The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Pats are hot for him. Miami wouldn't trade for him, hopefully the Fins like him more as a Free Agent!

Please, please, please sign him Miami!

If there was ever a free agent this team should chase, its this guy.  Wow.

If they sign him change my prediction on this team this season. Would give Miami 3 ELITE o-linemen when Albert is healthy and a 4th o-linemen in James who is pretty decent.

Signing him changes the look of the whole offense, gives the o-line stability as a unit.

I don't think they will sign him but I am hoping! Early reports are Minnesota, San Diego, SF and maybe St.Louis are very interested. Hoping Fins front office has a change of heart here and jump in on him

No one wanted to trade for him because it was obvious the Eagles were going to release him, despite his high talent level. We missed out on that LSU kid, can't miss out again.

However, his whole anger was about wanting more money, so if a CFL team offered him the most, he would go there. It's a bidding war, plain and simple.

SF let Iupati walk because they had Marcus Martin and Brandon Thomas waiting in the wings and didn't want to pay superstar bucks for an OG. I can't see them being serious players for Mathis.

I hope Miami snags him...he would be a perfect fit for their biggest need.

Just don't overpay for him 

Miami doesn't have the room for overpay.

actually they do.  Buffalo is already showing heavy interest in Mathis. They and Minnesota seem to be the early leaders

TBH - I'm fine if they overpay for him.  Its a gaping hole and he's a good player.  Give him everything he wants and no state tax!!  GO GET HIM.

Most every team with cap space would overpay him for a 1 year deal. It's the team that commits to year 2 that will probably land him.

If we have the cap, then go 2 years. He still is one of the elite guards and it's the biggest hole we have. The window is closing and our coaching stuff already sucks, the more talent the better.

The Dolphins had about $10 million in cap space prior to signing Mosely.

I wouldn't say the window is closing.....the window hasn't even opened yet!!  Mathis is old and does have injury concerns, so you can't go crazy and pay him insane money. But to slightly overpay him for 1 year and have the 2nd year be "fair" I wouldn't mind seeing the Fins do

Although I hate overpaying for players out of desperation and the Fins (and just about every other team) have been burned by doing this in the past.......I'd be willing to overpay (to a degree) for Mathis if the cap room exists to do it. The reason I'd be willing to do it this time is because I think that with the offseason moves the team has made, they are a legit playoff contender now (hopefully I'm not being blinded by my fandom).  The only huge, glaring weakness that the team has is Guard.  If Mathis would be the one piece that would put Miami in position to get into the playoffs, then bite the pillow and do what you have to do to sign him.  Within reason.  I would be willing to overpay, but I wouldn't get into a bidding war with one or two other teams where you have to pay just ridiculous money to get him. 

Well its been a couple weeks since Mathis was cut and no signing yet.  I guess no teams want to pay $6 mil for a guy who missed half of last season, and will be 34 this year.  In order to save face I see Mathis signing a one year deal with a SB contender, which means the Pats probably get him.

He is waiting for someone to get hurt at his position to create an opening on a team. Or for a team to realize they have a huge void at guard cause they guys they are planning on suck and they need him.

I find it hard to believe we haven't realized we "have a huge void at guard cause they guys they are planning on suck and they need him". I just think we are playing games to get a better deal. In all honesty ... how could they not seriously be looking at him?

Not like we have Lombardi and Walsh running the Fins franchise

^^^^ It's the only way for me to rationalize things. Let me live in my "happy place" for a while! LOL

Has anyone picked this guy up yet?

nope. He is Old and seen as a bit of a whiner so teams kick the tires on him but then say, no thank you. His best contract was in Philly and he walked away from it cause he bitched so much. So no team will give him that much $$. I guess he won't sign till mid to late August and he is hoping a couple guards get hurt in camp and a team is desperate

He's still the best guard in the whole league, so this complete lack of interest is surprising unless he is unwilling to budge on his high salary demands. Which, seems pretty likely to be honest considering what he just walked away from.

Still, he is a must have for us. Tanny would pay his salary himself.

He's 33, will be 34 during the season and he wants a multi year deal. No GM with an IQ over 2 would give an o-linemen that old a multi  year commitment and the salary he is asking for

2 year deal wouldn't be that bad with an option for a 3rd(team, of course) depending on money. O-Line guys age slower than skill positions.

I wouldn't be upset at 2 years/$8 Million, but he just walked away from $5.5 Million, so that seems unlikely until the last week of training camp and he punches his agent and swallows his pride.

He didn't walk away from Philly, Philly cut him because they were tired of him whining and being a team distraction.  So, although there may be teams that are willing to pay him how much he was going to make in Philly (which is really the top end for a player his age, that missed games due to injury), who would want to bring in a distraction and pay top dollar for the privilege?

Mathis skipped every OTA and said he was going to skip training camp. Hence, he walked away and didn't show up. They got tired of his games and cut him. 

Still surprising we didn't hear about any offers, even small 1 year deals. This is a league that employs wife beaters and deadbeat dads constantly, no morals in this league. If you can help a team win, you'll have a job.

FA is over. Draft is over. Most teams have their rosters set. They will only break the bank for a guy if a big injury hits them or if in the middle of training camp they realize they have a huge problem at a certain position

Good point. Then let me just say that it's surprising that no news has been reported that Miami has made a 1 year offer, even if it's only for say $3 Million. No doubt Guard is a huge need and he obviously isn't getting any contract offers from anyone else. I would rather make an offer now then wait for an injury to happen to another team that makes him go there.

They won't make an offer they know will get rejected.

I realize it is to be expected but the o-line looked pretty poor yesterday. Not surprisingly there is lot's of talk about it. Full pads today so it will probably get worse.

First practice in pads today is taking place right now with contact. Billy Turner is spending more time on his ass than on his feet. He is getting pushed around by everyone and just flattened on most plays.

Not a good sign at all for Turner

first practice in pads is over. Can't overreact on August 1st but every nightmare scenario about the o-line was proven true today. Turner doesn't look like an NFL starter. Dallas Thomas still sucks. Only bright spot was Douglas was somewhat competent and didn't embarrass himself like the other 2.

Hopefully they have a better day Monday, but I'm not betting on it.

Jame Walker from the NFL said that Mathis was a huge topic today with O-line being in such bad shape.  They need a healthy Albert and  to sign Mathis to be successful and then pray someone else steps up and that no one gets hurt. That's not painting a hopeful beginning to this season but who could see this coming?

After 3 days in practice and only 1 with pads with contact.....all the reporters (local and national) who are on site watching agree the rookie Douglas is the best guard the Fins got and its not even close. Turner and Thomas aren't even in his league. Now that isn't saying Douglas is great, just that he is the best guard on the Fins roster and its not even close.

Can't overreact on Turner 3 days into camp, but its 3 days into camp of his 2nd year and the kid showed nothing last year and in 3 days seems to be regressing from last year. Turner was on his ass all day getting thrown around.

We know Thomas is a joke, but we were all hoping Turner would turn out to be better. However, I guess it was just wishful thinking as we all had to ignore how he couldn't even make the field last year despite how bad the O-Line got.

To sidetrack a bit, I am really sick of these "No more excuses for Tannehill" opinion pieces. The biggest problem he has had and one of the only ones is that his O-Line sucks and he is always getting sacked. Now that he signed his contract extension......his O-Line is still garbage. So, why isn't that a valid excuse anymore, because he got paid?

He played well last year, but he certainly will not turn into a 5,000 yard passer if he leads the league in sacks again. It's still obviously a concern until we get Mathis.

I won't break out the "I TOLD YOU SO"  on Turner just yet, only 3 days in wouldn't be fair. Still lots of time to turn it around and for him to prove me wrong. But if this continues in a month I will give ya the ole...."I Told ya So" then  ;)

LOL ...

Omar Kelly ‏@OmarKelly  1h1 hour ago
TODAY Joe Philbin admitted he's uncomfortable with the O-line's pass protection. The first step is admitting you have a problem.

Every Dolphins fan with an IQ over 2  saw this coming a mile away with the o-line. Of course Philbin, Hickey, and Tannenbaum didn't see it coming which is troubling. Now it will be a summer scramble to find a quality guard who can start by our "brain trust."

I think Douglas will be adequate with the help of playing between great players, but anyone with a string interior line (like us!) is going to have a field day with the other spot, so it has to be corrected now. There is no in between, it's either Mathis or one of the worst guards in the league.

Unfortunately, maybe we legit can't sign Mathis due to the cap and he is being stubborn.

Drew Rosenhaus came on WSVN 7 and said that Mathis had preliminary talks with the Dolphins on Friday, but those talks are heating up after the performance of this line in practice

To be fair, how much pull does Philbin really have in these types of discussions? He may have warned the roster guys all offseason. I'm definitely not the biggest Philbin supporter around, just trying to keep it in perspective.

If he has no say then he is worthless as a head coach on every level. Any head coach worth anything has some say in the roster and the players. Doesn't need to be final say but he better have some say into who is on the roster. If Hickey and Tannenbaum are ignoring him then this organization is built to fail and its a recipe for disaster.

That's putting a huge spin on what was said on that news cast. He never said anything was "heating up" or along those lines.

What I read in reference to the Dolphins was ... "Just know that there are conversations taking place" Drew Rosenhaus said on Sports Xtra about the Dolphins' courtship of Evan Mathis. An optimist and a pessimist could spin this any way they want. all I know is no one watching the practices ... media or fans ... have been left with any optimism about the o-line.

WQAM reported that Drew was down there talking extensions regarding Miller and OV who are in contract years and clients of his, and the name Mathis came up.  Drew was down there talking about other clients (Miller and OV) and not Mathis. Mathis just came up in conversation.

Hey look, I hope they sign Mathis but its false to spin it that the Dolphins after 4 practices are now ready to jump in and open up the pocketbook to pay Mathis just because his agent was at practice talking about other players

He is his agent anyway, everything he says has a hidden meaning.

Hickey mentioned this morning moving Jason Fox to OG once Albert is back at LT.

I was wondering yesterday if that might be a viable option.

Well that ought to solve everything!! LOL

We are 2 weeks away from hiring sumo wrestlers to play guard.

Armando reporting right when Philly cut Mathis the Fins offered him a 1 year deal in the $2-3 mill range. Mathis and Rosenhaus laughed. The Fins haven't budged off that as Mathis wants at least $5.5 mill. Unless Douglas and Thomas (forger Turner at this point) get hurt or totally suck beyond belief in camp and preseason games.....the Fins probably won't budge off their initial offer.

If they can afford the $5 Million for this season, then do it. It's all hands on deck for this season anyway with the Brady suspension and his age and our 2016 cap situation. Division is more winnable now than it was when we fucking won it in 2008. Go for broke.

I kind of agree with this.  Not that the Dolphins are a star guard away from Super Bowl, but that you could give him the 1-year "show me" contract worth the 5 million, and let him walk next season when we can address it "for real."  Not really any downside, although, I don't know if the Dolphins have the cap space to do it right now, or if Mathis is willing to sign a 1 year deal.

They have the cap space but they want to roll over as much as possible to next year cause next year they are already over the cap. Yes the cap will increase again but they still aren't in glowing cap shape heading into 2016.  Tannehill's deal jumps about 10 mill. Suh counts 26 mill on the cap. Wake and Grimes are probably gone after this year (Wake already told the front office he isn't taking a pay cut and giving a hometown discount.) Reshad Jones could be gone after this year some think to create cap space. They have many cap issues next year and they want to roll over as much cap space as possible.

They can sign Mathis now but its a matter of wanting to do it and managing the cap.

You know what? If we get Mathis, why aren't we Superbowl contenders? Not that I think we would be the 85 Bears, but who else is out there in the AFC that is far better than us with Mathis?

Of course, I am pessimistic and predicting 8-8 because the coaching is a joke and we just lay down and die every December, but statistically what team is far and away better in the AFC? Peyton started fading last year and the Broncos took a step back. The AFC West has no juggernauts. The Colts are good but not world beaters. The North has some solid play but no one remarkable.

Really, on paper I think we are Superbowl contenders with Mathis. If you have a chance at it, you go for it. Aside from the Pats, not many teams stay strong year after year in this league. You see your chance and you go for it.

On paper, I honestly 100% think Miami is the best team in the AFC.
On paper, the Eagles were 100% the best team in the NFL a couple of years back, and they ended up sucking.

It's all about gelling and coaching once you have the pieces in place.

That is a bit much. While Suh helps the defense he isn't going to solve all of their problems. I still see only 1 proven CB and 1 proven (healthy) safety on this roster. The secondary to me is a bit of a mess. The linebackers are nothing special at all. On offense the 2 guards can cripple this team offensively in many ways. Turner has had a horrible camp so far (Suh or not, the kid is in way over his head)....we know what Thomas is....and Douglas has been just ok (which is good for us, but not good for a team who wants to make the playoffs.) God forbid we get one injury on this o-line to Albert, Pouncey, or James as we have zero depth at all. Even if they sign Mathis they are one injury away from being a bad o-line again. Factor in we have a below average to maybe bad head coach and a shaky kicker....and I don't see how we are the best team in the AFC let alone a Top 3 team in the AFC.

From the sounds of it the secondary issue may be sorted out with Taylor playing well so far in camp and McCain being ok. The linebackers to me are a huge question mark and there ain't nothing that can fix Philbin.  This team on paper is a proven vet Guard and a couple guys stepping up away from being very good. But 1 or 2 injuries at key positions and this house of cards crumbles and this is a bad team.

I think it's a combo of things going right for us and who is really better in the AFC? The AFC is weak, the Pats essentially had a bye into the Superbowl with the Colts shaming themselves in the AFC Championship game, cheating with the balls or not.

So, who can Miami NOT beat? Who would be a shocking upset?

Like we agree on, things need to go right and Philbin sucks and all that, but on paper, who is clearly better and without major problems?

No one, and that's why I said what I said.  No team in the AFC has all the pieces together, including Miami, but I believe the pieces Miami does have together makes them the best team in the NFL...on paper.

Every MIA win over NE is a "shocking upset," and has been for the last 8 years.

Indy, Baltimore, NE (w/Brady), Pitt, and Denver to me are better than Miami on paper. I think Baltimore and Miami are close, but I would give the slight edge to Baltimore as  of today August 7th. The others to me are clearly better than Miami.

FYI: The scrimmage is going on right now as I type this. Billy Turner is getting beaten badly almost every play. Seriously, this kid isn't close to ready to be an NFL player.

Not saying its Mathis....But Miami will have to reshuffle the deck and give others time at guard with the 1st string or look to make a trade or go dumpster diving for warm bodies. Turner ain't cutting it. Offense can't get any work in he is so bad. Now its hindering camp and the work the offense can get done.

FYI: Speak of the devil...Jason Fox missed the scrimmage tonight due to injury. No word how serious it is.

I think you need to cut Turner a little slack and at least wait to see him go up against someone other than Suh before you declare him unfit for the NFL. No one is defending Turner, we just want to see how he does on someone who isn't the best defensive tackle in the league this decade.

Problem is its not just Suh who is beating Turner. The back-ups are beating Turner consistently too. One good quarter or two in a  preseason game won't erase 3 bad weeks of practices. Need consistency

Practice starting now. ...Jason Fox is back. Turner has been demoted to 2nd string (at least for today). McClendon starting at guard.

McClendon back at starting guard for most of practice today. He is getting a long look with the starters.

Lots of rotating in and out still but McClendon getting the bulk of the work with the starters


Update: Adam Beasley just reported Turner hasn't taken one snap with the starters all day. Believes the "Turner experiment" may be over

Figured the Dallas Thomas experiment would've ended before the Billy Turner one.

Hard to believe.... but Turner is worse than Thomas. In this camp Turner doesn't even look like an NFL player, it's been bad

I thought Thomas was hurt?

He is dinged up. But when he was healthy he was his same old self. Which is better than Turner believe it or not

First depth chart was released moments ago. Turner listed as the starter along with Dallas Thomas at guard. Thomas probably won't play Thursday and Turner is expected to get a lot of snaps Thursday as one last final look to see if he can do anything before they move on.

Personally, I'm less scared about Dallas Thomas the guard than I am about Dallas Thomas the tackle.  Remember last season he was asked to fill in when James moved to LT, and stunk it up.  Thomas had played a little at guard prior to that, where he belongs, and wasn't completely useless.  Between Juwaun James and Mike Pouncey, I am less concerned about Dallas Thomas.  Just make sure he stays between two studs and he won't be completely awful.

Miami only wants to give Mathis $2.5 Million, but if we wait for him to lower his price, then more times will be in on him. They don't want him with his current demands, but they will be in on him for what the Dolphins want to pay him.

at 2.5 mill though some other team (a better team) will offer him that and he can go there.  I think Miami adds a guard at some point and I dont think its Mathis.

I don't disagree with this. We could blow this season because of our O-line which would really suck for me ... meaning losing one or two games could be a huge difference. Hell ... a few less sacks could be the difference.  I'd hate to think our reluctance to sign one or two players could cause us to have to implode our whole team and start over.

I know we want to try to roll over as much cap room as we can into next season, but next season could be a new set of coaches and scheme, the time is now. So, if $5 Million will do it and we have it, then do it right now.

Chris Myers (who played college at Miami) is still a free agent. Has experience at both Guard and Center , former pro bowler, and has experience in a Zone-Blocking scheme. Why Miami hasn't kicked the tires on him I don't know. Unless it's because he has a medical issue we don't know about. Could be had really cheap most likely!

You guys know that I'm not normally a fan of overpaying for anyone, but at some point you have to make your move.

The way I see it:
- Tannehill is good, but this is the year that will begin to define him and set direction for the team
- Philbin will either produce this year or else get fired (or worse, be a lame duck for another season).  If Philbin leaves, a new system comes in and we'll see regression again.
- The Patriots are on the ropes, at least to start the season.
- Jets lost their QB for 6-10 weeks (they suck anyway, but still)
- You have a new stadium layout and want to fill seats.

I think that, using a poker analogy, you have to go all in at some point.  If we just creep along, the blinds will eat us alive.  I think it's time to make the move.  I'd like to see us sign Mathis, turn an area of weakness into a strength and GO GO GO right now.  At the very least, it will clearly inform your future.  Do it.

+1

I agree with everything you said 100%. Only question is I am not sure Mathis is the guy you go all in with.

Look I hope they sign Mathis, but an older o-linemen who was hurt most of last year and missed half the season might not be the guy you go "all in" with. My only concern. I think we can make a trade for a quality guard who is cheaper or sign someone like a Myers as I mentioned above at a more reasonable cost who would be just as good.

I am not married to any one guy, but I think that just farting along with a guy at a key position that you know is incapable just doesn't work.

I know all about building through the draft and I agree that you want to do that, but there needs to be a time where everything isn't perfect, but you still roll the dice and give it your all.  I think the time is now.  Whoever it is -- the position needs to be addressed now.

I think Dave speaks for a lot of us. I wish history was a great indicator that they knew something we don;t but the fact is our O-line has been the biggest weakness for years. It doesn't give me much confidence when they have failed to fix it for years and now are waiting on a last minute deal to secure it.

I'll give them credit for letting Matt Flynn pass when so many wanted him and then picking up Tannehill when he was such a gamble but the O-line is a huge mystery for them. They haven't shown anything to make anyone feel they know what they are doing there. 

I think, for many reasons, this season is important for Miami.  And to allow this gaping hole to continue is treasonous.  I am sure these guys are doing their best, but let's show that we're serious about WINNING for a change and go fix problems. 

This year is important.  Not next year, not the year after.  If you choke out another 8-8 season this year because the o-line can't stop anyone, then you reset to zero again next year, and the carousel ride of ineptitude continues.

I agree 100% with Dave - strike now, worry about the cap later.

If Brian and I agree on something, you better do it.

No kidding. 

Either that or the world is ending.

NFL.com reporting Mathis close to signing a deal with a team.

They aren't mentioning the team but a signing could happen very soon and as early as today.

RUMOR is the Jets are stepping up to the plate for Mathis. Not official. I am sure Miami has talked to Rosenhaus and wants any opportunity to match anything before he puts pen to paper. But the Mathis-watch should be over soon per the rumblings from reports.

Unless Rosenhaus is playing the media to drum up speculation and throwing out false reports (which wouldn't shock me with him)

Regardless of how it eventually turns out ... in the interim there will be a lot of pissed off Dolphin fans if that is true.

Other places saying too that a deal is very close, but no team has been mentioned. If Miami is just offering $2 Million, then I doubt it is us. He just wants money and I'd be surprised if another team didn't go at least $3 Million. He is a starter for whoever he joins, so we don't even have that advantage.

Cross your fingers.

There a lot of teams that need O-Linemen, yet two months after he was cut nobody has signed him.  I'm not sold on Mathis, he's an old diva, coming off an injury, looking to cash in for the last year or two of his career.  Hopefully the Dolphins get lucky like they did last year with Satele.

Mathis was one of the best O-Line guys the past few years including last year. I don't buy that a guy who was elite in December is washed up in August.

I just realized or remembered that Philly cut him AFTER most teams were settled and spent their cap room, so that also really hurt his cause. He wasn't injury proned before this either.

So, for $3 Million or so in a make or break season for virtually the whole coaching and front office except for Tannenbaum, it's totally worth it. 2016 may suck due to cap space, so this is it.

Poor showing for the guards last night.

Turner with a holding call inside the 5 yard line which in a real game would have prevented a TD on that opening drive. Douglas whiffed on blocks and was bad. McClendon was horrible.

Utter disaster this o-line is and has been through the first weeks of camp and now the 1st preseason game

Also want to give a kudos to Dallas Thomas for his performance yesterday. He looked very good and played well. Thomas at guard is better than Thomas at Tackle which we have talked about in the past. Not saying Dallas Thomas is a great player now, but at guard he might be "serviceable" and won't kill this team.

Turner on the other hand, different story

It's important to remember that our Pro Bowl LT is still rehabbing, so that left side is definitely weak. Once he returns, his play can help mask the play of a Guard, right now they are being exposed.

Also, so much for Mathis signing with a team on Wednesday. Looks like more stuff leaked by his agent to drum up interest.

I'll be honest. I thought the starting unit, as it was, played better than advertised. They looked serviceable for the most part.

http://nfltraderumors.co/nfl-cap-space-1/

Good link to show you the cap space available for each team as of today.  Fins with $11 mill in cap space as of this moment

Shocked the Colts haven't made a move for him as their O-Line is horrendous and they have the cap room. Then again, like us, the 2016 situations can be bad and they are relying on rollover to survive. So, $12 Million now may already be spoken for in the future.

They have the cap room today, maybe not tomorrow or in a week or a month, and they have to worry about next year as well. They have to break the bank for Luck and are preparing for it. That's why they gave TY Hilton an extension this week to get him done before they venture into working on Luck's deal.

They played one series against a bad Chicago team and would have only come out of it with 3 points in a regular game. The 6 games against our division rivals will look much more like their scrimmages against our team. If they play well against Carolina and Tampa then I might find some hope.

Can't you let me positive for one day?  ;)

Sorry ... I didn't mean it as negative as it sounded. I've just been bothered by this for so long it will be hard for me not to look at the negatives. I was very happy with our success but I do wish they had left them another series. I hate all bu the third pre-season games for that reason. waste of time.

From Philbin's press conference today after practice he seems content with Turner/Thomas. Said they will learn more this week with the joint practices with Carolina. So I wouldn't expect any movement on the Mathis front this week at all. And if Turner/Thomas don't get abused vs the Panthers d-line then I would the Fins are out on Mathis from the sounds of it and they are gonna roll the dice with these 2.

Like with agents, I am sure Philbin and co. are told to not mention the O-Line and how Mathis would improve it. If these two get better and it works out then great, but if Mathis and his agent come crawling right before the season and say they will take our offer, then I would be amazed if he isn't signed by us.

Mathis isn't going to come crawling to anyone. Vikings just lost their RT for the entire season. Depending on how they shuffle guys around they might be in the market for a new o-linemen if they have to shift a guard to tackle. More guys will get hurt between now and week 1, Mathis will get what he wants in the end.

Adam Beasely of the Miami Herald reporting this morning that sources close to Hickey say the GM feels the Fins are fine at guard and no need to make any moves at that position.

Either Hickey is an imbecile or this is just false information being put out on purpose to scare Mathis and his camp.

The first rule of negotiation .. you don't really want to buy what they're selling .. in fact .. you'd be doing them a favor by saying yes

Dolphins just signed guard Bryant Browning

Bryant played a few snaps in one game for the Panthers in 2011, nothing else according to NFL.com So, practice squad signing or every other O-Line player just got injured in a bus accident and the media doesn't know about it yet.

He's a stud. We are Superbowl bound.

In a sign ONE of the guard spots seems to be locked up, Jamil Douglas who was splitting time with Dallas Thomas at LG...no longer gets reps at LG. Thomas is clearly the starter at LG and gets all the snaps there.

Douglas now splits time with Turner at RG and has been getting first team reps at RG since the Bears game.

He is sandwiched between a Top 3 LT and a Top 3 Center, you have to work hard at sucking to not be at least passable.

hahaha  ... sadly we do our best work signing people with potential that no one else knows about.

Albert practicing today. Working with the 2nd team at LT.

Huge step in the right direction for him. He has a bad limp and looks nowhere near 100% but he is out there for the first time with the 2nd team doing 11 on 11 drills

In regards to the Mathis situation, the Fins (and other teams too, probably) might be rolling the dice to wait and see what other teams do as rosters get cut through the preseason to see if perhaps a good (if not as good as Mathis) Guard might get cut loose by another team for monetary reasons as one of their rookie Guards overachieves and makes a veteran expendable.  Although the Fins' Guards played better than I expected against Chicago, one preseason game is not enough to make my toes tingle (nod to Mad Dog Mandich) about the Guard position going into the season. 

Lots of rotating going on in practice. But Thomas has locked up the LG spot. Douglas today getting all the reps with the starters at RG replacing Turner. Seems to be Turner/Douglas competing for 1 spot at RG now. Douglas got in a small fight already today but those 2 seem to be fighting over the RG spot at this time. Thomas is locked in at LG

Mike, you are a knowledgeable football guy and you've seen a lot more of camp than I have.  I know you were distraught about the Guard position a couple weeks ago.  Has what you have seen since then given you any sense of feeling a little better about the position if the Fins don't bring anyone else in at Guard? 

I have little faith in Thomas/Turner. In the preseason teams don't "scheme" or "gameplan" so its very vanilla and aren't asked to do alot in these joint practices and preseason games. Real test comes when you have real games. Have Rex and the Bills calling stunts and twists with high quality/pro bowl caliber d-linemen who are closer to the level Suh plays at. The Redskins d-line is no joke. Jets if healthy are no joke on the d-line.  So if you struggle vs Suh in practice how the heck can you block other pro bowl type players when it really matters and they are game-planning to exploit your weakness? Now can you get by with marginal guard play...to a point yes. But one missed assignment and big hit and your QB can be lost for the year very quickly. It's a huge role of the dice. Fins don't need 2 pro bowl guards, not saying that at all. Just need better than what they got. I could live with 1 of these guys at guard and be weak at 1 starting guard position....but both. Risky.

Mathis flying to Seattle. Visiting with team Saturday. Seahawks oline is a mess..

Watch Thomas or Turner get hurt 10 min after he signs with Seattle

Sounds like if Mathis gets on the plan to go to Seattle sometime Friday he is signing there as his agent is saying he will listen to all offers before flying to Seattle. Hoping for a last minute offer before boarding that flight though from reports.

So the Mathis talk can and will end Friday at some point and we can all move on from it finally.

If Seattle had the need and the cap room, what the hell took so long?

1) They reshuffled the deck on the o-line and it isn't working
2) Drive down Mathis's price
3) Wilson almost got killed in their first preseason game (ala RG III tonight)

Mathis is not signing with a team today and is flying to Seattle for his Saturday meeting per his agent

There's no way Seattle can afford to pay Mathis his asking price.  Mathis may have finally realized he has to take a pay CUT, instead of a raise; and would save face by saying he wanted to win a Super Bowl ring.

Mathis left Seattle without a deal but is interacting with Seahawks fans on social media hinting he is going to sign with them (not sure if anything to read into that as he might just be toying with fans.)  Rosenhaus said Mathis will sign with a team by weeks end.

If they met his price, he would've signed by now. No reason to delay it.

Dallas Thomas learning to stay on his feet has helped matters a bit, but I would still prefer Jamil Douglas as a backup for this season and not a starter if we can get Mathis.

Turner played LESS snaps this past week than he did week 1 vs Chicago. Some reporters believe the coaches are losing faith in him and giving him less reps.

Jason Fox is 99% OUT for this weeks preseason game. Miami will be starting a 3rd string left tackle to open the game. Hence, the Dolphins better not play Ryan Tannehill anymore in this preseason. If they risk a starting QB they just gave close to $100 mill to with a 3rd string left tackle in a meaningless game they are nuts.

Almost as dumb as the time Rex Ryan put in his starting QB in the game game in the 4th quarter of a preseason game cause he wanted to beat the Giants and ended up getting his QB hurt and lost for the season.

No more Tannehill this preseason. We have seen enough. Risking him behind Turner and Thomas is bad enough. Now throw in some scrub 3rd string LT and can't do it.

Agreed, we know who Tanny is and what he has. Have him hold a clipboard and apologize to Matt Moore for the beating he is about to receive.

Agreed.  No need to get the guy killed for a few more reps in a preseason game. 

So you would not have given him any guff for playing the other QB in the 4th quarter (remember that other QB was a draft choice who was in competition for the starting job, there was no clear cut starter)? Sanchez may have gotten the nod to play at some point but I'm pretty sure NY was going to start with giving Geno the ball for the season anyway.

4th quarter of preseason games usually don't see the starter or back-up at QB playing. Just saying. Could have just played the 3rd stringer....like 99.9% of NFL Head Coaches do. Losing your STARTING QB in the 4th quarter of a preseason game is beyond stupid AND Sanchez was going to start the season as the QB.

Rex just wanted to give Geno more reps so he started him that specific week, that's all

The third game usually doesn't highlight a third string QB who won't make the roster.

Mathis just signed a 1 year deal with Denver. Up to $4 mill with incentives  and he turned down a $5.5 mill deal down from another team (that team hasn't been leaked yet to the press)

Rather start Freeman than Matt Moore.  Better elusiveness and probably gonna be cut anyway.  Hell, maybe let some fans suit up to play QB since so many of them are so awesome at it.

Mathis signed in Denver for 1 year $2.5 million. Incentives can make it a $4 mill deal.

He had at least one offer for $5.5 mill and he said no, he wanted to go to a winner. Makes me think Miami never had a shot or Miami offered him the $5.5 mill late in the process but by the time they did Denver and Seattle and other "contenders" got in the game with him and it was too late

When Turner whifs and Tanneyhill gets knocked out for the season every single season ticket holder should get to punch everyone in the front office and Ross in the face.

You better hope Jordan Phillips develops into at least a serviceable player.  Because Ali Marpet is looking like a stud guard.

Then its just time to fire Philbin/Hickey.  They take the fall for that if it IF that scenario happens

Miami Herald hinting the coaches are disappointed with Turner. And that he might just be keeping the seat warm until Douglas catches up and gets up to speed at RG. His decreasing reps in practice and in the preseason games was a sign

I am always in favor of starting an unknown rookie over a current player who has shown nothing because only one has potential for upside. If Turner couldn't crack the team last year and can't do it now, no need for him to be on the roster. Let Douglas play.

I would love to hear a hint of anything that sounds promising. I swear this situation has baffled and frustrated me for the last few years.

Sleep easy Dolphins fans. The Fins today have moved Dallas Thomas to LEFT TACKLE to protect Tannehill's blind side for 3 quarters this Saturday

....shit


He's doing well at guard...so let's fuck that up and move him to left tackle for a meaningless preseason game instead of getting him much needed reps at guard.  That makes sense.

Yep!! Couldn't agree more with ya.

It wouldn't surprise me if the $5.5 mil offer Mathis "turned down" is just a smoke screen to cover up the fact no team thought he was worth anything close to what his ego thought he was worth.

I agree with this. It is probably a Drew Rosenhaus false leak to the meida to help save face. We will never know but if I had to guess this would be my guess

No doubt.  He is finally reaching the point at Guard where muscle memory is taking over instead of taking the time to think about what he is doing.  So now they are going to give him practice reps and one game at tackle to jumble all of the assignments up in his brain again so that he regresses when he moves back to Guard.  What a nitwit idea.  As much as I hate the Cowboys, they have the right idea of protecting their top players as much as possible in the preseason (except Scandrick, LOL).  I don't care if the 3rd game is the "dress rehearsal" or not.  If the O-Line is not at full strength for that game, give Tanny one series and then pull him.  And the only reason I'd say to give him one series is just so he can prepare like he would for a regular season game and at least get a handful of game snaps to break the monotony of practice. 

1) Mathis is full of shit. If he had that offer from the Ontario Rough Riders, he would've taken it. Now, he has to earn $4 Million by staying healthy and playing well. We could've had him but we chose not to, simple as that and it was dumb.

2) Why is Tanny playing this Saturday and why is Dallas being moved to LT after finally finding a groove at Guard?

Champions are built from the front office down, this is why no matter the talent on the field, I can't realistically say more than 8-8 without coaching and management and perhaps an ownership overhaul. Teams would trade us 2 First Rounders and more for Tannehill right now and we don't even protect him.

I'm going to lock this down. This thread was initially about Mathis and Miami, which is no longer an option, and has morphed into several other things. Let's do a refresh.