Merman said:
Good points that I want to address. First a player can demand any amout he damn well choses. And again because a player chooses to accept a required tender does not make them any more deserving than an unsigned player. The whole idea of the required tender for draft picks is to discourage teams from going after RFAs and Franchised players. Ogunleye is most definitely worth a first and third draft pick. He is not worth both picks and a big contract. Before last year a first round pick deterred teams until Snyder grabbed Coles for a first round pick and a $13 million signing bonus.
A player that wants to play for this team must demand a salary that fits inside our salary cap structure. We could have given Todd Wade the 10 million signing bonus that he demanded. It would not have made us a better team and the price was inflated. That demand sent him to another team that was in a position to overpay. However, the market did set the price...as it now is with Ogunleye.
KGB is the top lineman on his team. The Packers wanted to get him signed to a long term deal the same way we were able to lockup JT (our top lineman). His value as the #1 DE on the team was set with the Eagles in pursuit. KGB didn't demand anything. He was willing to play for the 1.3 million tender. Should Ogunleye demand to be paid better than Jason Taylor? I don't think so. Not if he wants to be a Dolphin.
.... But this team is predicated on defense. That is why the cap imbalance. Saying that it should be more balanced could just be throwing money at an idea rather than where the star players are. Also signing high priced FAs does not mean that they are star players nor is it a good way to balance out the salary cap money between offense and defense.
Certainly this team is designed around the defense. And that is the clear priority. However, that imbalance must not continue to grow without limits. In fact, a major priority this off-season is to rebuild the offensive line and the cap has to reflect that bias.
Chambers and McMichael are good palyers. What many fans seem to forget that other than TDs for Chambers neither has shown the greatness that Ogunleye has shown. That's why Chambers is content not to negotiate a contract until after this year. McMicheal is two years away from contract negotiations and the Dolphins need him to play out his rookie contract for cap purposes.
Chambers is on the field working with the QB's and the new WR coordinator. He certainly has shown flashes of greatness. His opportunities have been limited because of the offensive design and rotisserie QB's. With Chambers now working out of the slot...he will have that opportunity to stake his claim to greatness. Spielman would love to get him signed to a long term deal now before his value goes up.
Randy McMichael has stated that he would like to get a new deal this year and there are multiple reports that Rosenhaus is trying to get that extention for him this year..."Yeah, I'm still one of the lowest-paid tight ends. I want my money, but I'm not going to let it consume me. I'm going to go out and let everything take care of itself. I do know one thing, this is going to be my over-the-hump year. This will be a big one for me."
I'm simply not convinced of Ogunleye's greatness. I think he is very good. But, I want to see him repeat what he did last year. Give him a 7 million dollar bonus, 6 year deal with incentives. If he performs...he get's more money.
The Dolphins can not afford to shell out big money when the market value does not demand it.
