Jeff Ireland: The interview, the Wilson flap

I got the opportunity to speak with Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland one-on-one Saturday night after his work was mostly done with the draft and the adding of priority free agents.

That conversation gave me a better understanding of exactly how it is the Dolphins attack the draft when Ireland and Bill Parcells are sitting in the war room together. I wrote about that as part of my column that appears in Monday's Miami Herald.

Another part of the column, by the way, tells you how Ireland seemed to be getting more comfortable even as this draft was proceeding. He actually made jokes when he was in front of the media. The guy was cool.

But we're not 100 percent there yet.

This interview gave me the opportunity to ask about a topic that's been bothering me for a while now:

I wanted to know why it was Ireland seemingly misled at the Indianapolis Combine on the subject of Gibril Wilson. As you know, everyone assumed Wilson was a goner after a season in which he played poorly and cost Miami chances to win at least two games -- Indianapolis and New Orleans.

But Ireland went to the Combine and in speaking with the media -- to his credit, against the wishes of Parcells -- defended Wilson so vehemently that it seemed like Wilson was coming back.

"We have our evaluation of Gibril Wilson," Ireland said at the time. "We know what kind of player he's capable of being. I think he's going to be a very good player for the future. He was disappointed in his play last year. He will tell you that. I think he can play better. We'll just have to see. I think he will."

Of course, everyone assumed Ireland meant Wilson would play better for the Dolphins. Bad assumption. The Dolphins cut Wilson when the new league year opened in March.

"I didn't say anything that was wrong," Ireland told me during our interview. "I didn't say anything that was false. If you read the transcript, I said he's going to be a good player in the future. I knew what I was saying. You know, he's a player on my team. And I'm going to defend a player on my team. I'm not going to say anything else bad out there. I do believe he's going to be a good player in the future. I like the kid. It was probably not the right position for him. That's obvious now. But I did believe what I was telling you. I was telling the truth.

"I just wasn't giving you every thought in my head."

Fair enough. It wasn't Ireland's fault that folks like me made an assumption. As Ireland told me in another part of the interview, every draft mistake his makes is a lesson he learns.

Count this a lesson learned for yours truly.

Comments

[Po White Trash]

Sure that is misi, sounds more like Mosi.

[Marc]

Misi didn’t do a full workout at the Combine for those interested in his services because of a wrist injury he suffered at the Senior Bowl. Despite the setback, he still posted a 38-inch vertical jump, the best of any defensive end prospect this year at the Combine. Misi recently did his field drills this past Monday at his pro day, and will finish things off with the bench press at the end of March.

Hence 2 reps...

[Marc]

http://padecky.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/10541/koa-misi-is-almost-there/

Another article with a comment from his grabma apparently

[Bendiesel]

ARMANDO!! Any truth to the rumor about dolphins calling the recently EX patriot Adaleus Thomas?

[AK FinFan]

How about that little KR man that was burning it up early preseason last year than got an injured wrist and had a couple fumbles that led to getting the axe. Can't remember his name? Maybe they bring him back again this year...

[Po White Trash]

Just watched the Reshad Jones video the Sun put up; This dude is vicious and brutal, He is the Anti-Wilson. We are gonna love this guy.

[Po White Trash]

Reshad be f*ckin up some WRs!

[misi]

can you please po clean your language ,kids do come here dirty shmock .

[Po White Trash]

Eat sh*t and die dochebag, I didn't have em and I ain't gonna raise em.

Tell that crap to their mommy and daddy, I already have to suffer thru TBS movies that have been so cut they are barely worth watching because the parents don’t do their job.

Oh yeah.....

Pick a name D!ck.

[dolphin77]

yeah, when the phins are horrible again this year ireland will be saying that was a lesson learned. we had a bad draft. where the f@#k is the safety at?

[Kris]

Superphin,

Good post at 3:30pm

I coudn't agree more.

[Po White Trash]

Hows that Misi?

[misi]

po is the guy from hell ,how come you don't loves kids , you must be a jail type guy .did you ever watch disney channel ?

[Marc]

Agree with Po

[Dantheman#13]

A Thomas from the Pats would be nice. I'm sure he'd love to play them twice a year just to slap Billy B in the pie hole! Also Saints put an offer for Sharper but he hasn't signed it yet, Mando is there anything going on to get him. Osi trade talks are still happening, he would fit nicely with the other 300 LB we have.

[misi]

po, do you live with life animals or life bastards ?

[Po White Trash]

Thanks Marc.

[ALoco]

I AGREE WITH PO WHAT EVER THE SUBJECT IS .

[Po White Trash]

No, just reply to their dumbsh!t posts.

[The phucking foot master]

Excellent post @ 6:34 ALoco

[Kris]

Dan the man,

I believe that you would be right about his desire, but i think we are at a point where we have to question AD's skill. He flourished in the Rex Ryan Defense in B'more but he Disappered with a CAPITOL D in NE. He may be a scheme Backer rather than a talented backer. I am sure he wnts to be with the jets if he can land there.

[ALoco]

GREAT POST KRIS AS USUAL .

[ALoco]

I LOVE TO SEE PO GET MARRIED ,PICTURE THIS CUTE GUY NEXT TO A KNOCK OUT BLONDE AND HAVING A WEEDING NIGHT WHERE PO WEARS A NICE WHITE TUXO .

[Dantheman#13]

@ Chris, that's very true about declining in skill, but I wonder if he would do well in this new scheme Nolan is cooking up. Problem is, McDaniels the douche bag coach in Denver probably knows the scheme and will inform his butt buddy Billy B about it.

[Po White Trash]

I'd buy that for a dollar!

[Kris]

Thanks Aloco

[ALoco]

DID MARINO WON ANY THING OR JT OR ZACH ?

THE FINS THE ONLY TEAM IN THE LAST 35 YEARS JUST ADORING PLAYERS FOR DOING NO THING .

[ALoco]

WELCOME KRIS.

WHAT ARE YOU BUYING PO ? I HOPE YOU HAVE ENOUGH INK TO WRITE A LINE OR TWO .

[Kris]

Dan the man,

We can definetly agree on two points. AD is declining and Nolan is a Douche bag.

AD might be a nice experiment, but i think I will pass on finding out if it works or not.

But I run nothing so...we'll see

[Po White Trash]

I bought some FAS this afternoon for a quick turn around, should of bought FAZ when it went below 11 but I don't have the balls to short yet.

[A]

PO,THAT WAS WRONG TO BUY FAS ,GS WILL BE THE JOKE FOR THIS WEEK ,WILL HIT 146 BUT WHAT DOES ANY ONE KNOWS .

[ALoco]

I THINK PO WILL LOOK NICE IN A TUX.

[Dantheman#13]

Does anybody know of any free agent TE that would be available?

[Po White Trash]

The Senate didn’t pass the vote to vote on financial reform; faz will go back up close to its high.

I watch the charts and the charts said buy.

[misi]

how old are you mr po trash ?

[Tikkanen]

Nowadays, both free and strong safeties need to be able to cover slot receivers, running backs, and tight ends. They also need to be dependable as the last line of defense, taking good angles and making sure tackles, to prevent the home run. Blowing receivers up is fine, but if you can't do the above, you're toast like Roy Williams, formerly a Dallas All-Pro, or Gibril Wilson. I just hope Reshad Jones can do the above.

[bigalfy]

Hi lads...here is a synopsis of the strengths and weaknesses of our 40th pick in the draft..KOA MISI....

Read & React: Very good football instincts — sniffs out screens, misdirection and cut blocks. Reads routes and knows where the hot read is in coverage.

Run defense: Explosive coming off the edge if untouched, flexible enough to chase down backs. Lacks the bulk to play end on early downs at the next level, but is strong enough as a linebacker on the edge to be an effective run stopper. Smart on containment and takes away the cutback lane. Punches linemen coming out to block, can disengage to make a play. Gets through trash to find the ball. Excellent chase and hustle down the line or downfield.

Pass defense: Very fluid in his drops, turns hips and gets deep quickly. Will struggle getting off lineman blocks, but seems to find creases to get to the ball in traffic. Good ball awareness whether blitzing or dropped into zone coverage. Gets his hands up when unable to reach the quarterback. Beats cut blocks with his hands and agile enough to recover. Strong enough to handle tight ends on the edge but needs to improve his hand usage on the line. Hustles back to get to open receivers in zones.

Tackling: Excellent tackler, strong upper body and brings his hips to explode into ballcarriers. Breaks down in space and has the agility to rein in elusive players. Tracks down quicker players from behind in space with pure hustle. Will be a force on special teams, playing inside on coverage units.

Pass Rush/Blitz: Played mostly defensive end for the Utes, quick off the edge and plays through the whistle. When standing up, he has nice closing speed to the QB and some shiftiness to defeat running backs inside or turn the corner on lineman outside. Also uses his hands to keep lineman off balance and get around their outside shoulder. Will need counter moves and learn how to blow up blocks in the backfield.

Intangibles: Team captain. High character player praised by his coaches for work ethic. Suffered back injury in preseason practice, worked hard to miss only the first game of 2009 season.

This was from a poster on a Sun Sentinel website but very interesting....It remains to be seen whether he will be better than Hughes / Kindle etc....but it looks like he is promising indeed...

Lets support the pick..!!!

[Po White Trash]

Goldman is a buy right now, under 150 I think, all this Bullsh!t will pass soon, the banks own Washington.

[Po White Trash]

Give me your email and I'll send it there.

[Po White Trash]

misi

[Kris]

Aloco,

First i will say WOW. that took some GUTS! its rare to see that kind of candor on here no matter ill-advised.

2nd i will say its true. We love our legends. Even i am guilty of a little Marino idoling.

you are making me think

[A]

GS IS SELL UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE ,THE LAWYERS ARE WORKING HARD TO SUE AND IT'S THE TIME TO SHORT .NOTICE TODAY TXN GUIDED HIGHER BUT DIDN'T MOVE MUCH ,SANM GUIDED HIGHER AFTER I SHORTED BEFORE THE CLOSE AND WENT DOWN 50 CENTS SO FAR .IT'S TIME TO SHORT .

[Miamifins09]

Does anyone know if TE Ben Watson has signed with a team yet?

[BIG FISH IN DALLAS]

i am probably the biggest dolphins fan on this site. but im tired of people talking about jason taylor i like taylor.... but he made his decision i kno it was not for the money if he was a true dolphins he would have retired and rode off in the glory but no he wanted to play how many other teams was beating down his door to get him.jets only signed him cause they kno they can not beat the dolphins they are looking for edge by getting taylor they think that he can tell them something. look in truth the jets are the only team that wanted taylor washington did not want dolphins did not want him football is about youth a certain position he might have a lil gas in the tank but thats not good enough we headed to dallas, tx and to get there we need to be able to refill several times so all you hater against what the dolphins have did remember this (post)miami in dallas in superbowl playing the vikings

[Tikkanen]

Ben Watson signed with the Cleveland Browns.

[Miamifins09]

Ohh ok thanks, I was gonna say that would be a good idea for a TE this year

[Po White Trash]

Have at it, I repeat my last statement; the banks own Washington.

I have heard GS to 100.

There earnings rocked though.

[ALoco]

IS THIS BEN WATSON WHO PLAYED FOR THE PATS? IF IT'S HIM I THINK HE'S 56 YEARS OLD .

[cocoajoe]

What's happening Po? Cuban gone again?

[Miamifins09]

Yeaa well he managed to get open and make plays against us every time we played them

[A]

PO, NO ONE IS BUYING ANY THING ANY MORE ,JUST THE BIG BOYS AND WE ALL WATING FOR THE BIG SHORT .STOCK MOVING HIGHER B/C NO ONE SELLING OR BUYING .

[Tikkanen]

Watson would have been a good signing, but the uncapped year made many of these would-be free agents into restricted free agents. We might get lucky snagging an old veteran after roster cut-downs, or sign a retread like David Martin, who was actually decent for us two seasons ago.

[Po White Trash]

True A. Never thought the Dow would be at 11200 this quick. "They" are saying 11800 then the correction.

[Dantheman#13]

So Denver signed Akin Ayodeke today in their quest to sign every Defensive player we've had on our roster over the years, so I think we should get Elvis D. from them

[Po White Trash]

Joe,

He was here around 5:00,

Check out the youtube video on Reshad Jones, that dude is vicious.

[A]

WHAT ABOUT SHORTING AAPL OR SBUX ?

[A]

GOOD NIGHT PO.

[Po White Trash]

I am not a shorter of this market yet. That takes balls that I don't have.

[Po White Trash]

Night A.

[carlito from golfito]

Misi's head is shaped like a butter bean