The Dolphins will obviously add a running back to compete if Reggie Bush is allowed to walk in free agency as I've reported. Bottom line, they need more bodies because Lamar Miller, Daniel Thomas, Jonas Gray and Marcus Thigpen aren't enough bodies to take to training camp.
And a competition between Miller and Thomas for the starting job seems less that inspiring because Miller seems to clearly be the better back.
But Rashard Mendenhall to the Dolphins?
Well, that's the buzz going around the NFL as voiced most loudly by NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah on his twitter feed over the weekend. Jeremiah, a former NFL scout, obviously has connections around the league so he's as credible as most.
But Rashard Mendenhall to the Dolphins?
Apparently the Dolphins are eyeing more than one prospective Steelers free agent. Obviously the Dolphins cannot sign Mendenhall until 4 p.m. on Tuesday when unrestricted free agency's signing period begins. So we're talking interest in the abstract right now.
But Mendenhall is an interesting guy.
Yes, he has loads of talent. Yes, he is a load himself at 5-10 and 225 pounds. Yes, he is very fast, having clocked in the 4.4s coming out of college. He was even fast enough to be Pittsburgh's kickoff return man earlier in his career.
Mendenhall, 25, also has two 1,000-yard seasons to his credit, those coming in 2009 and 2010.
But Mendenhall is something of an enigma and 2012 was a disaster for many reasons.
In January 2012 he suffered a torn ACL injury to a knee and had to spend his entire offseason rehabilitating the injury. Unlike Adrian Peterson who recovered from a similar injury like a champion, Mendenhall languished and simply wasn't the same player.
He not only played only six games but languished by gaining 3.6 yards per carry. And when coaches didn't think he was trying very hard, they deactivated him for a game against San Diego. Well, Mendenhall didn't bother to show up for that tilt. And so he was suspended for the next game against Dallas.
Mendenhall also stirred some controversy in May 2011 when he got on twitter and chided Americans for celebrating the killing of Osama bin Laden. One of his tweets seemed to suggest he didn't blame bin Laden for 9-11 by raising the possibility of a conspiracy theory.
Mendenhall tried to walk back his position by first tweeting he was just trying to stir conversation and then apologized outright through the Steelers. But Champion Sporting Goods dropped Mendenhall from an endorsement deal.
Mendenhall's, cough, interesting history, diminished production, and Pittsburgh's difficult salary cap situation are undoubtedly reasons the Steelers haven't re-signed the player. That the Dolphins are reportedly interested in Mendenhall -- something I've not idenpendently confirmed -- might be yet another example of the paradigm shift the team is undergoing in its approach to free agency.
The Denver Broncos are also reportedly interested in Mendenhall.
You might as well get your jollies while still in denial, because you won't get them during the season.
Posted by: HL | March 11, 2013 at 07:09 PM
11 million a year can be dished out many ways. The cap hit for this season could be anywhere from 3 to 11 million Even at the 11 mark the Dolphins will still have 25 million to spend. 6 million on the draftees leaves 19 million to spend on free agents, none of whom will cost more than 7 million a season. That leaves room for at least two more free agents and leaves a little in the bank for a just in case scenario. The blowing their wad statement was very ignorant.
Posted by: ralph | March 11, 2013 at 07:09 PM
MY ROLE MODEL ON THIS FOURM IS (( DUSTY BOTTOM )).
CLASSY GUY,CLEAN ENGLISH.
SMART POSTS............
Posted by: ALoco | March 11, 2013 at 07:09 PM
I have no idea what is going to happen at the start of the Season tomorrow except to say Bush, and in all probablity Long, won't be back. Also, it's seeming more and more that Mike Wallace(a difference maker in their opinion) will be signed by the Dolphins.
Posted by: oscar canosa | March 11, 2013 at 07:09 PM
Who cares about the cap hit this year being reasonable? How friggin naive are some of you? Can any of you see more than 1 year ahead?
With the contracts for hartline, whatever WR, TE, CB, potentially Starks....this teams cap will be a friggin disaster in 2-3 years when the big money starts to add up.
Then what? Start cutting all these guys? The biggest mark against Ireland is having to build his team through FA. By the time it's all said & done, this team likely will not have won a playoff game & will be rebuilding a captastrophe again!
FA is better used to add 1 or 2 peices to get over the top. Ireland is going to use FA to get to .500!
FAIL!
Posted by: finfan23 | March 11, 2013 at 07:10 PM
Smart GM's have taken Harvin and Boldin. Reports are there is no competition for Wallace at his price. Gee, I wonder why.
Posted by: HL | March 11, 2013 at 07:10 PM
OUR GARAGE MANAGER IS DESTINED TO MAKE ANOTHER MISTAKE .........
THE
CELLAR..
Posted by: ALoco | March 11, 2013 at 07:11 PM
Wallace wasn't enough to help Big Ben get to the playoffs last year, but he is going to be better here on a less talented offense?
Posted by: HL | March 11, 2013 at 07:12 PM
HL go suck Sanchez off and get o ut of here. No one wants to hear about your jets love you moronic twat. Go fk yourself.
Posted by: ralph | March 11, 2013 at 07:12 PM
Think people. Think.
Do you even know what Wallaces 40 time is today and no years ago at the combine? No, you don't. Blind donkeys in desperation.
Posted by: HL | March 11, 2013 at 07:13 PM
Actually in like 3 years the cap start to climb, A LOT. The next 2 or 3 years will be tight for a lot of teams but after that the room grows. Hell, they borrowed like 3 Mil of cap money this year on future cap funds soooo
STFU
Posted by: PG13 | March 11, 2013 at 07:14 PM
The Steelers offered Wallace a 5 year $50 million deal he turned down. They were that close to paying his price.
Anyway, I hope Ireland trades down to pick either Keenan Allen, DeAndre Hopkins, Tyler Eiffert or DJ Fluker; we should be able to get at least an additional 3rd rounder by doing so.
Lane Jonhson will be gone by #12 I believe.
Posted by: Hydrashock | March 11, 2013 at 07:14 PM
HL how are the Jets doing? Still over the cap I see. Boy they are going to suck so bad for the next five years and it will be so much fun to watch. Cant wait mongrol.
Posted by: ralph | March 11, 2013 at 07:15 PM
HL ALoco, you have proven you are just a dumb pussie with no balls and zero knowledge if football. Go elsewhere dumfk
Posted by: bobbyd12 | March 11, 2013 at 07:12 PM
And, what have you proven? That youre an aging angry internet tough guy with a 12 year olds vocabulary?
BRAVO!
Posted by: Just FYI | March 11, 2013 at 07:15 PM
Whose talking about the Jets? They need 5 years to recuperate at this point.
Posted by: HL | March 11, 2013 at 07:16 PM
Do I like Wallace? Yes. Do I consider he's in the Megatron's WRs category? No. Still Miami's management expects something from him that its worth 12 mill/year. Have to let this thing play out.
Posted by: oscar canosa | March 11, 2013 at 07:16 PM
HL how stupid are you? Wallace is known as one of the fastest receivers in the league, top 3. Theres no debate there and your too stupid to see that. Again, go fk yourself
Posted by: ralph | March 11, 2013 at 07:17 PM
THE FILTHY BOBBYD12 OWES ME AN APOLOGY ...
JUST FOR SAYING I AM HL .......
ASK ARMANDO IF I SIGN WITH ANY OTHER NAME ,AND WHEN YOU GET THE ANSWER FROM ARMANDO,YOU WILL BE THE OFFICIAL DONKEY OF THIS BLOG...
Posted by: ALoco | March 11, 2013 at 07:19 PM
bobbyd insults people who read books, that is how freaking dumb he is. That is also why he has the vocabulary of a poodle from the slums.
Posted by: Wilhelm | March 11, 2013 at 07:19 PM
Oscar. True Wallace is not the same build or player as Johnson. He is called Megatron for a reason, the mans a freak. But look at MW and CJ #s side by side their first 4 years in the league...interesting, no?
Posted by: PG13 | March 11, 2013 at 07:21 PM
Let's land him first then talk symantics after!!
F U C K!!!
Posted by: MOKIKI'S | March 11, 2013 at 07:22 PM
Miami probably has Wallace rated a step below the 16mill/yr Calvins and Vincents. I don't mind it at all.
Posted by: oscar canosa | March 11, 2013 at 07:22 PM
You guys are in denial. Like teenage girls. Why don't you address my points. Wallace was average last year, why would you expect him to be better on a less talented team?
Don't be in denial, it only makes you look like frightened sheep.
Posted by: HL | March 11, 2013 at 07:23 PM
No chance they sign cook!! Waste of money. You have two real good TE's in this that we can get in the 2nd for way less money and coach him up.
Posted by: MOKIKI'S | March 11, 2013 at 07:23 PM
Actually in like 3 years the cap start to climb, A LOT. The next 2 or 3 years will be tight for a lot of teams but after that the room grows. Hell, they borrowed like 3 Mil of cap money this year on future cap funds soooo
STFU
Posted by: PG13 | March 11, 2013 at 07:14 PM
Sorry but, this is complete naivity! The cap grows every year but contracts grow even more! when was the last time a FA period, the contracts were less than the year before? THEY ARE ALL REATIVE. When the cap goes up, so do the contracts!
It has since FA wa adopted. Have you seen a year when teams are not forced to cut players with bloated contracts?
The average FA contract probably swells to 5 times the amount it was in it's first year by year 3. Look at dansby now.
Teams will always have to dump. Good teams use FA to get over the top. miami uses it to get to .500.
Seriously!
Posted by: finfan23 | March 11, 2013 at 07:24 PM
bobby, if yahoo sports is your source of knowledge than you are dumber than a hard boiled egg.
Posted by: HL | March 11, 2013 at 07:24 PM
Yahoo Sports is reporting Mike Wallace is related to jesus.
Posted by: HL | March 11, 2013 at 07:26 PM
There is a possibility that Wallace really didn't finish on some plays last year. Just a possibility...
Posted by: oscar canosa | March 11, 2013 at 07:26 PM
bobby, try reading a book and maybe adding two words to your first grader vocabulary. You are too dumb to see how well you advertise your sheer stupidity. You are illiterate.
Posted by: HL | March 11, 2013 at 07:27 PM
HL,,,
THESE CELLAR POSTER LIKE THE FILTHY BOBBYD ,EVERY YEAR THEY GET VERY UPBEAT ABOUT SOME PLAYERS ,THEN THEY PROVE TO BE BUSTS,,,
SINCE THEN ,I TAKE THE OPPOSITE SIDE FROM THEM ,AND I AM RIGHT AL THE TIMES,,,
WHILE THEY R LIVING IN THE CELLAR ....
Posted by: ALoco | March 11, 2013 at 07:27 PM
bobby, if yahoo sports is your source of knowledge than you are dumber than a hard boiled egg.
Posted by: HL | March 11, 2013 at 07:24 PM
LOLOLOLOLOL
Posted by: Post of the day!!! | March 11, 2013 at 07:27 PM
Only a fool would continue talking to an illiterate, no class, trash mouth like bobby. So I am done responding to that thing.
Posted by: HL | March 11, 2013 at 07:28 PM
We don't want to coach anybody up this year, midol. We are going for the Division.
Posted by: oscar canosa | March 11, 2013 at 07:28 PM
Go play with your Ken doll.
Posted by: bobbyd12 | March 11, 2013 at 07:25 PM
Go play with your Jeff Ireland doll. Potty mouthed Homer!
Posted by: HL & ALOCO ARE RIGHT | March 11, 2013 at 07:29 PM
Most 12 year old ghetto slum street rappers have an infinitely superior vocabulary than bobby toilet.
Posted by: HL | March 11, 2013 at 07:30 PM
You guys are in denial. Like teenage girls. Why don't you address my points. Wallace was average last year, why would you expect him to be better on a less talented team?
Don't be in denial, it only makes you look like frightened sheep.
Posted by: HL | March 11, 2013 at 07:23 PM
Posted by: It is a good point | March 11, 2013 at 07:32 PM
ASIDE FROM FOOTBALL,IF A POSTER DOESN'T LIKE MY OPNION ABOUT THING ,,WHY WOULD THAT POSTER RESORT TO FILTHY LANGUAGE,UNLESS ,HE HAS BEEN IN JAIL FOR SOME TIME...
Posted by: ALoco | March 11, 2013 at 07:33 PM
blim, go lick your moms herpes infested pussie....
Posted by: bobbyd12 | March 08, 2013 at 09:08 PM
Posted by: bobbyd shows he is true slime | March 11, 2013 at 07:36 PM
Moreover, and tomorrow at 4PM I'll be more sure about it, I say, ALL the picks in the first and second rounds in the Draft will be NFL ready to play rookies, be them Playmakers, OLinemen or long-snappers. Can't miss, you know.
Posted by: oscar canosa | March 11, 2013 at 07:36 PM
ASK ARMANDO NOW DONKEY ...............IF I DO SIGN WITH ANY OTHER NAME............
DC
Posted by: ALoco | March 11, 2013 at 07:37 PM
blim, go lick your moms herpes infested pussie....
Posted by: bobbyd12 | March 08, 2013 at 09:08 PM
------------------------------------
Both Craig M and Yesterday have said in the last few days how they hope this slime comes around more often.
Posted by: Unreal | March 11, 2013 at 07:38 PM
Seems nobody else from me talking Football here. I will go cook my Palomilla.
Posted by: oscar canosa | March 11, 2013 at 07:39 PM
I AM TIRED OF TALKING TO THE FILTY POSTER ,BOBBYD .........
LET'S STOP IT AND LET THE REAL POSTER POST ....
Posted by: ALoco | March 11, 2013 at 07:39 PM
bobbyd is living proof that Sloths mate with rats.
Posted by: Dr. Dergewood | March 11, 2013 at 07:41 PM
Both Craig M and Yesterday have said in the last few days how they hope this slime comes around more often.
Posted by: Unreal | March 11, 2013 at 07:38 PM
Well, the three of them share the same things in common. Stupidity, idiocy & a lack of an education.
Posted by: Really | March 11, 2013 at 07:44 PM
bobby,
Hurry! Come rescue your mother. She just checked into my roach motel and can't get out!
Posted by: Anthony Perkins | March 11, 2013 at 07:48 PM