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Yep Melvin Gordon.
List of FA rbs....(morstert, wilson, gordon, fournette, ron jones, patterson, gallman....ones that interest)
Teams Miami Dolphins - The Fins
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List of FA rbs....(morstert, wilson, gordon, fournette, ron jones, patterson, gallman....ones that interest)
No idea where they'd move them. As for not having a team in Miami, they have a team in Tampa, which is a hop step and a jump away.
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If Stephen Ross steps out, Bruce Beal most likely steps in (and possibly Tom Brady, as a minority owner)
Posted by Mike Florio on February 17, 2022, 12:04 PM ESTWith Dolphins owner Stephen Ross facing an investigation that could lead to a force sale of the team, he already has a buyer.
Bruce Beal (pictured) will be in line to take over the team, whenever Ross sells his controlling interest.
Beal, as recently explained by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, has worked with Ross for years in his real-estate company. Beal has held the right to purchase the team since 2016.
First, Ross must decide to sell. (Two years ago, he said he wouldn’t sell the team in his lifetime.) Before he’s actually forced to sell, Ross possibly would choose to voluntarily cash out.
With the NFL investigating the claim from former Dolphins coach Brian Flores that Ross offered $100,000 for each loss in 2019 and given the sense that the contention will be corroborated, Ross arguably would be wise to walk away before the probe creates evidence that an ambitious prosecutor could then use to secure an indictment of Ross for violating the federal Sports Bribery Act.
Ultimately, it comes down to how committed Ross would be to fighting the outcome. With no one to whom he intends to bequeath the team, it’s simply a question of whether he gets the money before or after he dies.
Regardless of when Beal gets the team, one name to watch will be Tom Brady. There’s a lingering belief that Beal’s acquisition of the Dolphins would be followed by Beal selling a sliver of it to Brady. As Brady’s fortune continues to grow, he could potentially secure controlling ownership of the Dolphins or maybe buy some other team.
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If Stephen Ross is forced out, will Bruce Beal survive?
Posted by Mike Florio on February 17, 2022, 8:34 PM ESTEarlier today, we pointed out that the succession plan crafted by Dolphins owner Stephen Ross consists of selling controlling interest in the team to Bruce Beal. If, however, the league’s investigation of the allegations made by former Dolphins coach Brian Flores bring Ross down, they could bring Beal down, too. In theory.
Beal (pictured with Flores) isn’t just someone to whom Ross sold a slice of the team and then granted a right of first refusal as to the interest held by Ross. Beal is a long-time partner with Ross, in both his real-estate company and the Dolphins. If the Flores allegations regarding cash-for-clunking are true, it’s entirely possible that Beal was aware of the broader plan by Ross to fail in 2019 in order to secure the highest possible draft pick in 2020.
As to the allegation that Ross pressured Flores “to recruit a prominent quarterback in violation of League tampering rules” in 2019 and 2020, the quarterback in question reportedly is Tom Brady. Brady and Bruce Beal are good friends. Beal is third from the left in this photo of Brady’s entourage at the 2019 Kentucky Derby, for example. Given that Flores claims Ross tried to arrange an accidental lunch between Flores and the unnamed prominent quarterback on a yacht in early 2020, it’s not a stretch to wonder whether Ross used Beal to schedule Brady’s arrival for the chance-by-design meeting.
Text messages or other electronic communications exchanged by and between Ross and Beal and Beal and Brady could become very relevant to the NFL’s investigation. (Yes, Tom Brady’s cell phone could become an issue for the league all over again.) Between Ross talking to Beal and Beal talking to Brady, there could be enough not only to prove that Flores’s allegations are accurate as to Ross but also to show that Beal is arguably as culpable as the team’s majority owner.
Whether it’s the tanking allegation or the tampering plan or both, Beal could end up soaking in the same vat of hot water as Ross. Maybe that’s why Beal has lawyered up in the face of the filing of the Flores lawsuit, hiring his own counsel to represent the interests of a would-be controlling owner whose days could possibly be as numbered as his partner’s.
None of this has been proven. But the dots are sitting in plain sight. It makes sense for any credible investigation to explore whether they can be connected.
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Dolphins announce coaching staff
Posted by Charean Williams on February 18, 2022, 3:33 PM ESTThe Dolphins announced their coaching staff under new coach Mike McDaniel.
Frank Smith was hired as offensive coordinator, Josh Boyer as defensive coordinator and Danny Crossman as special teams coordinator.
The other members of the coaching staff are: Matt Applebaum (offensive line), Darrell Bevell (quarterbacks/passing game coordinator), Jon Embree (assistant head coach/tight ends), Josh Grizzard (quality control), Chandler Henley (assistant quarterbacks), Lemuel Jeanpierre (assistant offensive line), Mike Person (offensive assistant), Aldrick Robinson (offensive assistant), Kolby Smith (offensive assistant), Eric Studesville (associate head coach/running backs), Wes Welker (wide receivers), Mathieu Araujo (assistant defensive backs), Anthony Campanile (linebackers), Austin Clark (defensive line), Steve Ferentz (assistant linebackers), Steve Gregory (safeties), Derrick LeBlanc (assistant defensive line), Sam Madison (cornerbacks/pass game specialist), Ty McKenzie (outside linebackers), Ryan Slowik (senior defensive assistant), Patrick Surtain (defensive assistant), Brendan Farrell (assistant special teams) and Dave Puloka (head strength and conditioning).
McDaniel’s staff includes more than 300 years of coaching experience, including 183 years at the NFL level. McDaniel retained 12 of the team’s coaches from last season.
The staff is highlighted by three former Dolphins players, all of whom played together on the 2004 team. Those three will become the 12th, 13th and 14th former Dolphins players also to coach for the team.
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PRESS RELEASE: Miami Dolphins announce 2022 coaching staff
Feb 18, 2022 at 03:17 PMMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins today announced Head Coach Mike McDaniel's coaching staff for the 2022 season: Frank Smith (offensive coordinator), Matt Applebaum (offensive line), Darrell Bevell (quarterbacks/passing game coordinator), Jon Embree (assistant head coach/tight ends), Josh Grizzard (quality control), Chandler Henley (assistant quarterbacks), Lemuel Jeanpierre (assistant offensive line), Mike Person (offensive assistant), Aldrick Robinson (offensive assistant), Kolby Smith (offensive assistant), Eric Studesville (associate head coach/running backs), Wes Welker (wide receivers), Josh Boyer (defensive coordinator), Mathieu Araujo (assistant defensive backs), Anthony Campanile (linebackers), Austin Clark (defensive line), Steve Ferentz (assistant linebackers), Steve Gregory (safeties), Derrick LeBlanc (assistant defensive line), Sam Madison (cornerbacks/pass game specialist), Ty McKenzie (outside linebackers), Ryan Slowik (senior defensive assistant), Patrick Surtain (defensive assistant), Danny Crossman (special teams coordinator), Brendan Farrell (assistant special teams) and Dave Puloka (head strength and conditioning).
McDaniel's staff includes more than 300 years of coaching experience, including 183 years at the NFL level. Twelve of the team's coaches are returning to the Dolphins in the same or a similar role. The staff is highlighted by three former Dolphin players, all of whom played together on the 2004 Dolphins team. Those three will become the 12th, 13th and 14th former Dolphins players to also coach for the team.
Offense:
Frank Smith joins the Dolphins as offensive coordinator. He has 18 years of coaching experience, with 12 of those coming in the NFL and six at the collegiate level. Smith was the run game coordinator/offensive line coach for the Los Angeles Chargers last year, helping the team finish fourth in total offense (390.2) and fifth in scoring offense (27.9). He served as tight ends coach for the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders from 2018-20, helping tight end Darren Waller become the third-most productive tight end in the NFL in that span (2,416 yards) despite playing just four games in 2018. Smith also spent time as an offensive assistant coach for the New Orleans Saints (2010-14) and Chicago Bears (2015-17).
Applebaum joins the Dolphins as offensive line coach with more than 10 years of coaching experience, primarily at the offensive line position. He spent the past two seasons (2020-21) as Boston College's offensive line coach, where he had seven All-ACC selections in just two years. All five of Applebaum's starters in 2021 either made an All-ACC team or earned honorable mention recognition and the team ranked third in the ACC in fewest sacks allowed (24.0). Applebaum's previous NFL coaching stops include Jacksonville (2014) and Washington (2008-10).
Bevell joins the Dolphins as quarterbacks/passing game coordinator. He is entering his 22nd season as an NFL coach and has 15 years of experience as an offensive coordinator for four different teams – Minnesota (2006-10), Seattle (2011-17), Detroit (2019-20) and Jacksonville (2021). He's also served as interim head coach in Detroit (2020) and Jacksonville (2021). Bevell has coached several standout quarterbacks throughout his career including Brett Favre, Russell Wilson and Matthew Stafford. He won Super Bowl XLVIII as Seattle's offensive coordinator.
Embree joins the Dolphins as assistant head coach/tight ends. He has 29 years of coaching experience, primarily at the tight end position, including 13 in the NFL. He spent the past five years (2017-21) in the same role with the San Francisco 49ers, where he helped develop tight end George Kittle into the second-most productive tight end in the NFL in that span, totaling 4,489 receiving yards, earning first-team All-Pro honors (2019) and three Pro Bowl selections (2018-19, 2021). Embree also played three seasons for the Los Angeles Rams (1987-88) and Seattle Seahawks (1989) before suffering a career-ending injury.
Grizzard enters his sixth season with the Dolphins and will serve as a quality control coach on offense. He began his tenure as offensive quality control from 2017-18, then moved to quality control in 2019 and wide receivers coach in 2020-21. He helped wide receiver Jaylen Waddle break the NFL rookie record for receptions (104) in 2021. Grizzard also spent four seasons (2013-16) at Duke in a variety of coaching roles.
Henley joins the Dolphins as assistant quarterbacks coach after spending last year in Atlanta as assistant offensive line coach. Henley also spent three seasons (2018-20) as a quality control coach with Tennessee, where he worked primarily with the offensive line. During his three seasons in Tennessee, the Titans were second in the NFL in rushing (144.5), had a winning season all three years, advanced to the AFC Championship in 2019 and won the AFC South in 2020. Henley also coached at Vanderbilt (2012-14) and Yale (2015-17).
Jeanpierre enters his third season with the Dolphins. He was the team's assistant offensive line coach in 2020 and served as offensive line coach in 2021. Jeanpierre has five years of NFL coaching experience and seven years of NFL playing experience. He began his coaching career as an offensive assistant in Seattle (2017) before spending two seasons (2018-19) as the assistant offensive line coach for Oakland. Jeanpierre also played seven NFL seasons with Seattle (2010-15) and Detroit (2016), and appeared in Seattle's Super Bowl XLVIII victory over Denver.
Person joins the Dolphins as an offensive assistant. He recently retired following a nine-year NFL playing career. He played guard and center for San Francisco (2011; 2018-19), Indianapolis (2012; 2017), Seattle (2012-13), St. Louis (2013-14), Atlanta (2015-16) and Kansas City (2016). Person appeared in 73 career games with 48 starts. He was the starting right guard for San Francisco during their 2019 NFC Championship season and started all three playoff games including Super Bowl LIV.
Robinson joins the Dolphins as an offensive assistant. He recently retired following a nine-year NFL playing career. He played wide receiver for Washington (2011-14), Baltimore (2014-15), Atlanta (2016), San Francisco (2017), Minnesota (2018) and Carolina (2019). Robinson appeared in 82 games with five starts, totaling 86 career receptions for 1,422 yards (16.5 avg.) and 14 touchdowns. He also played in all three playoff games during Atlanta's 2016 NFC Championship season.
Kolby Smith enters his third season with the Dolphins and first as an offensive assistant. He spent his first two seasons (2020-21) with Miami as a quality control coach. Smith coached running backs at several colleges including Rutgers (2019), Louisville (2014-18) and Western Kentucky (2013). He began his coaching career as a strength and conditioning assistant at Arkansas in 2012 following a four-year NFL playing career (2007-10), primarily with Kansas City.
Studesville enters his fifth season with the Dolphins and has been promoted to associate head coach/running backs. He was the team's co-offensive coordinator/running backs in 2021, running backs coach from 2019-20 and run game coordinator/running backs in 2018. Studesville has 25 years of NFL coaching experience including 21 seasons coaching running backs. He spent eight seasons (2010-17) with the Denver Broncos, winning two conference championships (2013 and 2015) and Super Bowl 50.
Welker joins the Dolphins as wide receivers coach. He has coached or played in four Super Bowls and six conference championships. He spent the past three seasons (2019-21) as San Francisco's wide receivers coach, developing wide receiver Deebo Samuel into the NFL's fifth-leading receiver (1,405 yards) in 2021. Welker played 12 NFL seasons (2004-15) and earned four All-Pro honors (2007-09, 2011) and five Pro Bowl selections (2008-12). He led the NFL in receptions three times (2007, 2009 and 2011). Welker played three seasons (2004-06) for Miami and is the Dolphins' all-time leader in kickoff return yards (3,756).
Defense:
Boyer enters his fourth season with the Dolphins and third as defensive coordinator. He was Miami's defensive pass game coordinator/cornerbacks coach in 2019. Since taking over as defensive coordinator in 2020, Boyer's defense is third in the NFL on third down (36.7), fourth in takeaways (55), tied for fifth in sacks (89.0), eighth in scoring (21.5) and 12th in rushing (113.0). He previously spent 13 seasons (2006-18) as a defensive coach for the New England Patriots, winning 12 division titles, six AFC championships and three Super Bowls (XLIX, LI and LIII).
Araujo joins the Dolphins after a brief stint at Maine as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator. He spent the past three seasons (2019-21) at Yale, where he was the team's defensive backs coach before earning a promotion to co-defensive coordinator in 2021. He helped the Bulldogs rank No. 1 in FCS in third-down defense (22.1 pct.) in 2021. Araujo also coached at Boston College from 2017-18 as an intern and graduate assistant working with the defensive backs.
Campanile enters his third season as linebackers coach with the Dolphins after being hired in 2020. Since joined the team, Miami's defense is third in the NFL on third down (36.7), fourth in takeaways (55), tied for fifth in sacks (89.0), eighth in scoring (21.5) and 12th in rushing (113.0). He's worked closely with linebacker Jerome Baker, who is the only Dolphins linebacker since 2000 to rack up 400-plus tackles in his first four NFL seasons. Campanile also has eight years of collegiate coaching experience at Rutgers (2012-15), Boston College (2016-18) and Michigan (2019).
Clark enters his third season with the Dolphins and second as defensive line coach. He was Miami's outside linebackers coach in 2020. In Clark's first season coaching the defensive line in 2021, the Dolphins totaled 48.0 sacks, which was tied for fifth in the league. He helped defensive tackle Christian Wilkins tie for the most tackles by an NFL defensive lineman (89) since 2013 and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah record the most passes defensed by an NFL defensive lineman (12) since 2016. Clark also has four years of collegiate coaching experience at Southern California (2016-17) and Illinois (2018-19).
Ferentz enters his third season with the Dolphins and first as assistant linebackers coach. He was a coaching assistant from 2020-21 before his recent promotion. Ferentz primarily worked with the Dolphins defense the past two years as Miami finished in the top 10 in several key defensive metrics. Ferentz played offensive line and tight end at Iowa from 2012-16.
Gregory enters his second season with the Dolphins and first as safeties coach. He was a coaching assistant in 2020, working primarily with the team's defensive backs. Miami finished in the top half of the NFL in scoring defense (21.9), total defense (337.5), passing defense (222.7) and interceptions (14) in Gregory's first season with the team. Prior to his Dolphins tenure, he spent three seasons (2018-20) as a defensive assistant and defensive backs coach in Detroit. Gregory also played eight NFL seasons as a defensive back with San Diego (2006-11) and New England (2012-13).
LeBlanc joins the Dolphins as assistant defensive line coach. He has 21 years of collegiate coaching experience, primarily at the defensive line position. He coached several players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft as defensive tackles Jonathan Marshall (Arkansas), Quinton Bohanna (Kentucky) and Phil Hoskins (Kentucky) were all part of defensive lines he's coached recently. LeBlanc has spent time at Arkansas (2020), Kentucky (2017-19), North Texas (2016), Southern Mississippi (2013-14), Wyoming (2012) and LSU (2000; 2008-11) among several other stops.
Madison joins the Dolphins as cornerbacks/pass game specialist. He spent the past three seasons as defensive backs/cornerbacks coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, helping them win Super Bowl LIV. Madison played nine seasons (1997-2005) for the Dolphins, earning first-team All-Pro honors twice (1999-2000) and being selected to the Pro Bowl four times (1999-2002). His 31 interceptions are third in team history and the most by a Dolphin since the 1970's. Madison also played three seasons (2006-08) with the New York Giants, winning Super Bowl XLII.
McKenzie joins the Dolphins as outside linebackers coach. He has five years of NFL coaching experience, primarily at the linebacker position, and also played five seasons in the league. McKenzie spent the 2021 season as a coaching fellow with Indianapolis and was Detroit's linebackers coach in 2020. He also spent two seasons (2018-19) as inside linebackers coach with Tennessee, helping the Titans reach the AFC Championship game in 2019. His first NFL coaching job came with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 as assistant special teams/defensive consultant. McKenzie played five years (2009-13) as an NFL linebacker.
Slowik joins the Dolphins as a senior defensive assistant. He has 12 years of NFL coaching experience, primarily on the defensive side of the ball. Slowik served as outside linebackers coach for Cleveland (2016), assistant defensive line coach for the New York Jets (2015) and a variety of defensive assistant coach roles for Arizona (2009-14) and Denver (2005-08).
Surtain joins the Dolphins as a defensive assistant. He spent the past six years (2016-21) as the head coach at American Heritage High School in nearby Plantation, Florida. In his six seasons, the Patriots won three state championships (2016, 2017, 2020) and produced several players that went on to earn Division I scholarships and become NFL draft picks. Surtain played 11 NFL seasons, including seven (1998-2004) with the Miami Dolphins. He was a first-team All-Pro honoree in 2002 and earned three Pro Bowl selections (2002-04) playing alongside Madison, with whom he will now coach. He is tied for fourth in Dolphins history with 29 interceptions.
Special Teams:
Crossman enters his 20th season as an NFL coach and fourth as special teams coordinator for the Dolphins. He's coached special teams during his entire career, also serving as special teams coordinator for Carolina (2005-09), Detroit (2010-12) and Buffalo (2013-18). Crossman also spent 10 seasons coaching special teams in the collegiate ranks. He played professionally for Washington (1990) and Detroit (1991) before earning all-league honors with the London Monarchs in the World League of American Football in 1991-92.
Farrell enters his fourth season with the Dolphins as assistant special teams coach. He's helped several standout performers in his first three seasons with the Dolphins. Kicker Jason Sanders earned first-team All-Pro honors and set a franchise record with a 92.3 field goal percentage in 2020. He also earned two AFC Special Teams Player of the Month and two AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors that season. Farrell previously spent 17 years as a collegiate coach, primarily working with special teams.
Strength and Conditioning:
Puloka enters his 15th season with the Dolphins and is the longest tenured coach currently on staff. He served as assistant strength and conditioning coach from 2008-15 before being promoted to head strength and conditioning coach in 2016. He also spent a season with Atlanta as assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2007.
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Wes Welker’s mission is to take Jaylen Waddle to “the next level”
Posted by Charean Williams on February 23, 2022, 6:02 PM ESTThe Dolphins made Jaylen Waddle the second receiver taken in the 2021 draft. Waddle was overshadowed by the season Ja'Marr Chase, whom the Bengals selected just ahead of Waddle at No. 5, but Waddle set a rookie record for receptions.
New coach Mike McDaniel already stated his belief that fantasy players would be wise to select Waddle in 2022.
New Dolphins receivers coach Wes Welker is as high on Waddle as McDaniel.
“That kid is top notch. Ton of talent. Speed. Passion for the game,” Welker said Wednesday, via Joe Schad of Palm Beach Post. “That’s what you want to work with. I’m excited to work with him and hopefully take him to the next level.”
Waddle made 104 receptions for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns last season.
He and Tua Tagovailoa played together at Alabama, which made their NFL connection easier as it did for Chase and Joe Burrow, who starred together at LSU.
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Sam Madison credits Andy Reid for letting him out of Chiefs contract to join Dolphins’ staff
Posted by Michael David Smith on February 24, 2022, 4:05 PM ESTBy joining the Dolphins as their cornerbacks coach, Sam Madison is getting a homecoming in Miami: Madison played for the Dolphins for nine seasons, and his family has been in Miami ever since. But Madison, who spent the last three seasons on the Chiefs’ staff, was still under contract to the Chiefs when the Dolphins reached out.
Fortunately for Madison, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid allowed him to return home, and Madison credited Reid for that.
“Coach Reid is one of the best guys in the game,” Madison said, via SI.com. “And I had to ask him for his guidance. That’s why I took my hat off to him as one of the best. He was like, ‘Sam, listen, you’re under contract. Normally, I would deny this but because of your situation, the way that I’ve seen you around here with these players, I respect that.’ These are things that he said. ‘You played for this [Dolphins] organization for a long time at a high level. Your family is there, your house is there, your kids aren’t getting any younger. So I’m going to grant you this opportunity.’ So I just thank him and he wished me well. He did say he was going to miss me and I said, ‘Well, I’m going to miss you too, Big Red.’ He gave me an opportunity.”
Madison was a Dolphin from 1997 to 2005, playing in two Pro Bowls for Miami.
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Andy Reid is a true humanitarian. Amazing. Letting his cb coach go home when his cb room sucked the year before. Must not have been easy, shows how big his heart is. 
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Josh Boyer back as Dolphins defensive coordinator, but unit is “going to be different” next season
Posted by Josh Alper on February 24, 2022, 11:40 AM ESTThe Dolphins opted for continuity on the defensive side of the ball by retaining Josh Boyer as the defensive coordinator after changing head coaches from Brian Flores to Mike McDaniel.
Boyer helped put together a defense that fueled a seven-game winning streak that put the Dolphins into playoff contention after a 1-7 start to the year, but said on Wednesday that his return doesn’t mean the unit will be a carbon copy of the one that took the field in 2021. He said there will be some carryover, but that it is “going to be different in 2022″ than it was last season.
Part of the reason for that is the change in head coaches as McDaniel brings an offensive background that’s very different than the one Flores brought with him to Miami.
“We spent 13 years together in New England coming up through the same system,” Boyer said, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “Flo worked on special teams, offense. We had a little bit of different perspective. He played linebacker, coached linebackers. I’ve always been on the back end. I see things from the back end down. I see the game a little bit different than what he was doing for 13 years.”
McDaniel isn’t likely to have the same hand in defensive game planning that Flores had and that will allow Boyer to put more of his own stamp on things. The Dolphins will need that to go well if they’re going to improve in the first year of the new regime.
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Dolphins are retaining defensive coordinator Josh Boyer.
Boyer is a longtime Patriots assistant who joined Brian Flores in Miami in 2019. He assumed the defensive coordinator position when Patrick Graham left to join the Giants in 2020. Boyer made clear to the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson that he called defensive plays in 2021, refuting a report that he had not been the play-caller. Regardless, the Dolphins' defense should be expected to shift somewhat in 2022. Boyer plans to emphasize his focus on the secondary and he should have more autonomy over the unit with McDaniel's expertise being on the offensive side. The Dolphins had an extremely easy schedule in the back half of 2021, but they dominated on defense over that stretch. Coaching continuity on the defensive side of the ball gives Miami a good shot of building on that success in 2022.SOURCE: Miami Herald
Feb 24, 2022, 12:07 PM ET
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Dolphins planned to pursue Sean Payton, Tom Brady for 2022
Posted by Mike Florio on February 28, 2022, 7:42 AM ESTThe Miami Dolphins are moving forward with Mike McDaniel as the head coach and, for now, Tua Tagovailoa as the starting quarterback. At one point after the end of the 2021 season, however, the Dolphins explored a different approach.
Per multiple sources, and as first revealed on Monday’s PFT Live, the Dolphins planned to pursue Sean Payton to be the coach and Tom Brady to be the starting quarterback. The plan was scrapped after Brian Flores filed his lawsuit against the NFL generally and the Dolphins, Giants, and Broncos specifically.
On the record, Dolphins declined comment. Team sources who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issues confirmed that the team contacted the Saints to seek permission to speak to Payton. The Saints, per Dolphins sources, declined the request, which they contend was made after Payton resigned on Tuesday, January 25 but before Flores filed his lawsuit one week later.
By rule, the Dolphins first would have had to reach an agreement with the Saints as to potential compensation for hiring Payton. Once an agreement had been reached, the Dolphins then would have had to work out an agreement directly with Payton.
As to Brady, Dolphins sources contend that internal discussions occurred regarding the possibility of adding Brady as a minority owner, but that those considerations currently are on hold. The delay, per Dolphins sources, has nothing to do with the lawsuit; it’s more about the uncertain status of Brady’s retirement from playing. Once it’s clear he’s not coming back to play for the Buccaneers or some other team, the plan for selling a piece of the team to Brady could proceed.
Rumors have persisted for two years regarding Brady’s potential involvement with the Dolphins, either as a player or as a partial owner. The connection arises from Brady’s friendship with Bruce Beal, a significant limited partner who is poised to eventually purchase the team from Stephen Ross. Indeed, as Brady approached free agency in 2020, the Patriots were very concerned that Brady would join the Dolphins as a player — with partial ownership on the table.
It’s unclear whether and to what extent either Payton or Brady were actually aware of the plan to pursue them. It’s hard to imagine that the Dolphins would have made a blind request for permission to pursue Payton without Payton being interested. As to Brady, the fact that he’s reportedly (and indeed is) the unnamed quarterback with whom Ross allegedly tried to get Flores to tamper in 2020 makes another run at Brady not a ludicrous thought, especially since the Dolphins have put together a team that has finished two straight seasons above .500, but with no playoff appearances.
Brady remains on the Tampa Bay roster, and he’ll stay there until June 2, at the earliest. Any move made before then would trigger a $32 million cap charge in 2022 for the Buccaneers. After June 2, a retirement or a trade would push the bulk of the cap charge to 2023.
Although Brady has said he’s done playing, few believe it. Whether it’s with the Buccaneers or someone else, he could return as soon as 2022. That could happen with the Dolphins, depending on whether the Dolphins make some other move at quarterback between now and then. Until the Dolphins acquire a new quarterback, their top option will continue to be Tagovailoa.
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Why did Saints decline the chance to get compensation for Sean Payton from the Dolphins?
Posted by Mike Florio on February 28, 2022, 10:06 AM ESTThe news, as broken on Monday’s PFT Live, that the Dolphins had planned to pursue Sean Payton to coach the team and Tom Brady to play quarterback, entails many layers and levels. Let’s focus, for now, on the wrinkle that the Dolphins sought permission from the Saints to speak to Payton, and that the Saints declined.
First, the Dolphins likely didn’t make that request as a shot in the dark, without any knowledge as to whether Payton would have been interested in taking the job. These things have a way of working out unofficially and behind the scenes, as they did when Payton nearly left the Saints to become coach of the Cowboys in 2019, the details of which are set forth in Playmakers. Three years ago, the unrelated-but-related effort by Pelicans forward Anthony Davis to leave town killed the Payton-to-Dallas deal. This year, even after Payton left the Saints, something kept New Orleans from letting the process play out.
Second, perhaps the compensation the Dolphins were willing to provide to the Saints wasn’t sufficient. Simms mentioned on Monday’s show that he’s heard the conversations had progressed to the point at which the terms of a de facto trade had been discussed. Did the Saints want more than Miami was willing to give?
There’s widespread expectation that the Cowboys will eventually try to hire Payton. Maybe the Saints think they’ll get as much or more from Jerry Jones later than they were going to get from Stephen Ross now.
Third, it’s impossible to rule out a scenario in which the Saints said “no” because someone else told them to. One of the rumors making the rounds (we’ve yet to substantiate it to the point that it can be reported as factual) is that 345 Park Avenue put the kibosh on the plan to pursue both Payton and Brady after former Dolphins coach Brian Flores filed his lawsuit. Some view that possibility skeptically, given that other teams would expect the league to do more than pull the plug on an effort to violate the spirit (if not the letter) of the Rooney Rule by lining Payton up in advance and to violate the spirt (and the letter) of the tampering policy by communicating with Payton and/or Brady while both were under contract with other teams. Other teams would want the Dolphins to be sanctioned by the league for these violations.
From the league’s perspective, punishing the Dolphins or trying to discreetly line up a Payton-Brady package deal actually could make things worse. At a time when the Dolphins stand accused of racial bias in firing Flores, of deliberately tanking in 2019 to get the quarterback the team coveted in 2020, and of tampering with an unnamed quarterback (Brady) in early 2020, it would be risky, if not crazy, for the league to announce to the world that the Dolphins have recently been caught with one hand in the Rooney Rule cookie jar and the other in the tampering cookie jar.
So it would make sense for the league both to slam the door on the plan, and also to speak nothing of it.
Regardless of how or why it happened, the Saints had a chance to get something now for Payton, and the Saints chose not to take it. Maybe, in the coming days, more will surface as to why it didn’t happen.
Constantgin
Norm Smith Medallist
Constantgin
Norm Smith Medallist
Mike is just a different sort of guy
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Comes across like a stoner fantasy regular who won the lottery to be a HC. Like a big kid, a Giovani who got the chance to sit in with Rich Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah on the NFLN.
I wont judge him tho till I see his product on the field.
I wont judge him tho till I see his product on the field.
Constantgin
Norm Smith Medallist
He really does. Very honest with his answers even if they don't make much sense.
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He never answered either question, just babbled on about stuff with weird incoherent analogies. Players are gonna zone out on him in the meeting rooms
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Constantgin
Norm Smith Medallist
Mostert is quality just can’t stay healthy hopeful a change of scenery changes that
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Next ...Jeff Wilson Jr
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A11dAtP0w3R
Dumpster Fire Diver
- Oct 18, 2013
- 96,469
- 142,240
- AFL Club
- Melbourne
- Other Teams
- Carolina Panthers
Miami signed LT Terron Armstead, formerly of the Saints, to a five-year, $75 million contract.
The stud left tackle can propel his contract to an $87.5 million valuation through incentives. His deal also includes $43.4 million in guarantees. Armstead was the crown jewel of the free agency class as far as offensive linemen were concerned. He missed nine games last year because of a knee issue but entered the 2021 season coming off three consecutive Pro Bowl nods. The Dolphins' primarily objective this offseason was to overhaul their dreadful line and the addition of Armstead isn't the first step. They also added left guard Connor Williams earlier in free agency. Pro Football Focus ranked the Dolphins' line as the worst unit in the league last year and charted them as allowing more pressure than any other group. The signings greatly improve the outlooks of Tua Tagovailoa and the backfield. Spearheaded by Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert, expect the Dolphins to finish better than their placement of No. 31 in yards per carry as a team.
