h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A thread for the Dolphins fans to tell us about their latest angst, and for the rest of us to post questions at them about it

Doh!

It once appeared that Zach Thomas' contract extension would be a no-brainer... and now it appears that he will not be signing an extention... which means no cap relief from that end.

And they're pretty much showing Robert Konrad the door.

Contract talks with Tim Ruddy and Todd Perry are going nowhere, and both might be released to get the team under the cap.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/5229507.htm

....

Well, Ruddy and Perry are replaceable... McKinney takes over at center, Dixon moves back to guard and the Dolphins spend the saved money on a LT...

Konrad, well, pass catching FB's aren't overly important are they? And there seems to be few capable and cheaper options coming available...

As for Thomas...... I would not feel comfortable with him being in his final contract year and the possibility of being unrestricted next year.. logic would say he'd like to stay (family connections and all).. but who knows... if he gets an offer from what he perceives to be a more viable SB contender... he is getting on after all...

B****r and Arse....

Update on what might be happening at the Fins... Rick Spielman has said the Fins will make an early, aggresive foray into free agency, going after their targeted players before taking something of a back seat...

LT - not the biggest need (WR) but the one with the best affordable talent in FA... Wayne Gandy seems to be the top target, he's older and therefore likely cheaper than Luke Petitgout... it seems likely the Fins will make a strong run at Gandy.

WR - with a deep WR draft class, it appears the Fins will not be going for a top dollar FA fix for their biggest need. With Peerless Price franchised, the only other top WR is David Boston who is likely to be prohibitively expensive... Ike Hilliard has expressed an interest in returning to his home state of Florida and doesn't discount the Fins. Although he has a spotty injury history, he's a good player who could surprise if he remains fit. Look for the Fins to grab a WR with their first draft pick...

QB - The Fins are in the hunt for a back-up QB. Griese and Stewart are names already to have been chucked around, but they will also consider players such as Jake Dlehomme, Jeff Blake and Charlie Batch... Whoever it is, they will have to accept a strict back-up role which may limit the number of interested players.

OLB - a number of quality OLB's are available, including Shelton Quarles who has played most of his career at OLB, last year being the exception. Interestingly, the Fins are going to talk to Takeo Spikes... probably way too expensive and Miami have little chance of making an offer Cincinnati won't match, but, the opportunity to perhaps help Miamis D reach the next level, play for a succesful teamin warm weather in a state with no in-state tax... well, we can all dream

FF

I would have been surprised if they didn't at least explore the possibility of landing Takeo Spikes. And who knows... amicable discussions now have a way of paving the way to future arrangements.

Quarles would be a helluva upgrade, too.

Mark Dixon has been signed to a long-term deal and has been told he will return to LG. That could move Nails to RT and open the door for a big free agent at LT. We could have a really great line next year.

And the OLB market just got even fatter... the Browns have released all three of their starting LBs from last year's squad. They're a young and talented group: Dwayne Rudd, Jamir Miller, and Earl Holmes. The team would have to be asleep at the wheel or get caught in a cap trap to fail to get an upgrade.

Woohoo! Cris Carter is gone!

He wanted to stay but he wanted to be guaranteed to start. The Dolphins decided to pass.

The Dolphins have addressed their impending need for a playmaking fullback by signing... Robert Konrad. They retained his services for 4 years and $4M, plus some incentives.

The Dolphins are currently being mentioned in rumor mills as having interest in Terry Glenn... the next Cris Carter

But they're also showing interest in Washington's Derrius Thompson.

Gandy has signed with New Orleans with $15m guarunteed in the first 3 years... Miami couldn't hope to compete with that... the rumour mill now has it that the Saints will attempt to trade wantaway OT Kyle Turley and Miami might be interested for a 2nd round pick... a good player if a little crazy, this would leave Miami without a pick in the first 2 rounds for the second straight year!!!

With Peerless Price franchised and Ike Hilliard re-signed to the Giants, the WR pool is also becoming weak... as Blathers has said, Washingtons Derrius Thompson has been in for a visit. He had an okay year last year (50 catches) in his first real extended action, but I'm not sure... he could be the next Donald Driver but his signing has shades of McKnight/Ward to it...

If the Fins do trade for Turley it will make it hard to get a good WR in the draft... they'll have a good O-Line, but Chambers had better breakout!!

Darrell Jackson may yet be available, though I don't think it's the most likely scenario...

Probably not

Given the opportunity, I think Holmgren would have Jackson's babies if it would keep him in the North West, so no, probably not...

... thanks for the visual...

My pleasure.

Intererstingly, Jackson is the only one of our restricted free agents that we *haven't* offered a minmum tender deal to...

any idea why?... pretty integral to the offense isn't he?

At a guess i think the point is we've offered minimum tender bids to the others - Marcus Bell and Isiah Kacyvenski (for example) aren't going to attract a lot of interest from other teams. I'd presume Jackson warrants a rather different approach...

After pre-FA dreaming, Miami's lack of cap space/unwillingness to pay ludicrous sums, has seen all the rumoured targets sign elsewhere... Miami is yet to sign any FA's from other teams but the following players have made visits...

WR Derrius Thompson of Washington
WR Donald Hayes of New England
LB Barry Gardner of Philadelphia....

I'm getting more excited by the century....

On the face of it however, Miami's roster is already loaded and all the key parts will be back... an addition of impact players at certain positions would be nice, but an injury free season from Fiedler is probably the key...

Looking at Thompson however, his stats over the last 5 games last year were 28 rec 437 yards 15.6 avg and 3 TD's... project that over 16 games and it is highly impressive... so maybe, although I know little about him apart from he's a big WR. I don't know if he has any speed, run after catch ability or if he can fight for the ball... He had a good game against the Cowboys on thanksgiving (6-94 ish), so I think I'll watch that and see if he's any good...

Hmmm, just felt like getting that off my chest...

about Gardner... a potential challenge to Derrick Rodgers starting position... is he any good... RE1?