The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Should Miami re-sign him or not? Yes or no? Let's assume that he won't take less than 11 million a year.

I'm leaning toward no I don't think he's worth 11 million. I think we should turn towards the draft and (man I CAN'T believe I'm saying this but...) draft ANOTHER offensive lineman. I would prefer NOT the first round, maybe one of the 2nd's but draft one and then piece together your line next year. Maybe bring in a veteran lineman to compete. The offensive line was good enough at the end of last year without Long.

for 11 million?  No.  Spend that money on keeping both Sean Smith AND Reggie Bush.  Bye Jake.

no more than $8 or 9 mill. Which I know he will refuse and other teams will offer more but I ain't giving this guy a mega deal he is always injured or dinged up and playing less than 100%

If he wants to be here and take a hometown discount work with him and try and make it work. Otherwise....SEE YA!

I would like to see us retain Long, if possible.  I think it's worth the injury risk.

^^ I would, as well, but he has to WANT to come back.  And for that, he has to be willing to take less than what he's asking for.  He's asking to be the highest paid tackle in the NFL.  Is he worth that much?  Let's be reasonable, Jake. 

The only way I seem him taking less than 11 million is if no one gives it to him. Maybe in that scenario he comes back to the Dolphins.

By the time he figures that out Miami might have already spent all their money on guys like Wallace and Cook and there is nothing left for Jake. IF Jake wants to stay in Miami he better decide by Tuesday 3:59pm

I'm shocked we've not heard a peep about Fasano...I thought he'd be the first guy to re-sign..(I want to go another direction personally)

I honestly don't have a clue what to do,in regards to Jake Long.

Fasano is getting chump change. He has no market. He is a back-up TE in this league, not like teams are knocking down his door. If he stays or leaves, who cares

There are rumors out there tonight that Long was in Miami today to take a physical (ie prove his health). And Miami has a tentative deal with Winston in place. The ball is in Long's court right now.

I would not resign Long for anything under a very team friendly deal. His health lately has been spotty and his production has slipped, probably due to his health. If you are going to make a player the richest ever at their position, it better be a slam dunk. Especially with a perennial loser who finally has cap space and hope. He is not a slam dunk, so we should let him walk unless he wants $8 Million a year and a contract that is worthless after 2 years.

Highly unlikely that happens.

I care whether Fasano goes.  The guy has scored 14 TD's in the last three years (5,5, & 4), and has been practically injury free.  He should be getting $6 Mil + per year if they are going to pay Hartline that much.  And I don't want to hear about Hartline's 1000 yds last season.  If you take away the 285 yds, and his lone TD of the year, in the Arizona game, which by the way the Dolphins lost, then Hartline had 765 yds and zero TD's.  Hartline had a whopping 3 Td's in three seasons.  MikeO I don't see how you can be ga ga over signing Hartline, and then throw Fasano and Bush out with the trash when they are the guys scoring the TD's.

I wasn't "ga ga" as you say over signing of Hartline. Thought it was a good move, but I wouldn't say "ga ga." Bush is old and always injured I don't pay big bucks to guys like that. Especially at a position where its easy to find guys cheap  who can put up equal production.

I have NO problem with Fasano, bring him back.....as a #2 TE and pay him as a #2 TE because that is what he is!! You want to pay him $6+ mill a year which is beyond foolish! That's not his market.  This team hasn't had a winning season in a while, this notion of bring everyone back at all costs is silly. We need to UPGRADE at some positions and that means we gotta get rid of some  guys. Cause this current group ain't getting it done!

Reading some of tweets of Jake Long's wife some are thinking they are moving on from Miami and won't be back

I absolutely hate when people do this. Why the need to say take away...? It was part of the guy's year. It counts on the stats. Let's not play what if and just discuss what is.

i agree 100% .. if we took away 1500 yards from AP this past year he didn't even rush for 600 yards .. he sucks !

This we agree on. One guy on this board who will remain nameless is famous for it, cherry picking stats. Take away all the good stats and see he sucks! Well no crap you want to pretend some stuff doesn't count!

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com and NFL Network just reported its Rams or Bears probably for Long.

It will be interesting though if there money is "close" to what Miami is offering does Jake give the Fins a hometown discount and just stay.

I would agree with you in most situations.  However, in doing statistical analysis' it is not uncommon to throw out a very high and a very low number to come up with a truer average.  Regardless I'm fine discussing Hartline's numbers, ONE TD per year for three consecutive years, and everyone ignores this fact.  His new contract makes him the 20th highest paid WR in the NFL, I don't think he is worth anything close to what he is going to be paid.  I would be extremely surprised if he surpassed 600 receiving yds in 2013.

Hartlines deal might be Ireland's finest work. His cap hit for this upcoming year is around $2.1 mill. And after year 3 all of the guaranteed money is accounted for. So you get a huge discount year 1. Year 4 you can let him go and it won't hurt ya any really. It's essentially a 3 year deal with a club option for the 4th year.  Tough to be upset with this deal. It's extremely "team friendly"

I would agree that the small cap hit for year 1, $2.115 Mil is great, but thats all.  He receives all the guaranteed money $12.5 Mil during the first (2) years, while taking a cap hit of $8.325 Mil during these two years.  So...come year three if he is still averaging his 1 TD per year and they cut him because he won't take a paycut from his scheduled $5.9 Mil, then Miami will take a big cap hit.

Doubtful they cut him within the first 3 years. Not happening. They structured this deal in a way so that will NOT happen!

I agree with you completely it is structured as a long term deal, as if they expect him to be around long term.  However, if a player isn't producing you don't want to keep him around using up a roster spot.  That's why I think it is a bad contract given his performance over the last three years.

Hartline's contract number is really just to stroke his ego, I think.  It's extremely back-loaded and unless he becomes a Pro Bowler, he'll be renegotiating that in 2 years (and if he does become a Pro Bowler, MIA will have him on the cheap).

It's definitely a team-friendly deal.

He is producing and has played well for a 4th round pick. Improved every year and is still getting better. Don't know why you are upset with his production

NFL Network reporting Long to visit the Rams

I'm leaning toward resigning Jake Long. 

The arguments for letting him go are all valid.  He has been hurt, he appears to be turning into Tony Boselli 2.0 in that regard.  He probably isn't worth $11million. 

I'd resign him for the following reasons:

1.  Even a sub-par Jake Long is a top 10 player at left tackle. 
2.  If we let Jake Long go, we probably aren't going to be able to draft a tackle to adequately replace him this year and no amount of shuffling guys on the current roster around will replace him adequately.  Martin might be able to in time, but not this year.
3.  It creates an additional immediate need.  Yeah we're under the cap.  But we need at least 3 guys who can play WR, you still need a couple CB's and maybe a safety.  You probably have to upgrade at TE.  Guys are also arguing we need another defensive lineman.

If I'm the GM, I give Long a 2 year deal at or near the money he wants with an option for a third year (kind of similar to what Hartline got but obviously a higher dollar amount).  If he sniffs at that then let him walk but I'd try to resign him.

This is where ya lost me. A sub-par Jake Long is bad. We have seen it now recently! I would rather use the #12 pick on a tackle and use the money($10 mill or so) we would have spent on Jake Long on a TE (Cook) or another WR, or a couple CB's.  I really think Martin will be fine at LT and you can find RT's anywhere (hell Jon Jerry should be playing Tackle and not guard anyway).

Martin is not ready to take over the left side.  Not this year.  Like I said he probably will be in the future.

Jon Jerry has no business playing tackle.  He doesn't have the footwork for RG (the easiest offensive line position) there's no way in hell I'm putting him at LT or RT, two of the three most difficult.

Jon Jerry is a natural right tackle in Miami's zone blocking scheme. He has no foot speed to pull or play guard in Miami's offense. Miami is a zone blocking offense and Jerry can't play guard. He is a tackle...period!

In Martin's few games at LT he played at a higher level than Long did.  Now that's not my opinion, that's what the coaches felt and went public with. So take it for what its worth, but the fact they haven't resigned Long yet and let him take visits to other teams and obviously willing to let him leave...my guess they weren't lying!!

Everything you just wrote is why Jerry has no business playing TACKLE, silly.  Trust me.  I played tackle in a zone blocking scheme in college. 

We will see

Rams have given an offer to Jake Long, its higher than Miami's. Fins deciding on whether to match or not

Rams giving Jake a physical and want him to sign tonight. Jake wants to give Miami a chance to match. Sounds like Jake really doesn't want to leave

Who would want to live in St. Louis?  It's colder than a witch's tits in St. Louis in January.

More $$$$$$$$$$$. Buy more heaters!

Missouri also has a state income tax.  Florida doesn't.  So it's a question of how much more money.  Still, if the Dolphins want to get younger and cheaper, bringing back Jake Long is not the way to do it.

Cost of living in Miami is WAY WAY higher than St.Louis...it all equals out in the end.

That's because Miami is amazing and St. Louis is.......not Miami.

^^^ Parts are amazing, some of it is rather trashy.

Jake's wife just tweeted they like St.Louis but aren't selling their house in Miami yet!

LOL LOL.....read into that what you will

I said this in another thread.  If they want to bring Jake Long back, they need to give him a heavily backloaded contract.  That way if he has another season like the last one, they can cut him loose and not be on the hook for a huge wad of cash.

This is turning very interesting.....

He won't accept that! Why would he? He would be an idiot and his agent would never have another client ever!


Don't forget, Long's agents live in St.Louis!

Apparently the Rams are getting COLD FEET over Jake's injuries. Duh!!

That and the fact no other team except for them has even contacted Jake! That should raise a red flag!

Jake might end up back in Miami at a real low number. Jake and his agent screwed up this free agency. If the Rams bail then Ireland can come back and lower his offer! Take it or leave it cause there aren't any other teams knocking down Jake's door!

Question, if the Rams don't feel Long is healthy enough why should Miami? Just sayin

If he can't pass the Rams physical or they question his long term future why do we want him at 7 or 8 mill per year?

Just thinking out loud

Report from NFL Network is Rams want to sleep on it. Won't do anything tonight with Jake

If he can't pass the Rams physical, that completely kills my argument for keeping him. The problem pas if he does pass, then we have no chance in signing him. Oh well, fun while it lasted.

I wouldn't mind having him back on a one year deal. Sell it to him that if he plays well and stays healthy, he can strike it rich next offseason. This one already appears over for him.

http://fansided.com/2013/03/13/miami-dolphins-havent-ruled-out-re-signing-jake-long/?utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email
Hey it looks like he may have to come down to earth on price. I would not mind keeping him at the right price. I know he cost us a lot of penalties for holding grabbing etc, but he was doing his job, You were not getting to his QB past him. He is a soldier. We still need to bring in help.

He isn't signing a 1 year deal. Looks like Jake's agents screwed this up for him, longer this goes the less guaranteed money he will see. Miami's first offer was probably his BEST offer. Might not be there in a few hours though. He better hope it is

What I heard on the radio was that Jake wants to stay here but he wants his money, so he was considering to give Miami a  chance to match the Rams' offer.

He may pull a Ryan Clark on the Rams.

^^I'm not sure the money is here for him,According to Ben Volin...Dansby,and Burnett are designated June 1st cuts...So they're still on the roster,taking up cap space now.

From Ben's twitter feed...
RT @caplannfl: Kevin Burnett, Karlos Dansby, and Willie Colon were listed as post-June 1 releases. (https://twitter.com/BenVolinPBP/status/311963442221305856)

The post-June 1 designation means #Dolphins will have less salary cap space now, but more for the regular season. And more dead money in '14 (https://twitter.com/BenVolinPBP/status/311974705617838080)

PFT reporting Long to Rams looks to be done today

so pretty much nothing has changed really

Will Jake make up his friggin mind already. He has Miami  "on hold" it sounds like with any other moves at this point. Miami his holding off on signing anyone until Jake decides. This can't go on forever though

NFL Network reporting Long is about to sign with the Rams.

It's like he is double-dog daring the Dolphins not to match....lol I will give Jake one thing, he really doesn't want to leave and wants to be in Miami!

I will make up a sign that says HEY and so LONG on the other side lol

Schefter reporting that Miami is making a strong push to keep Jake, but it might be too little too late

It would kind of be a little satisfying to steal someone from the Rams for once!

Well if we do re-sign Jake, He'll either be in better shape,or Broken after attending Rams Boot camp physical... :D ;)

Jake left St.Louis with NO DEAL

Ireland might win this and get him at his price!

I would be more than happy to have Long back at the right price.

Ireland won this battle for sure if he comes back

Personally as a guy who is not a fan of Ireland so far this year he has had a good run. I hope to see it continue and getting Long back would not hurt. 

Ireland has done a great job this free agency period. Addressed the WR need by signing Wallace, overpay a little, maybe but oh well not the end of the world. Wallace in reality got 3 years $37 mill, that ain't awful.  Locked up Hartline on a great 4 year deal, essentially a 3 year deal with a club option for a 4th. Signs Gibson just now!! Keller on a nice 1 year deal. Then at a "BREAK EVEN COST" got rid of 2 older linebackers for 2 younger and maybe more productive linebackers that has no effect on our cap this year and helps our cap at this position going forward. And he might get Jake Long back at "the teams number" or close to it instead of Jake's outrageous number he was wanting.

And Ireland still has $9 mill of cap room he can add at anytime by cutting 3 guys, Marshall, Patterson, Carpenter. So we currently have $20 mill plus of cap room and can add around $9 mill more any second we choose too. Not cap hell, can save enough room incase Revis isn't traded and he is on the market next year to sign him (assuming he is healthy).

And we STILL have a bunch of draft picks this year.

Ireland has made a ton of mistakes, no doubt. But he has done a masterful job thus far in free agency. Masterful!

Incognito has taken to twitter to start a campaign to get Jake back to Miami. If Jake doesn't return he might have got himself some bad blood with the front office and coaching staff and might find himself out of a job.

St.Louis newspaper reporting today that Long passed his physical and there were no "red flags"

Meaning he passed a physical for them today? Or that he had passed his physical previously, but still returned to Miami nonetheless?

no he passed it the other day and returned to Miami

I'm still skeptical about bringing back Jake.  His play has declined big time due to his rash of injuries.  And he doesn't fit Coach Philbin's zone blocking scheme.

A source close to the team has said the Dolphins have re-opened negotiations with Jake Long and are closing in on a long term deal.  The two sides are not far off.

Ben Volin reported Jake was at Miami's facility today. And that Jake is not going to get anywhere near the $10 mill a year he wanted

I would welcome him back with the right type of deal. His play declined due to injuries, but when healthy he is still a top linemen. So, give him a contract that takes into account his injuries and prevents the team from getting crushed if he gets hurt again.

If Jake returns, the draft is entirely defense and that's fine by me.

http://deadspin.com/dolphins-center-richie-incognito-is-big-time-man-crushi-454753768

The Incognito-Jake thing from last night. And they didn't even post all of the stuff. Like Richie saying his dad will dig Jake a pool if he returns to Miami and how he will buy his wife some bikini's and stuff. Or when Pouncey got involved at one point and jumped in and started going off about how Miami needs Jake back in Miami. Deadspin left some of the good stuff out.

The importance of chemistry. These three have it. Its not so simple about plugging player A into position B. Its in Jake's corner now. Money vs. Bros. I'm with Richard. You complete us, Jake. Come home.

It'll be a serious win for Ireland if he gets Jake back at a reduced price.  I really hope the dude gets his game back I'd hate for him to turn into Tony Boselli.

The contract breakdown per the Palm Beach Post


Years: 4
Total value: $34 million
Total guarantee: $20 million
Signing bonus: $5 million
Workout bonus: None

2013 salary: $3 million (fully guaranteed)
2014 salary: $8 million (fully guaranteed)
2015 salary: $9.25 million ($4 million fully guaranteed)
2016 salary: $8.75 million (no guarantee)

2013 salary cap number: $4.25 million
2014 salary cap number: $9.25 million
2015 salary cap number: $10.5 million
2016 salary cap number: $10 million
* Long also has performance escalators in the last two years of his contract.

Anyone else think that is really a 2 year deal?  If Jake doesn't stay healthy, I don't see them paying him 9.25 million in that third year.

They would be on the hook for at least 4.

Well if they cut him year three they would still have to pay the $4 mil guarantee, plus the cap hit would be $6.5 mil.  Expensive hit to cut him, but if he isn't playing well they would have to.

It's essentially a 3 year deal which wouldn't kill them if they wanted it to be a 2 year deal.

Fins and Winston can't agree on contract terms according to Miami Herald

The Dolphins continue to have offensive tackle Eric Winston on the radar. He will sign with the team if the club convinces him to take a short-term (perhaps one-year) deal that is not for huge money. Winston, obviously, continues to believe he will get more somewhere.

Winston is close to a deal with the Cowboys according to Adam Schefter