Jake Long is in the final year of a contract that seemed oh-so-expensive in 2008 when he signed as the first overall draft pick but has been well worth the money to date. Long is scheduled to make $11.2 million in his contract year and cost upwards of $12.8 million against the cap.
The base salary is basically the cost of doing business. The cap charge seems like a case of business that could be done better.
The fact is the Dolphins need to extend Long's deal. He has been a good player. He is a foundation stone for the franchise. And an extension could easily lower that cap charge and give the team more space to maneuver as it wishes in the coming days of the 2012 league year.
Yet, off Long went on his honeymoon recently and the Dolphins didn't have a new contract ready for him as a wedding gift.
Why?
Ah, the why is a puzzle.
The club's official stance is that Long without doubt is not going anywhere, that he is outstanding and that he absolutely will not be allowed to hit free agency at the end of 2012 so that he can possibly go elsewhere.
Good call, Dolphins folks!
So why the delay when an extension could be beneficial for both sides? Well the possibilities are the puzzle.
Maybe both sides have a wink-wink agreement that something will get done and it will. Great, but time is money and the longer this is on the back burner, the weaker the Dolphins seem from a cap standpoint.
Maybe both sides have talked and they simply haven't come to an agreement. This is probably the most likely scenario. The truth is gauging Long's value won't be easy. Cleveland re-signed Joe Thomas to an 8-year contract worth a reported $92 million that included a whopping $44 million in guaranteed money. That's an $11.5 million annual average. And the trouble for the Dolphins is Long will expect to exceed this deal by a significant amount.
Worth it? Obviously yes at first blush. But look deeper. Long is worth is if he's healthy. Long is worth it if the club last season judged his play to be as good as ever -- unlikely considering his rash of injuries. Long, in short, is worth it if the Dolphins believe him to be Jonathan Ogden or Walter Jones -- both of whom played for years at exceedingly high levels and without injuries.
But what if Long is Tony Boselli? Boselli was perhaps the best left tackle in the game early in his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Big, strong, mobile, he was Long before Long. But then he injured a knee. Then he injured an ankle. Then he hurt his shoulder. And then he hurt the shoulder again. And again.
And by his seventh NFL season, Boselli was broken. Folks were surprised when Boselli was placed on the expansion list and allowed to go to Houston. But when he arrived in Houston, injured and unable to contribute, everyone understood.
So is Long on the road to being Boselli? In the past two years he's had a building litany of injuries -- first a knee, then an ankle and shoulder and last year a back and a torn right biceps that forced him to finish the season on injured reserve.
Are the Dolphins worried the trend might continue? Even privately there is confidence Long will recover and continue to be a pillar of the offensive line. But I would imagine the club would nonetheless like to protect itself financially against the continuation of the recent trend.
Perhaps the club prefers to see how Long returns and is handling training camp and the early part of the season before committing to a new contract.
That would be smart. Of course, in the meantime, that significant cap hit glows in neon as needing to be addressed. It is a catch-22. Pay Long and gamble he'll be fine? Or delay a new contract and suffer the tightened cap space?
There is, of course, another scenario that might explain the lack of a new contract for Long. It is obvious this is a big-ticket item. It will cost a lot of dollars. What if owner Stephen Ross, smarting from tanking ticket sales, simply isn't in position to dole out $40-$50 million in guaranteed money right now, much of which would no doubt come in the form of a hefty signing bonus?
What if the Dolphins -- among the bottom five spenders in cash outlay a year ago -- are simply trying to hold down costs again?
These are all questions the Dolphins don't have to answer. But it would clear things up if they did.
Alla tu.
Posted by: oscar canosa | March 24, 2012 at 10:25 AM
No Deal? oscar canosca
but the real deal is 3/29/12 Protest March FIRELAND
@ Miami Dolphin Training facility
or Twitter & blog if cannot make it
Posted by: Occupy Davie | March 24, 2012 at 10:41 AM
My throwing shoulder and arm were never injured and the idiots there never let me audible because Parcells and Ireland thought they were soooo smart.
Well, they are not.
F'K the Miami Dolphins!
Posted by: Chad Henne | March 24, 2012 at 10:44 AM
We are going to run right threw Jake Long and throw Garrard like the old washed up rag doll that he is on the turf!
The Dolphin's Suck and Ireland is a weasel & a racist.
I've got Tebow and I'm gonna run the Wildcat right thru the heart of the Miami Defense.
Go Jets!
Posted by: Tony Sparano | March 24, 2012 at 10:47 AM
YES FOLKES JOIN HOME THE IDIOT AND HISS TRAILER PARK FRIENDS AS THEY BOYCOT DOLPINS PRATICE PLACE.
Posted by: Odins Bloated liver. | March 24, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Armando must be a little upset that Ross called a season ticket holder and not him....
NFL.com
Posted by: thavafin | March 24, 2012 at 11:07 AM
oscar,
Do you find this to be out of Order?
Garrard paid higher than Matt Moore
March, 23, 2012
The Miami Dolphins were not playing around when they signed 34-year-old David Garrard to compete with Matt Moore. Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel had an interesting note this week laying out the contracts of both quarterbacks.
Garrard is scheduled to make $3.25 million in 2012 with his salary and signing bonus. He also has an additional $1.5 million in incentives. Moore will make $2.75 million in salary. Both one have one year remaining on their contracts.
The Dolphins would not have paid Garrard more than the incumbent if they weren’t serious about the former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback potentially winning the job. If Moore comes out on top, Miami would actually have a backup on the sidelines making more money than the starting quarterback.
Garrard missed all of 2011 with a back injury, so he’s a bit of a wild card. But based on the contracts, it looks like Miami is serious about the prospect of Garrard leading the team next season.
Posted by: The Signal | March 24, 2012 at 11:08 AM
You know things are not going well when the team arranges a call like this, especially at this point in the off-season.
Posted by: The Signal | March 24, 2012 at 11:13 AM
The Signal is absolutely 100% correct
The team and Jeff Ireland are total out of whack
3.29.12 Protest FIRELAND!
Posted by: Tony Sparano | March 24, 2012 at 11:18 AM
I've been to Home's house many times.
It is a 5 bdrm pool home on an acre of land.
Quite nice actually :)
Posted by: Tony Sparano | March 24, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Has Irescum been fired yet?
Posted by: MJ | March 24, 2012 at 11:36 AM
There isnt another team in the universe that even wanted Garrard for 3rd string. HE COULDNT MAKE THE JAQUARS ROSTER!! How low can the Dolphins go?
Posted by: DolphinDave | March 24, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Occupy Davie movement will invade with 300 additional protesters outside the team's Davie training complex on 3.29.12
Clearly the Occupy Davie movement sponsored by WQAM of Miami is making a national impact.
Posted by: We want Ireland's head | March 24, 2012 at 11:43 AM
In addition to protesting, boycott this garbage team until Ireland is fired. Have you ever seen a worse GM?
Posted by: MJ | March 24, 2012 at 11:46 AM
How many times out of four have we beaten the pats with Marshall on the team? How many times have we had a winning record with Marshall on the team? WR heavy draft, don't need a big guy like Marshall anymore in this offense. Need average sized, speedy guys who know how to run routes, and aren't going to cost upwards of ten or eleven million a year. Guys who are physical with and without the ball in their hands. Marshall was some of these things, but not all of them.
Posted by: Marc Anthony Can't Sing | March 24, 2012 at 11:53 AM
How bout fat blind Jeffrey Ireland strap the shoulder pads on and buckle his chin strap and play my position for the Dolphoons with their garbage scrub quarterbacks.
Kiss my Black AAZZZZ Jeffrey, you weasal!
Miami Dolphins Suck!
Posted by: MVP of the 2012 Pro Bowl B-Marsh | March 24, 2012 at 12:02 PM
What the Hell kind of a mess did i sign up for?
I should the Protest to FIRELAND 3.29.12
Posted by: Coach Philbin | March 24, 2012 at 12:04 PM
I have no where else to go.
I was fired from a dismal 6-6 college program.
I belong with this sucky team.
We can all suck together.
Posted by: Coach Sherman | March 24, 2012 at 12:05 PM
So how many season tickets you want ???
Posted by: Steven Ross | March 24, 2012 at 12:07 PM
Boy, could i use a glass of scotch right now!
Posted by: Steven Ross | March 24, 2012 at 12:08 PM
Will someone PLEASE buy a ticket?
Posted by: Steven Ross | March 24, 2012 at 12:10 PM
Wonder if Robert Kraft is calling any of his 20 yr season ticket holders that are protesting his team and telling him he and the organization sucks?
Make that a double scotch
Posted by: Steven Ross | March 24, 2012 at 12:10 PM
its not so much whether we like b.marshall or not. its the fact our GM gave up 2 2nd round picks and a monster contract and gets back 2 3rd round picks,ross saying we were going to cut him anyways and get nothing! marshall is the same guy now as he was then(with issues). we knew that. in another business any of us would be fired for such large $ mistakes. this isnt the 1st but many in a series for ireland.
Posted by: greg z. | March 24, 2012 at 12:13 PM
Steve Ross has a plan to sell tickets this season. Buy any 2 single game tickets and get a free water balloon toss at Irescum.....plus a leftover Henne jersey(while supplies last) ...P.S. they have a ton of them!!
Posted by: MJ | March 24, 2012 at 12:23 PM
greg z. exactlly. But as you know it's just one more example of Ireland's mismanagement. From misses in the draft to overpaid FAs....many of them bust to releasing players with NO compensation. And now the chickens have come home to roost with just 8 mil under cap.
Posted by: cocoajoe | March 24, 2012 at 12:26 PM
What do i know i just own the F'kn team?
Though my WR Marshall catching 4 touchdowns in the Pro Bowl and being picked MVP w a Miami Dolphin Helmet on was a good thing and one heck of a turnaround.
I figured, Wow now other teams will have to TRIPLE team this guy.
... then Jeffrey traded him
now we have nothing but a guy in a clown suit outside my office w a Big sign that says FIRESCUM IRELAND all over the national media!
Posted by: Steven Ross | March 24, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Sucks to be me
and truthfully you know what,
The Dolphins Do Suck
period
Posted by: Steven Ross | March 24, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Stephen Ross, if you were going to dump Marshall, why not just dump the whole team?
Posted by: Ross Blowz | March 24, 2012 at 12:48 PM
HOME HAS BEEN PROMOTED FROMM MARINATED ACORN GROUP TO THE COVERTED GANG OF DEFEATT., CONGRATULATION HOME ON YOUR PROMOTION.
THE NECK
THE BULGING DISK
THE MACHANIC
THE DENTEST
THE ACORNS
THE CELLAR
Posted by: ALoco | March 24, 2012 at 12:51 PM
WHY I HAVE FEELING THAT HOME IS OVER AT ODINS TRAILER DRUNKING AND EATINGG GOVEMENT CHEESE?
THE NECK
THE BULGING DISK
THE MACHANIC
THE DENTEST
THE ACORNS
THE CELLAR
Posted by: ALoco | March 24, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Will someone PLEASE buy a ticket?
Posted by: Steven Ross | March 24, 2012 at 12:10 PM
Cut your prices to match your Arena team!
Posted by: Scotty | March 24, 2012 at 12:55 PM
I mean who are we kidding the Long has a bum knee, bad back, chronic shoulder injury and a torn bicep tendon, yet the country western goofball will be average at best by game 3 is hitting me up for another 12 million this year.
Something tells me Long will be on injured reserve again this year, especially after baldy tells him to sacrifice his injured body for washed up 2nd stringer fired from the Jags - Garrard
What the Hell is this 34 old hobbled blackie doing on our team as the highest paid quarterback?
What the Hell is Jeffrey doing to this team?
I'm starting to think the angry Miami fans are right.
Nother Double Scotch please
scratch, scratch
Posted by: Steven Ross | March 24, 2012 at 12:56 PM
Someone help! Dolphin ticket salesmen are going extinct!
Posted by: Save our Salesmen | March 24, 2012 at 12:57 PM
I wanted Tebow!
I kept telling Jeffrey, "Tebow, Tebow, Tebow!
Jeffrey said, yeah but I can get washed up, broken down, hobbled, right out of spine surgery coach sitting 34 yr old POS black QB discarded from a losing franchise fired 2nd stringer Garrard for about 1 million cheaper than the NFL's most popular 6 game in a row winning morally right 24 yr old dynamic AFC winning #1 NFL red Zone QB!
and then he signed Garrard and I'm F'kn Broke on this 1.1 billion dollar investment that Wayne sold me.
I have team I cannot give tickets away too, No good players will ever sign here, No good coaches will ever sign here, no fans will come and the F'Kn NFL is boycotting my team from all national games and said their will NEVER be another Super Bowl in that toilet bowl Chemtrail Death stadium!
Maybe it is the Chemtrails!
That Home blogger might have been on to something.
Fk it just leave the bottle of scotch and get out of here!
Posted by: Steven Ross | March 24, 2012 at 01:05 PM
The Dolpins will be playing in L.A by 2016. Thank goodness.
Posted by: Fins are Garbage | March 24, 2012 at 01:07 PM
home..........
WHEN WAS LAST TIME YOU MADE LOVE TO A WOMAN ?
Posted by: ALoco | March 24, 2012 at 01:08 PM
Hmm ... maybe i'll call another one of those protesters and mumble some more BS about Miami has the Dolphin's,
The Greatest Football team ...
Nah, I dont think their gonna buy it this time
Maybe free t-shirts that say ..... Garrard ?
Posted by: Steven Ross | March 24, 2012 at 01:10 PM
home..........
WHEN WAS LAST TIME YOU MADE LOVE TO A WOMAN ?
Posted by: ALoco | March 24, 2012 at 01:08 PM
ALoco, you're that horney?
Posted by: Alan | March 24, 2012 at 01:10 PM
If you guys get a chance swing by and vote on the new poll of what Miami should do in the draft.
dolphintalk.wordpress.com Top right of the page
You can further discuss the reason for your answers in newest draft blog post.
Hope Armando is ok, it's been awhile!
Posted by: Ohio Dolfan | March 24, 2012 at 01:11 PM
ALAN....... WHEN WAS LAST TIME YOU HAD A DATE ?
Posted by: ALoco | March 24, 2012 at 01:12 PM
WHY I THINK SOMEONE TALKING TO HMSELF?
THE NECK
THE BULGING DISK
THE MACHANIC
THE DENTEST
THE ACORNS
THE CELLAR
Posted by: ALoco | March 24, 2012 at 01:12 PM
OHIO,
I JUST VOTED ON YOUR BLOG....
Posted by: ALoco | March 24, 2012 at 01:14 PM
Thanks Aloco
Posted by: Ohio Dolfan | March 24, 2012 at 01:16 PM
I CALL ON ALL FANS TO GO VISIT OHIO NEW DOLPHIN BLOG ..IT'S VERY GOOD ONE WITH NICE PEOPLE ALREADY THERE .........
Posted by: ALoco | March 24, 2012 at 01:16 PM
If we follow this path and continue this awfully, at least were assured of landing Matt Barkley!!
Posted by: Ireland's Strikes Again!!! | March 24, 2012 at 01:22 PM
FinFans,
Who is fired 1st?
A)Philbin
B)Ireland
C)Who cares their both garbage!
Posted by: Pollster | March 24, 2012 at 01:27 PM
MATT IS NAME OF A LOT OF QBs, MATT CASSEL,MATT HASSELBACK,MATT LINART,MATT MOORE,MATT FLYN, WHO ARE OTHERS?
THE NECK
THE BULGING DISK
THE MACHANIC
THE DENTEST
THE ACORNS
THE CELLAR
Posted by: ALoco | March 24, 2012 at 01:30 PM
Home is the only one posting...
Posted by: truth | March 24, 2012 at 01:35 PM
UPDATE, 9:02 p.m.: The Broncos have confirmed officially trading Tebow to the Jets. The initial draft pick compensation is unchanged: Tebow and a seventh-rounder to the Jets, with fourth- and sixth-rounders going back to Denver. Per Schefter, the teams will split the $5 million that was in dispute earlier in the day.
I really am starting to think Jeffrey is secretly working for the Jets?!
Does this mean i could have got the NFLs Best Red Zone QB (better than P. Manning & A. Rodgers according to stats) at only 24 yrs old an fill my stadium w paying fans and hundreds of millions in merchandise for a shred cost of only $5 mil ?
and we are paying blackie 34 yr old washed up perennial back up loser and just out of spinal herniated disk surgery slow running erratic playing nobody gives a hoot about QB Garrard 3 1/2 million w a another million in bonuses and no shared cost instead of Florida's & the NFL fans Fav Tim Tebow?
Maybe Sparano & Jeffrey are both working for the mafia in New York
How else could things be so dreadfully awful?
Anybody wanna buy an authentic Garrard jersey for $300.00?
Didn't Tebow have the 2nd best selling jersey after playing in only 12 games after a lot of fans already bought their yearly jerseys?
Wish Home worked for me instead of these clowns!
There is No One Like Home
There is No One Like Home
There is No One Like Home
"God Help Us Home!"
Posted by: Steven Ross | March 24, 2012 at 01:50 PM
Home,
What are those huge white plumes in the sky over the stadium?
Looks like some kind of sky writing!
Wow, magnificent!
Where do you think those pilots are going, they just go back and forth leaving huge white lines that seem to expand!
The whole sky is getting murky, white, ...wow
What the Hell are they doing, Home!?!
Posted by: Steven Ross a lil drunk | March 24, 2012 at 01:55 PM
WHY I HAVE FEELING THAT HOME IS OVER AT ODINS TRAILER DRUNKING AND EATINGG GOVEMENT CHEESE?
THE NECK
THE BULGING DISK
THE MACHANIC
THE DENTEST
THE ACORNS
THE CELLAR
Posted by: ALoco | March 24, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Insulting Someone by food, Truly a lost art form.
Posted by: FP4FGs. | March 24, 2012 at 01:56 PM
what is an old Queen?
I understand it is an insult, just never heard of it before?
Posted by: Ohio Dolfan | March 24, 2012 at 01:58 PM
Look @ that drunk aasshole sitting alone in Dolphin stadium in his underwear and chaps with a half empty bottle of scotch
...SHEESHH, If the Dolphins only got a real QB and fired Jeff Ireland a long time ago that numbskull would not be sitting all alone in the stadium surrounded by 76,000 empty orange seats.
......Sucks to be him .......>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Posted by: Chemtrail pilot | March 24, 2012 at 01:59 PM
I always wondered why the fish never signed QB Tim Tebow
SMH >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Posted by: Chemtrail pilot #2 | March 24, 2012 at 02:01 PM
I like what the Dolphins are doing and and i like the Mets and NJ too.
Posted by: Tim Knight | March 24, 2012 at 02:09 PM
I like green eggs and ham Sam I Am
Posted by: NJPHINFAN | March 24, 2012 at 02:10 PM
I wanted Peyton Manning, but i'll take anyone or anything as long as i can keep blogging.dum da dee
Posted by: Stanger | March 24, 2012 at 02:14 PM
Stanger are you going to Dolphin bonefest 2012, er i mean Dolphin blogfest 2012?
Posted by: Walker | March 24, 2012 at 02:15 PM
No Omar wont bathe or wash his hair and i dont know where the stadium is!
Posted by: Stanger | March 24, 2012 at 02:16 PM
LMAO! I'm training with 2 sexy chics today at the gym which i own in NJ, cuz i own it and 2 retauraunts i own in the snow and i own 2 house which i own and my back is really big, you guys, ... still like me?
Posted by: NJPHINFAN | March 24, 2012 at 02:18 PM