait...He has worn out his welcome IMO

[bobbyd12]

Truefan, I'm not trying to shoot u bro, it just don't make any sense to me that a team would offer MORE then a teams asking...

[Mark]

I'm still in shock that these 3 players are still on the roster...

Ted Ginn
Reggie Torbor
Jason Allen

My problem with Ginn (Apart from the fact he's not productive) is the fact that he's getting payed to perform as an elite WR but you look at a guy like Davone Bess,who's on alot less money,is so much better and much more reliable.

I'd rather see Sparano give Turner a go and keep Ginn on the sideline (If Ginn is'nt cut)

[ALoco]

GINN IS BETTER THAN ALL WR'S WE HAVE HANDS DOWN ,ARE YOU DRUNK MARK ?

[Rob in OC]

Rex Ryan will have to don an eye patch and a pirate hat... pace the sidelines with a parrot on his shoulder if he wants to start grabbing scallywags.

Marshall is a double edged sword and Cromartie was shipped out of SD for being a wanker.

I am not going to panic either way if the Jets get Marshall. I see their draft picks draining away quickly... score that one for the Fins.

Trade up for Sanchez lose picks
Trade up for Greene lose picks
Trade away more for Marshall more picks go bye bye.

I am gonna keep the faith that the football Gods will allow us improvement even with out Marshall being a Fin.

Cheers,

[Finatic]

Ginn Sucks Ass! Bess is better byfar!!!

[ALoco]

FINATIC, TELL US ,ARE YOU DRUNK ?

[dolphin77]

dolphins are going to be bottom feeders for years to come!!!!

[Finatic]

Ginn reminds me of chicken little when he's about to catch the ball... ( the sky is falling, the sky is falling)

[bobbyd12]

Mark, I believe Turner will get his go this year, we won't know if he is a player or not sitting on the sidelines...I would love to see him be the guy

[ALoco]

FINATIC, ARE YOU A DRUNK?

[Finatic]

Aloco. I had just one! I promise.

[bobbyd12]

No ALoco but Dolphin77 is smoking crack fer sure

[Mark]

ALoco,

Please tell me what Ginn did for us last season apart from the 2 kickoff returns against the Jets and that TD pass from Henne?

Ted Ginn has done NOTHING for this team and he should be either cut or traded like yesterday

[ALoco]

OK,FINATIC...YOU ARE NOT GUILTY ?

[Truefan]

Bobby I got you! I didn't understand it either, but that's what tannenbaum was quoted as saying.

[Jeremy in the Canadian Cowtown]

Dolphin77 is a Jets fan and they all smoke crack as well as something else.

[bobbyd12]

Sanchez has two bad knnes coming out of his rookie year, one good hit low and he walks like Namath, then what good are all those draft picks they gave away???

[ALoco]

MARK,

LAST SEASON WE LOST 3 GAMES WE SHOULDN'T LOSE B/C OF COACHING AND ANOTHER 2 GAMES B/C OD DROPS BY FASANO AND THE DEFENSE AND WE HAD VERY POOR DEFENSE OVER ALL .GINN HAS HIS SHARE NO DOUBT BUT NOT AS YOU GUYS MAKE US TO BELIEVE .

[Truefan]

I like the way you think Bobby

[bobbyd12]

ALoco, how long u been a Dolphins fan???

[dolphin77]

NO i hate the N.Y. FAGSSSSS but they are doing what it takes to win, unlike parcells and ireland and ross and you two bozos.

[ALoco]

BOBBYD12, AS LONG AS YOU .

[ALoco]

DOLPHINS77.............JETS DID AS DOLPHINS DID THE FIRST YEAR UNDER BP AND CO .WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR AND WE WII SEE THE JETS CRASHING .

[Finatic]

Dansby will make it possible, taking down sancheeez while making his booty squeeezz. I thought LT was alright But now he the Enemy! I can see it now,, LT vs Ricky. It's on.

[bobbyd12]

Ok I guess I'm not gonna get a straight answer so ALoco, do you agree with Parcells philosophy of grind it out, big time defense and average receivers or do you think we need that playmaker type receiver??? I watched Marino and Duper and it was fun football, but didn't bring us the ring...legitimate question no B/S

[Mark]

ALoco,

What about the season before that and the season before that?

Ginn had a chance to be a damn good WR but the guy is a bust. He could'nt be productive with Lemon at QB (no surprise there)

He was'nt productive when Pennington was at QB and he certainly was'nt productive with the stronger armed Chad Henne at QB.In fact last season he actually took a step backwards.

How many more seasons and chances is the guy gonna get to finally prove he's the WR we all crave??

Hopefully NONE!

[ALoco]

BOBBYD12, THIS IS VERY HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER , IF YOU NOTICE THE COLTS HAVE NEITHER AND YOU SEE WHERE THEY ARE AND THE PATS THEY DO HAVE THE RECEIVER AND NOT THE DEFENSE AND THE JETS HAVE BOTH BUT AN INTERCEPTION MACHINE IN SANCHEZ .YOU TELL ME B/C YOU KNOW MUCH BETTER THAN ME .

[bobbyd12]

Dolphins77, yea doing what it takes to win, giving up draft picks, dumping their workhorse running back for a declining LT, who by the way are paying only $100,000 more to...signing old ass Cromartie and Brandon Pool??? Sorry if that's ur recipe for winning then u should be asking Mr. Ross, who provided the Dolphins with the 2nd highest payroll last year in the league by the way, to bring back ur idol Nick Saban...buy a Rex Ryan Jersey 77, u obviously love him

[ALoco]

MARK, EVERY SEASON HAS IT'S DISASTER RESULTS AND LAST YEAR WAS THE FASANO AND DEFENSE DISASTER .NOT GINN .PLUS THE COACH DISASTER LOSING GAMES WHEN WE WERE 30 POINTS PLUS AHEAD .

[Finatic]

That's it!!! The Fins need to grow some Ballz and go get TO And Marshall tomorrow!!! Then were ready for the draft and superbowl bound.

[bobbyd12]

ALoco, I don't know much better then u, I assume u have been a fan as long as me...I still think defense wins ball games and every first down u get on offense keeps the other teams offense off the field....The NFL has certainly made this a more offense minded league with the roughing the QB and interference penalties...maybe I'm dead wrong but we certainly haven't been winning with the philosophy of are last three head coaches

[Mark]

ALoco,

Please dont think i'm blaming Ginn for why we lost all those games last season because i'm not. I'm simply saying that Ted Ginn does'nt contribute to this team the way he's payed to.

I see huge potential in Davone Bess and i see even bigger potential in Brian Hartline.

Unfortunately,i dont see anything in Ted Ginn thats makes me believe he should be on the roster

[ALoco]

AGRREE W/YOU BOBBYD12,IN FACT THE RELEASE OF WILSON,PORTER IT'S A STATMENT OF THE FAILURE OF THE LAST SEASON .THIS YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE INTERSTING INDEED W/ COMPLETE NEW DEFENSE LINE UP .

[ALoco]

MARK, MAY BE THE NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE BREAK OUT YEAR FOR BESS,HARLINE AND GINN .I AM STILL THINKING THE QB IS GOING TO BE THE PROBLEM .

[Mark]

Really?

You dont like Henne?

[Mark]

Really?

You dont like Henne?

[bobbyd12]

Mark, I like Henne, I think he will be a very good QB, historically though, QBs tend to go through the second year struggle....this year will probaly be challenging for Henne, we will see