The price of mediocrity? It's going up for the Dolphins

The Dolphins call this a measuring stick game.

And I would tell you that most observers who measure the Dolphins see them as a mediocre team -- at best. So what does a mediocre team do with starters that aren't quite stars but are good enough to threaten significant attention in free agency?

Whatever the Dolphins do it means the price of doing business with these players is going waaaay up after this season.

Whatever you think of Brian Hartline or Sean Smith or Randy Starks, all of them are going to get significant pay raises after their contract expire this year and heading into free agency. All of them. I tell you here the contract neighborhood those players expect to be after 2012.

I tell you where the contract talks are with those players. I also tell you here which player has had no contract negotiations with the Dolphins and is likely to be done playing for Miami after this season. (Hint: He plays running back).

Back to the measuring stick issue, today will offer comparison between the Dolphins and a team with championship aspirations. The Patriots, as you may know, are 18-0 in the second half of seasons since 2010, including 2-0 this year.

They're good.

So if the players we discuss above have a great game against New England or help the Dolphins beat the Patriots today, they will argue they're worth their high asking price. Fair.

But what if Miami loses? Does that mean those guys aren't worth it? I don't think so. The truth is the Dolphins can't really lose ground this offseason. They lost ground before this season in dealing away Brandon Marshall and Vontae Davis and now wide receiver and cornerback are team needs.

So they're going to lose Sean Smith or Brian Hartline -- a cornerback and wide receiver -- and make a hole a bigger hole? It's an interesting situation.

By the way, there's a live blog today. Starts in the comment section. I'll be there around kickoff.

Comments

[Yesterday" Gone 4Ever!]

3yrs ago, Brandon Marshall recieved a $50 million dollar contract from us. Hartline's in noway in that Marshall category, but 3yrs later the price for wr's in fa has gone up too.

I wouldnt be surprised at all if Hartline's agent asks for something in the 5yr 35-$43 million range.

Had Ireland extended him earlier, we probably have him signed for 3 more years at $18 million. Or $5.5 a year, instead of the at least $7 million a year he probably now commands.

I would be absolutely shocked if Hartline isnt signed at $7 million a year, whether its here in Miami, or on another team.

[Craig M]

Mark,

You have to ask if these players are the guys to get us there. I'm not sure they are. Philbin has laready said that you build through the draft. Like or not that will be plan.

I'm not saying we SHOULD let everyone walk, I'm saying we shouldn't be surprised if we let a lot of them walk. You don't reward guys for mediocrity and there's a lot of that on the team right now. Will depend on how the season finishes but if we're 6-10, I think you'll see changes.

[Dashi]

YG,

Agreed. All Other Years Before This One. U Jake HATERS Don't Want TO ADMIT THIS. BUT NOBODY IS GETTING THEIR MONEY BEFORE JAKE. STAR PLAYERS SET HOW THE TEAM NEGOTIATES WITH EVERYONE ELSE! JAKE SAID BEFORE THE SEASON! HE'S NOT TALKING CONTRACT! UNTIL AFTER THE SEASON!!

NOW IRELAND HAS SHOWN. IF THE PLAYER IS REALLY GOOD! HE WILL SIGN HIM BEFORE TIME.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81b72931/article/dolphins-give-wr-bess-a-threeyear-contract-extension

HArtline Just Isn't Worth What He Thinks!!

[Armando Salguero]

Hello everyone!

[Clipboard]

LET'S GET THIS STARTED!!!!!!!!!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

[Craig M]

YG,

Seriously, who's going to pay Hartline that money? Ireland should be fired ON THE SPOT if he gives Hartine money like that. He's not a number one WR and that's the kind of money you pay a #1. So, since we would be paying that, tell me what team that will. He's not a difference maker, sorry. That's SUICIDE!

[Dashi]

YG,

Nelson Got 3yr/$15 Million!

Hartline Wants That Or More!

HARTLINE IS NOT WORTH MORE THAN WHAT HE IS GETTING PAID!

1 TD in 11 GAMES!! That is Not B.MArshall Money!! Heck!! That is Not D.Bess Money! And Bess Signed a 3yr/$9 Mil Deal!

[FP4FGs.]

How spical is it we get to hear Dan Deardorffs "Man-Love for everything Patriots?
Is there a radio station on the west coast so I wont have to hear Dans Man-love for Brady?

[Mark]

Hiya Mando

[Craig M]

You don't pay guys that AREN'T number one WR's $7 million a year.

Said it before, YG, thank God you're not running this team.

[Omelet]

It is easy to trash a receiver that started his career under Sparano and Henning and Henne, 3 different OC's in 3 years, and now with a rookie QB. But, is that fair?

[DC Dolfan]

Mark, the reason I bring up the TDs is because those are DIFFERENCE MAKERS. Possession receivers are a dime a dozen. You can find them in any round of the draft or in FA. Heck, Bess is a possession WR, so we already have one on our team. What we NEED is someone to blow the top of defenses and score TDs. And, to Craig's point, it's better money spent on a pass rusher of Wake's caliber or a Safety who's good in pass coverage or a TE with Gronk's abilities to lessen the need of a bunch of WRs. There's only so much money a team can spend, so it's about getting the MOST bang for your buck.

Also, I doubt Hartline is going to change his mind now when he didn't want lesser money and had the Season he had this year. So it's reality. Pay him more, or he walks.

[Armando Salguero]

It is raining all of a sudden. Crazy.

[nyfinfan]

Would be nice if it poured all game long.

[Yesterday" Gone 4Ever!]

Dashi,

When considering what the Larry Fitgeralds of the league are making. Hartline's still a bargain at $7 million a year. That's pretty much the area of pay he fits. Remember, 3yrs ago we signed Brandon Marshall to $10 million a year.

Marshall was a perrenial pro bowler. Hartline is a borderline pro bowl type wr. Not there yet, but right at the cusp.

[optimistic]

dansby needs to go and we should let him. can u say way over paid. his ego won't let him be open to restructuring.

[Armando Salguero]

Bess drops the first pass of the game. Right in his hands.

[DB]

Dashi,

Did you really say these closet queen words or was a troll making them up?

-------------------------------

Who's Spit? And Who's Swallow??

Cause WE ALL KNOW!! DASHI'S NAME IS ALWAYS IN UR MOUTH!!!

Posted by: Dashi | November 25, 2012 at 09:24 PM

[Dashi]

YG,

HArtline Will Get $4 Million Tops!

[Armando Salguero]

Rob Ninkovich just tossed Jake Long aside. It was UGLY.

[Craig M]

Tannehill looks shaky already.

Great start for the team!!....GEEZ!

[Clipboard]

NEVER ENDS!

[Orlando Dophan]

Horrible start by the Dolphins. May be a blow out today. We better turn it around.

[Tony in Miami]

Hi Dude... sad weekend... poor family in Kansas, my condolences to all affected

[Craig M]

YG,

You're on drugs! Marhshall at $10 mil a year wasn't worth it and Hartline a t $7 mil a year isn't worth. Yeah, let's keep making the same mistakes over and over again....good plan!

[DC Dolfan]

Hernandez WIDE OPEN. Who's defending? CHRIS CLEMONS! Great Safety we have.

[Yesterday" Gone 4Ever!]

Jordy Nelson is a slot wr isnt he? Hartline's proven he can be a legit #2. Maybe not one of the league's top 5 #2's. But I would say bottom 10 to 15th best #2 wr.

This means at least 19 teams out there with a legit #1 wr could be interested in making Hartline thier #2 wr.
We can argue this all day but I rather not. Just wait uintil season ends and see for yourselves.

[Dashi]

Oh And U have Posted The Question a Million Times Without Answering IT!

AND THE ORIGINAL QUESTION!! WHICH IS RIGHT AFTER THAT FOOL IS

WHO'S SNOOKI? WHO'S JWOWW?

ANSWER THE F'ING QUESTION! SINCE U LIKE REPEATING IT SO MUCH!

[Sigh]

What's disappointing is that insofar as Hartline, Long, Smith, and Starks go is that none of them were traded for draft picks. If the team knows it cannot keep players, then it should try to trade them in some cases.

The Dolphins did trade Marshall and Davis, but did not replace them (yet), which kind of defeats the purpose of trading them.

My opinion/guess is that the Dolphns will resign Long and Smith and possibly Starks. Ireland will focus, as always on the OL, DL, and CB (as did Parcells).

My own opinion (and humble it is):

Long should be allowed to walk. He used to be elite; now, he is closer to Marc Columbo than Joe Thomas.

Hartline should probaby be retained as should Starks. Smith should be allowed to walk unless he actually becomes a playmaker over the rest of the season.

Of course, I'm hardly the only one that wishes a new GM was making some of these choices.

[Craig M]

DC,

Yeah where's all the Cleemons fans now....GREAT player!

[DC Dolfan]

Every 3 and out we have will spell points for them. Mark my words.

[Armando Salguero]

Bad tackling by hte Dolphins.

[Craig M]

They can be my guest.....Hartline at $7 mil a year....good luck!

[Orlando Dophan]

And the route is on.

[Dashi]

Live BLog??

[Craig M]

Great start 'Phins....what a joke!

[Armando Salguero]

Yeah, we're looking at you Brandon Fields.

[dolfanSF]

at least it looks like we got a pass rush today.

[DC Dolfan]

Was it his fault Mando? The snap didn't look too good. And neither did the team lining up (seemed not to know their assignments).

[Oy Vey, Miami]

This thing is gonna get ugly. Fins look rattled on all three sides of the ball.

[Dashi]

What A WAY TO START A GAME!!

FIELDS SCREWS UP FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL YEAR!! AND IT COST THE FINS!!

OH WELL!! Time To Get a Drive Going.

[DC Dolfan]

Let this be a lesson to Tannehill and the other 1st-timers vs NE. You must play a practically PERFECT game to beat them. NO MISTAKES! AND MUST START FAST! Or else kiss your arses goodnight.

[Craig M]

Chiefs up already on the Panthers, playing with heavy hearts....go get 'em Chiefs!!!

[Dan]

Can't blame Fields too much. That snap was terrible.

[DolphinCoacesRemainIdiots]

If this is a bellweather game, then the Miami Dolphins are awful..

[bobbyd12]

Rough start

[Armando Salguero]

It was a bad snap, DC. But Fields then bobbled it when he tried to pick it up a second time. And then he ran? Grab it and kick if you can.

[Dashi]

DC,

The WHOLE TEAM IS PLAING A LITTLE NERVOUS.

They NEED To Settle Down.

[dolphin 77]

Here we go. Mistakes and missed tackles.

[Marchcool]

Great start for the Dolphins, a fumble ! Precisely what they were not supposed to do today, early mistakes ! Awful !

[Dashi]

*Playing

[DC Dolfan]

You CANT run up the middle without taking out Wilfork. AMATEURS!

[g]

Could we start any worse?

[guppies]

Thanks suck fish for giving my Sundyt back, they will be toast by the 1st qtr....

3 AND OUT COMING UP.... NE UP 14 - 0 IN 5 MIN

THEY SUCK!!!!!

[Craig M]

Team loks flat and tight....pathetic....Could be a long day!

[Ziggy]

We are going to get steamrolled today I can feel it

[DC Dolfan]

WHO was that to? Wouldn't have even been a 1st down.

[Craig M]

QB looks awful.....

[g]

Geez. 3 a.d out again

[guppies]

yep... 3 and out.... NE up 14 -0 in 4 min

BLOWFISH SUCK!!!!
BLOWFISH SUCK!!!!
BLOWFISH SUCK!!!!
BLOWFISH SUCK!!!!
BLOWFISH SUCK!!!!