Can't decide if I like smith or Jack better, both should be there at 8 but both coming off injuries ### One of the players who should be in the mix for the Dolphins' pick at No. 8 is UCLA outside linebacker Myles Jack. But Jack is coming off knee surgery at UCLA, and team doctors must be comfortable that his knee is sound. Draftinsider.net's Tony Pauline, who does good work, writes that "NFL decision makers are referring to Jack as a rare athlete, a label not often thrown around. They love his athleticism, intensity and versatility to play three downs in a variety of schemes. They also point to the four touchdowns he scored when lined up at running back. When I mentioned my concern about his size, the name of Shaq Thompson, the Panthers first round pick in 2015, was brought up. It was also pointed out Jack is head and shoulders a better prospect than Thompson." Pauline said in his conversations with NFL executives, the players getting the most votes for the first five picks are Mississippi offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil at No. 1; FSU defensive back Jalen Ramsey at No. 2; Cal QB Jared Goff at No. 3; Jack at No. 4; and Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa at No. 5. ESPN's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay both have Bosa going No. 1 and Jack available when Miami picks
Below is a list of five teams that currently have the most money committed to players for the 2016 season, as well as a look at any potential decisions they may have to make to accommodate more cap flexibility. Note: The 2016 cap is expected to be around $153 million. 1. Miami Dolphins $166.9 million in cap commitments for 2016 No team currently has more cap commitments for 2016, but no team has an easier route to creating significant room than Miami. When the team signed defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to a lucrative six-year deal last offseason, it included a clause that allows the team to convert part of his $23.485 million base salary for 2016 into a signing bonus. The upside? It immediately reduces his cap hit for 2016 (by up to $18 million or so), though it adds on to his cap hit for the four years beyond. The team also could clear $7.751 million in cap space by releasing defensive end/outside linebacker Quinton Coples before the new league year begins. Miami has mechanisms to create cap space, and also motivation: Among the team's notable free agents is pass-rusher Olivier Vernon. He's a terrific talent; the team would be wise to bring him back.
If the Titans don't take him at 1, is there anyone else 2-7 that needs a LT? Now that I'm looking SD, Jax or the 49ers would surely take him
I still have jalen Ramsey dreams but I can't see the Cowboys passing up on him Think our group will be likely choosing from is: Smith the LB from ND Jack the LB from UCLA Alexander the CB from Clemson VH3 from UF Stanley the OT from ND I feel like I like Smith the best, assuming he comes back from injury 100%
So between Suh restructuring (saves $28.6 M in cap), Coples release (saves $7.75 M) and Brice McCain (saves $2.5 M),Fins already saving $39M
Dolphins owner says Adam Gase has three years to make playoffs The Miami Dolphins are getting tough on consistent losing and aiming up a notch for mediocrity, apparently. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross must know that his team's playoff winless streak is up to 15 seasons now, with their last playoff appearance after the 2008 season. So he's pledging that his team will make the playoffs again ... by the 2018 season. OR ELSE! Ross was talking on Monday, giving a speech at the Palm Beach Civic Association, when he said that according to the Palm Beach Post. In talking to about 100 people, Ross explained his head-coaching search to land 37-year-old Adam Gase — offering up some some high praise. Belichick, for the record, couldn't make the playoffs in his first head-coaching job with theCleveland Browns, starting at a Gase-like 39 years old. But he didn't win a Super Bowl in his second season in his second job, with the New England Patriots. Amazingly, Parcells took over four losing teams and made the postseason in his first or second year with all of them. He made a Super Bowl in Year 4 with the Patriots and an AFC championship game in Year 2 with the New York Jets. Gase will be working with a team that has notched either six, seven or eight wins every season since that last playoff appearance. He has a talented quarterback to work with and a base of talent that could net a playoff appearance with the right additions. But Gase will be the fifth head coach (including interims) that Ross has had since talking over full time in 2009, and the rich and successful businessman admitted that he often has been overmatched in the NFL. And in the wide-ranging, 30-minute speech he also made a fascinating statement when Ross said that you can chalk up the Dolphins' bullying scandal from a few seasons ago involving Jonathan Martin, Richie Incognito and others to racism. That has passed, and yet the product on the field has not improved markedly — despite major free-agent forays, such as Ndamoukong Suh — under Ross' watch. Gase, though, has been served notice: He has a mere 1,000 days to make the postseason or his head will roll.
Miami Dolphins in talks to extend Cameron Wake’s contract Dolphins want to extend Wake before league year begins, per NFL Network Wake, coming off major surgery, would probably need to agree to a pay cut Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake stands on the sidelines as Miami hosts the Houston Texans BY ADAM H. BEASLEY The only plot twist Cameron Wake’s remarkable tale needs is a comeback story. It appears both Wake and the Dolphins want that to happen in Miami. The two sides are discussing a contract extension, NFL Network reported Thursday, suggesting again that the Dolphins want Wake back -- but probably at a more palatable price. The report stipulated that the franchise hopes to extend Wake before the league year begins on March 9. Wake, who turned 34 in January, tore his Achilles tendon in late October. Given his age and the uncertainty of his health, the team, at least a few months back, had some doubts about whether to pay him the $8.4 million he’s owed in 2016 -- all of which would come off the books should they cut him. The salary cap-strapped Dolphins were, however, open to bringing him back at a reduced rate. So it stands to figure that, if indeed he signs a reworked deal, it will be at a discount. The team also needs to figure out what to do with fellow pass rusher Olivier Vernon, a pending free agent. Vernon is younger and played at a very high level after Wake got hurt. The franchise tag is an option, but a pricey one (roughly $15 million).
Fairly certain suh's restructure drops the number from 28.6 to like 10.6. so only like $21m with those moves. Still good though
A penguin drops them from a hot air balloon Or they haul parts of them in big ass trucks and piece it together
### With the NFL Combine starting, I asked NFL Network's Mike Mayock on a conference call today about what would make sense with Miami's pick at No. 8. He seemed most enthusiastic about Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves. If Hargreaves "went 8th to Miami, it would be a heck of a pick," Mayock said. "He's that good. The most natural corner in the draft is Hargreaves. Great feet, change of direction, can play press, can play off. There's going to be a lot of conversation about whether [FSU's] Jalen Ramsey is a corner or safety. "[As far as] linebackers, in the 4-3 type group, Myles Jack should be healthy. He and Jaylon Smith [whose 2016 status is in question after knee surgery] are by far the two best linebackers in that situation. A guy I think has gained a lot of steam in the last month is Darron Lee from Ohio State. He's kind of a weak outside linebacker. He probably will run in the 4.4s and everyone is going to get all excited about Darron Lee. He's more of a 20 to 32 [first-round range] guy for me. But he's going to go in the first round and he fits what Miami does. "As far as edge guys are concerned, defensive end [Joey] Bosa is probably gone. Then you get into [Eastern Kentucky's] Noah Spence. I think he fits a 3-4 team a little bit better [than Miami's 4-3]. But in today's day and age, an edge rusher is an edge rusher." ### The Dolphins want to re-sign linebacker Spencer Paysinger, who had 25 tackles and played well on special teams in 14 games. Jelani Jenkins, Zach Vigil and Neville Hewitt are the other linebackers most likely to return.
Miami Dolphins still mulling whether to use franchise tag on Olivier Vernon Olivier Vernon is set to hit free agency on March 9 ‘We haven’t made any decisions’ on tag, Mike Tannenbaum said Defensive end Olivier Vernon could become a free agent - unless the Dolphins put the franchise tag on him on March 1. INDIANAPOLIS In their contract negotiations with Olivier Vernon, the Dolphins really have only one bit of leverage — but it’s a big one: the franchise tag. The real power is in the threat of using the tag, which would be a one-year, $15 million tender that would keep Vernon from hitting the open market on March 9. So not surprisingly, Mike Tannenbaum didn’t seem inclined to give away that bargaining chip when meeting with reporters on Wednesday. “We have options and so does he,” Tannenbaum said. “We haven't made any decisions. We have a deadline coming up in another handful of days. We haven't made any decisions. We're just looking at options.” The deadline for using the tag on a player is March 1. When asked if he expects Vernon to even be available to other teams in free agency, Tannenbaum responded: “Again, we'll see. We have a few more days. We haven't finalized anything. We'll keep kicking around things. I'm sure we'll see his agent [David Canter] at some point and go from there.” The Dolphins have also expressed interest in keeping running back Lamar Miller, also due to hit free agency. Is Tannenbaum optimistic about getting a deal done? “I'm an optimistic person by nature,” he responded. “... We'll see what happens. We've done a lot of deals with his agent over the years. Lamar is another homegrown talent. A great guy off the field. We'll see what happens. ▪ Tannenbaum had praise for defensive end Derrick Shelby, whom Tannenbaum said “played hurt, played the whole year.”
Wut Of interest to #Giants -->> #Dolphins may franchise then trade Olivier Vernon, per sources http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2016/02/top_free_agent_olivier_vernon_may_be_franchised_th.html
Tony Pauline@TonyPauline Word around the combine is the Miami Dolphins are 50/50 on whether or not to franchise Olivier Vernon.
I'd imagine the franchise number wouldn't be a big deal. Anyone trading for him is going to sign him to big money, and tag # probably just gets absorbed into signing bonus. I'd be asking for for 2 first rounders. Don't know if you'll get that, but I'd start there.
Man if we could get another first for him and say get 2 out of Jack, Smith, Hargreaves, Alexander, Stanley in the 1st that would be huge
Would still leave us needing an edge rusher though, which is hard to come by. My hope is we end up getting a deal done, but getting some picks or players would be a lot better than just seeing him go.
I'd still rather just keep vernon. going to have to get blown away by a deal to feel great about it. Just seems like bad practice to not keep a 25 year old that is one of the better players at his position.
Talks between the Fins and Cam Wake went nowhere at the combine. No reason for him to take a haircut to stay. Big questions loom for Miami
#Clemson Mackensie Alexander - 5'10 3/8", 190 lb #Florida Vernon Hargreaves - 5'10 4/8", 204 lb #FSU Jalen Ramsey - 6'1 2/8", 209 lb
James WalkerVerified account@JamesWalkerNFL #Dolphins to use transition tag on DE Olivier Vernon http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14876318… Tag carries a $12.7m number for Vernon. Other teams have the right to negotiate with Vernon, but Dolphins will have the opportunity to match.
@ArmandoSalguero and I have both heard of Fins'interest in Rams FA DE William Hayes.Miami wants more quality DE even if OV stays -Barry Jackson
Franchise tag = not free to negotiate with another team and automatically gets a minimum of the average of the top 5 players at his position. Transition tag = offered an average of the top 10 players at his position, if he doesn't want that then he is free to negotiate with another team but his original team gets 7 days to match the offer Disadvantages The transition tag is rarely used by NFL franchises. There are two reasons for this. The first is that the one-year transition offer is typically a large amount, which could provide the club with difficulties while attempting to keep the team's aggregate salaries under the salary cap. The other is that players often react badly to receiving the tag, because it limits their ability to negotiate with other teams and therefore hinders their chances of receiving the largest possible contract. Players sometimes counter the tag by holding out or refusing to play for the club, creating distractions and headaches for the club.