Tiko377
Active Roster
When the Miami Dolphins signed accomplished veteran linebacker Lawrence Timmons as an unrestricted free agent last offseason, it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Timmons, 31, was obviously old enough to have a decade of NFL experience behind him, but he wasn’t so old as to seem beyond reclamation. The Dolphins liked how Timmons showed up on tape. They liked his toughness. They liked his history with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which included a good outing against Miami in last season’s playoffs.
The Dolphins liked Timmons so much they outbid the Steelers for him. They gave him a two-year contract that would average $6 million per season with $11 million fully guaranteed, but they convinced themselves it was a bargain because the deal didn’t approach Dont’a Hightower money.
Now we’re seeing Timmons playing less at a time the Dolphins defense has been struggling and needs him most. Now we’re seeing Timmons blowing run plays way more often than coaches are willing to excuse. Now we’re seeing Timmons hurt the overall defense because other players see him out of position and run to cover for him, thus getting themselves out of position.
Timmons, obviously quite familiar and comfortable with the Steelers system he played in for a decade, has struggled to learn all his assignments in Miami. Last week against New England, for example, he lined up wrong before the play even began on what turned out to be a 22-yard run by Patriots running back Dion Lewis.
Timmons was responsible for a couple of mental mistakes in that New England loss.
That doesn’t mean the Dolphins hate Timmons. They might release him next offseason but they don’t hate the guy.
What this Timmons episode should do, however, is serve as a cautionary tale the Dolphins should carry into next offseason.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/s...-salguero/article187546598.html#storylink=cpy