Category: Opinion

Life for the Dolphins after the draft

Mar. 17 Opinion

 

By Miami Jules (@Miami_Jules on Twitter)

We all knew about the many needs the Miami Dolphins had going into the 2014 off season, and yet we were all aware of the salary cap limits left after last year expensive signings. The free agent signing period is on but it would be impossible to address all of the team’s present needs which have accumulated over the past few seasons, with 7 lonely draft picks while still being mindful of the salary cap and so this year, evaluating the athletes who go undrafted will be ever so crucial .

I have put together a list of some players who are expected to become free agents when the last pick of the 7th round is in the books along with whatever film I was able to dig up on them, and here they are.

Brandon Linder

OG
Miami (Fla.)

6-6

311

7-FA

http://youtu.be/kYDZj5cNQow

CorneliusLucas

OT
Kansas State

6-8

316

7-FA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQLwJ5BiEZ8&feature=share&list=PLa7u-FW_Nk5zBsMam8p2xWTk7D3h7_ngn&index=29

Kevin Danser

OG

 Stanford

6-5

312

FA

http://youtu.be/9R6J6GFBEmE

Only film I was able to find on Stanford OG Kevin Danser  # 76

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Vince Wilfork to the Dolphins?

Mar. 17 Opinion

 

By Cyrus (@Cyruslassus on Twitter)

The only debate in a Vince Wilfork to Miami scenario is whether he has anything left in the tank.

When the Dolphins traded up one spot in the 2004 draft to draft Vernon Carey and not Vince, I was livid, even more so after he ended up on the New England Patriots.

Photo Courtesy of Keith Allison via Wikipedia.org

Photo Courtesy of Keith Allison via Wikipedia.org

Ten years later the Dolphins may have a chance to add him to a talented defensive unit and if the team decides an above average right tackle is more important, it will just be history repeating itself.

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Dolphins get an ‘A’ so far in Free Agency

Mar. 13 Opinion

 

By Cyrus Lassus (@Cyruslassus on Twitter)

The Miami Dolphins are not done with free agency, but the first major wave has come and gone and the team’s core looks strong.

Branden Albert is finally a Miami Dolphin and the team has an elite left tackle again.

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

He is excellent in pass protection but only considered average in the running game.  His detractors say that he is only an above average left tackle, but he is coming off of a Pro Bowl season.

Even if Branden Albert was overpaid with his five year, $47 million dollar deal, the team has secured one of the most important positions in football for the next 3-5 years.

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Dolphins draft plans after their Free Agency additions

Mar. 13 Opinion

 

By Miami Jules (Miami_Jules on Twitter)

March 11th 2014 marked the start of the new NFL year and also the start of the free agent signing period. Players entering the NFL draft have moved up and down in the rankings in the week preceding the free agent period, and although these rankings are only a rough guide, they will guide us through these last weeks before the actual draft takes place in May.

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

It isn’t a secret to most of us that the Miami Dolphins had to virtually rebuild the offensive line. Along with the OL, the defensive line also needs new additions with the early but expected departure of nose tackle Paul Soliai. The Dolphins acted quickly to replace Soliai by signing free agent Earl Mitchell and Randy Starks has been re-signed but for only 2 years. The secondary is another area of need, which would be better addressed in the draft.

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I can’t believe the Dolphins traded Jonathan Martin

Mar. 12 Opinion

 

Dolphins fans, I was in stunned disbelief last night when the news broke.  Was I dreaming?  Was this an April Fool’s Day joke 3 weeks early?  This couldn’t be real, could it?  The Dolphins traded Jonathan Martin…..to an NFL team?  I thought maybe they could get some canadian bacon from a CFL team in exchange for him….but….WHAAAAT?

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

My eyes were not playing tricks on me, the Dolphins have indeed traded Jonathan Martin to the 49ers for a conditional 7th round draft pick.  Before learning of the actual ‘conditions’ of the trade, I sent out the following tweet:

 

 

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Dolphins offseason wish list should include some big names

Mar. 07 Opinion

 

By Cyrus (@Cyruslassus on Twitter)

The Miami Dolphins, after giving Brent Grimes the deal that he has earned, will field an above average defense yet again.

While most of the offseason attention is on the offense and how it needs 4 new offensive linemen, I find the idea of using a first round pick and a lot of money to fill two of those positions, offensive.

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

Yes, assuming the rookie and veteran play up to their potential, the Dolphins would have a solid line, which is a step in the right direction.

However, steps in the right direction get you fired and back into rebuilding sooner or later. The team must take a leap into greatness while Starks, Soliai, Wake and Grimes are still great or they may as well start fresh already.

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Mock Draft 3.0: Exploring Dolphins draft scenarios

Mar. 04 Opinion

 

By Miami Jules (@Miami_Jules on Twitter)

The Senior Bowl has come and gone and so has the NFL Combine. As a direct result of the physical and mental evaluations, which are part of this process, players entering the draft will start to move up or down the rankings. The Combine, more so than the Senior Bowl, exposes players who may be affected by nagging injuries.

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

This year was not no different and the most notable disappointment for me, was finding out about the left tackle from Alabama I had been raving about, Cyrus Kuoandjio, and his arthritic knee. Kounandjio, will undergo further medical evaluation in April which will further determine his position in the draft but for now at least, I have gone in a different direction with the Dolphins’ first pick at #19. The free agent signing period will start on March 11th and consequently, my selections, at this point are based on the notion that the Dolphins will not sign any potential starters from the FA market.

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Jimmy Graham to the Dolphins?

Mar. 03 Opinion

Alright Dolphins fans, we’re in the midst of “rumor and speculation” season. So why not jump right into it.  On Friday, Jimmy Graham was given the non-exclusive Franchise tag by the Saints.  What that means is that Graham can shop his services to another NFL team, but the Saints would have an opportunity to match a contract offer by another team OR take back 2 first round picks.

Photo Courtesy of Jeffrey Beall via Wikipedia.com

Photo Courtesy of Jeffrey Beall via Wikipedia.com

I’m here to tell you today that the Dolphins should make an offer to Jimmy Graham…a big one…and give up the 2 first round picks if the Saints don’t match the offer.  OH MY GOSH, 2 FIRST ROUND PICKS, ARE YOU CRAZY?!?!  Listen, I don’t think the Dolphins will do this, but I think they should. They already missed on Graham once when they picked John Jerry 22 spots ahead of him in the 3rd round in 2010.  They shouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

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Dolphins should cut Jonathan Martin…..today

Feb. 14 Opinion

 

Sorry Dolphins fans, but I’m done with Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito.  Done. D-O-N-E.  We’ve all been hearing about this bullying story since October and quite frankly, I’ve had enough.  It’s been an ongoing soap opera for almost 4 months now and it seems (as we thought) that it was overblown and was much to do about nothing.

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

First, Martin leaves the team and claims that Incognito bullied him. Then, the racial, disgusting text messages come out from Martin’s camp.  Then, Incognito gives his side of the story and the texts seem like they were exchanged between friends. Then there’s the infamous ‘dinner’ accusation where Martin reportedly left a dinner after Incognito used a racial slur. A police chief and former Dolphins Anthony Fasano both dispute that claim.

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Should the Miami Dolphins draft Michael Sam?

Feb. 11 Opinion

 

By Cyrus (@Cyruslassus on Twitter)

My first thought is that the Miami Dolphins have way too many holes to fill on the roster to take a defensive end in the 2014 draft, but what Missouri Tiger Michael Sam has done since August of 2013 has changed my mind.

He came out of the closet to his teammates, had a stellar season with 10 1/2 sacks and 18 tackles for loss, claimed Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors in the SEC and then decided to become the first openly gay major professional athlete in America in the months leading to the NFL draft.

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

Photo Courtesy of Dolphins.com

The Miami Dolphins have to step up and draft this young man at whichever point his talent merits, as a matter of principle.

Whether he fills an immediate need or not is less important than making a statement to the world.

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