Miami Dolphins Free Agent Wide Receiver Replacement Prospects

In a cost cutting decision, The Miami Dolphins released receivers Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson this past Friday. Hartline coming off of a 39 reception, 474 yard with two touchdowns 2014 season was scheduled to count for 7.35 million against Miami's 2015 salary cap. Gibson with his 29 catches for 295 yards and one touchdown for 2014 was due 4.26 million pictures of President George Washington in 2015.

Brian Hartline's six year Miami Dolphin career included 298 catches, 4,243 yards, and 12 touchdowns. He will be 29 before the 2015 season's end. During 28 year old Brandon Gibson's 7 year career, he produced 233 receptions for 2,711 yards with 13 touchdowns.


Previous to these decisions, The Dolphins had approximately 3 million dollars available with the opening of free agency just ten days away. These most recent moves free-up an additional 6.4 million for Miami to play with which happens to be just the right amount to secure their 2013 MVP Tight End Charles Clay who is scheduled to hit the March 10th open market. Presently, the Dolphins now have a suggested 10 million dollars to make the best of with while many more millions will become available over the next ten days with the cuts of other positional overpaid underachievers. You know who they are beyond the receiver position!

Though he is not an under achiever while averaging 8 touchdowns and nearly 1000 yards per season, Mike Wallace is overpaid at 12.1 million for said production. He isn't willing to restructure his contract for the sake of the team. He has some personality conflicts with certain others. While, he may also be replaceable with a somewhat equal force at a more fair rate to the Miami Dolphins than what Jeff Ireland burdened them with. However. Few if any that may be legitimate considerations have been as consistently reliable or productive as Mike Wallace (thus-far), and most all receivers are to some extent, a diva.

Currently, Jarvis Landry, Rishard Matthews, and Mike Wallace are the only remaining 2014 Miami Dolphin receivers that saw the field.

Previously we discussed the combine/draftee prospects in the case of such a blossoming dilemma. Of 40 that will soon become available. Here are a handful of Free Agent receivers that are equatable to and/or recently upgraded replacements to fill the rolls of Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson, and/or potentially Mike Wallace.

Hakeem Nicks 27 has missed 10 of 96 career games. His only 16 game season came this past year for Indianapolis at a pay rate of 2.2 million. His one season with Andrew Luck at Quarterback also happened to be the productively worst season of his career. In his first year away from a familiar system his 2014 numbers were 405 yards with 4 touchdowns. Such 2014 production was similar to the receiver that he is best suited skill-wise as an upgrade to replace Brian Hartline, (at a far more affordable price). Just one year ago Nicks had totaled 896 yards on 56 catches for Eli Manning and the New York Giants. His best seasons to date came in 2010 when he snatched 79 receptions for 1,052 yards with 11 touchdowns, and 2011's (76, 1,192 and 7 touchdowns) for the same Giants. For his six year NFL career, Hakeem Nicks has accrued 349 catches for 5,027 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Kenny Britt will be 27 and has missed 23 of 96 games, (basically a season and a half) of his six year career. He has been available for all 16 games in only his rookie and 2014 seasons. His best year was in 2010 with 42 catches, 775 yards, and 9 touchdowns in just 12 games while with a deficient at quarterback Titans team. His one 2014 season with the lacking at quarterback Rams was his second best year as he accounted for 48 grabs, 748 yards with 3 touchdowns. When totally healthy which has been a rare occasion to this point, he can do almost everything and more than what Mike Wallace does. He has good speed for his size while actually possessing the height 6 - 3, weight 218, and strength (23 reps of 225 as a collegiate) attributes of a true number one receiver. Landing a healthy Britt as a potential number One (at his current rate of less than 2 million), and keeping Mike Wallace as a Two (where he belongs, rather than as the one) could be the ultimately desired scenario. It would exceed by far the one, two punch potential of the Wallace/Hartline 2014 combo. As a five year Tennessee Titan, and 2014 St.Louis Ram, Kenny Britt has 205 receptions for 3,198 yards with 22 touchdowns.

Randall Cobb is 25 and has missed twelve of 64 career games. He excels from the slot position, but like Jarvis Landry (or Hartline), he is versatile enough to also be highly productive from the interchangeable number two receiver spot. Though not as fast (4.46) as Wallace (4.33), due to precise routes he's almost every bit as capable of getting beyond the coverage. Cobb is a highly competitive, motivational type player that rises to the occasion when called upon, and he is a physical player that's not afraid of contact over the middle, or in blocking. In his 2012 sophomore season with Green Bay he had 80 catches for 954 yards and 8 touchdowns. He missed 10 games in 2013, and still outproduced the 2014 numbers of Brian Hartline. For his breakout 2014 season, he caught 91 balls with 1,287 yards, and 12 touchdowns from Aaron Rodgers. Upon the duration of his four year career, Randall Cobb has tabulated 227 receptions, 3,049 yards with 25 touchdowns.

Torrey Smith at 26 years old has been relegated as active in all of his teams 64 games. Similar to Mike Wallace in size, Torrey Smith is also a true number two receiver that would desire a true number one option to complement, while with a (4.43) forty he is the fastest straight line runner of this free agent bunch. Smith has a great work ethic, passion, and displays good leadership skills. He has averaged 53 receptions for 900 yards, while his high yardage mark of 1,128 came during the 2013 season. His career touchdown season high of 11 came about this past 2014 season with 767 yards as he limped through a half season long knee issue. As Joe Flacco's security blanket over his four year Baltimore Raven career, Torrey Smith has accrued 213 catches for 3,591 yards, and 30 touchdowns.

Jeremy Maclin 27 at seasons start has been absent for 5 of his teams 80 games. He is the same size as Wallace and though he's not as fast at (4.45), he can get open and/or over the top just as easily due to great running of all routes. Over his first four years in Philadelphia (the origin of Miami OC Bill Lazor), Maclin averaged 875 yards on 64 receptions. His second most productive season came in 2010 when he gathered 70 balls for 964 yards with 10 touchdowns. In 2014 he had his breakout career year and accrued 1,318 yards for 10 touchdowns on 85 catches. With a revolving door variation of quarterbacks, Jeremy Maclin's 5 year career has accounted for 343 receptions with 4,771 yards, and 36 touchdowns.


Mike Wallace will be 29 at seasons start, he has missed one game of 96. During his first four years with Pittsburgh, Ben Rothlisberger accounted for 32 of his touchdowns while in the last two years Mike Wallace has kept up the pace as the recipient of 15 Ryan Tannehill touchdowns. Over his six year career Mike Wallace has 375 receptions for 5,834 yards with 47 touchdowns.

Wallace will count for 12.1 million as a 2015 Miami Dolphin.

He will count for 9.6 mill against the cap if he is cut before June 1st.

The cost is 6.6 mill if he's traded
(for whats being suggested to be a late round draft pick).

A 5.2 million dollar loss takes place if he's designated to be a Post June 1st cut.

He is guaranteed 3 million if he's on the team (without a June 1st cut designation) as of March 15th!!

With that March 15th guarantee of 3 million dollars!
One or more of the above options is likely to become official within the next ten to 15 days.

Free Agency opens on March 10th!!

MAYBE (over those 5 days) between March 10th and 15th?
Miami aggressively goes after and lands a free agent receiver replacement at (2 to 6 million) with a similar to Mike Wallace set of abilities?
In such a case, the potential immediate need for speed is somewhat voided.
Wallace can then be designated as a June 1st cut while Miami eats the minimum of future "dead money", and simultaneously creates additional cap space of (6 to 10 million) toward the 2015 seasons roster.

MAYBE The Miami Dolphins will prefer a reliably healthy and consistently productive Mike Wallace at 12.1 million over some other 2 to 6 million dollar wide receiver diva?
MAYBE by releasing the 11.6 million dollars due to Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson for the 2015 season, the Dolphins can justify (to some extent) paying Mike Wallace his contracted 12.1 million? He was after all far more productive than both Hartline and Gibson combined!


THANK YOU for an Open-Minded read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
Who, How, Why, When, and What would be your preferred route??

GOFINS!!!

The Miami Dolphins Need A True Number One Receiver, (at the least)!

With or without Mike Wallace?

In the case that the 6 foot, 200 pound, 4.33 forty running Mike Wallace is to be discarded?
There are a few speedster types of note in the pending free agency period that will be covered after this weeks combine. Their names are Jeremy Maclin, Kenny Britt, and the likely unattainable Randall Cobb who like Jarvis Landry is a thriving slot receiver that is also a highly capable number two, outside receiver option.

Here are a few DRAFT COMBINE participating, second or third round projected speedsters that would perfectly fill the potentially voided speed of Mike Wallace. While none are of the One Trick Pony variety,(Nor is Mike Wallace anymore). However. A far cheaper draft version could very possibly be just around the bend.

3) Sammie Coates 6 - 2, 213 Auburn Tiger Jr. is this years chiseled freak that will shock and awe onlookers. He's big & tall yet clocks-in as the drafts third fastest prospect overall at 4.36. Coates is a raw, yet strong talent with blazing speed, he will test great which hasn't quite transferred to the field at the same extent. His production has been decent, but could be great with better execution of patterns, mental fortitude, and a dabb'a'stick'em.

2) Phillip Dorsett 5 - 10, 183 Miami Hurricane Sr. is this drafts fastest player at 4.32. He is a Miami native with good to great all around receiver skills, work ethics, morals, and character. (See Devin Smith). Though trailing Smith to the End Zone by a score of 30 to 17, and 300 or so yards at the college level. Dorsett is a slightly smaller, slightly faster, more explosive, exact replica from the two, or three spot to an opposing defenses coverage nightmare.

1) Devin Smith 6 - 0, 190 Ohio State Buckeye Sr. runs a 4.38 forty and is quick to get open at the line of scrimmage. As well. (Though his routes need tweaking), his feet and hips offer a serious wiggle to quickly create space on short to intermediate patterns. This ability to create instant separation eventually leads to him blowing a defender out of his shoes with his outright over the top speed. He can score from anywhere on the field, and covering him requires an equally fleet of foot defender, or their damn sure better be a safety over the top.

All three of the above have professed to be shooting for a sub 4.3 forty this weekend.


With or without Mike Wallace!

In either case for The Miami Dolphins. A true number one receiver needs to be of the tall, big, strong, fast, athletic, smart, do'it'all variety. A player with a distinction of ultimate importance that the opposition has to game plan against with multiple defenders on every play. A guy that can be a threat at all levels of the field while opening zones for the single coverage drawing, primary targets in Miami's offensive scheme.

This six foot three-plus, two hundred and ten-plus pound man of men would be defensively identified as Miami's Number One Receiver. This doesn't mean that he would necessarily be the Dolphins receptions leader, just that he can be a highly productive threat at all levels. Such a bulls-eye would also be the one to draw double and triple coverage away from the preferred zones of Jarvis Landry, or a Mike Wallace and/or his potential replacement of a similarly proficient skill set.

Mike Wallace is a true number two receiver with blazing speed being his most important to Miami asset. Jarvis Landry is likely to be the Dolphins receptions leader for as long as Miami can hold onto him as their number three slot receiver while he also has the ability to be productive at the outside number two spot. Both Landry, and a Wallace type player are the perfect complements to a True Number One Receiver, and Vice-Versa. To have all three and/or a facsimile of would offer quite the dilemma for an opposing defense. Let-Alone a productive Tight End, and Running Back already being in the mix.

In a league of thirty two teams, twenty of the participants Number One Receivers are at least 6 - 3 while carrying a minimum weight of 210 pounds. In the case of those 20 receivers, they are also their teams most productive receivers, and most are stars of the league. A few teams number one, and number two receivers are both at, if not towering above the 75 inch barometer. Every remaining team (other than a couple along with Miami) has at least one of these statuesque receivers on their active game day roster.

Proof in the pudding that the Dolphins are aware of this BIG need lay in the fact that somewhere along the way since his release on October 9th, 2014 from Dallas. The Dolphins signed a 2012 un-drafted free agent receiver LaRon Byrd who happens to be 6 - 4 while carrying 220 pounds. On December 16th, 2014, Miami signed another big guy of 6 - 3, 220, a first year player by the name of Gerrell Robinson. Byrd has spent a moment or two with four organizations previous to Miami while the Dolphins are Robinson's third chance. Neither player has yet to do anything at the NFL level, so it's not likely that either are the immediate answer to Miami's extreme need of a true number one wide receiver. However. They are proof that the Dolphins understand that a big, tall, productive receiver is a necessity to land in the cards yet to be dealt. Other than the above two, only the relevant Brian Hartline at 6 - 2, 200 pounds is taller than six foot, and he too may become a cap casualty along with Mike Wallace this year. As well, the latter's linguist Brandon Gibson might also be on the cap chopping block.

As of this moment (previous to a flurry of league wide cap casualties). The upcoming 2015 free agency period which opens on (March 10th) doesn't offer a scheduled to be, attainable Number One Receiver option of suggested minimum height, weight, and skill-set parameters. The only legit men of such is in Denver's Demaryius Thomas, and The Cowboys Dez Bryant who are far more than likely to be franchised before being allowed to hit the open market. Meanwhile, Miami couldn't afford them to begin with. Therefore, the Dolphins may need to pursue such a disruptive number one force versus the opposition with the first rounds fourteenth pick of the draft.

More extensive analysis of these and other positional prospects will be covered as the draft approaches, but this is Combine week, a Defibrillator of sorts intended to keep the heart pumping until the start of Free Agency, and/or until day one of the end of Aprils draft.

Here are a desired handful of the 2015 drafts first and second round, Big, Tall, Potentially True Number One Receiver Prospects. Guy's that will be showing-off their stuff starting upon Tuesday's NFL Combine. Let us see just how Big, Tall, Strong, Fast, Athletic, Agile, and Smart they really are at this years ""Under-Wear Olympics.""

7) Devin Funchess 6 - 5, 230 Michigan Wolverine Jr. was a Tight End until the 2014 season when he moved to receiver. His collegiate forty time was 4.63 which is somewhat fast for a tight end, but reasonably slow for a receiver. He is too light to block as a three down tight end, while being quite the receiving threat out of the Tight end position. With his height, and weight out of the receiver position, he may be a nightmare match up, if he proves to be strong, athletically agile, and a bit faster at his combine. Lucky Seven, A serious multi-positional red zone threat, if nothing else.

6) Jaelen Strong 6 - 3, 215, 4.55 Arizona State Sun Devil Jr. is a guy that is strong in both the lower body and hands, a receiver who fights hard for possession and yardage. A big, tall, long armed, skilled leaper that catches most everything. He's not particularly quick, or fast, and doesn't consistently create great separation, but he is a smartly skilled route runner that knows how to get himself between the defender and quarterback, while attacking the ball in traffic comes from his competitive nature. Said his Offensive Coordinator Mike Norvell. "Jaelen Strong is probably one of the sharpest receivers I've been around, he understands concepts. He understands his role of not only trying to get himself open, but how he might be pulling two people to open up somebody else."

5) Breshad Perriman 6 - 3, 214, 4.52 Central Florida Knights. Unlike Jaelan Strong, and despite a far inferior route running technique, this guy quickly creates space on every pattern. He's more quick than fast (especially for a big receiver), he can stop on a dime and be back to full speed with his first step. Another receiver of great athleticism, leaping ability, body control, and wingspan that can go to the house on every play. He is also strong, and a willing blocker. It'll be interesting to see if he can improve upon his overall forty time speed, as he's proven to be plenty quick. With a cleanup of his pattern preciseness, hand/eye coordination, and mental focus on receptions, Breshad Perriman could be that coveted Number One Receiver.

4) Dorial Green Beckham 6 - 5, 225, 4.49 Oklahoma Sooner Jr. has had a set back or two of his own doing, and may not be on the Dolphins draft board because of it. He didn't play ball in 2014 due to transfer restrictions. However. He is every bit as talented, (if not more-so) than this entire bunch, and a personal favorite if he were to (take an unlikely) fall to Miami's second round pick. Green-Beckham is the subject of this receiver classes best height to weight to speed ratio. An NFL Star if his fingers are sticky on game day only.

3) Amari Cooper 6 -1, 210 Alabama Crimson Tide Jr. doesn't meet the sought after altitude, but he is this drafts top rated receiver as a Heisman Trophy runner up with the potential to be an NFL number one. He will start at one or another receiver position on opening day. While not quite up to the height line for this particular ride, he is also one of the slowest (according to the clock) of these Miami hopefuls, but he plays fast. His height nor collegiate 4.52 speed hasn't hindered his production thus-far due to motherly motivations toward him being the best ever as a hard working technical aficionado with exemplary character traits.

2) Devante Parker 6 - 3, 209, 4.48 Louisville Cardinal Sr. is an extremely competitive, highly focused, explosive play-maker that aggressively stalks possession with great agility, hands and range in a spectacular fashion. His quickness, and preciseness in routes could be easily perfected with some minor coaching instructions. He plays far better in competition than he will test. Devante Parker's only real question mark is his strength, and he has become stronger each of the last two seasons which will be put on display this coming weekend.

1) Kevin White 6 - 3, 210, 4.49 West Virginia Mountaineer Sr. with a similar to Parker aggressively competitive, focused desire. Kevin also has great hands, leaping ability, bodily agility, and large reception radius. However. White is currently a more precisely skilled route runner with a slightly better ability to create separation at all level's of the field. He is technically refined in most every route of which he runs a larger variety, quicker into his breaks, sharper out of them, can stop on a dime, is stronger from start to finish, and runs with more power after the catch. Though he still has work to do,(for the most part) Kevin White is ready to be an NFL True Number One Receiver upon the day of his signing.



The 2015 NFL Draft Combine.
Tuesday February 17th thru Thursday covers the specifics of every prospect.

Combine Schedule of on-field workouts Televised via NFL Network:
Friday, Feb. 20: Specialists, offensive linemen, tight ends
Saturday, Feb. 21: Quarterbacks, running backs wide receivers
Sunday: Feb. 22: Defensive linemen, linebackers
Monday, Feb. 23: Defensive backs


Thank You for an Open Minded read, and we look forward to your angle of view on all mentioned or not mentioned combine participants : )) !!

GOFINS!!!

To Keep, or Not to Keep?

Ladies and Gentlemen. We bring you deep passages from the memoirs of Tony Nicoletti.


I noticed that there was some discussion after my last blog, (Fear Not Dolphin Fans. The Miami Dolphins Will Rise Again!) regarding all the quality players that Joe Philbin has let go of, during his first few years with the Miami Dolphins. While none of us necessarily agree with all the moves that were made, you do have to give him credit for being decisive and holding to a specific vision of what he is trying to accomplish in Miami.

Who's to to say that Joe Philbins, (previous GM, Jeff Ireland) or current GM Dennis Hickey's personnel decisions were bad moves. Especially, those that involved players who were a cancer to the team. Being the new head coach with the Dolphins, Joe Philbin inherited a bunch of leftovers from the, "Tony Sparano" era in 2012. The wholesale housecleaning was going to have to be done sooner or later. Fortunately, it happened sooner.

A change of scenery can be a wake up call for marginal players and some of them wisely, got their act together for their new ball clubs. Their new Coaches/GM's knew of what kind of baggage they were getting with these players. It was already determined that their skill set is needed and welcomed, despite some of their negative traits. However, specific ground rules and incentives are put in place to encourage these players to make the best of their new opportunity, thus taking some of the gamble out of recruiting them. And many of these players also came to realize that this is or may be their last chance and if they screw up they could very will be out of the NFL, altogether. That is why it is not uncommon for these players to prosper with their new team.

We all know that there will always be, "divas" and, "me first" type players in the game. It's part of their competitive nature. I believe the better coaches find ways to incorporate these talented yet, troublesome players into their game plan. They have the ability to determine if the gifts, talents and upside these players bring to the table are worth being patient and working around their eccentricities.

Trouble makers, questionable character on and off the field and all the things that undermine and detract from the goals that a coach is trying to establish with his team, can not be tolerated. And unfortunately, when a coach first takes over a franchise, these are things that he has to assess and weed out quickly. In many instances, he doesn't have the time to sit down with each and every player to make that determination. Especially during the off season when he is trying to familiarize himself with his new surroundings, assemble a coaching staff and get every one on the same page. And then there is the fact that they may have as many as 90+ players at some point, all trying out for the team.

An astute coach can ascertain whether divas are for real or just full of themselves. If they are being selfish in their demands to be a bigger part of the game plan or if there is a possibility they really can contribute more, (if given the chance). They can also tell if it is frustration that causes a player to complain and act out in ways that are unbecoming to a team, and when it is necessary to discipline them or just let them blow off some steam.

Case in point: Mike Wallace.

He is not so much the diva that many top wide receivers are. He tries to put on airs that he is a team player. He has a good work ethic and no, "off the field" issues. He hasn't been as spectacular catching the deep ball as he was with the Steelers. (Catching only about 25% of the long passes that were thrown his way last season). He is not known for being a receiver that will go up and fight for the ball. (Although in 2014, he has shown that he is willing to be aggressive and fight for extra yardage after the catch). It's not certain what really took place in that final game when he was benched in the second half because he supposedly, quit on the team.

To Wallace's credit, he's been successful in his new role and has contributed greatly to this offense. He has demonstrated a willingness to adapt and has proven that he is not just a one trick pony, only capable of using his speed to get down the field to catch balls. But is his performance worth all those millions? His production certainly cannot easily be replaced, on the cheap. And Miami does need to recoup some cap space to bring in some free agent help. (Which makes him a potential target, being the highest paid player on the Dolphin roster). Of course, all of this may be a moot issue if Joe Philbin decides to let him go because of his disenchantment with how he is being utilized and occasional complaints to that end.

If Philbin and Hickey decide not to keep him, a trade is not likely to happen since his contract will come at too high a price for even the most desperate of teams to pick up. Chances are, Miami would wind up having to eat a big chunk of change and dead cap money if they let him go. But one has to wonder if he, (and players like Jared Odrick, who has also let his feelings be known as well) will be on the roster this season.

But as coach Philbin's tenure moves forward and hopefully, draws closer to molding the team into what he feels will be a competitive ball club, an occasion may arise where he has to make a tough decision on a difficult player, again. To summarily dismiss good, talented players is a waste of resources. Especially with a seasoned coach. It's one thing to draw the line and set an example for the rest of the team as to what will be acceptable behavior. But over time, these problems should diminish as the front office, coaching staff and players become better aware of what type of personnel and atmosphere he is trying to cultivate. I would like to think a coach should evolve enough to learn from his past mistakes with the many players that have come and gone.

It's easy in hindsight, to say that Philbin never should have let go of this or that player because they are now model citizens with their new team and/or went on to become great players. We should actually be happy for these reformed players. I mean, isn't it better to know that the players that were given a chance on the Dolphin roster at any given time, did have the potential to eventually play for another franchise? What would it say about the Dolphin recruiting department if a majority of it's choices were found to be unsuitable and could not make it in the NFL at all?

Selecting football players is a crap shoot. Sometimes a team has to sift through some crap to find a jewel and this Miami Dolphin's front office and coaching staff have uncovered a number of gems over the years. Players that do not necessarily fit the typical physical tangibles that are usually associated with a given position. They may lack size or speed but their willingness to work hard, study and prepare, more than compensates for any deficiencies they may have. (Charles Clay comes to mind). He is not the big bodied Tight End target that all coaches covet, but still manages to win his match ups and when healthy, is a defensive coordinators nightmare.

The Dolphins are not opposed to beating the bushes to find players through unconventional means. Cameron Wake, whom we acquired from the CFL is one such example. We have several players from small, obscure colleges that have shown tremendous promise and upside. Like Walt Aikens and Terrence Fede. And let's not forget the injured players that came to the Dolphins whom have become important fixtures on this team. We took a chance on Brent Grimes who was recovering from a serious injury, and on an injury prone Brandon Albert. Both of them are excellent players. (Hopefully, Albert will be again, after his return from major knee surgery).

So you see, Coaches and General Managers are constantly taking chances and gambling with players. Forever searching for the right personnel to fit their schemes, attitude and team identity. Every franchise has allowed a fair share of talented players to slip through their grasp. It is futile for head coaches and general managers to lament and second guess their decisions when they let these players go. All they can do is learn form their experiences, forge ahead and continue their quest to build the best roster they can. It's the nature of the game and how dynasties are made.

As fans, we don't get to see what is actually going on behind closed doors. We only see players come and go. Some of whom, do well with other teams. (Which can be a little puzzling and disconcerting). Rest assured, there are reasons why teams lets go of what appear to be, "good players".

There are instances where some teams have no choice. Cap space limitations or positions that they are well stocked in, force them to release these surplus players so they can free up roster and cap space to pursue other players that they need. Perhaps a new coach or coaching staff has been brought in with a different system which may require them to cut players that do not fit or cannot adapt to these new systems and schemes. It doesn't always mean that these free agents are flawed in some way and unworthy of a roster spot with their previous team.. You need to make room to bring in and develop new players. Sometimes it means getting rid of decent players, as well.

As I write this blog today, I am relieved to see an article claiming that Mike Wallace has been able to sit down with Dennis Hickey to discuss his future with the team. I'm glad that they are trying to work out their differences. I also saw a story about Jared Odrick. The Dolphins have approached him to negotiate a new contract to avoid losing him to free agency.

Could it be that Joe Philbin has finally reached the point in his coaching career with the Dolphins, where he is able and willing to deal with outspoken, problematic players instead of arbitrarily sending them down the road? It's about time.This is definitely a step in the right direction. I'm hoping the Miami Dolphins are able free up the cap space to secure the free agent/draft picks they need to make a push for the playoffs in 2015.

Only then can the question be answered: To Keep, or Not to Keep. Lets hope Joe Philbin and company are keepers!

Go Dolphins!