The Miami Dolphins search for cornerback help this offseason has so far not included one obvious name despite the fact we're nearly a whole month into free agency.
The name is Leon Hall and the obvious connection is that new Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was the Cincinnati Bengals secondary coach and Hall played for him.
So it makes sense there should be interest, but here's the reason the Dolphins so far have been showing patience rather than interest in Hall, per people familiar with the situation...Money.
Hall, who has been making an average of $9.75 million the past four seasons under a deal that paid him $39 million. And because Hall is 31 years old, he recognizes this could be his final contract in the NFL. And so he does not want to take a big pay cut from his last contract. Indeed, he wants to maximize what might be his final contract.
Teams, on the other hand, are mostly bargain shopping now. They didn't consider Hall worth a big offer early in free agency, so he kind of priced himself out of that market. And now the deals that are out there might be for 50-60 percent less than what Hall has been making the past four years.
And teams have not been willing to entertain paying Hall more than that because he is mostly a slot cornerback now -- as he was the past couple of years for the Bengals -- has had some back and other health issues he's dealt with, and again, he's 31 years old.
Indeed, beyond Hall's asking price, a team has to think carefully about offering anything more than a two-year contract because Hall isn't likely to be better at 33 than he is today.Except Hall so far hasn't seen it that way.And so while the market will naturally work to drive down his salary because the demand has so far not been there, the draft does loom and Hall will probably eventually understand that fewer opportunities mean less money.
And less money will mean more interest.So far the Arizona Cardinals are the only team Hall has visited as a free agent. My guess is when his price comes down, the interest from teams, including the Miami Dolphins, will pick up
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolp...olphins-showing-patience-with-leon-hall-.html
The name is Leon Hall and the obvious connection is that new Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was the Cincinnati Bengals secondary coach and Hall played for him.
So it makes sense there should be interest, but here's the reason the Dolphins so far have been showing patience rather than interest in Hall, per people familiar with the situation...Money.
Hall, who has been making an average of $9.75 million the past four seasons under a deal that paid him $39 million. And because Hall is 31 years old, he recognizes this could be his final contract in the NFL. And so he does not want to take a big pay cut from his last contract. Indeed, he wants to maximize what might be his final contract.
Teams, on the other hand, are mostly bargain shopping now. They didn't consider Hall worth a big offer early in free agency, so he kind of priced himself out of that market. And now the deals that are out there might be for 50-60 percent less than what Hall has been making the past four years.
And teams have not been willing to entertain paying Hall more than that because he is mostly a slot cornerback now -- as he was the past couple of years for the Bengals -- has had some back and other health issues he's dealt with, and again, he's 31 years old.
Indeed, beyond Hall's asking price, a team has to think carefully about offering anything more than a two-year contract because Hall isn't likely to be better at 33 than he is today.Except Hall so far hasn't seen it that way.And so while the market will naturally work to drive down his salary because the demand has so far not been there, the draft does loom and Hall will probably eventually understand that fewer opportunities mean less money.
And less money will mean more interest.So far the Arizona Cardinals are the only team Hall has visited as a free agent. My guess is when his price comes down, the interest from teams, including the Miami Dolphins, will pick up
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolp...olphins-showing-patience-with-leon-hall-.html
