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.
YG, You should change your name to Brain's Gone. I get your bias because you a Dolphin fan. But there a reason Elway was the #1 pick the year he came out with Marino, he the superior passer. Im comparing Marino to Elway specificlly BG(Brains's Gone)!
Give us all a favor and go see the wizard for a brain.
Posted by: Clue | March 22, 2012 at 02:01 PM
tiger. winston had some health issues of some sort the phins staff found.
Posted by: 2 watt | March 22, 2012 at 02:03 PM
Texas,
Great post at 1:20pm. You're totally correct. You CAN'T tell what a QBs accuracy is simply by looking at his College numbers. Too many things that go into it, including strength of teams playing and talent of receiving core. For someone to be critical of Tannehill's accuracy after 20 games started is ridiculous! It's for reasoning like that why Tom Brady was a 6th round draft choice. Very more important to me is whether Sherman has what it takes to trn this guy into a top flight QB in the NFL. That's the big unknown to me. Hopefully those are the kinds of things that are being discussed. I don't care so much what Tannenhill is today, it's what he's going to be in 3 years, going forward.
Only point I'll disagree on with you Texas is Cousins. Not sold on him at all. Don't know what it is about him. He just doesn't seem to have 'it', as far as I'm concerned.
Mark, you are right on with your comments about Weeden. After the top ten picks, Dalton is the only other guy I would rate on the same level as Weeden.
Posted by: Craig M | March 22, 2012 at 02:08 PM
Clue,
While you're on the subject of the "Yellow Brick Road". Follow it and maybe the wizard can give you one, A clue that is.
Oh, Im sorry. To have a clue first you have to have a brain. LOL
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:09 PM
If we draft Reiff, we keep Long and have one of the best olines for years to come. The idea is to build a team, not give up a good player for every good player you obtain.
Posted by: Clyde | March 22, 2012 at 02:11 PM
YG, As usual you couldn't counter my statement that Elway a better player than Marino so like the child you are you resort to insults. Anyways here a clue for you.
What do you call a dead beat loser for short?
YG
Posted by: Clue | March 22, 2012 at 02:16 PM
First mock is up on PFT. Interestingly they have RGIII going first and Luck going to the 'Skins. I wonder if they believe that or if they are just trying to stir up controversy. They have Tannehill going to us and Michael Floyd to the Jets.
Posted by: Craig M | March 22, 2012 at 02:16 PM
You can see here how many Jets fans post on this blog, ofcourse they don't want Jake Long, he is our best player. @JEFF Ireland, you need to pay your best players before they become free agents. It is always cheaper to do it now than later. We shouldn't allow our best players to be franchised or hit free agency.
Posted by: Kasey Tiger | March 22, 2012 at 02:17 PM
Kirk Cousins Scouting Report:
In 2011, he completed 63.7 percent of his passes (66.9 in 2010) for 3,316 yards. Cousins threw 25 touchdown passes to 10 interceptions. He posted an efficiency rating of at least 142.6 in each of his four years as a Spartan.
Strengths:
•Tough, gritty competitor
•Extremely efficient
•Three-time team captain - well-respected leader
•Accurate when in the pocket
•Experience in a pro-style offense in a major conference
•Improved yardage and touchdown figures each of the last three years
•Generally makes sound decisions with the football
•Looks off safeties on vertical routes
Weaknesses:
•Has a tendency to double-clutch the ball
•Really breaks down under duress - most of his mistakes come in the face of pressure
•Below-average passer on the move
•Questionable footwork - needs to improve his technique
•Very average arm
•Thin build (6-foot-2 5/8, 214 pounds)
Expected draft placement:
Cousins is an uninspiring selection, but he should come off the board as early as the late second round and probably no later than the early fourth. We give him a solid third-round grade for a team looking to groom an eventual starter in a ball-control offense.
Read more: http://www.kffl.com/a.php/130001/nfl-draft/2012-NFL-Draft-Scouting-Report--Kirk-Cousins--QB--Michigan-State?source=campaign-rss#ixzz1ps3ACllH
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:17 PM
Oweiller is an intriguing qb. Helluva arm and body size. At 6'9 it will be tough to bat his passes down and I can see this guy still being able to deliver the balls with defenders hanging on him.
Im not saying he's a wc qb, but very intriguing none the less.
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:24 PM
"Ireland says, "the fans will never influence a man of my stature and are not very bright about football operations."
This is exactly why Ireland shouldnt do to much public speaking. Im ok with him thinking this. But its public foot in mouth to say it.
I dont think Ireland is such a horrible gm. He's far more horrible at becoming a "people person". LOL
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:30 PM
Yg, if that cousins scouting report is accurate then bad footwork and average arm makes me want to stay away. Might be a decent backup or developmental qb but don't want to hand someone with those traits the keys or holdup drafting someone else for him.
Posted by: Mark in Toronto | March 22, 2012 at 02:31 PM
But to mirror Ireland, fans arent very bright about football operations. We see it every day in this blog alone. LOL
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:32 PM
Why not Tebow for a couple bucks more instead of Garrard?
Fire Ireland Protest 3/29/2012 @ Miami Dolphins Training facility
Meet Joey Porter, Channing Crowder, Will Allen, Yeremiah Bell, Warren Sapp and special guest Dan Marino!
Marino will quote from the great Martin Luther King, "I had a dream speech"
Stop the racist Jeff Ireland now from further ruining the Miami Dolphin's franchise
participate in the protest against racism and Jeff Ireland
See ya There
Go Dolphins!
Posted by: Occupy Davie | March 22, 2012 at 02:35 PM
I don't get it..We are right at the cap every year, but I always read that Ross is secretly telling Ireland not to spend..Anyone good with capology on here..Explain this 1 to me please.
Posted by: Rob Dolphins | March 22, 2012 at 02:36 PM
Mark In Toronto,
Chew on this. Kirk Cousin is sort of a body clone of a young Joe Montana. You may find this very intriguing before you totally dismiss Kirk Cousins:
Despite his performance on the field, Montana was not rated highly by most scouts. At one combine, Montana rated out as six-and-a-half overall with a six in arm strength, used to judge how hard and how far a prospect could throw the ball. By comparison, Jack Thompson of Washington State rated an eight, the highest grade among eligible quarterbacks.[11]
In the 1979 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected Montana at the end of the third round with the 82nd overall pick.[17] Montana was the fourth quarterback taken, behind Thompson, Phil Simms, and Steve Fuller, all selected in the first round.
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:38 PM
Mark in Toronto,
All Montana proceeded to do was this:
Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with San Francisco, where he played for the next 14 seasons.[3] Traded before the 1993 season, he spent his final two years in the league with Kansas City. While a member of the 49ers, Montana started in four Super Bowl games and won all of them. Montana was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, his first year of eligibility.[4]
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:40 PM
On paper Kirk Cousins looks exactly the same coming out of college as Joe Montana. Is this dejavous or just pure coindence?
Will 14 season, multiple championships, and a first ballot hof later will many gm's regret passing on Cousins too. Really tough to tell right now.
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:45 PM
Has Irescum been fired yet?
Posted by: Fins are Garbage | March 22, 2012 at 02:47 PM
Is still available 3rd rd, maybe we should take Cousins, even if we've already pulled the trigger on another qb. It doesnt hurt to make sure we're not passing on another Joe Montana.
Plus we are running the same offense that made Montana a star arent we? The wco.
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:47 PM
Ireland's going no where this year. So why is the same obssessed idiot still ranting his drivel all over the board the last few weeks? LOL
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:49 PM
Will 14 season, multiple championships, and a first ballot hof later will many gm's regret passing on Cousins too. Really tough to tell right now.
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:45 PM
Wow....
Be sure to remind us all when Ricky Stanzi is leading the Dolphins to a Super Bowl victory in a few years, too.
Posted by: The Signal | March 22, 2012 at 02:49 PM
The Signal,
Congratulations! You've proven dimension hasnt quite set in with you. How about posting that again to prove me a liar! LOL
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:51 PM
LOL
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:52 PM
dimensia
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:53 PM
Dont think the Dolphins Pay 90 Million to anyone. The days of this management spending that kind of money are over!! Cheap Cheap Cheap!!!! Next thing you knwo someone will catch Ross at Dollar General
Posted by: ericatl | March 22, 2012 at 02:54 PM
BOYCOTT THR FINS UNTIL IRELAND IS FIRED! HELP MAKE A CHANGE!!
Posted by: Fins are Garbage | March 22, 2012 at 02:54 PM
dimensia = forgetting you say the same things over and over again
alzheimers = I cant remember sh-t!
LOL
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 02:55 PM
YG, who are you exactly posting to? Your just rambling on like an insane person
Posted by: Clue | March 22, 2012 at 02:57 PM
Worst thing about landing a franchise LT before landing a franchise qb. By the time you find the franchise qb its almost time to find another franchise LT. The Browns are pretty much in the same boat us qb-wise(Joe Thomas).
Long and Thomas are showing the nfl its better to find the franchise qb first. Because what are you protecting with him, the garbage man? LOL
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 03:00 PM
YG, that was the point I made in '08 when we got Long. But who am I, just a stupid fan!
Posted by: DC Dolfan | March 22, 2012 at 03:01 PM
DC, Yes you are a very stupid one.
Posted by: Jeff Ireland | March 22, 2012 at 03:02 PM
Clue,
You just may havew a point. The only persons here are probably only me, you, and your many aliases. Including the Home alias you've been obsessively spamming the board with.
Thanks for the heads up. Im out upon learning of this not so startling revelation. LOL
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 22, 2012 at 03:03 PM
Posted by: The Fan Formerly Known as Timmy Couch (Now a Proud Fan Only of Winning Players, not Teams)
GET LOST YOU fairweather FAN !
Posted by: Jeff Row | March 22, 2012 at 03:04 PM
YG, Clue has only one alias and thats clue, but you on the other hand plays ALoco, Dying Breed and the rest of the other losers you troll with
Posted by: Clue | March 22, 2012 at 03:06 PM
WHAT ABOUT THE DEAD MONEY THEY HAVE FOR TIM DOBBINS..WHO GOT AND EXTENSION JUST BECAUSE HE LOOKED GOOD IN MINICAMP..THAN WHEN THE REAL GAMES STARTED HE GOT BEAT IN COVERGE LEFT AND RIGHT..THEY ARE STILL PAYING FOR THAT DUMB MOVE.AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON JASON FERGUSON GETTING A CONTRACT WEHEN HE WAS GONNA MISS THE FIRST 6 GAMES..THAN WHEN HE CAME BACK HE RETIRED...
Posted by: BLACKCEROTE | March 22, 2012 at 03:08 PM
Be nice to DC
Posted by: Ohio Dolfan | March 22, 2012 at 03:09 PM
Ohio, Sorry didnt mean to offend your boyfriend
Posted by: Jeff Ireland | March 22, 2012 at 03:11 PM
YG, I understand, there are guys scouts miss all the time. However, for a team that has no legit prospects at qb, don't draft Cousins alone in the 3rd round and expect me to hope the QB problems are over in Miami.
If you want to take Tannehill (1st round) or Weeden (2nd round), then use one of those 3rd round picks on Cousins and give him a QB coach to develop him over the next few years without any pressure whatsoever, then that is a different proposition altogher - kind of like what the Redskins did with Shuler/Frerotte many years ago.
I'm not saying don't draft Cousins but don't give me a QB that nobody has as a first round talent as the only hope for relief. There are only 2 first round talents available to us at the QB position in the draft - Tannehill or Weeden. Anyone else doesn't give me very much hope.
Posted by: Mark in Toronto | March 22, 2012 at 03:11 PM
IMO Russell Wilson is a better prospect than Tannehill.
Posted by: Jeff Ireland | March 22, 2012 at 03:15 PM
Breaking news!!!!
Adam Schefftner reports the Dolphins are looking to trade Reggie Bush!!!
LOL we suck
Posted by: Clue | March 22, 2012 at 03:16 PM
Any chance we can trade this team for a cfl team???......at least the results would be the same..just sayin!!!
DR Phils advice...CALL OPRAH!!!
Posted by: superPHIN | March 22, 2012 at 03:24 PM
lol, guess I asked for that one
Posted by: Ohio Dolfan | March 22, 2012 at 03:26 PM
Teams that are interested in Bush Pats, Rams.
Posted by: Clue | March 22, 2012 at 03:26 PM
If we trade Bush they can kiss my ass goodbye, cause I will be done.
Posted by: bobbyd12 | March 22, 2012 at 03:27 PM
I agree Bobby, if they planned to trade Reggie Bush and Brandon Marshall, then they should've just took the plunge to start all over and move up to trade for RG3. Start from a clean slate for real.
Posted by: Mark in Toronto | March 22, 2012 at 03:28 PM
So, Daniel Thomas is the every down RB for a WC style offense? Good grief Charlie Brown!
Posted by: Captain Obvious | March 22, 2012 at 03:29 PM
bobby, your not going anywhere
Posted by: Clue | March 22, 2012 at 03:29 PM
Haha, trade Bush to the Pats, that would be sweet...
Posted by: Mark in Toronto | March 22, 2012 at 03:29 PM
Bears land Bush!!!
Michael Bush - 4 year deal. Forte is pizzzzed
Posted by: Mark in Toronto | March 22, 2012 at 03:31 PM
Never mind guys, Dolphins arent trading Bush. It was a fake Adam Schefftner who tweeted. Sorry lol
Posted by: Clue | March 22, 2012 at 03:32 PM
Bush being trade bait shouldnt surprise anyone....Ross and Ireland are pushing this team to fan bankruptcy.....How do these guys show up to dolphin events in south beach without getting their @sses kicked daily???....theres a nice poll question...
Posted by: superPHIN | March 22, 2012 at 03:32 PM
I guess if Adam Scheffter says it then it must be true....GEEZ! This guy was wrong EVERY step he took on the Manning story. If he didn't have some semblance of a decent background he'd have been out on his ass!....I wouldn't put too muh stock into what Scheffter says. Bush is 26. If there was a great replacement then I'd say go for it but at this stage I don't consider Daniel Thomas to be a great replacement. Bush is also on an affordable contract. I'm not relly worried about this one.
Posted by: Craig M | March 22, 2012 at 03:34 PM
Lets Trade Costanza oops Ireland to the Yanks!!!!
Posted by: Jax Fin Fan | March 22, 2012 at 03:36 PM
superPHIN,
Bush doesn't have a big contract. Your theory makes no sense....He has one year left on his deal.
Posted by: Craig M | March 22, 2012 at 03:36 PM
Yea, of course the cheaper they come....the better they play my @ss.....You think bush isnt second guessing he's status in miami right now, I think he would be all about a change in teams with the way the front office conducts business lately....
Posted by: superPHIN | March 22, 2012 at 03:38 PM
WTF the fins are now trying to trade Bush ... man this team is going down hill fast... unless we get a 1st and 2nd rounder for him
Posted by: The One | March 22, 2012 at 03:39 PM
didnt Clue say above "nevermind" it was a false report?
Posted by: Ohio Dolfan | March 22, 2012 at 03:42 PM
WTF the fins are now trying to trade Bush ... man this team is going down hill fast... unless we get a 1st and 2nd rounder for him
Posted by: The One | March 22, 2012 at 03:39 PM
Firstly, it was a fake tweet apparently.
Secondly, expecting to get a 1 & 2 for a guy you swapped 6's for & gave up a special teams player?
LOL Come on!
Posted by: Captain Obvious | March 22, 2012 at 03:44 PM
I wasnt talking about bush's contract $$$ craig, I was talking more in terms of the product on the field or lack of for this year killing even more season ticket prospects!!!
Posted by: superPHIN | March 22, 2012 at 03:44 PM