Miami Dolphins Rumors: Philip Wheeler became ‘complacent’

[Bob512]

This is where the economics of the NFL game gets in the way of the true spirit of football. As an organization, you should be able to have true OPEN COMPETITIONS at all positions regardless of how much money a players makes. If Wheeler is making $5million a year and isn't getting the job done, then he should be benched and made to answer those questions in the media. Especially if you have a young guy that is capable of giving you similar output as the veteran is. If i was a coach, vets would be held to a higher standard and if you're getting paid top dollar, then you better be hands down better than everyone else on the team at your position, otherwise I'd rather go with the younger hungrier player.

I agree with this. I think there is a good recent case of the economics of football NOT getting in the way....and that is Russell Wilson in Seattle and Matt Flynn. The Hawks gave Flynn a big contract, but Wilson beat him out head to head and they went with the better player.

Competition is a GOOD thing......

 

[gofins60]

So....

Some will say it was his first year in a new system....give him time.

Some will say he got his big contract and now got lazy.

So which is it?

I don't study the Xs and Os of the game... I just watch. That said, does anyone really know if it's all Wheeler's fault, or is he just another FA brought in that looks bad because he's playing out of his normal position in a system that doesn't take advantage of his strengths? Between Ireland and the coaching staffs (past and present), I'm surprised that they can actually win games at all!

 

[JFoxx]

I agree with others, draft his replacement, let them fight it out and if Wheeler doesn't step it up, then he rides the pine. That will really motivate him and any perpective teams for the following year!! Hey, if we are stuck with his cap hit, then he can either earn it or play the scout team! Even if we don't motivate him, it will show others that just because you got overpaid, doesn't mean we have to start or cut you.

 

[LouPhinFan]

With Phillip Wheeler I didn't see complacency. I saw someone that played hard, but just was not very good. He was a bad signing all the way around and it had nothing to do with learning a new system.

 

[Unchained 07]

So....

Some will say it was his first year in a new system....give him time.

Some will say he got his big contract and now got lazy.

So which is it?

Neither...he's just not a good player. I'd love to be proven wrong.

 

[Lee2000]

Interesting as this story breaks the Dolphins may be asking Wheeler to take a pay cut and then they bring in Jackson today.

 

[tylerdolphin]

He was never particularly good in the first place. It was always pretty puzzling that we gave him the contract we gave him. Ireland gonna Ireland when it comes to free agents.

 

[miamiron]

Geez if Wheeler become "complacent" what the heck did R.Jones become?

Harry Houdini as he disappeared

 

[miamiron]

He was never particularly good in the first place. It was always pretty puzzling that we gave him the contract we gave him. Ireland gonna Ireland when it comes to free agents.

Ireland over paid for Wheeler,Ellerbe,Wallace,Patterson,Clabo
Then Gibson and Keller got injuries...talk about the "perfect storm"

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

With Phillip Wheeler I didn't see complacency. I saw someone that played hard, but just was not very good. He was a bad signing all the way around and it had nothing to do with learning a new system.

I agree. He looked like he was almost always hustling out there to me, but he just doesn't have good instincts. Takes bad angles and doesn't seem to have a good feel for where he should be on the field.

 

[Lilseb93]

This just reminds me to be thankful that Ireland is no longer here

 

[jvw]

If this is true then how did he play as much as he did? If I was the DC I would have benched his ass, nothing hurts morale more than having a guy going at 75% making big money and getting all the playing time.....Now if he was out there giving his all and just wasn't having a good yr, I can live with it, the goal on the defense this off season is to have quality back ups at the linebacker position our depth is very poor every where but WR, CB, S, DL and QB

 

[z926538]

If you are a new general manager and you want to make a statement to your players that nothing but their absolute best is acceptable, then you cut his rear end and take the cap hit. More than anything, this will let players and agents know that "complacency" will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

I wonder how Dennis Hickey feels about having to lead every conversation to a free agent with "No, I'm not Jeff Ireland. We don't do that kind of crap anymore."????

 

[Dr. Phin]

Can we have mods make it so that anytime the word "complacent", and its derivatives, is used; they are changed to equivalent derivatives of "suck"?

 

[flynryan15]

Complacent is a nice way of saying lacks football intelligence, lazy and unprofessional