KB21
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- Dec 26, 2001
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Many of you seem upset that Miami hasn't jumped into the bidding wars for some of the top free agents on the market. The reason they haven't is that Nick Saban knows that free agency isn't the way to build a team.
The key to finding free agent talent is getting guys who aren't the big name guys. Guys who may be on the verge of breaking out. Typically, the unknown players that sign free agent contracts tend to be the best free agent signings. These are guys who are signed cheap and break out to become above average players.
From 1995 till this point, the best free agent signing the Miami Dolphins had isn't a big name player. It isn't Brock Marion. It isn't Kevin Donnalley. They were good free agent signings, but the best, IMO, was Brian Walker. Brian was a street free agent when Miami first got him in 1998. He became a ballhawking safety in the Dolphins system. He went on to sign a big contract with the Seahawks, got cut, came back to Miami, and lead the Dolphins in interceptions. Plus, he was a force in the run. He fit the Dolphins scheme very well, and he has been a non-descript player for other teams. Amazing how that happens, but it does.
Some of you may snub your nose at the Travares Tillman type of signings, but you just never know. Jamie Nails was a street free agent that played at a near pro bowl level until he injured his knee.
You can't go on big spending sprees in free agency. Miami tried that in 1995, and it didn't work. Washington has done that religously over the past few years, and it hasn't worked.
Teams are built through the draft, and they are augmented through free agency. New England won their first Superbowl by being frugal in free agency with the signings of unknown players like David Patten, Mike Compton, Joe Andruzzi, and Larry Izzo and veteran players like Roman Phifer and Ted Washington.
The key to finding free agent talent is getting guys who aren't the big name guys. Guys who may be on the verge of breaking out. Typically, the unknown players that sign free agent contracts tend to be the best free agent signings. These are guys who are signed cheap and break out to become above average players.
From 1995 till this point, the best free agent signing the Miami Dolphins had isn't a big name player. It isn't Brock Marion. It isn't Kevin Donnalley. They were good free agent signings, but the best, IMO, was Brian Walker. Brian was a street free agent when Miami first got him in 1998. He became a ballhawking safety in the Dolphins system. He went on to sign a big contract with the Seahawks, got cut, came back to Miami, and lead the Dolphins in interceptions. Plus, he was a force in the run. He fit the Dolphins scheme very well, and he has been a non-descript player for other teams. Amazing how that happens, but it does.
Some of you may snub your nose at the Travares Tillman type of signings, but you just never know. Jamie Nails was a street free agent that played at a near pro bowl level until he injured his knee.
You can't go on big spending sprees in free agency. Miami tried that in 1995, and it didn't work. Washington has done that religously over the past few years, and it hasn't worked.
Teams are built through the draft, and they are augmented through free agency. New England won their first Superbowl by being frugal in free agency with the signings of unknown players like David Patten, Mike Compton, Joe Andruzzi, and Larry Izzo and veteran players like Roman Phifer and Ted Washington.
