Miami Dolphins must be smart with spending during free agency | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Miami Dolphins must be smart with spending during free agency

fisi

fisi

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while the need exists and the salary cap space remains available, Miami must keep themselves from spending willy nilly this offseason. While the team has had a track record for being aggressive in it’s pursuit of free agents, it must keep itself in line. How many times after all, have we seen some of these big deals backfire due to the team overpaying.


The Miami Dolphins have already learned in years gone by that spending a lot does not always equal a lot of wins. Hopefully, the team can remember that lesson this offseason once free agency begins.

http://www.finheaven.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=2
 
I agree that they need to be smart, and not sign big contracts for players that may bust (e.g. Mario). At the same time, this is no longer the time to be pinching pennies as we've seen them do (e.g. not signing a vet FA guard two offseason ago when the line was so so awful). We've got a 2-3 year SB window and there's no reason to be saving money if players that can help us are available.
 
They could've already axed bums like Mario Williams. Not sure what they're waiting for. Get the dead weight off the team for crying out loud.
 
I trust in Gase that thinking the big fish in FA will change anything. It was reported Gase is modeling this team after NE. Role players and depth and system. Not big flashy splash signing with no depth.
 
Despacio said:
I trust in Gase that thinking the big fish in FA will change anything. It was reported Gase is modeling this team after NE. Role players and depth and system. Not big flashy splash signing with no depth.
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Grier and Tannenbaum handle the signings, NOT Gase.
 
DefensiveEnd76 said:
Grier and Tannenbaum handle the signings, NOT Gase.
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Yeah, but it would be foolish not to think Gase plays a huge role in direction. They've all said they all work in unison. They could be blowing smoke but they seem to be a cohesive unit.
 
oasis said:
I agree that they need to be smart, and not sign big contracts for players that may bust (e.g. Mario). At the same time, this is no longer the time to be pinching pennies as we've seen them do (e.g. not signing a vet FA guard two offseason ago when the line was so so awful). We've got a 2-3 year SB window and there's no reason to be saving money if players that can help us are available.
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No offense to any of Miami's '16 starters, but signing a FA who ranked in top third at his position is a significant upgrade for a handful of them. Don't need the glamor (expensive) FAs. The wiser course is to sign multiple quality guys. 3 quality FAs - say, LB, DE, OG - makes the draft MUCH easier.
 
Maybe one nice signing, like a guard, is oK. They can't go off half-****ed like in 2013 when they signed wallace, ellerbe and that other scrub LB I'm blanking on his name. A solid signing to fill a hole, some depth guys, then draft like there's a gun to your head. Re-sign our own guys that we know can play in our system(stills). Don't let the salary cap get bloated with huge contracts of guys who played well elsewhere and may not play well here. Then keep re-signing our own, keep finding that one gem a year in FA. It's got to be something sustainable. Free Agency has been a thing for over 20 years now. Why we don't work it well is beyond me.
 
Signing free agents or signing big ticket free agents is not the problem in itself . The problem is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. (Outside of Tannenbaum, this front office is the same people that have been here for decades.) The problem is the failure to identify player that are still on an upward swing and that fit within the system.

In the past they made key mistakes like...signing a player and expecting them to be something they have never been. Healthy, great, ascending or projected to a new position. Free agency should be easier than the draft because you have actual NFL film as evidence but this front office has failed for years in this area although not as badly last year.

In 2016 it was Mario Williams, who was aging and in decline. Swing and a miss. Prior to that it has been injury prone offensive linemen for several years dating back to Jake Groves.

Or Earl Mitchell who was never really very good but they projected him to be a starter as well as a move from 3-4 NT to 4-3 DT.

The list just goes on and on...

it's time to find players that do not deviate from these rules....

1. predominantly healthy
2. fits the scheme
3. still on an upward swing skill-wise
4. good enough to begin with
5. not old and aging
6. do not overpay for someone who does not meet the above qualifications
 
Eesti said:
Signing free agents or signing big ticket free agents is not the problem in itself . The problem is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. (Outside of Tannenbaum, this front office is the same people that have been here for decades.) The problem is the failure to identify player that are still on an upward swing and that fit within the system.

In the past they made key mistakes like...signing a player and expecting them to be something they have never been. Healthy, great, ascending or projected to a new position. Free agency should be easier than the draft because you have actual NFL film as evidence but this front office has failed for years in this area although not as badly last year.

In 2016 it was Mario Williams, who was aging and in decline. Swing and a miss. Prior to that it has been injury prone offensive linemen for several years dating back to Jake Groves.

Or Earl Mitchell who was never really very good but they projected him to be a starter as well as a move from 3-4 NT to 4-3 DT.

The list just goes on and on...

it's time to find players that do not deviate from these rules....

1. predominantly healthy
2. fits the scheme
3. still on an upward swing skill-wise
4. good enough to begin with
5. not old and aging
6. do not overpay for someone who does not meet the above qualifications
Click to expand...

If you need all the criteria listed above to sign a FA in the offseason you would never sign anyone. The very definition of free agency is over paying because you didn't draft well enough to fill all of your holes over time.
 
mnphinfan said:
If you need all the criteria listed above to sign a FA in the offseason you would never sign anyone. The very definition of free agency is over paying because you didn't draft well enough to fill all of your holes over time.
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True, but the bug in all that is the definition of "overpay." There have been people in the "Stills" thread make comments to "he's worth $6mm/yr, but I'm OK with $7mm." And every team signs FAs so I'm a little uncomfortable with "didn't draft well enough to fill all of your holes over time." There are other reasons for FAs (e.g., replace a retiree, replace a lost FA due to the cap). With that as preface, I agree with the "overpay" part. There are very few spots on Miami's roster where the 3rd-best-available isn't better than last year's starter. Choose wisely with an eye on upgrading a position AND making the draft more flexible.
 
mnphinfan said:
If you need all the criteria listed above to sign a FA in the offseason you would never sign anyone. The very definition of free agency is over paying because you didn't draft well enough to fill all of your holes over time.
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Not exactly...."overpaying" is relative. What I meant was don't pay someone like Andre Branch 6M a year to be a starter when everyone already knows he is not a quality starter.

Obviously you overpay for someone in FA compared to the draft. Just get the guy who can do the job.
 
oasis said:
I agree that they need to be smart, and not sign big contracts for players that may bust (e.g. Mario). At the same time, this is no longer the time to be pinching pennies as we've seen them do (e.g. not signing a vet FA guard two offseason ago when the line was so so awful). We've got a 2-3 year SB window and there's no reason to be saving money if players that can help us are available.
Click to expand...

SO SO true. I understand being cap smart. But, in the NFL you do not get rewarded for being cap smart. The cap rises every year, Miami is in decent cap shape right now and the team has potential, so now may be the time to try and hit the homerun. Plus, if we hit and dethrone the Pats at least from the division crown, maybe, just maybe that would lead to Brady's departure - Now that would be worth any cap money spent regardless!!!
 
The team needs to find two starters in free agency, although they don't need to be stars. An offensive guard and a starting caliber linebacker would be my choice. I would look for emerging players that won't break the bank.

That would open up the draft to look for a pass rusher and a starting linebacker in the early rounds. Could find a tight end in the middle rounds with the depth at that position and perhaps a safety as well.
 
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