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2012The Dolphins' potential cap casualties in 2012
The Miami Dolphins enter the 2012 offseason with an estimated $11.2 million in cap space, giving them money to do some things but not go crazy in the free agent market, especially with potentially pricey in-house free agents to consider like Kendall Langford and Paul Soliai.
As the free agency period approaches in March, I thought I'd look at the Dolphins' roster and see if there was anyone currently under contract that might become a cap casualty due to an excessively high salary.
While the Dolphins honestly don't have many such players, here are a few that might not be worth what their cap hit would indicate, and thus could be on the chopping block over the next month.
SS Yeremiah Bell
Of all the players on the Dolphins, Bell is without question that one that I most believe should and will be cut by the team before free agency begins on March 13. I've always liked Bell and he has a great story, working at a steel mill, walking on at a small school, being drafted in the sixth round, spending his rookie season on the practice squad. He's certainly a story of perseverance and the the career he's had to date is quite impressive.
Three years ago when the Dolphins re-signed Bell to a four-year, $20 million contract, I called it a good move. At the time, Bell was stout against the run and was what I considered an underrated guy in coverage that was always around the ball. He's topped 100 tackles in each of the past four seasons, leading the team in the category every time.
That being said, it's nearing time to part ways with Bell, who will be 34 years old in just over a month and is showing decreasing ability on the field. Injuries and age have sapped a lot of his athleticism and he's become such a liability against the pass that I can't justify him remaining in the starting lineup, even at a smaller salary.
In the final year of his contract, Bell has a total cap hit of $4.35 million, which is just too high for a player that can't cover or get to the ball quickly anymore. Regardless of whether or not Chris Clemons or Reshad Jones has panned out, Bell is at a point where he's so one-dimensional that I don't think you can start him anymore.
I know a lot of fans out there like Bell, and I always did too. But the logical person in me says Bell is an obvious cap casualty this offseason. He simply costs far too much money when you can find a young guy that could play just as poorly in coverage for 10 percent of the price.
DT Tony McDaniel
If I were in charge of the team, Bell would be my first cut, but McDaniel would be my second. It's safe to say the Dolphins got plenty of value out of a guy they acquired for a seventh-round pick in 2009, as he's totaled 71 tackles and 6.5 sacks while being pretty solid rotational lineman at times over the past three seasons.
That being said, McDaniel is coming off a down year when he graded out as a sub-par pass rusher and run defender. Even if the team moves to the 4-3 scheme, they already have starting-caliber players Randy Starks and Jared Odrick under contract, plus restricted free agent Phillip Merling as a possible backup.
If I'm the Dolphins, I take the $3 million in cap space that cutting McDaniel will provide me and I put that toward re-signing four-year veteran Kendall Langford, who has been one of the better 3-4 linemen in recent years. A starting "rotation" of Starks, Langford, and Odrick completely alleviates the need for McDaniel—especially with such a high price tag.
OL Nate Garner
Garner's had an interesting career with the Dolphins, inactive for every game as a rookie in 2008 after being claimed off waivers by the Jets just before the season; appearing in every game and starting right while holding up well; and missing all of 2010 with a foot injury.
The 2011 season was a bit of a disappointment for Garner, who was expected to compete for a starting job but was deemed too valuable to lose on the bench and gave way to a horrendous pair of immobile starters on the right side on Vernon Carey and Marc Colombo. He started at left guard against the Giants in Week 8, but was about as bad as I've ever seen filling in for Jake Long at left tackle against the Eagles in Week 14, allowing seven quarterback pressures and three sacks.
Garner has shown he can be a valuable backup and even flashed a little potential as a starter in 2009, but his performance this past season makes me question whether or not he can truly play tackle in the NFL even as a reserve. If he profiles strictly inside and doesn't have starting ability, his versatility and value decrease significantly.
If that's the case, Garner might not be worth the $1.4 million he'll cost in the final year of his contract in 2012. If Lydon Murtha can return as a top backup tackle and/or the team could add some depth through the draft, Garner may be expendable at his current price—even if the Dolphins don't even have two starters in place on the offensive line.
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