Moreno's resurrection and one reason for success

Last August 17 was a season-changer for Knowshon Moreno. Entering the first week of the 2013 preseason, Moreno was running third-team as a Denver Broncos running back behind Ronnie Hillman and rookie Montee Ball.

But during one drive against the Seattle Seahawks, quarterback Peyton Manning attempted a pass that fell incomplete when he was trucked by an onrushing Seattle defender who was not picked up in pass protection by Ball.

Moreno didn't carry the ball at all that game. But he basically outshone Ball by simply not being there when defenders poured through to hit Manning.

Soon after, Moreno was suddenly back in good graces and in need because the Broncos knew Manning couldn't take any more hits from unblocked rushers if they were going to have a good season. Ball out. Moreno in.

The rest is history.

Moreno had the best season of any Broncos back and the best season of his five-year NFL career, rushing for 1,038 yards (4.3 yards per carry average) with 10 touchdowns and 60 receptions for 541 yards and three touchdowns, which also was a career best.

It was Moreno's excellent ability to pass protect that got him back in the Broncos lineup when it seemed the team was ready to go in another direction and it is that ability that made him valuable enough to the Dolphins that they signed him to a one-year deal on Friday.

The Dolphins acquired what seems to be a solid pass protecting third-down back.

Now, Moreno sees himself as more than that (as you will soon read) and he'll have a chance to prove he can be the starter with the Dolphins because the running back competition is likely to be wide open. But if that's the case he'll face challenges he didn't face last year with the Broncos.

The primary challenge for Moreno, indeed, any Dolphins running back, is that they often see loaded tackle boxes. Defenses the last few years, regardless of quarterback, have opted to stop the Miami running game and dare the quarterback to beat them.

So Dolphins running back see 8-man boxes with regularity.

Moreno rarely if ever saw 8-man boxes last year. I studied the cut-ups of three Broncos games last season. Moreno ran against an 8-man box exactly zero times during those games.

None. Not once.

That's because Peyton Manning, seeing a safety down in the box, would slice and dice and turn the opposing secondary into a piece of burnt toast. Very rarely do teams play 8-man boxes against Manning.

Miami's Ryan Tannehill doesn't get that type of respect.

And unless Tannehill makes defenses consistently pay for using 8-man boxes against the Dolphins in the future, Moreno is going to see more loaded tackle boxes than he saw the last couple of season when he played with Manning.

It will be interesting to see how he does.

Moreno talked to South Florida reporters on Friday. This is how the conference call went:

Dolphins General Manager Dennis Hickey introduction -  “I like to say it’s my pleasure and I’m very excited to announce the newest addition to the Miami Dolphins that’s Knowshon Moreno.  Knowshon is a very talented back and we’re very excited to add him to our team.  He’s a back that is coming off a 1,000 yard rushing season in addition to also having 60 receptions.  He’s a three down back that can help our team in a lot of different ways and he’s a tough, passionate football player, the type of mentality that we want to continue to add to our team.  We had a had a great visit with Knowshon last week and we’re very, very excited that we were able to get an agreement here and bring him on board and with that I introduce our newest Dolphin Knowshon Moreno.”

 Moreno:

What was the biggest thing that attracted him sign with the Dolphins and what he feels he can contribute to the team - “I think the main thing was just getting the opportunity to go down and meet with the coaches and meet with the different people working at the facility and just building a short relationship with those guys and coming in and having a good time.  You know when I get out there I’m going to work hard.  Do what I have to do to learn the new system and meet the new guys and build relationship and get to work from there.”

What does it takes to be a zone blocking running back - “At running back you want to be able to do it all.  Outside zone, inside zone or whatever it is, and just follow the blocks.  But in that case I think just going out and make sure I’m doing the right things at practice and just getting better each day.

How many other teams he talked to and if he feels motivated like he has to prove something being on a 1-year deal - “No, I was just concentrated on the Dolphins. I don’t feel pressure to go out because it’s a one-year deal and do anything spectacular.  I’m just going to go out there and make sure I’m doing the right thing, like I said earlier, working hard and competing, at the end of the day just going in and competing.  I’m not expecting anything.  Just go out and work and build those new relationships.”

How much does he feel the experience of getting to Super Bowl as you did last year with Denver will help bring that to a team that has a lot of young players – “I guess it will help.  That’s me coming in, just working hard and showing that leadership, the things I do on the field and off the field.  That was a special time, you know, last year but I’m trying to move on to something new and going to work and building relationships like I said earlier.”

If he feels like running backs are undervalued and that veterans are getting pinched in the situation – “I don’t know.  I know you are going to need running backs in your game so that, like it was said earlier, pass protect and be an outlet for the quarterback and run the ball. And to run the ball you have to versatile especially in this league."

Are you competing for a job or are you the starter – “Definitely competing, especially being a part of a team where anyone can be a starter and I think the same thing at the Dolphins. We are all going to go in and compete and the best man will win and get the job done. We will learn from each other, have fun with each other and at the same time go out there and compete and do what we have to do to help this team.”

What sort of adjustment do you think that means for you going from the veteran in Peyton Manning to a third year starter in Ryan Tannehill who is still learning and developing  – “Every quarterback was in their third year at one time. I am going to come in and do what I have to do and learn from him. He has been in the system and do what I have to do to make sure that I am doing the right things.”

What has he learned from the first five years in the NFL – “A lot of things, a lot of things. Things about the game, about the business and things like that and at the end of the day just learning each year growing as a person, as a man and as a football player.”

Does this have the capability to be a real high profile, high powered offense – “It is going to be whatever we put in this offseason. Going in the guys doing the smart things to work and coming in and doing the right things that we have to do. I think every team in the NFL is going in the same way, going in saying that they can be good and at the end of the day it is going to down to the hard work that we all put in.”

What went so right last year and made it all click – “Just doing the good things throughout the off-season and getting in and make sure that I am doing the right things to my body, doing the extra things after practice and before. Just to make sure that I am not going to stop those things.”

If he had talked to Bill Lazor, the offensive coordinator and what he told him about the offense and what they had planned for him – “Mostly when we met, it was just bonding with each other and getting to know each other like I said earlier. (We) did not talk too much about football, just getting to know each other in that short period of time and just chatting.”

If he is disappointed that he is not going to have the opportunity to return to the Broncos – “It is what it is, like you said, it’s a business. I am just every excited to be apart another team with a great group of guys, coaches all coming in and building for a certain goal and that goal is to work hard and win. So I am just excited for the opportunity.”

The feeling meeting with Coach Philbin and what type of coach he is going to be compared to (John Fox) who you played under in Denver – “You know what, they are both family guys. (They are) both generous, genuine guys, player kind of guys. Just good people. You really want to be surrounded by good people and it’s no different with the Dolphins.”

Evan Mathis trade will be discussed, but actually done?

Yes, Eagles Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis is available in trade, as multiple NFL media have reported today.

Yes, the Dolphins could use an upgrade at guard, as the entire Earth knows. So the issue will be discussed internally. And former Eagles assistant Bill Lazor, now the offensive coordinator with the Dolphins, will obviously be part of that discussion. Lazor knows intimately what the Eagles coaching staff thought of Mathis throughout last season.

So naturally, the question becomes would the Dolphins be interested in Evan Mathis enough to try to get him?

I do not know for sure.

But let's examine the facts ...

Mathis is 32 years old. He'll be 33 in November. That's not a good thing. That's a bad thing. The Dolphins had zero interest in 32-year-old guard Travelle Wharton this offseason despite his solid play for Carolina in 2013.

Mathis has a contract that will pay him $5.15 million this year in base salary, $5.5 million in 2015 when he's 33-34 years old and $6 million in 2016 at age 34-35 years old during the season. I understand why the Eagles are trying to trade him.

It is not a good guard contract for the team because of the player's advancing age. You can happily pay $5 million a year for a 25-29-year-old guard who is a Pro Bowl player and rated 2013's best NFL guard by ProFootballFocus.com, as Mathis was. But at age 32-33? That is something of a stretch.

The Eagles also want compensation for Mathis. Understandably so. He's really good.

But to give up a valuable draft pick -- anything between the first through fourth round -- in one of the deepest drafts in a while for a player who may not be around in two years is also something of a desperation move.

Combine the two -- paying the big base salaries and giving up a draft pick and the deal is not exactly a slam dunk.

Obviously, the Dolphins could ask Mathis to redo his contract. Well, if that's the case, he'd probably like a raise rather a trim in salary. Hard to do.

They could wait on the Eagles to simply cut Mathis, which seems like a possibility because they want to get out from under the contract, but then the player becomes a free agent and is able to negotiate with other teams.

So the Dolphins face a question. Do they solve their guard issue short-term at a very, very steep price?

Or do they go into the draft and try to resolve the issue at a much lower cap hit with a player who is young and has his better days ahead of him?

Obviously the latter includes the unknown of whether the selected player turns out to be good or not.

These are the questions GM Dennis Hickey and his team will have to answer. 

Please Dolphins, cut the PC stuff and speak plainly

Sometimes a politically correct climate forces right-thinking people to keep quiet or not act and speak as they believe so as to simply avoid a backlash from the herd.

For whatever reasons, the Dolphins have been doing some of this recently.

The politically correct issue the team is dealing with is the idea of workplace conduct. It is a pet topic for the NFL now because of the Dolphins' harassment scandal, because of racially charged exchanges between players and between players and game officials, and because of the fact a player, Michael Sam, has announced himself as being gay, and so his inclusion into a locker room without any reproach is vital to the NFL.

But here's the thing: In trying to not offend and be inclusive and embracing relativism over what is simply right and wrong, the NFL is also asking us to at times suspend knowledge of what we know to be the truth.

Examples:

The Dolphins are never, ever, ever, ever going to let Richie Incognito return to their team. He had a terrible effect on the locker room, as evidenced by the Wells Report, and he's got some sad and troubling emotional issues he must clear up.

But are the Dolphins saying this?

Nope.

Someone has concocted marching orders to everyone in the organization that rather than plainly say what is true -- that the Dolphins have decided to go in another direction with Incognito -- the team is hiding behind the veil of free agency so as to not say what is obvious.

"I only want to talk about people on our roster," owner Stephen Ross said Tuesday when asked if Incognito had any shot of returning to the team. "As you know, he's a free agent and we'll sign those people who will better our team and make us a better football team."

The craziness of this? Ross himself two months ago, at the press conference to introduce Dennis Hickey as the general manager, said Incognito wasn't coming back. (He also said Jonathan Martin wasn't coming back and he's since been traded.)

So why the softening of a stance that doesn't merit softening? I mean, is Incognito going to sue the Dolphins if they make a business decision not to re-sign him? No. Are fans going to be up in arms if the team says the man most prominently named as an antagonist in the Wells Report isn't coming back? No. Fans mostly care about who is replacing Incognito.

Yet, the Dolphins have gone limp on their response. Hickey gave the same answer on Incognito, not wanting to address the guard's status because he's no longer under contract. But in the same presser he address tight end Dustin Keller, who also is not under contract.

Why walk on eggshells?

Then there's the question of Mike Pouncey. He also is named in the Wells Report. He also participated in the alleged harassment of Martin, according to the report. Indeed, in the report Pouncey said his best friends on the team were Incognito and John Jerry, the third primary Martin antagonist named in the report.

Pouncey must also submit to that "medical evaluation" commissioner Roger Goodell talked about as being necessary before the three players can participate in the 2014 season.

Well, Jerry is gone in free agency. Incognito isn't coming back (despite Miami's newfound mumbo-jumbo on the matter). But Pouncey is definitely going to continue with the Dolphins and indeed his future with the team is bright.

Pouncey is considered a team leader. When the Dolphins signed Branden Albert, they invited two players to a dinner to celebrate the moment. Those two players are quarterback Ryan Tannehill and ... Mike Pouncey.

Bottom line: The Dolphins see Pouncey as a candidate for rehabilitation from the harassment scandal while Incognito and Jerry were as tumors that needed to be removed. Indeed, Ross painted Pouncey as something of a victim himself.

"I think everybody could look back and reflect. We all get caught up with certain things and you go with it," Ross said.

But can we get away from the PC stuff here and get to the crux of the matter? You know why Pouncey is still in good standing with the organization while the other instigators of the harassment and even Martin as the "victim" were dispatched?

Because Mike Pouncey is an outstanding NFL players. And the other guys really weren't.

Pouncey is 24 years old. He's got a great future ahead of him. He's bound to get better. And the Dolphins would be silly to get rid of him. Period.

That is the reason he's sticking around despite what the Wells Report alleged.

Yet the Dolphins are still tap dancing around this fact. When asked Tuesday if the team would excersise its option in May to add a fifth year to Pouncey's contract, coach Joe Philbin said the issue had not been discussed.

Whaaat?

You have a Pro Bowl player on the roster entering the final year of his contract and you can extend it by one year because that is your option under the collective bargaining agreement, and the idea hasn't been floated internally?

We're supposed to buy that?

The Dolphins not only will use the option on Pouncey but they're going to have to extend Pouncey's contract to keep him on the team.

But alas, political correctness prohibits the team from saying so right now as the NFL talks of "medical evalations" and locker room respect, perhaps because it might look like Miami is embracing one of the so-called bullies in the Wells Report. 

I say we cut through the PC stuff and call it how it is.

Mike Pouncey stays because he's good. Richie Incognito isnt coming back because he's troubled and caused trouble. The Dolphins will use the option year on Pouncey because, altogether now, he's good. John Jerry went because he's not that good. 

See how much easier all that is?

Joe Philbin talks at the NFL annual meeting

ORLANDO -- It was morning Joe at the NFL annual meeting today.

That's Dolphins coach Joe Philbin with the media ... And here are the highlights:

[Keep refreshing as I will add more items as quickly as I can type.]

On the status of Mike Pouncey going forward, Philbin said he has not been told that his starting center will miss time either because he's in NFL mandated counseling or because he will be suspended. But Philbin could not guarantee Pouncey will be available for every game.

"We've been in contact, as you guys are well aware, with the National Football League since the onset of this. It's been five months roughly since the onset of November 1st and we've been coordinating with them throughout," Philbin said. "This is a decision the commissioner has made so we're going to continue to work through this with the National Football League and draw this to a conclusion.

"This is where we're at today and we'll continue to work through it."

Philbin declined to say if Pouncey, on the leadership counsel a year ago and invited to the dinner to welcome new free agent signing Branden Albert, remains a team leader.

"The offseason program doesn't begin until April 21st," he said. "I have a lot of faith in the guys in our locker room. I have a lot of faith in Mike Pouncey. And so we'll see. But in terms of the leadership counsel and all those things, I've given a lot of thought to it and haven't made any commitments as to how we're going to do it next year. We'll give all that ample consideration."

Philbin also said the club has not made a decision whether to exercise the fifth-year option year for Pouncey.

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Philbin, who admitted he had a few sleepless nights as a result of the harassment scandal that plagued the Dolphins, has been doing a lot of reflecting since the end of the season.

"Let's be honest, guys, every offseason since I've been coaching and I'm going into my 31st year, you always think of ways you can do your job better," he said. "As I examined some of the things that as the head coach of the Dolphins I can do better, I think the visibility factor can be a difference. That's one of the things I'm going to do. It's not that I've never been but I think what happens sometimes to coaches is you're conflicted with, 'Should I watch that blitz tape. Gosh, I got to get that third down film watched.' And sometimes it's better use of a head coach's time to walk through the training room, walk through the locker room, walk through the hallways. It's not that I've never done that stuff, but it's fair to say I'm going to do it more."

I asked Philbin what he's going to do to make sure his players and his assistants bring their issues to him. Philbin has previously told players and others to do so but last year it was shown that Jonathan Martin chose to keep his treatment by other players away from Philbin's attention for fear of being cast a snitch. Also, offensive line coach Jim Turner basically lied to Philbin when the coach asked if certain things that were being alleged were actually happening.

Turner told Philbin they were not.

Not only were they happening, but Turner apparently was part of the problem.

"Well, I mentioned the visibility," Philbin said. "I think accessability also is important. They're a little bit tied together. In the NFL, everybody doesn't want to be the bearer of bad news. The head coach is busy. Don't bother him. He's watching film. He's doing this or doing that. We got to get away from that. I frankly have to be a little more vigilant in my enforcement of policies and proceedures that I want to have in the locker room and the program. That falls on me.

"But there has to be better communication both ways. From them to me to me to them. Players to me. Me to players. That's something I felt, as you have a little bit of time to reflect on things, certainly needs to improve."

More: "The teaching atmosphere, the coaching atmosphere, as I said many times and I firmly believe this, I'm the one responsible for the workplace conduct. When the player walks in the building until he leaves, I'm setting the schedule. So it's up to me to make sure it's done properly."

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Philbin said "injury issues" curtailed the progress of several players in the 2013 draft class. Obviously he's talking about Jamar Taylor and Dion Jordan.

Philbin said Jordan was limited because he had the shoulder surgery just before the draft, had a limited lifting program, didn't have an OTAs and missed part of training camp. But this year, "with a full offseason," for Jordan the Dolphins want to see his snaps increase.

"He's going to have to get more snaps on first and second down," Philbin said.

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Philbin said the team's focus is to keep Jordan at defensive end. And he shot down a report from a month or so ago that said the Dolphins were unhappy with Jordan's work ethic.

"I'm not sure where that came from, I've said I'm expecting him to make a signficant jump from year one to year two," Philbin said. "He's definitely a hard worker."

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Philbin showed a little sense of humor. He was asked about the addition of Bill Lazor as the new offensive coordinator and said the coach promised Ryan Tannehill would have the third-highest quarterback rating of all the rookies from the 2012 draft class.

You'll remember last year Mike Sherman promised Tannehill would be the most improved QB from the '12 class. Philbin remonstrated with Sherman about that prediction, which didn't turn out.

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Philbin said the Dolphins studied the tape "extensively" on Cortland Finnegan and "we liked what we saw on film."

But ...

"He's going to have to earn play time like anyone else," Philbin said. "One thing we do like is he gives us some position flexibility. After watching the cutups, we thought Jimmy Wilson played well. Finnegan played some inside, he played outside."

And the Dolphins have high hopes for Jamar Taylor and Will Davis.

"We expect to see progress there," the coach said.

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Philbin said Lamar Miller's pass protection improved as the year went on "but there's still room for improvement there." Where Miller must definitely improve to stay in the mix to carry the football is offering more explosive runs.

"There was definitely development," Philbin said. "As we look to year three, we want a couple of more explosive runs. I think his pass protection improved but there's still room for improvement there as well. I think he can do all three thing you want a running back to do. He's got good running skill, he can pass protect, he can catch the ball."

Philbin added "we're not opposed to adding" a running back to the competition "if that's the best thing for the team."

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Philbin said the team still isn't fully certain where home is for Dallas Thomas -- right tackle or guard.

"I really like what he's doing so far in the offseason," Philbin said.

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The Dolphins run defense has declined each of the past two years. Philbin pointed to missed tackles, fundamentals, technique, gap issues as the reason.

"We have what we call a run fit period where we practice the run defense for the various fronts we'll see," Philbin said, "and sometimes the carryover from practice to the game hasn't been good. The run-fits and the tackling are the primary culprits."

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Philbin said he believes Dannelll Ellerbe will "make progress" in his second year in the middle for the Dolphins but ... "again, we haven't ruled out any combination or possibility of shuffling guys. We'll see."

Overall, in assessing the linebacker play, Philbin used the word "inconsistency" to describe their play.

"There was productivity there but we need to get more consistency out of the linebacker position, without a doubt," he said.

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It was interesting to me that Philbin said he wanted improved play-speed from safety Reshad Jones in 2014 while also saying the play-speed and tempo and playing downhill was the most attractive thing the team saw in new safety Louis Delmas.

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Speaking of play-speed, the Dolphins like that in new guard Shelley Smith. They also liked his ability to pull and run and move and get to to the second level, Philbin said.

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General manager Dennis Hickey addressed the media for approximately 15 minutes today. Appreciate that. But he didn't really say anything notable other than ...

Recently signed Shelley Smith and Sam Brenner are among the players the team will consider as backup center options. That's important as the possibility of Pouncey missing time at the start of the season looms.

Hickey, who brought in middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson for a visit and offered him a contract, interestingly would not commit to Dannell Ellerbe as Miami's middle linebacker when asked what the Dolphins plans for him are in 2014.

"We always look at, and Joe part of his core philosophy, same with me is putting players in the best position to be successful and help us win," Hickey said. "Dannell is a great player. We really like Dannell and that's part of the process as we go through -- again, whether it's offense, defense or special teams -- putting them in position to help us win."

Time out.

The Dolphins signed Ellerbe to a five-year, $34.75 million contract with $14 million guaranteed so he could be their middle linebacker. He replaced Karlos Dansby as the Dolphins middle linebacker. And one year later neither the head coach nor general manager can absolutely, positively say he is the team's middle linebacker going forward.

If that doesn't raise some red flags and eyebrows and whatever else denotes curiousity, I don't know what does.

Dolphins ticket sales UP double-digit percent from year ago

ORLANDO -- Dolphins season ticket sales have made a dramatic jump this offseason over last year with renewals up 12 percent from a year ago at this time and new season ticket sales up approximately as much -- about 12 percent -- from a season ago, according to the team.

This is a good sign for the team that last year did not get the big ticket sales bump it hoped for after an aggressive free agency period and draft that included a trade-up to the No. 3 overall pick. This year, in the wake of season in which the team failed to make the playoffs for the 11th time in a dozen years, fans are reacting quite favorably to the team's pitch to buy tickets.

"We're pacing 12 percent above this time last year," Dolphins president and CEO Tom Garfinkel said Monday. "We actually started renewals three months later than we did last year because of our new membership program and how we're doing it. So we started three months later and in spite of that we're 12 percent higher than we were at this time last year."

The Dolphins were dealt a public relations blow during the 2013 season when the NFL harassment scandal hit the headlines. But so far the scandale hasn't adversely affected sales -- suggesting it may not at all.

Indeed, on Feb. 15, one day after the Wells Report detailing the troubles among some players in the Dolphins locker room was released, the Dolphins had a ticket sales event at the stadium.

And it was a grand success.

"We had record new sales in one day," Garfinkel said. "We sold over 1,500 new season tickets for a lot of dollars in one day because of the event we had."

Garfinkel says the Dolphins are doing business a different way in order to sell their product. Rather than sales over the phone, the team is inviting fans to come to Sun Life Stadium and experience the atmosphere of what a game day can be like.

And there are other changes ...

""We've tripled our service staff," Garfinkel said. "We've created dedicated service. We've changed the service model quite a bit.

"We're communicating with fans as much as we can. We've added dedicated service reps. We've added benefits. We've added a lot of things. So we're on top of that part of it -- touching our fans, talking to them, communicating with them, getting in front of them. That helps. There's a lot of things we changed and that helps. So far it's pacing well. We still have a long way to go."

In recent years, South Florida had turned away from the Dolphins and found other ways to spend discretionary income -- perhaps with the Heat or some other way. Season ticket sales dropped in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

But Garfinkel believes Dolphins fans are responding positively again.

"I'd say we're very fortunate to have a fan base that has a deep connection to the team," he said. "That's something I continue to be blown away by when I talk to fans."

Steve Ross: Not worried about the offensive line

ORLANDO -- Are you worried about the Dolphins offensive line situation today? Club owner Stephen Ross isn't, even though the team has obvious holes at right tackle and at least one guard spot.

"I'd be worried if it was all taken care of by now," Ross said Sunday after he arrived at the NFL annual meeting. "We know it has to be addressed and it will be addressed the right way."

Ross said the Dolphins have a plan for addressing the line and added, "We'll get a right tackle in the draft and then we'll see what else he have to get."

The annual meeting begins Monday morning. Among the major topics of discussion among owners will be workplace conduct -- that includes both on field use of the N-word and taunts of any kind as well as locker room behavior.

The Dolphins last season suffered what was recognized leaguewide as a failure to monitor and handle behavior in the locker room among players and some staff. That failure led directly the Dolphins firing an offensive line coach, the team's head trainer, and making a decision to not bring back Richie Incognito, John Jerry and trading Jonathan Martin.

It is possible Ross will be asked to give an update on what the Dolphins have done and will continue to do going forward to avoid a repeat of 2013.

Giants announce signing of John Jerry

The Giants announced moments ago they have signed free agent guard John Jerry.

Jerry, who had lukewarm interest from Oakland as well but very little (any?) from the Dolphins, has been a starter for the Dolphins the past two seasons. He actually has started 45 of 57 games with Miami.

But he's not been a good player, however.

Atop the fact Jerry has been mostly just a guy is the fact he was prominently mentioned in the Wells report as one of those harassing former Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin. Jerry faces possible sanctions for his role in the scandal.

Jerry's time with the Dolphins will be most noted for being the player the Dolphins picked in the third round of the 2010 draft instead of former University of Miami tight end Jimmy Graham.

That, folks, says it all.

Comparing strategy: GM decisions have consquences

Championships are not won in March. Everyone's heard that right?

Well, in the NFL that is true but it is also true that decisions by NFL front offices this time of year have consequences. And there is indeed much winning and losing going on right now.

As this offeseason progresses, indeed, as free agency eventually bleeds into the draft and teams morph toward improvement or decline, what is happening right now is likley at the root of that future change.

And so I present to you a comparison of multiple teams and multiple relatively new general managers.

Their decisions, in the open for all to see, will be remembered and judged in the coming year as we measure how much what happened this March affects their teams from September through January.

The GMs we look at today?

John Idzik of the New York Jets.

Steve Keim of the Arizona Cardinals.

Tom Telesco of the San Diego Chargers.

Ray Farmer of the Cleveland Browns.

Dennis Hickey of the Miami Dolphins.

All are in their first or second offseasons with their teams. All made intertwined decisions this offseason that will be measured against each other for the next year.

To wit:

On March 5 the St. Louis Rams did as expected and released cornerback Cortland Finnegan. The move was a no-brainer. Finnegan, who played poorly for the Rams in 2013, saved the team clear $4 million in cap space at his release.

Four days later, the New York Jets, hoping to clear cap space, cut cornerback Antonio Cromartie. The move was a no-brainer. Cromartie, who played poorly at times for the Jets in 2013, saved the team $4.3 million in cap space at his release.

And then is when the GMs we mentioned went to work.

Hickey, wanting a cornerback who could compete for a starting job but also perhaps play the slot against multiple receiver sets, brought in one cornerback and signed him. He selected Finnegan, 30, and paid him $11 million over two years. The contract paid Finnegan $5.45 million guaranteed in 2014.

Idzik, wanting to upgrade at cornerback, instead brought in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and apparently tried to get a short-term prove-it deal done with him. It wasn't until the crosstown New York Giants stepped up with a big offer that Idzik, flush with cap room, also presented a better deal.

Too late.

DRC picked the Giants. Cromartie, who had earlier said he'd like to retire with the Jets, was still on the market but by then had already visited the Arizona Cardinals. And Keim, who last year did a good job bringing in several veterans on prove-it deals including former Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby, struck before Idzik could recover.

The Cardinals signed Cromartie, 29 and with experience in both press and off-man schemes, to a one-year deal worth $3.25 million plus another $250,000 as a per game roster bonus. The bonus is paid on a per game basis at $15,625.

So two corners at or nearing 30. Three general managers. Two deals.

Well, Idzik got no one. The Jets today are searching for cornerback help and will likely have to look to the draft for it.

The Dolphins got Finnegan for the most expensive contract that actually includes guaranteed money.

The Cardinals got Cromartie for the least expensive contract that has no guaranteed money.

[Update: The official Cromartie contract is in and it does have guaranteed money, although he's still at $3.25 million this year. He got a $1 million signing bonus and his base salary of $2.25 million is guaranteed.]

Which GM won? That will be determined during the season when we can compare how Cromartie vs. Finnegan vs. air works out for the three teams. (Air has trouble playing press-man, by the way).

Right now, it seems Keim has the overall advantage although that can change.

Young general managers also made interesting decisions on running back, too.

When free agency opened, Donald Brown, Ben Tate, Knowshon Moreno, Darren McFadden, Toby Gerhart, Rashad Jennings and others were available.

The San Diego Chargers and Telesco stepped out almost immediately and signed Brown to a three-year, $10.5 million deal. The deal includes $4 million in guarateed money. If you do the math the deal averages $3.5 million per year.

The Cleveland Browns and Farmer, more cautious, nonetheless landed Tate. He signed a two-year deal for $6.2 million with $2.5 million guaranteed. If you do the math the deal averages $3.1 million per season.

Gerhart, the understudy to Adrian Peterson, went to Jacksonville for $10.5 million over three years or $3.5 mill a year apy. McFadden, often injured, remained in Oakland for one year and $1.654 million with only $100,000 guaranteed. 

Today the Dolphins and Hickey are hosting a visit with Moreno. As I noted yesterday, the Dolphins have so far been serious about the players they bring in for visits. So I would expect something to happen today -- at least an offer to Moreno.

So mulitple running backs. None of them stars. All of them accomplished to some degree. All of them experienced and adept in pass protection. All available at the same time to the different general managers.

Do the Dolphins get rewarded for waiting the most by paying the least? Or do they pay the same for Moreno that Cleveland paid for Tate or San Diego paid for Brown?

Hickey paid more once before.

We'll see which general manager actually gets what he paid for -- in January.

Moreno to visit the Dolphins Friday

Denver unrestricted free agent running back Knowshon Moreno will meet the Dolphins on a visit Friday, according to a league source.

The Dolphins do not confirm or deny visits until they are over.

The Dolphins are apparently interested in the veteran running back's ability to help a backfield looking for upgrade from Lamar Miller or Daniel Thomas. The Dolphins like Moreno's ability to pass-protect -- something he was adept at while helping to protect Peyton Manning in Denver.

Moreno, 26, is coming off his best NFL season. He rushed for 1,038 yards on 241 carries (4.3 yard-per-carry average) in 16 games for the Broncos. It was the only time in his five years with Denver that Moreno eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark.

Moreno also caught 60 passes for 548 yards.

The Dolphins have been looking for a bruiser back -- someone who can break some tackles and help the club in the four-minute offense and protecting the lead. Moreno, at 5-11 and 215 pounds, has not been that in his career.

But Moreno is a good player. He's been dependable, fumbling only once in 241 attempts last year.

The running back market has been a buyer's market this free agency period. No player has gotten a deal worth over $3.5 million per year.

By the way, the Dolphins under Dennis Hickey have been serious about the players they bring in. Every player who has visited has signed except for linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. Every player who visited got a contract offer, including Jackson.

Hickey not picking former boss as assistant GM

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a 4-12 record last year and that got general manager Mark Dominik fired. Meanwhile Bucs director of player personnel Dennis Hickey got promoted to general manager by the Dolphins.

And as Hickey worked for Dominik for quite some time and the two seemed to get along there was speculation that Hickey, now in charge of his own personnel department, might hire Dominik as his assistant general manager.

That seemed particularly possible after Hickey fired former assistant general manager Brian Gaine.

But no.

Dominik today accepted a post at ESPN as an NFL front office "insider." He will appear on the seemingly infinite ESPN platforms -- you know, NFL Insiders, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN2, ESPN radio, ESPN the bus, ESPN the kitchen utensil, ESPN in your underwear -- to provide commentary and insight.

And while that assignment does not preclude Dominik from joining a front office in the future, it clearly shows he's not joining any NFL front office, including the Dolphins, anytime soon.

The Dolphins don't currently have an assistant general manager as they enter the homestretch of their draft preparations.

The Dolphins, by the way, still don't have a head trainer, either, following the February firing of Kevin O'Neill as a fallout from the Wells Report. And while O'Neill is preparing legal action against the Dolphins for what he apparently believes to be wrongful termination, the Dolphins are going slow methodically in their search for a replacement.

FoxSports1 (sports network that doesn't have a bus or kitchen utensil) reported the search continues with names under consideration including Dave Price, former trainer of the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets, Green Bay Packers assistant trainer Bryan Engel, and Kevin Bastin who was the head trainer for the Houton Texans from 2001-2009. 

Winston is NFLPA president but not a Dolphins option

Today was a good day for Eric Winston. The former University of Miami offensive lineman was voted president of the NFL Players Association. So he will help lead the union that represents players' interests.

As to Winston's own career interests, there is none from the Dolphins at this point.

The seemingly annual flirtation with Winston as a free agent right tackle possibility has not begun -- not yet, anyway. The Dolphins have shown no interest even though offensive line coach John Benton coached Winston when the player was with the Houston Texans.

Indeed, the Dolphins have also shown no interest in bringing Bryant McKinnie back as a project move from left to right tackle (and they won't) and they've shown no interest in re-signing Tyson Clabo at this point.

The Dolphins, I'm told, are thinking of filling their right tackle need in the draft. No surprise there.

Obviously, it's a long offseason and things can change in the coming months. But right now the search for a starting right tackle has not yet devolved to seeking a veteran stopgap on a one-year deal.

By the way, if you're wondering why this blog (and my columns) have focused so much on the offensive line this offseason, then check out the video below ...

Dolphins defense trying to change ... but not to 3-4

Last season, as the Dolphins declined in multiple defensive categories from the season before -- run defense, third-down defense, pass completion percentage, first downs allowed, yards allowed, and the the big one, points allowed -- there was the suggestion in cyberspace that perhaps the defense would be better off as a 3-4 defense rather than a 4-3 defense.

I know the idea was out there because, well, I helped create it. It just seemed to me the Dolphins defense that was pretty good in 2011 as a 3-4 unit was less effective in 2012 as a 4-3 unit and then was worse again in 2013 in multiple categories in that same 4-3.

Well, forget that switch to the 3-4.

It is not happening.

The Dolphins are indeed doubling down on the idea of running the 4-3 and this brief free agency period has already shown the team's intent. When the club had linebacker D'Qwell Jackson in for a visit weeks ago, coaches told him they saw him as a middle linebacker fit in their 4-3.

When the club first contacted and talked with defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, they told him that though he'd played in the 3-4 in Houston, they saw him as a 4-3 defensive tackle. Indeed, that was  a selling point for Mitchell.

"I definitely wanted to be a part of a 4-3 team," Mitchell said, "so I’m definitely ... I’m excited and I really appreciate getting involved with this organization for giving me an opportunity."

Mitchell sees the chance to play in the 4-3 as an opportunity because he likes it more. He believes he's better suited for it. And, by the way, he won't have centers and guards diving at his knees from multiple angles like they do to 3-4 nose tackles.

"I think it will definitely give me an opportunity to showcase my skill and just, it will definitely be a time where I can definitely just be able to make more plays and be part of a, just getting after the quarterback," said Mitchell, who played in the 4-3 in college.

So that's that.

The Dolphins are and will remain a base 4-3. That doesn't mean they don't plan some changes.

Obviously, the Jackson flirtation made it clear the team wants to move Dannell Ellerbe, signed last year to replace Karlos Dansby in the middle, to outside linebacker. The team has also told linebacker Koa Misi he might be moving him to the middle unless the draft or the remainder of free agency yields a middle linebacker type, a fact also reported recently by The Herald's Barry Jackson.

What does this front seven shuffling say?

Well, obviously the Dolphins are looking for upgrade. But in toying with the idea of upgrade, the consideration to change the scheme has been discarded.

Yet ... and I'm just talking to myself here ... I'm convinced Jared Odrick and Randy Starks playing the five-technique would be excellent, and indeed Starks went to a Pro Bowl playing that spot and Odrick was drafted in the first round specifically for that spot.

I believe Mitchell is a good nose, although the loss of Paul Soliai to play that spot stings and crimps my potential 3-4 lineup.

The linebackers?

Cameron Wake, Dion Jordan and Olivier Vernon outside in some sort of rotation. Ellerbe, Phillip Wheeler and Misi inside in some sort of rotation.

Voila!

Your revamped 3-4 front.

By the way, when the Dolphins brought Ellerbe over from Baltimore last year, they took him away from the more familiar 3-4. Jordan looks like a prototype 3-4 linebacker much more than he seems suited to play 4-3 DE.

Cameron Wake, obvioulsy, is a wash because he's been effective in both schemes. I've had multiple personnel people tell me Vernon, smallish as a 4-3 end, would be well suited as a 3-4 OLB.

OK, end of sermon.

The point is the Dolphins defense that needs to stop the slide in mutliple areas from the past couple of years since the scheme change is looking to make some adjustments. A change back to the 3-4 isn't one of them.

Hester or not, Dolphins can use return competition

Devin Hester apparently is going to have a decision to make soon.

The former University of Miami standout who happens to also be a former Chicago Bears Pro Bowl returner is apparently noticing his market in free agency is heating up and he has a decision to make.

 

Man this free-agent is starting to heat up all I can do is ask God to help me make the right decision. http://t.co/85WNVJJl14

— Devin Hester (@D_Hest23) March 18, 2014

So, yes, with God's help Hester is going to decide where he'll be playing in 2014. He told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel last week he'd like to play for the Dolphins. I'm certain if a paper in 30 other NFL cities had been asking, he might have told them he'd like to play for their teams as well.

It's called marketing.

I suppose that's why he's visiting the Atlanta Falcons today and has other visits set up as well.

Yes, Hester back in town would be good for him. But it's also about the right money and there is no knowing what kind of value the value conscious Dolphins would put on a 31-year-old returner.

But I will say this ... The Dolphins should put some value into improving their return game because last year it took a something of a step backward.

The Dolphins averaged 21.3 yards per kickoff return last year and that was 26th in the NFL. A season earlier, in 2012, the Dolphins averaged 27.1 yards per kick return and that was No. 3 in the NFL.

Marcus Thigpen saw his kickoff return numbers drop from 27.4 yards per return in '12 to 22.5 yards per return last season.

On punt returns the Dolphins went from 11.2 yards per return in 2013 to 7.8 yards per return in '13 and that meant a drop from the sixth best return unit in the league to 23rd. And again, Thigpen's stats suffered in direct parallel to the team's.

Thigpen averaged 7.8 yards per return last season with 20 fair catches. He averaged 12.2 yards per return with only six fair catches in 2012.

And Thigpen, who had a kickoff and punt return TD in 2012, didn't score on either a kickoff or punt return last season.

Hester?

He averaged 27.6 yards per kickoff return, which ranked him sixth in the NFL last season. And he averaged 14.2 yards per punt return, although he only had 18 of them with 11 fair catches.

Now here's the rub ...

How much would Hester expect from the Dolphins? Or anyone?

The last time he signed a new contract was 2010 when he got a four-year, $21.956 million deal from the Bears. That was a different time and different set of circumstances.

The Dolphins aren't likely to pay anywhere close to that because, well, Hester's not 26 anymore, they don't value him as a wide receiver as the Bears did back in the day, and the team has approximately $19,185,752 of salary cap space as of Monday afternoon.

Also, Thigpen is cheap by comparison. He's only scheduled to make $570,000 in 2013.

So whether Hester is a fit and whether the Dolphins value him enough to outbid other teams for him is the question.

But as to Thigpen, there is little question.

The team will either replace him or bring in some competition for training camp. If he wins the competition, great.

If Thigpen cannot win the competition, the same relatively inexpensive salary that makes him so attractive also makes him a target. Because if the Dolphins cut him before the start of the regular season, they will carry only $2,500 in dead money.

Dolphins commit to Cortland Finnegan

Last year the Dolphins needed a veteran cornerback and got Brent Grimes to do a one-year prove-it contract worth $5.5 million.

This year, the Dolphins wanted a veteran cornerback -- in case youngsters Jamar Taylor or Will Davis do not step up and start -- and they went further to land Cortland Finnegan than they did for Grimes last year.

The contract Finnegan signed Friday was indeed for two years and worth $11 million, as first reported by NFL Media. The deal includes a $2 million signing bonus and a $3.5 million base salary for 2014 that is guaranteed.

The deal's second year is for $5.45 million in base.

The deal also includes $25,000 in workout bonsuses in both '14 and '15.

What does that mean?

It means the Dolphins are fully committed to Finnegan in 2014.

If he is bad in camp, he probably doesn't get cut because the investment is significant. Last year Finnegan was not very good for the Rams and that, plus his big contract signed in 2012, is the reason he was cut.

If he gets injured, well, that's the breaks.  Last year, Finnegan finished the season on injured reserve as he fractured an orbital bone in his face.

The sides did agree to a skill/injury provision to the base salary guarantee to mitigate but not totally alleviate damage if things don't go as planned.

Finnegan said during a conference call on Friday he expects to compete for a starting job in Miami. He better. He's getting paid like it.

The point is, for a prove-it contract this deal shows the Dolphins are either very confident or very foolish that Finnegan will do exactly that. Prove it.

OL free agency possibilities: Stopgap, projects

Zach Strief re-signed with the New Orleans Saints today. He got a five-year deal worth $20.5 million with $8.4 million in guaranteed money, per a league source.

The Dolphins offensive line, meanwhile, will continue to seem incomplete as general manager Dennis Hickey now shops for bargain additions.

The Dolphins have a guard and right tackle spot open if one assumes sometimes NFL starter Shelley Smith -- signed Friday -- can become a fulltime NFL starter for the Dolphins.

So at guard one name that become prominent for the Dolphins now is John Benton. No, he's not a player. He's the new offensive line coach. And he happens to have been the Houston Texans offensive line before he came to the Dolphins.

And he's got his guys in his sights.

Sooo...

The Dolphins have shown preliminary and lukewarm interest in two former Texans linemen -- guard Wade Smith and tackle Ryan Harris.

Harris, 29, has been mostly a backup type during his six-year career with Denver and Houston. He started 10 games for the Broncos in 2010 but that's the last time he actually has been a starter. His time in Houston was spent mostly in a backup role. He is a depth guy and would likely be insurance, if signed, to a rookie draft pick starter option.

Smith is familiar to Dolphins fans. He was once the Dolphins starting left tackle.

That's right, that Wade Smith.

Smith was Miami starting right tackle in 2003 -- his rookie year after being drafted in the third round out of Memphis. And it wasn't a great experience (I recall one three-sack game). Smith started only two games the next three seasons and nobody seemed to notice when he departed in 2006.

But after languishing four four years and two teams, Smith's career hit a stride when he joined the Texans in 2010. He was a guard by then. And he was a starter -- putting a string of 64 consecutive starts at the position the next four years.

Smith is a veteran guard option for Miami. He's 32. He's a stopgap guy.

He'd like to return to the Texans but they have a new coaching staff and would like to upgrade their line. They encouraged him to test free agency.

As Benton has been his coach for years and the Dolphins will run the same (or very similar) zone scheme he's known in Houston, Smith could be an answer for the Dolphins. And the Dolphins could be the way he bookends his career, finishing where he started.

Dolphins concerned about what you think of them

Early Friday the Dolphins, looking around the free agent market for a right tackle and finding very few left, tried again to get Zach Strief of the New Orleans Saints to visit.

He declined.

And the news was reported by The Herald's Barry Jackson thusly: Free agent right tackle Zach Strief declined an offer to visit the Dolphins. Indications are that he prefers to return to New Orleans.

And the nugget was picked up by ProFootballTalk.com.

And the Dolphins apparently freaked.

The team that has suffered its share of notable rejections -- Jim Harbaugh, Peyton Manning, Jeff Fisher, Nick Caserio, Ray Farmer, Tom Gamble, and Lake Dawson -- is sensitive to the idea that it is being rejected on any front by anybody.

And the club apparently felt there was a perception the Strief decision not to visit stirred the rejection pot again. This despite the fact neither report by The Herald nor PFT mentioned the words "rejection" or "spurned" or anything close to it.

The Dolphins complained to Strief's representation, anyway.

And so this morning agent Ralph Cindrich went on his twitter account to correct the record that, frankly, didn't need correcting because the facts were all there and the perception he was trying to correct wasn't shared by everyone, anyway.

So Cindrich tweeted:

"I was made aware from the Dolphins that there was an incorrect perception the Dolphins were spurned-not the case. Saints negot's heated up."

As I've been reporting on my twitter account, the Dolphins like Strief. He's actually the only proven right tackle left on the market. But he's 30, has roots in New Orleans, loves the team and wants to stay there. The Saints want to keep him but their salary cap situation is so problematic they're being forced to trade or cut good players. 

So Cindrich, a longtime good agent, was hedging his bet by seeking other teams -- including the Dolphins. Cindrich has no issues with the Dolphins. Strief has no issues with the Dolphins. They don't talk on the phone and giggle like little girls about how ridiculous playing for the Dolphins would be.

It's just that Strief wants to go back to the Saints. It's business.

"Saints Mickey Loomis could not promise Strief home-cap rm," Cindrich tweeted. "Concerned, I sought teams, Dolphins fr start-every day. Great place for new start."

That does not mean, however, there will be a new start. It just means the Strief camp isn't mocking the Dolphins.

"Last tweet: Dolphins front office class people. Team took a hit when talks heated up with Saints. We never had a Miami visit set," Cindrinch added.

So where does this leave us?

Zach Strief, as of this writing, is not visiting the Dolphins. He has declined the invite. He's negotiating a return to the Saints. But his agent wants you to know that doesn't mean he's spurning the Dolphins.

More interestingly, the Dolphins want you to know they're not being spurned.

They're kinda sensitive that way.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2014/03/encouraging-outlook-for-um-hoops-heat-dolphins-marlins-chatter.html#storylink=cpy

Finnegan: Coming to compete for starting job

Cortland Finnegan represented himself in his free agency negotiations and one thing Finnegan the player wanted Finnegan the agent to get him has apparently been delivered.

The player wanted a chance to start again in the NFL.

And Finnegan says the Dolphins are going to give him that chance.

"I'm coming in to compete for a starting job," Finnegan said on a conference call with reporters.

That competition ostensibly will include 2013 draft picks Jamar Taylor and Will Davis and any other younger corners the team adds in free agency or the draft.

As to Finnegan's much criticized play in 2013, it is not a new topic for the player. And he seems to relish the critique as motivation. "Good, love it," he said when told there is such criticism.

"At times I played good and at times I didn't," Finnegan said. "I know I was hurt most of the time."

Finnegan played only seven games last season. He finished the season on injured reserve with a fractured orbital bone. He said he will be completely healthy for the start of offseason camps.

The full Finnegan interview is below. Listen, it contains a little flub by Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey -- he's human:

Download 3.14.14 Cortland Finnegan

 

 

Report: Finnegan (who is he?) close to signing

The Dolphins are closing in on a two-year deal with free agent cornerback Cortland Finnegan, according to NFL Media's Albert Breer, so it seems Miami's search for a slot/No. 3/emergency starter cornerback will be filled soon.

[Update at 4:19: A league source says the deal is done.]

[Update at 4:26: Dolphins now confirm the confirmation. Deal is done.]

But ...

What are the Dolphins actually getting?

As I've told you previously, Finnegan was available for a reason because he has not been very good the past couple of seasons. 

So, assuming no hitches in the final negotiating movements, what cornerback are the Dolphins getting? The team's history with bargain preseason acquisition at conerback has been hit and miss.

There's the home runs: Andre Goodman (2006), Brent Grimes (2013).

But there's also been some swings-and-a-miss: Richard Marshall (2012), Benny Sapp (2010), Eric Green (2009).

Which category is Finnegan more likely to be in?

Well, the folks at ProFootballFocus.com would tell you it doesn't bode well:

 

All aboard the Finnegan rollercoaster? pic.twitter.com/QE1h8vQ40D

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) March 14, 2014

 

Free agency gives the final view of drafts

One thing the annual foray into free agency does -- particularly once the early mad rush to the best players and biggest contracts ends, as it has this year -- is it allows time for reflection on past drafts.

It is my belief that you judge a team's draft once that draft class hits free agency, normally four or for some players that sign longer deals, five years later.

And doing that exercise we already know that six years after the 2008 draft, which was the first undertaken by the Bill Parcells-Jeff Ireland-Tony Sparano administration, we can judge that undertaking as an unmitigated disaster.

No player from the 2008 draft class is left on the Dolphins roster today. That means that no player taken that year was judged good enough to keep through a second contract once he hit free agency. Talk about no value out of a draft.

Left tackle Jake Long at No. 1 overall was let go by Miami last year. Long, a good player, proved to be not durable -- which I remind you is a critical factor in judging players. He'd finished two consecutive years on injured reserve when his contract came up last year and the Dolphins were wary of that lack of durability so he went to the Rams. And then he finished his first season in St. Louis on injured reserve.

Well, you know who this year's signature free agency signing is for the Dolphins?

Left tackle Branden Albert, who was taken No. 15 overall in the same draft that Long was picked No. 1.

The 2009 draft was a much greater success for the Dolphins but only in the sense they have one player from that draft on the roster today.

Wide receiver Brian Hartline, a fourth-round pick in 2009, is the only player the Dolphins deemed worthy of keeping long-term through a second contract. First-round pick Vontae Davis was not, second-rounder Sean Smith was not. Second-rounder Pat White and third-rounder Patrick Turner didn't even make it out of the their first contracts with the team.

(The Dolphins kept fifth-rounder Chris Clemons through a second contract but it was a one-year, fill-a-gap kind of deal and we all know Clemons is done with the Dolphins now.)

That brings me to the 2010 draft ...

First round pick Jared Odrick is still on the team as a sometimes starter and contributor. But his first contract is not complete yet. His deal expires after the coming season so it will be interesting to see if the Dolphins deem him worthy of a second contract.

Second round pick Koa Misi, a starter, got a second contract from the Dolphins. No, he's not a playmaker. He's not the pass-rusher the team billed him as when it drafted him. But, hey, judging against the return the 2008 and 2009 draft offered, Misi is a stud! (Yeah, not good.)

Interestingly, the Dolphins this offseason were very interested in signing guard Zane Beadles as a free agent before he went to Jacksonville for more money. Beadles was picked five slots behind Misi in 2010.

Guard John Jerry has not been offered a contract by the Dolphins and has been told to test the market, which is a huge indictment on him considering what a significant need offensive line help is for the Dolphins. Jerry was a key figure in the workplace harassment scandal involving Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito and his days as a Miami Dolphin are likely over unless the Dolphins become extremely, extremely desperate to find some guard help.

So that third round pick was a waste, especially when you consider ... yes, it's coming ... that tight end Jimmy Graham was picked 22 slots after Jerry in the third round.

Indeed, San Francisco picked Pro Bowl linebacker NaVorro Bowman 18 slots after the Dolphins picked Jerry. Tennessee picked Pro Bowl cornerback Alterraun Verner and Baltimore picked former Pro Bowl tight end Dennis Pitta one round after the Dolphins picked Jerry.

The Dolphins picked A.J. Edds in the fourth round in 2010. He never played for the team. The Cincinnati Bengals selected Pro Bowl defensive tackle Geno Atkins the very next pick after Edds.

The 2010 draft is often shown to be something of an embarrassment to the Dolphins because of the players they took and the players listed above on which they passed. But compared to the disastrous 2008 and 2009 drafts, this one was actually a success.

That's because when all is said and done at least two players, and perhaps three depending on what happens with Odrick, will have been judged valuable enough to keep through their second contract: Misi and safety Reshad Jones.

I realize two and maybe three solid-but-not-great players staying on the team isn't exactly great return value for an entire draft. I suppose that's the reason the Dolphins are a mediocre team.

 

Report: Cortland Finnegan to visit Dolphins

Once upon a time Cortland Finnegan was an excellent cornerback who had the ability to get under the skin of most every wide receiver he faced.

Finnegan, 30, still drives receivers crazy. But he isn't an excellent cornerback anymore.

The Dolphins nonetheless are interested in him because he is taking an unrestricted free agent visit with the team Friday, according to NFL Media's Albert Breer.

Finnegan was cut by the Rams on March 5th -- only two years after he signed a whopping five-year, $50 million contract that included $27 million in guaranteed money.

Why did the Rams cut ties with such a big-name and big-money player?

He didn't live up to his reputation or the contract.

Finnegan apparently played hurt much of 2013 which might have something to do with his diminished level of play. He played in only seven games but was benched for two of those. He finished the season with only one pass defensed and one interception.

Finnegan is not going to command big money.

He's not that guy anymore.