Next up, Jake Long?

[Fau Teixeira]

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 !

[MikeO]

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.

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!

[MikeO]

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.

[masterfins]

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 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.

[MikeO]

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"

[masterfins]

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.

[MikeO]

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!

[masterfins]

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.

[Spider-Dan]

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.

[MikeO]

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.

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

[MikeO]

NFL Network reporting Long to visit the Rams

[BigDaddyFin]

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.

[MikeO]

1.  Even a sub-par Jake Long is a top 10 player at left tackle. 

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).

[BigDaddyFin]

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.

[MikeO]

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!!