phinatic1399
Diehard Phinatic!
1. Peyton Manning will continue to be the Dolphins No. 1 priority until his situation is resolved. And many insiders, including John Clayton and Chris Mortensen, are warming to the idea that the Dolphins are the favorite to land him if he is cut. Donovan McNabb said Monday on D.C. radio that “I don’t see Peyton ending up in Washington.” Jets head coach Rex Ryan and Arizona GM Rod Graves both refused to shoot down speculation that their teams will be in the hunt. Kansas City and Seattle will pursue, but seem unlikely, given that they often play games in inclement weather (though Seattle does have over $25 million in salary cap space). Cleveland probably won’t pursue because it appears to be in the driver’s seat for Robert Griffin III, though the St. Louis Post-Dispatch considers the Redskins “the early front-runner” for RG3. Minnesota, which plays in a dome and has Christian Ponder penciled in as the starter, is a Wild Card.
2. Dolphins fans should be most worried about the Cardinals in the competition to sign Manning. They also have good weather, a talented receiver (Larry Fitzgerald) and play in a dome. And if they cut Kevin Kolb before March 17, they can avoid paying him a $7 million roster bonus, and move on after paying him $12 million for one year (plus giving up a second-round pick and CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie). Cutting bait with Kolb and then winning a bidding war for Manning seems out of character for Cardinals owner Bill Bidwell, but you can’t count it out.
3. One factor that could work in Miami’s favor: The Dolphins play at Indianapolis in 2012. A couple of Colts beat writers said the ultra-competitive Manning will embrace the opportunity to “stick it up their a**” if he is cut.
4. One team that won’t be in the Manning hunt: Tennessee. Titans fans were the first to erect Peyton Manning billboards, but head coach Mike Munchak said Jake Locker and Matt Hasselbeck will compete for the starting job during minicamps.
5. If the Dolphins can’t get Peyton, they probably won’t have much competition for Matt Flynn. The only other teams who likely will be interested – Washington, which runs a West Coast Offense, and Seattle, whose GM (John Schneider) helped draft Flynn. But neither the Redskins or Seahawks want to break the bank for Flynn, either.
6. Packers GM Ted Thompson declined to say whether his team will use the franchise tag on Flynn so as to trade him, but ESPNMilwaukee.com reported that the Packers will not do so. Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said Flynn “is ready to be an NFL starter. … He’s very consistent, the same guy every day. I’m talking about emotionally, mentally and physically. He can make all the throws, does a very good job of running the system. The same game plan that we had in for Aaron Rodgers, we went with the some one with his opportunities. I think he’s very savvy in the pocket, and people underestimate his athletic ability.”
7. It’s no secret that the Rams want to trade the No. 2 pick to a team who wants RG3. New coach Jeff Fisher said that the Rams will “listen to whoever’s willing to talk. … We have a lot of options, and we’re going to be prepared to do whatever.” Yes, the Dolphins have contacted the Rams. So have several other teams. The Dolphins view RG3 as a contingency plan in case they can’t get Manning or Flynn, because Cleveland appears to be in the driver’s seat, with the fourth and 22nd picks in this year’s draft (St. Louis could still get the player it wants (Justin Blackmon is the favorite) with the fourth pick, but probably not with the Dolphins’ eighth pick). The Dolphins would have to trade away nearly their entire stock of 2012 draft picks plus next year’s first-rounder to best the Browns’ offer, and that’s not in Jeff Ireland’s DNA. Washington might be crazy enough to pull off a Herschel Walker-type trade, but not Miami. Fisher said the idea of trading Sam Bradford and taking RG3 “wouldn’t be an option.”
8. The Chiefs are hot on the QB trail, as well. They interviewed RG3 at the Combine (as well as almost every QB prospect), and Romeo Crennel said the team would be “crazy not to consider” Peyton, a comment which won’t be construed as tampering. Crennel’s support of Matt Cassel is tepid, at best, saying “until we get another quarterback on the team, Cassel is the guy.” Ouch. Kyle Orton and Chad Henne will be two options to sign if the Chiefs don’t get Manning, Flynn or RG3, but Crennel said he learned an important lesson from his time as head coach in Cleveland: “Try to avoid a quarterback controversy, for one. That’s the key.” Cassel’s days in Kansas City may be numbered.
9. Another team that won’t be in the quarterback hunt – San Francisco, which potentially would have been an attractive landing spot for Manning. “We’re very confident in Alex (Smith),” GM Trent Baalke said of his quarterback, who is an unrestricted free agent. “Our confidence in his has not wavered at all.”
10. Speaking of QBs, expect the Broncos to give Tim Tebow the starting job to start the season, but with no guarantees about keeping his job. “I was really happy with his progress,” John Elway said. “But we also want to see strides in Tim and his ability to get better at throwing the football downfield from the pocket. We just feel that’s something we have to do to get better as an offense.” Expect the Broncos to prepare for the future by taking a quarterback with their second- or third-round draft pick. Denver also could be a landing spot for Henne as Tebow’s backup.
11. As of Saturday, 30 of the 32 NFL teams requested to roll over their unused 2011 salary cap space to 2012. The Dolphins were one of those teams, giving Ireland an additional $9.05 million to play with this year.
12. Ireland believes the three most important positions on the football field are: Quarterback, pass rusher and cornerback. Coincidentally, the Dolphins need help at all three positions. Their success in free agency with Manning or Flynn will ultimately determine their draft strategy, but assuming they land one of those guys, expect the Dolphins to pick an elite cornerback or pass rusher in round 1, draft the other position in round 2, and draft a quarterback to sit and develop behind Manning/Flynn in rounds 3-4. The Dolphins, knowing that the Manning or Flynn era could be short-lived, believe in the “double-down” concept this year at quarterback.
13. Why is cornerback a need for Miami? For one, the Dolphins simply need a body, as nickel corner Will Allen is a free agent, and second-year vet Jimmy Wilson may not be ready to handle the third cornerback role. Two, Sean Smith is entering his contract year, and his future with the team has not been determined. Three, Smith has the skillset to potentially be an excellent free safety, which is also a position of need for the Dolphins. Pahokee’s Janoris Jenkins, an elite talent who has had off-field issues, would be a steal if the Dolphins could get him in the second round.
14. The Lions and Panthers are very much in the market for cornerbacks, and the Chiefs still hope to bring back coveted free agent Brandon Carr, though the Cowboys are reportedly the front-runner to land him. The 49ers will do “everything it can” to retain CB Carlos Rogers, Baalke said. Cortland Finnegan to the Lions, where he will reunite with former Titans DC Jim Schwartz, makes too much sense.
15. Teams that are looking for outside pass rushers, in addition to the Dolphins: Seahawks, Falcons, Bills, Titans, Chiefs, Panthers, Jets, Texans.
16. The Dolphins will likely have to find an elite pass rusher in the draft, as “those guys usually don’t get to the free agent market,” Titans GM Ruston Webster said. Houston’s Mario Williams will be too expensive (his franchise tag number is close to $22 million) and Houston GM Rick Smith said “we’re working hard to figure out a way” to bring him back. Detroit GM Martin Mayhew said “it’s hard to let a guy like Cliff Avril go,” and will likely use the franchise tag on him. The Colts will find a way to keep Robert Mathis, and could use the tag on him, as well. Graves said the Cardinals wants to get a long-term deal done with Calais Campbell “sooner rather than later.” Falcons DE John Abraham said he wants $12 million per year, which would price him out of Miami, and Jaguars DE Jeremy Mincey has received interest from five teams, but the Dolphins aren’t one.
http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thed...ority-and-other-notes-from-across-the-league/
2. Dolphins fans should be most worried about the Cardinals in the competition to sign Manning. They also have good weather, a talented receiver (Larry Fitzgerald) and play in a dome. And if they cut Kevin Kolb before March 17, they can avoid paying him a $7 million roster bonus, and move on after paying him $12 million for one year (plus giving up a second-round pick and CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie). Cutting bait with Kolb and then winning a bidding war for Manning seems out of character for Cardinals owner Bill Bidwell, but you can’t count it out.
3. One factor that could work in Miami’s favor: The Dolphins play at Indianapolis in 2012. A couple of Colts beat writers said the ultra-competitive Manning will embrace the opportunity to “stick it up their a**” if he is cut.
4. One team that won’t be in the Manning hunt: Tennessee. Titans fans were the first to erect Peyton Manning billboards, but head coach Mike Munchak said Jake Locker and Matt Hasselbeck will compete for the starting job during minicamps.
5. If the Dolphins can’t get Peyton, they probably won’t have much competition for Matt Flynn. The only other teams who likely will be interested – Washington, which runs a West Coast Offense, and Seattle, whose GM (John Schneider) helped draft Flynn. But neither the Redskins or Seahawks want to break the bank for Flynn, either.
6. Packers GM Ted Thompson declined to say whether his team will use the franchise tag on Flynn so as to trade him, but ESPNMilwaukee.com reported that the Packers will not do so. Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said Flynn “is ready to be an NFL starter. … He’s very consistent, the same guy every day. I’m talking about emotionally, mentally and physically. He can make all the throws, does a very good job of running the system. The same game plan that we had in for Aaron Rodgers, we went with the some one with his opportunities. I think he’s very savvy in the pocket, and people underestimate his athletic ability.”
7. It’s no secret that the Rams want to trade the No. 2 pick to a team who wants RG3. New coach Jeff Fisher said that the Rams will “listen to whoever’s willing to talk. … We have a lot of options, and we’re going to be prepared to do whatever.” Yes, the Dolphins have contacted the Rams. So have several other teams. The Dolphins view RG3 as a contingency plan in case they can’t get Manning or Flynn, because Cleveland appears to be in the driver’s seat, with the fourth and 22nd picks in this year’s draft (St. Louis could still get the player it wants (Justin Blackmon is the favorite) with the fourth pick, but probably not with the Dolphins’ eighth pick). The Dolphins would have to trade away nearly their entire stock of 2012 draft picks plus next year’s first-rounder to best the Browns’ offer, and that’s not in Jeff Ireland’s DNA. Washington might be crazy enough to pull off a Herschel Walker-type trade, but not Miami. Fisher said the idea of trading Sam Bradford and taking RG3 “wouldn’t be an option.”
8. The Chiefs are hot on the QB trail, as well. They interviewed RG3 at the Combine (as well as almost every QB prospect), and Romeo Crennel said the team would be “crazy not to consider” Peyton, a comment which won’t be construed as tampering. Crennel’s support of Matt Cassel is tepid, at best, saying “until we get another quarterback on the team, Cassel is the guy.” Ouch. Kyle Orton and Chad Henne will be two options to sign if the Chiefs don’t get Manning, Flynn or RG3, but Crennel said he learned an important lesson from his time as head coach in Cleveland: “Try to avoid a quarterback controversy, for one. That’s the key.” Cassel’s days in Kansas City may be numbered.
9. Another team that won’t be in the quarterback hunt – San Francisco, which potentially would have been an attractive landing spot for Manning. “We’re very confident in Alex (Smith),” GM Trent Baalke said of his quarterback, who is an unrestricted free agent. “Our confidence in his has not wavered at all.”
10. Speaking of QBs, expect the Broncos to give Tim Tebow the starting job to start the season, but with no guarantees about keeping his job. “I was really happy with his progress,” John Elway said. “But we also want to see strides in Tim and his ability to get better at throwing the football downfield from the pocket. We just feel that’s something we have to do to get better as an offense.” Expect the Broncos to prepare for the future by taking a quarterback with their second- or third-round draft pick. Denver also could be a landing spot for Henne as Tebow’s backup.
11. As of Saturday, 30 of the 32 NFL teams requested to roll over their unused 2011 salary cap space to 2012. The Dolphins were one of those teams, giving Ireland an additional $9.05 million to play with this year.
12. Ireland believes the three most important positions on the football field are: Quarterback, pass rusher and cornerback. Coincidentally, the Dolphins need help at all three positions. Their success in free agency with Manning or Flynn will ultimately determine their draft strategy, but assuming they land one of those guys, expect the Dolphins to pick an elite cornerback or pass rusher in round 1, draft the other position in round 2, and draft a quarterback to sit and develop behind Manning/Flynn in rounds 3-4. The Dolphins, knowing that the Manning or Flynn era could be short-lived, believe in the “double-down” concept this year at quarterback.
13. Why is cornerback a need for Miami? For one, the Dolphins simply need a body, as nickel corner Will Allen is a free agent, and second-year vet Jimmy Wilson may not be ready to handle the third cornerback role. Two, Sean Smith is entering his contract year, and his future with the team has not been determined. Three, Smith has the skillset to potentially be an excellent free safety, which is also a position of need for the Dolphins. Pahokee’s Janoris Jenkins, an elite talent who has had off-field issues, would be a steal if the Dolphins could get him in the second round.
14. The Lions and Panthers are very much in the market for cornerbacks, and the Chiefs still hope to bring back coveted free agent Brandon Carr, though the Cowboys are reportedly the front-runner to land him. The 49ers will do “everything it can” to retain CB Carlos Rogers, Baalke said. Cortland Finnegan to the Lions, where he will reunite with former Titans DC Jim Schwartz, makes too much sense.
15. Teams that are looking for outside pass rushers, in addition to the Dolphins: Seahawks, Falcons, Bills, Titans, Chiefs, Panthers, Jets, Texans.
16. The Dolphins will likely have to find an elite pass rusher in the draft, as “those guys usually don’t get to the free agent market,” Titans GM Ruston Webster said. Houston’s Mario Williams will be too expensive (his franchise tag number is close to $22 million) and Houston GM Rick Smith said “we’re working hard to figure out a way” to bring him back. Detroit GM Martin Mayhew said “it’s hard to let a guy like Cliff Avril go,” and will likely use the franchise tag on him. The Colts will find a way to keep Robert Mathis, and could use the tag on him, as well. Graves said the Cardinals wants to get a long-term deal done with Calais Campbell “sooner rather than later.” Falcons DE John Abraham said he wants $12 million per year, which would price him out of Miami, and Jaguars DE Jeremy Mincey has received interest from five teams, but the Dolphins aren’t one.
http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thed...ority-and-other-notes-from-across-the-league/
