Per an article by Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, and confirmed by reports from other news services as well, the asking price for the services of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills isn’t inching upwards; it’s exploding.

Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com has reported that the Philadelphia Eagles are one team that is definitely interested in Stills, and that a contract offer may be forthcoming that is in excess of $12 million per year.

While that price may initially seem too steep for the Dolphins to match, it would be wise to remember that the reported numbers in free agent contracts rarely match what is actually paid out over the course of that contract. Signing bonuses and guaranteed money often skew the average salary number that get reported, especially when considering that the largest salary cap hits typically fall in the last half of a player’s contract.

An example of a back-loaded contract for comparison purposes is the contract signed last year by Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin. Reported as a four year, $46 million deal with an average of $11.5 million per year, the Seahawks will only pay Baldwin about $28 million in the first three years of that deal ($9.3 million/average), and then could cut him or renegotiate the contract to bring the remaining numbers down. This is typical of a lot of NFL contracts; players rarely see the money in the last two years of their deals, unless they notably outplay their contract.

The Dolphins could take a similar approach. In fact, it’s been the approach for several years now in Miami. While they have publicly stated that they want to retain Stills, they realize that he will be in demand as a soon-to-be 25-year-old free agent, and they won’t stand in his way as he explores his options in the open market.

That’s only fair.

While the Dolphins will likely not be able to match the offers that Stills receives, they do have a few things going for them. For one, Stills likes playing for Miami. He loves head coach Adam Gase, and has thrived in Gase’s offensive system. And he has a great rapport with quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Those are just a few of the unknowns that Stills will have to address if he chooses to play for another team. If money and contract numbers are what he is after, he will most likely make more money playing for another team.

But if production, a familiar work environment, and the security of knowing how he fits with his offense and teammates is more important, Stills could choose to take (slightly) less money to stay with the Dolphins.

And while the overall value of the contract may appear to be less than an offer from another team, the money that Stills would receive upfront and in the form of guaranteed money will likely be very close. And that means that ultimately, cash will not likely be the deciding factor upon which Stills bases his decision.

The Dolphins front office personnel are in Indianapolis this week for the NFL combine, and will be evaluating talent for the upcoming draft. But rest assured they will be monitoring the status of their speedy young wide receiver, and doing their part to assure they are fiscally prudent in trying to retain his services.

And if the Dolphins lose Stills to another team? The Dolphins have two young wide receivers in the wings, Rashawn Scott and Leonte Carroo, who will need to step up and fill that spot. While neither player possesses Still’s downfield speed, Adam Gase has shown that he is adept at molding his offense to suit the skills of the players he has at his disposal.

This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball

When the Miami Dolphins were seemingly free-wheeling away draft picks in last year’s NFL draft, some fans, this writer included, were more than a little upset to see the team trade away their third and fourth round draft picks in order to recoup a third round pick, previously traded away to move up four spots in the second round to draft cornerback Xavien Howard, and then use that pick on wide receiver Leonte Carroo.

(Howard turned out well, working his way into the starting rotation in the defensive backfield and improving towards the end of an injury-shortened rookie season. Carroo finished the season inactive for three straight games.)

Those picks were valuable, especially in the upcoming draft that is rich in talent at positions in which the Dolphins are in need.

Apparently vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum had a madness to his methods, as he was relying on the league awarding the Dolphins at least two compensatory picks in this year’s draft.

And that gamble appears to have come to fruition. The Dolphins, who entered this week without a third, fourth, or seventh round pick, were awarded three compensatory picks, part of a total of 32 compensatory choices awarded to 16 teams in the 2017 NFL Draft. 

Under the rules for compensatory draft selections, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks. The compensatory picks are positioned at the end of the third through seventh rounds based on the value of the compensatory free agents lost.

Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors.  The formula was developed by the NFL Management Council.  Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula.

The Dolphins were awarded the highest pick available, a third rounder (97th overall), as compensation for letting defensive end Olivier Vernon leave in free agency last year.

The team was also awarded two compensatory picks at the end of the fifth round (180th and 186th overall) for losing running back Lamar Miller and wide receiver Rishard Matthews.

The Dolphins will have the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the upcoming draft, being help April 27-29 in Philadelphia. Their overall draft positions as as follows.

First round (22nd overall)
Second round (54th overall)
Compensatory pick at end of third round (97th overall)
Fifth round (166th overall)
Compensatory pick at end of fifth round (180th overall)
Compensatory pick at end of fifth round (186th overall)
Sixth round (206th overall)

The team currently holds a seventh round pick (240th overall) that will be traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars when the league's free agency period opens on March 9th in exchange for tight end Julius Thomas. 

​This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball

On this episode of PhinManiacs Live, Luis, Chad and Ron discuss the recent roster moves made by the Miami Dolphins and what this could mean for the future.

Also part of the discussion is the inevitable contract negotiations with Kenny Stills and Andre Branch, and the danger involved with giving players a lot of guaranteed money.

Finally the trio will discuss the trade made by Mike Tannenbaum to bring Pro Bowl tight end Julius Thomas to Miami.

If you have anything you'd like to hear us talk about, make sure to let us know here or on our Facebook, Twitter or YouTube, and if you'd like to download and listen on the go, you can download it on iTunes, Stitcher and SoundCloud.

Wheeling and dealing is probably what Dolphins Executive VP of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum is best known for. In the past, he's facilitated trades that have both helped and hindered his team, and his most notable move with Miami was trading for cornerback Byron Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso while simultaneously trading back in the draft.

The move was initially met with a lot of anger as it put the Dolphins out of the top ten in the first round, but it all worked out as Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil dropped due to a last-minute scandal, and now the young man is set to become the team's franchise left tackle starting in 2017.

But now Tannenbaum has made another trade, which while in the works, left fans with a lot of fear over what the former Jets GM was planning.

Now, however, Twitter seems to be in favor of the trade in an overwhelming fashion. For only a mere seventh round pick, the Dolphins will be getting former Pro Bowl TE Julius Thomas from the Jacksonville Jaguars, and not only that, it will be at a lowered price tag.

The price cut has yet to be announced, but in reality this is a player for player trade, as come March 9th, Branden Albert will be traded to the Jaguars for a 2018 seventh round draft pick, essentially making it that Miami's seventh will merely be delayed a year.

So with that in mind, here's just a few of the responses Twitter gave in reaction to the incoming tight end.

Obviously, what makes this trade so palatable is the fact that Thomas is well-acquainted with Adam Gase. It was actually Thomas who convinced Jordan Cameron to take a pay cut in order to stay in Miami to play for him. Unfortunately for Cameron, another concussion shut down any hopes of him revitalizing his career with Gase.

Now however, Thomas will be taking his own pay cut after his two-year stint with the Jaguars with Blake Bortles as his quarterback led to some less than ideal production; with his injuries stacked on top of that, it was clear a change of scenery was required.

The number of seventh round picks that actually pan out in the NFL is slim, and for Tannenbaum to get a proven player that the team's head coach knows how to utilize for that measly draft pick is an instant boost to the offense.

Perhaps that's why - for once - no one seems too alarmed by Tannenbaum's overall willingness to use draft picks as currency...just so long as he doesn't make it a habit.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung
Poll was made by Ian Berger. Twitter: @ian693

Donald Trump - President of the United States.

Adam Gase - Head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

Not many people would look at these two men and see similarities between the two, unless you count the endless number of internet memes that have been made with them as the inspiration. But surprisingly enough, both men actually have a lot more in common with each other than you may realize.

There's no doubt that Donald Trump likes to do things his way, and that it's his way or the highway. Either get on board with what he wants to do, or get out of the way. That is precisely the type of attitude that Adam Gase brought to the Miami Dolphins this past offseason.

With the end of the Joe Philbin era, a new era began, one with a head coach who wanted to do things his way and redo all of the current policies in place and morph them until they matched what he envisioned. When players decided to not give it their all at all times or just simply weren't good enough for the task at hand (Mario Williams or Dallas Thomas for instance), you were benched or removed, no questions asked.

Now while the results of Donald Trump's attitude towards running things are still up for debate, there's no denying that Adam Gase's approach to running the Dolphins led to a massive amount of improvement, including in the ultimate category, which is wins and losses.

After spending the last three seasons going 7-9, 8-8 and 6-10, Gase came in and decided to stop trying to make the players fit the scheme, and shifted towards fitting the scheme to the players at his disposal. This led to a nearly unanimous buy-in from his players, and led to Miami 10-6 season and their first playoff appearance in eight years.

It was a complete 180 in terms of team philosophy and culture, very similar to what Donald Trump is doing in the United States right this moment. In this particular case, however, there's no questioning that Gase's decisions have led to a swift turnaround for the once mediocre and ultimately irrelevant Dolphins team.

Then there's Trump's current favorite pastime, calling out the media for being liars and ultimately being wrong in their evaluations of situations, much to the chagrin of journalists everywhere who swear that all they are doing is merely attempting to hold the President accountable for what he says. But whether the media is right or wrong, Trump just stares them in the face and uses a term that most journalists would find derogatory and insulting.

"You are fake news."

Like Trump, as everyone no doubt remembers (and thoroughly enjoyed I'm sure), Gase made very similar statements to beat writers covering the team and made no attempts to hide his displeasure with speaking to the media whenever it was mandated, and he never thought twice before voicing his thoughts when he felt that the media had made a mistake in their evaluations.

The low-key feud between Gase and longtime Miami Herald columnist Armando Salguero during the offseason and training camp has been well-documented. Salguero asked Gase on several different occasions about Miami's apparent predicament at cornerback, as it seemed that the players just couldn't seem to keep up with the likes of Kenny Stills, Jarvis Landry or even DeVante Parker in practice, and rookie cornerback Xavien Howard's knee injury meant that the team was but one injury away from being in serious trouble in the secondary.

Salguero even argued that the Dolphins already were in trouble, since Brent Grimes (along with his overly-outspoken wife Miko) departed to Tampa Bay in the offseason, and the only proven starting caliber corner was former Seahawks and Eagles cornerback Byron Maxwell, and the man alongside him was a second-year player in Tony Lippett who was primarily a wide receiver in college.

On the surface, all these concerns were valid.

Gase reached a point where he got tired of being asked about it, and all but told Salguero that he was incorrect in his evaluation of the situation.

In the end, Lippett held his own and it was Maxwell who actually required time to snap out of a funk rather than Lippett. So while Salguero turned out to be correct by season's end thanks to the numerous injuries that the secondary suffered from, Gase was also correct in questioning the talent evaluation of the media.

Lippett, Maxwell and Howard all did fairly well in their time on the field, and now both Lippett and Howard have another year of experience under their belts to build on for the next season.

And of course, let's not forget that moment when Adam Gase called out the entire media in one go for their - in his opinion - mistaken evaluation of Ryan Tannehill's growth and skill level, as well as his alleged inability to throw the deep ball and step up when it counts in the fourth quarter.

Gase looked the gathered media members straight in the eye and essentially called them "fake news," albeit with a lot more care for what words he used, though it wasn't any less snarky.

“Again, he hasn’t done anything to show me that he can’t do things in the fourth quarter.” he said in late November of last year. “What your experiences are and what my experiences have been have been completely two different things. I guess when we get in the fourth quarter and it’s a close game, I feel confident. Between him being able to play in the fourth quarter and the deep balls, I’m kind of questioning your guys’ evaluation skills right now. I’m just glad you’re not in personnel.”

Once again, Gase was ultimately proven right in his criticism of the media, as Tannehill put together arguably his best season ever, looking smoother and more comfortable than he has in any of his previous seasons, and most importantly - once again - going 10-6 and making the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Granted, it was Matt Moore who played the last three regular season games and the playoff game against the Steelers after Tannehill suffered a season-ending knee injury after Cardinals' defensive lineman Calais Campbell fell into him, but the point remains.

Gase called out the media, and in this case, it was the right call.

Depending on your political persuasion, this comparison of the Dolphins' head coach to the current President of the United States will either be something you agree on with a smile, or a frown. But these are no "alternative facts," these are documented events that took place that - like it or not - indicate that Adam Gase and Donald Trump are a lot more similar than one would imagine.

He has refused to listen to what other people attempt to tell him, relying on his own judgment and his own skills of evaluation. His decisions have overruled the clamors of fans, and in the end this turned out to be the correct decision to make.

One can only hope that Gase will continue to make the Dolphins great again, a sentiment that no Dolphins fan - Republican or Democrat - would even think of opposing.

This column was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

In December, when Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell came crashing down into Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s left knee, Dolphins fans cringed.

It looked bad.

And when Tannehill didn’t pop right back up, as he always has after so many big hits in his still-young career, most thought for sure he’d torn his ACL, and would out of action for as long as a year. Postgame comments indicated as much, but surprisingly, an MRI the next day revealed only a grade 2 sprain of the left MCL and a partially-torn ACL, still serious injuries in football terms, but with a far shorter timetable for return.

And the Memes and jokes about Tannehill being made from steel erupted, many referencing the fact that Ryan and Lauren’s first child is actually named Steel.

Well, those comments are enjoying a resurgence today, as Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald first reported that Tannehill has received clearance from team physician Dr. John Uribe with a clean bill of health and can fully participate in the team’s offseason workouts beginning in April.

Because injuries that involve the ACL can sometimes lead to a weakened knee structure, leaving players susceptible to further injury, Tannehill sought a second opinion from noted knee surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Dr. Andrews concurred with the prognosis, and Tannehill is free to participate as the team sees fit from this point on.

Tannehill was told that a rigorous workout regimen would be as effective as surgery, and he spent two months steadfastly working and rehabbing his knee. The regimen concluded a few weeks ago, and further tests have determined that the healing process has been a success.

Tannehill is being fitted for a brace that he will wear throughout the 2017 season, and possibly beyond, but the Dolphins are reporting that the brace is strictly a preventative tool – Tannehill’s knee is stable without it, and his mobility is not expected to be affected.

Good news indeed for the team and fans alike. Now if the memes could just get a bit more creative…

​This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball.

With free agency looming, names are being thrown around to replenish the Miami Dolphins roster for the 2017 season. One name that Miami has recently been connected to is impending Ravens free agent nose tackle Brandon Williams, who is well-known for his ability to stuff the run, something which the Dolphins struggled mightily with this past season.

Williams will be looking for his first major paycheck since being drafted in the third round by the Baltimore Ravens back in 2013, but the biggest thing going against Williams is his age.

Despite being the anchor of the Ravens' defensive line, racking up 96 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in his four seasons, Baltimore's star nose tackle is already 28 years old despite only being in the league for four years, and any long term deal will end with him already in his early 30s.

This means that Williams will be looking to cash in while he still can, and money will go a long way in luring him to another team, provided of course the Ravens don't simply place the franchise tag on him to ensure he doesn't leave Baltimore. Doing so however would cripple their cap situation and make moves in the offseason very difficult, so unless they can work out a good deal for both sides, the Ravens will have to make a hard decision.

As for the Dolphins, they already have a lot of money invested in their defensive line with All-Pro DT Ndamukong Suh set to count for $19.1 million against the cap in 2017, which according to Spotrac is over 10% of their overall cap space. Nevertheless, having Williams - who played over 65% of the Ravens' defensive snaps over the past two seasons - would do wonders for Miami's run defense if they intend to continue utilizing the Wide-9 technique to improve pass rushing.

Thankfully for the Dolphins, Williams isn't only looking for the team who intends to throw the most money at him. He's also looking out for an overall fit and - most importantly - a comfortable place for his family to live and thrive.

“If it so happens where I just feel like, ‘you know what, Baltimore is the best place for me,’ then I’ll stay and we’ll work it out from there.” he said recently on SiriusXM radio. “If not and I see somewhere else and I just feel it’s … [and] that’s where I need to be, then that’s where I’ll be. But right now it’s just up in the air.

“It’s about money obviously, but it’s not really that much about money,” Williams continued. “It’s about where I feel the most comfortable and where I feel like my family will feel the most comfortable. It all comes down to me taking care of my family for the long term and taking care of my kids for the long haul.”

Williams has two children in school in Baltimore, and according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, the star NT is also active in his local community, which means leaving the Ravens would be uprooting his family and removing the impact he makes there.

Nevertheless, if there's one thing that should never be dismissed, it's the Dolphins' penchant for making a big splash during the offseason, and signing Williams would definitely qualify as such. NFL.com's Ian Rapaport expects Miami to be active in free agency and also connected Williams to the the franchise, and there should be no doubt that Mike Tannenbaum will look into seeing what it will take to lure arguably the best run-stuffing interior lineman to pair with Suh.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

After a lot of confusing back and forth regarding whether or not Julius Thomas would be moving to a new team or not, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald finally confirmed that the Miami Dolphins would indeed be acquiring the two-time Pro Bowler via trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for an undisclosed late-round pick for the 2017 draft.

The trade cannot be made official until March 9th.

This trade is unrelated to left tackle Branden Albert, and despite this already completed trade, the two franchises are still discussing swapping Albert for a late round pick in 2018.

Thomas, 28, has - according to reports - taken a 'significant' pay cut to go to Miami and play under head coach Adam Gase, who was his offensive coordinator back during his days in Denver and was a big reason he was able to make a name for himself and earn a big contract from the Jaguars back in 2015.

Unfortunately, Thomas never lived up to the 5-year, $46 million dollar deal he received, as injuries to both his hand and his back kept him out of games in his two years in Jacksonville, and he's since earned a reputation of being injury prone, making the need to restructure his deal even more imperative.

According to Salguero's report, there were other teams attempting to join the trade talks with the Jaguars, but ultimately it was Thomas who chose to go play with the Dolphins and reunite with Adam Gase despite the pay cut; he will have the opportunity to earn some of the money he's lost back through incentives.

He was originally signed through 2019, and was slated to count for $8.3 million against the cap this coming season, $9.8 million in 2018 and $10.3 million in 2019.

Thomas is clearly confident he can earn that money back thanks to the success he had under Gase during his time with the Denver Broncos.

Now Miami can focus on re-signing their own players, which will go a long way in maintaining the offensive success the Dolphins had last season. Ryan Tannehill is certainly no Peyton Manning, but he also isn't as bad as Jacksonville's Blake Bortles. Tannehill will surely appreciate Thomas' red zone presence, and Gase will appreciate having another player he knows exactly how to handle.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Last week, the Miami Dolphins announced that they were parting ways with left tackle Branden Albert, a move that was expected, given that the team intends to move last year’s first round draft pick Laremy Tunsil to his natural left tackle position.

But later the same day, the Dolphins heard from a team that likely would have been a long shot in a free agency bidding war for Albert’s services. The Jaguars inquired about a trade for Albert, a move that would ensure they’d improve their starting left tackle spot, and piqued the Dolphins interest, if only because now they were being offered something for a player they were willing to cut outright.

Initial rumors were that the Jaguars were offering tight end Julius Thomas, who enjoyed back to back Pro Bowl seasons playing under current Dolphins head coach Adam Gase, then the Denver Broncos offensive coordinator in Denver in 2013-14.

It sounded almost too good to be true.

And it turns out that may well be the case.

The key points to that trade involved the Jaguars agreeing to a new contract with Albert, who would be in line for a raise should he reach the open market. So Miami gave Jacksonville permission to negotiate on that front, and word is that good progress was made.

On the Dolphins end, the team wanted to renegotiate Thomas’ deal, which he signed after posting back to back Pro Bowl and first team All Pro seasons while snagging 108 catches for 1277 yards and 24 touchdowns in Denver.

The remaining three years of that contract will pay Thomas $8.3 million in 2017, $9.8 million in 2018, and $10.3 million in 2019, with $6.6 million of that guaranteed. Those are steep numbers for a tight end that has missed 11 games in the past two years to injury, and totaled just 76 catches for 736 yards and 9 touchdowns for Jacksonville.

And this week we’ve learned thanks to the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero that those numbers are indeed a sticking point in the trade negotiations, as for the moment, Thomas’ representatives have balked at negotiations, and the Dolphins and Jaguars are instead looking at draft pick compensation for Albert.

No trades can be finalized until the start of the NFL’s league year on March 9, so the possibility remain that the Dolphins could still work out a deal that includes Thomas. But with limited salary cap resources, it appears the Dolphins aren’t overly keen on spending a large chunk of that cap money on a tight end when the upcoming draft is considered to be very loaded at that position.

For now, the rumored trade would include a late-round draft pick for the Dolphins. That isn’t going to excite many fans, but remember, the team was ready to part with Albert outright, so getting anything in return has to be considered a win. But those expectations may need to be lowered for the interim as the two teams continue to hammer out a deal.

This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball

The Miami Dolphins have ensured that star pass rusher Cameron Wake will remain with the team for at least the foreseeable future. On Saturday afternoon, Wake signed a contract extension that will have him wearing aqua and orange through at least the 2018 season.

Wake, 35, posted an image of a black pen on his Twitter account shortly before the announcement was made by the franchise. The extension - as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter - is for two years and includes $19 million dollars with over $11 million guaranteed.

There were questions regarding whether or not Wake would even be half the player he was after he suffered an achilles tear back in 2015. With his advanced age and the nature of the injury, speculation was rampant that Wake's best option would be retirement.

Instead, Wake had another fantastic season coming off the injury, playing in all 16 games in 2016, some of which were in a backup or third down pass rusher role, and he still accumulated 11.5 sacks and 22 tackles. He also notched his first career interception against the New York Jets, made his fifth career Pro Bowl appearance, and got heavy consideration for the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award. 

Executive VP of Football Operation Mike Tannenbaum has stated that the top priority this offseason would be re-signing their own players. Starting with arguably the biggest name and one of the most respected leaders on the franchise is an excellent start, and will hopefully set the tone for future negotiations with other players.

Seeing one of their leaders get taken care of brings up morale in the locker room, and with any luck, it will make players more willing to negotiate in contract talks. Other players who still need new deals include wide receiver Kenny Stills and defensive end Andre Branch.

Wide receiver Jarvis Landry and safety Reshad Jones are also nearing the end of their contracts. Jones in particular made waves last offseason when he sat out of OTAs to make it clear he wanted to work out a new deal.

Wake is looked up to in Miami by his teammates and the fans alike, and he's the franchise's second place sack leader with 81.5 sacks. Only recent Hall of Fame inductee Jason Taylor has more in Dolphins history, accumulating 139.5 in his career, 131 of them coming during his Miami tenures. Though it should be noted that Taylor himself recently admitted that Wake is a better pass rusher than he was.

​With Wake back for two more years, now the Dolphins will get to focus on bringing back other players that need re-signing. Hopefully, seeing one of their best leaders taken care of will set the tone for future negotiations.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

After the lock out ended in 2011 and the players got back to work in a very shortened offseason, the NFLPA was feeling victorious. But all we heard about for months was money, money, money.

​When the players took the field, they hadn’t missed a paycheck and they all probably thought they’d signed a deal that gave them a bit more in their pocket, especially for the veteran players.

However, after just a few years into the new CBA the players were starting to get buyer’s remorse. They did get the cap on first round rookie contracts they were hoping for, but that didn’t end up paying off for most veteran players.

Yes, we have seen the top free agents benefit from an increased salary cap and less going to rookies but the rest of the vets, especially those in their 30s, haven’t seen much of that money. Many of them competing with cheaper rookies and signing a lot of one-year and pretend two-year show me contracts.

Now that’s just the money side of it. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the owners were also able to pull off a series of ruses along the way. Let’s just start with the lockout itself. Automatically putting pressure on minimum salary players, many of whom live just to their means and could struggle to pay the bills without a paycheck.

The NFL operated on the concept that these players would start to put pressure on the NFLPA and the more established veteran players to get a deal done before the start of the season.

The slickest maneuver of all was the so-called perks the players received as part of the new CBA. Things like less padded practices and no more two-a-days. These were probably the best moves by the owners. 

In essence they gave up nothing.

These are more inconveniences for the coaches, who have no part of the NFL CBA. Also, in many pundits' opinions, they have also been a disadvantage to players as well. Especially to the development of younger players. 

This brings us to the buildup for the next CBA. Although it’s still years away, Roger Goodell and the owners have already started setting up the players for another bad deal. They are brilliantly laying the ground work for fighting on their terms and baiting the players into pushing for things in the next CBA that won’t put a penny in their pocket. 

The first and biggest is likely to be Roger Goodell and his power. There has hardly been a week or month that goes by whether during the season or offseason that this has not been a topic of conversation. Players feel Roger Goodell abuses and pushes his power, the players signed off on, to the limit and possibly past the limit afforded him by the CBA.

The NFLPA will work the hardest to make changes here. The NFL will pretend to resist but in the end a compromise will be made likely in the form of some kind of committee, much like the one created for on field issues. Goodell may not love his loss of power but his continued paycheck will.

Another topic which will likely be high, no pun intended, on the players' list will be marijuana. Many states have either made medical marijuana legal or legalized marijuana for recreational use. However, it is still against federal law so allowing players to openly smoke marijuana as if it were alcohol isn’t likely.

So, the fight will likely be in the realm of testing and punishment. The NFL could simply increase the number of positive tests it takes for punishment. Not punish at all but keep players in a cycle of “treatment” etc. They could decide to test only in season or not test at all. There are many legal actions the NFL could make and the NFLPA will fight for any and all of them.

The franchise tag has become another issue the players have become less content with year after year. The players don’t like the danger it presents to them. Suffer a major injury while you’re on the franchise tag and you could lose millions. But how hard will the NFL really fight to keep the tag? Teams seem to dislike it as much as the players do, usually attempting to sign the player to long term deals by the deadline to avoid it all together.

The owners are likely indifferent on this. The percentage they give out depends mostly on salary cap and floor. Eliminate or make major changes to the tag is another carrot the NFL is sure to dangle in front of the NFLPA when the time comes.

It’s clear to see the NFL will continue to allow the players to put issues to the forefront that do not actually put money in their pocket and keeps it in the bank accounts of the world’s most prestigious billionaire’s club.

Will the players fall for it again just to regret signing yet another CBA because they just weren’t keeping their eyes on the big picture? We still have awhile before we see but it’s obvious where it may all be headed.

This column was written by Ron Canniff. Follow him on Twitter: @FinsBroadcaster

One thing that is being under-reported in the Miami Dolphins decision to hold onto left tackle Branden Albert as they work the phones for a trade partner: the Dolphins aren’t doing Albert any favors in this situation.

Albert may be 32, but he’s still a very good starting left tackle in the NFL, arguably the best available at his position if he were to become a free agent. As such, he would likely be able to pick the team he wants to play for, command top dollar in the open market, and would be in line for a very rich contract including guarantees.

Instead, things get complicated.

Because he remains on Miami’s roster, and because any trade deals cannot be finalized until the start of the NFL’s free agency period which begins March 9, Albert is unable to shop his services in the first wave of free agency. By the time March 9th rolls around, most teams will have already made their moves for the top players in the market, and the big money contracts that come with those moves will be drying up.

If a trade never materializes prior to the NFL draft in April, the Dolphins could still end up releasing Albert outright, leaving him to search for a contract in the second wave of free agency, a wave that sees smaller contracts, smaller signing bonuses, and smaller guarantees.

Even if a trade does happen, the team that acquires Albert will likely face renegotiating Albert’s contract, as none of the remaining two years of his current contract include any guaranteed money. Those renegotiations will very likely not come close to the money that Albert could have demanded in the open free agency market.

It appears that when the Dolphins were ready to release Albert, they received a call from at least one team expressing interest in Albert. Given Albert’s age and experience, if he had the chance to pick where he wants to play this year, he’d pick a team that has a solid shot for the playoffs, and can at least be in the conversation as a championship contender.

And there are contending teams out there that need a left tackle - Seattle for one, Denver on a lesser scale. And given head coach Adam Gase’s ties to folks in Denver, they could well be in play for Albert’s services. But Denver would likely be willing to compete for Albert’s services on the open market, and they'd have a good chance of signing him outright, which dims the prospect that they are in play in this particular picture.

Think about it, it is not much of a reach to assume that the interested team is not in position to woo Albert to come to their team as a free agent. Most likely the team calling Miami is one that would very likely lose out to more attractive situations suiting a left tackle that wants to play for a contender.

An up and coming team. A rebuilding team. Not a team Albert would choose on his own.

And rather than take their chances on being able to attract a top-notch talent to their team, they called Miami and asked for a chance to offer the Dolphins something for him. A win-win situation, right? The Dolphins get something for a player they were willing to cut outright. And the offering team gets a starting left tackle.

And that’s where the complications come into play.

The Dolphins were willing to cut Albert outright, leading to the prevailing thought that whatever compensation might be offered would be minimal, possibly a mid-to-late round draft pick, even a conditional 2018 draft pick, based on Albert’s playing time and performance in 2017.

On the other hand, the offering team is getting a starting left tackle that they’d otherwise likely have no chance of signing in free agency. And that would theoretically drive the price higher, which is why players such as Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas (who previously played under Gase) have entered the rumor mill.

Coming back to the lead paragraph in this article, the one party that is getting the short end of this suddenly - and overly-complicated - deal is Albert. He’s sitting on the roster of a team that no longer desires his services, he has no choice of which team he may end up with, and in the end will lose out on riches he’d otherwise have made in a free market situation.

Proving once again that the business side of the NFL is indeed a cold, cold world.

This column was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball

When they say the weeks leading up to free agency and the NFL draft are ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ season, they aren’t kidding.

After announcing early Thursday morning that left tackle Branden Albert had been waived by the team, the Miami Dolphins, and had even gone so far as to contact Albert and his agents to inform him so, the team had second thoughts as the day progressed. And as the 4:00PM deadline for reporting transactions approached, the Dolphins have reversed course and decided they’ll hang onto Albert after all. They have not submitted the transaction to the league offices.

For now.

The Dolphins had previously made it clear that they plan to move second year lineman Laremy Tunsil into Albert’s left tackle spot. That is still the plan. But after the announcement of Albert’s pending released was made, apparently several teams began showing interest in the Pro Bowl tackle. And so the Dolphins decided to hang onto him in hopes of getting something in trade.

The main difference for Albert in this scenario is that as a free agent, he could sign with whomever he wanted, and would likely command a bidding war for his services. Would it approach the 5-year, $47 million contract he signed with Miami? It might actually surpass that in today’s market.

In a trade, the team acquiring Albert would also acquire the remainder of his contract, which for a starting left tackle is a very affordable $8.9 million in 2017. And Albert would have input in the trade, making sure he is going to a team that he is comfortable playing for.

There is also a possibility that the acquiring team would absorb more of Albert’s salary, freeing up dead cap space for Miami.

And on yet another a possibly related note, this news of the Dolphins retaining Albert comes on the heels of Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald reporting that the Dolphins may look at trading for defensive backfield help, opening the possibility that Albert may be part of those trade rumors as well.

Ah, Dolphins Twitter – it never rests! Stay tuned!

​This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball

The consensus Twitter reaction to the Miami Dolphins cutting defensive linemen Earl Mitchell and Mario Williams, along with trading offensive tackle Branden Albert seems to be:

“Whooooo!”

“Whooo Hooooooooo!”

“Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”

But hold on there, pardner. While all three moves were expected as the Dolphins pare down their salary cap commitments and prepare for the start of free agency on March 9, these moves do not come without repercussions, and the savings will not all be going towards free agency signings.

In letting Branden Albert go (rumors of trades are in the works), the obvious message is that second-year lineman Laremy Tunsil will move into the left tackle spot, his natural position. That’s all well and good, but who fills in at left guard now? The only other lineman on the roster with any significant time at guard is Jermon Bushrod, who as it turns out was one of the lowest-rated guards in the league last season.

It’s no secret that the team will likely turn to free agency to fill that spot, with former Cincinnati Bengal Kevin Zeitler looking like the front runner, at least on the Dolphins fan front, although former Dallas Cowboy Ronald Leary is a more natural fit on the left side (Zeitler has only played at right guard). Don’t be surprised if the Dolphins sign an additional guard later on after the first wave of free agency and the draft.

The release of Williams doesn’t create a roster hole, as he was outplayed by Andre Branch last season. Branch will fill that spot going forward, although the Dolphins are rumored to have defensive edge player on their draft wish list as well.

Mitchell will likely be replaced by Jordan Phillips, although depth will be needed at that position.

But beyond the roster, the main reason behind these moves was to free up space under the salary cap. The Dolphins now have an additional $19.7 million in salary cap space, possibly more if Albert's salary is fully absorbed by another team. The Dolphins are now projected to be more than $50 million under the cap with a few more cuts still expected.

And that gives the Dolphins a few options as free agency approaches. The Dolphins will be active in the offensive lineman market, but they’ll also turn some attention to trying to retain keep their own talent.

Wide receiver Kenny Stills is a free agent, and while the Dolphins have made it known that they do want to re-sign Stills, they won’t stand in the way of the 24-year-old testing the waters for his first big free agent contract. As long as the price doesn’t become exorbitant, a portion of the cap is expected to be allotted to keeping Stills in house.

And speaking of in house talent, the Dolphins will need to save a significant portion of their cap savings for restructuring and extending two very important keystones, one on each side of the ball. Wide receiver Jarvis Landry and safety Reshad Jones will be entering the final years of their contracts this season, and both need to be extended now to avoid some major financial headaches down the road.

Those three contracts (Jones, Stills, Landry) could well take up nearly $30 million of the available cap space. It will also cost about $10 million to sign the Dolphins 2017 draft class, so that money needs to be set aside for now as well.

So in summary, while the Dolphins have freed up significant cap space to allow them to be active in free agency, fans should temper their expectations and not expect the big-contract splashes of years past. The team should be active early on in filling their two most pressing needs at linebacker and offensive lineman, but with finite resources, they will need to adjust to the demands of the market, and if the asking prices get too high, look towards other options.

​This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball

The Dolphins have officially started trimming the fat in preparation for the 2017 season, as Miami parted ways with defensive tackle Earl Mitchell and two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Branden Albert on Thursday. The early releases could potentially be a sign of respect and gratitude towards the players by letting them hit the market early.

​Mitchell, 29, played in 37 games for the Dolphins during his three-year stint, missing 11 due to various injuries, including a calf injury which he nursed for the majority of 2016 training camp. As a part of the defensive line rotation, he accumulated 73 tackles and only two sacks in Miami, making him expendable and not worth his $4.5 million dollar price tag.

By cutting the seven-year veteran, Miami saves $4 million in cap space with only $500,000 in dead cap.

This means that Jordan Phillips - entering his third season - becomes the default full-time starter alongside three-time All-Pro Ndamukong Suh, but the Dolphins will no doubt be scouring the open market for a replacement. Nick Fairley, who played with Suh in Detroit, could be a potential option if he and the New Orleans Saints can't agree on a long-term deal.

Albert, 32, started 12 games for the Dolphins in 2016 and spent a good amount of that time with a badly injured wrist. He would have been under contract for two more years, but after only playing in 35 games in his three seasons in Miami and never playing a full 16 games, the Dolphins decided to remove his cap hit and will be giving the left tackle to Laremy Tunsil, who fell to Miami in last year's draft and was set to become the Dolphins' franchise left tackle.

Ironically enough, Albert went out of his way to take Tunsil under his wing and groom him for the job he would one day be taking from him. He is a well-liked player in the locker room and a true leader, and though his presence on the field may not be missed due to Tunsil being an upgrade, the lack of his leadership will be felt.

Miami saves $7.2 million in cap space with Albert's release and takes on $3.4 million in dead cap. If the Dolphins designate him as a post-June 1st cut, Miami will instead save $8.9 million and only take on $1.7 in dead cap, which is the same amount they would take on had the Dolphins waited until 2018 to release him.

This move also means that Miami needs to look for two guards instead of just one. With veteran Jermon Bushrod a free agent and Tunsil moving over to take the left tackle position, Miami's interior offensive line is once again empty. There are several good options on the free agent market.

The inevitable has also happened, as defensive end Mario Williams was also released after his incredibly disappointing season, where both injuries and his overall lack of performance led to the 11-year veteran getting benched in favor of Andre Branch and even Terrence Fede at times.

Williams was signed to a two-year, $17 million dollar contract this past offseason to fill the void left by Olivier Vernon, who signed a massive contract with the New York Giants and left the Dolphins without a viable option opposite Cameron Wake.

Unfortunately, the move turned into a massive bust, as Williams took the money and ran with it. Defensive coordinator (at the time) Vance Joseph had to publicly call out Williams for not trying hard enough and it never bore fruit. Instead, Branch stepped up and took the opportunity to prove himself, which is why Miami may now need to pay a lot to keep him.

By releasing the 32-year old Williams, the Dolphins save $8.5 million and pick up only $2 million dead cap, making the move the ultimate no-brainer.

The final release is for cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, who was brought in last offseason to try and revitalize his career after injuries ruined his draft stock and led to his draft team (the Cleveland Browns) releasing him despite his potential before his initial injury.

Unfortunately, Ekpre-Olomu got injured again during training camp and was placed on waivers. After no one picked him up, he was placed on the Dolphins injured reserve and now he will again be hoping to get another chance due to how highly he was scouted back in 2015.

As a result of Thursday's moves, the Dolphins saved over $20 million in cap space and will be able to use it to either look into bringing in new players or re-signing their own, which Executive VP of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum claims is their main focus.

Players who need to be brought back include wide receiver Kenny Stills and defensive end Andre Branch, and they won't come cheap. Wide receiver Jarvis Landry and safety Reshad Jones also need to be extended to ensure their long-term presence on the team.

If the Dolphins are smart, they will use the newly-gained cap space to re-sign their own talent and make sure they can keep a rhythm going for the future. Letting talent leave has been a major issue over the past several seasons, and now would be an excellent time to try and change that.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

First reported by ESPN's Adam Caplan, the Miami Dolphins intend to hire former star defensive lineman Andre Carter to their coaching staff as an assistant DL coach. He will replace former assistant and pass rush specialist Jim Washburn, who retired from coaching after last season.

Carter, 37, was originally drafted by the San Francisco 49ers back in 2001, and he had stints with four different teams in his 13-year career, spending time with the Redskins, Raiders and Patriots before finally retiring after the 2013 season.

Over the course of his career, Carter accumulated a total of 80.5 sacks as a defensive end, racking up four double-digit sack seasons, and making his only career Pro Bowl in 2011 as a member of the Patriots. After retiring from the NFL, Carter joined the University of California's staff as a graduate assistant.

His job with the Dolphins will be the first time he'll coach in the NFL, and he will work under head defensive line coach Terrell Williams, who is entering his third season with the Dolphins after former DL coach Kacy Rodgers went to join Todd Bowles' staff with the New York Jets in 2015.

Carter will not be coming into Miami with an easy task ahead of him. He joins a Dolphins team that - due to several issues with personnel - only ranked 19th in the NFL with 33 total sacks and a miserable 30th against the run, giving up 140.4 rushing yards per game.

Cameron Wake will still be on the roster, as will former Marist standout Terrence Fede, but Miami's defensive line is about to lose a lot of players and it will need replenishing, meaning Carter will have to coach up some brand new players into new defensive coordinator Matt Burke's scheme, which will no doubt be similar to departed DC Vance Joseph's.

Defensive end Andre Branch is up for a big payday, and depending on what kind of contract he demands, he may be out of the Dolphins' price range. Former Bills star Mario Williams is also projected to be released as a cap casualty due to his uninspiring play in 2016.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

When playing Madden, I have always found the offseason portion of the game when you first get started to be the best part. You get to make trades, sign free agents and shape the roster of your favorite team to whatever you desire.

The job is much, much more difficult in real life.

Unlike in Madden, these players are real human beings, and there is no one controlling a player to make them the best player on the field at any given time, there is no reset button if things start to go sour, and there is definitely no take backs on draft picks. Whoever you draft - unless there's a trade - is the player you're stuck with.

This is the situation the Miami Dolphins will have to deal with in the 2017 offseason. There are players that need re-signing (Kenny Stills and Andre Branch most notably), players that need extensions (Jarvis Landry and Reshad Jones especially), and dead weight that needs cutting (Mario Williams).

But even then, there's an even bigger discussion to be had, even with free agency soon to open up and the annual turnover of veteran players to begin. Naturally, depending on what the Dolphins do in free agency, the current situation for their roster could change. As it stands, however, Miami has three truly pressing needs: Linebacker, defensive end, and offensive line.

The eternal debate when it comes to the draft always boils down to two different philosophies. Do you draft based on whoever is the best player available - regardless of his position, or do you opt to fill the glaring holes that are holding the team back from taking the next step?

In the past, Miami has used the first and second rounds to take the best player available, despite there being more pressing needs elsewhere on the roster. In the 2015 draft, their first and second round picks were used on a wide receiver (DeVante Parker) and a defensive tackle (Jordan Phillips).

Miami had extremely pressing needs at cornerback and linebacker, and had the opportunity to draft Marcus Peters (now an All-Pro CB for the Chiefs) in the first round, and Denzel Perryman (now with the Chargers) in the second round, but they traded back and lost the chance to pick him up.

Whether players pan or not largely depends on the coaching staff's ability to develop players, not just the raw talent of the player in question. That's why there are numerous players in the NFL who are drafted in the mid or even late rounds that are solid contributors or even stars.

In 2014, Miami chose need over BPA and drafted offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James out of Tennessee instead of a much more overall talented player in wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who went one pick later to the New Orleans Saints and is now one of QB Drew Brees' top weapons, putting together two straight 1,000 plus yard seasons.

James on the other hand had a down year at right tackle and has recently earned the wrath of Dolphins fans for his inconsistency and frequent penalties. I personally have said that James was the worst lineman on the team in 2016 for that very reason.

In 2013, it became about BPA once again, as the Dolphins traded all the way up from the 12th spot to 3rd overall to draft defensive end Dion Jordan out of Oregon, despite the presence of Cameron Wake, Olivier Vernon and Derrick Shelby at the same position.

They then addressed the need at cornerback in the second round by drafting injury-prone cornerback Jamar Taylor and undersized ballhawk Will Davis. Both players have since moved on to other teams. As for Dion Jordan, there's really no need to go deeper into that situation.

This is where the Dolphins have a very difficult situation ahead of them, as the debate once again rears its ugly head and makes them decide whether to pick the best player available - even at the risk of not getting their top guy to contribute due to a crowded roster - or picking a less talented prospect while addressing a glaring need.

James in 2014 was a need pick, Parker in 2015 and Jordan in 2013 were BPA picks. At this moment in time, two picks are still up for judgment and one has been a total bust.

Luckily for the Dolphins, need and BPA came together and fell in their laps in 2016, and Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil fell to them at 13th overall after someone Tunsil's Twitter account and posted a video of him smoking marijuana through a gas mask, causing teams to pass on him until Miami finally picked him up. Tunsil has already proven the Dolphins made a good choice.

But now - depending, of course, on the results of free agency, Miami's needs are not as pressing as they were in years past, and this is where the necessity to draft based on need comes back into play. Linebacker, defensive end, or offensive line. Those are the top three.

Cornerback is not a need because of the improved play of project player Tony Lippett, who showed that he has what it takes to be a solid corner in the NFL despite not having much experience. Rookie Xavien Howard had mixed results but did manage to shut down Brandon Marshall in the two teams' second meeting in 2016, showing his potential to be great is there. Veteran Byron Maxwell started slow but woke up later in the season; an ankle injury unfortunately kept him out for the remainder of the year.

Wide receiver is not a need because of the presence of Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker, and there's still a chance Kenny Stills could be retained making the need for a wide receiver even less. Add to that the development of Jakeem Grant and Leonte Carroo, and drafting a wide receiver becomes even more of a waste just based on roster space. If Miami drafted WR early, the chance he plays is slim unless he shows signs of being s superstar.

Quarterback is not a need early on because of Ryan Tannehill. A midround pick would be welcome to groom in the meantime, but drafting a QB high is only viable if Adam Gase suddenly decides that Tannehill won't cut it at QB, and there has been no sign that he feels that way.

Running back is not a need because of Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake. There is an abundance of extremely talented RBs in 2017's draft, but with Ajayi and Drake, finding a place in the rotation for a highly drafted RB would be a very awkward situation.

The positions that the Dolphins could safely invest in during the first round - once again - are linebacker, defensive end, or offensive line. If necessary, they could also look into safety and tight end. But even the last two aren't as big a need as the other three.

Miami made the playoffs in 2016 with some very obvious weaknesses. To get back there, those weaknesses must be addressed accordingly. That means the time has come to again draft based on need. If the needs get ignored again, it's very unlikely they will meet the same success.

It's such a simple concept, I struggle to understand why this is even a debate at all.

This column was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Kiko Alonso has been a player of derision for Dolphins Twitter. I think everyone thinks he is a good player or at the very least an above average player. The question is where to put him on the field next year.

A lot of people think he isn’t fit to being a middle linebacker because he has trouble with power offenses and will get blocked out of the play when teams run right at him. He also has questionable instincts that a middle linebacker needs. These concerns are true. Other people have concerns about him playing weakside linebacker. They will point out that Alonso has a problem with coverage. This is also true.

So with both of these camps having valid points on why Alonso shouldn’t play specific positions, why is he even on an NFL roster? The fact is he is a good football player. Alonso had a Pro Bowl type year. He had a great year because he has great sideline to sideline speed. He is excellent at blitzing. Blitzing linebackers are a pillar of this defense. Plus Alonso comes through in the clutch.

​Alonso needs to trust his instincts in the coverage. On this play, Alonso should read and react as soon as he sees the running back turning to catch the ball. Instead he hesitates and allows the running back to catch with space to run.

​Alonso does a great job of crashing the hole and taking on the fullback to disrupt the running back. 

​Alonso has great range. He sees the ball thrown to the wideout and speeds to the ball carrier to make a stop. 

​Alonso needs to work on staking and shedding his blocks. Seattle’s right guard is able to put him to the ground. Alonso should either take on the blocker or react quicker and avoid the blocker, but he can’t get bullied by the blocker. 

​Alonso shows good timing and quickness while blitzing on this play. He is able to deliver a jarring hit.

Alonso’s strength isn’t coverage. Here Alonso is covering Bennett, the first mistake is letting him inside, then Alonso bites on the juke move to the outside. Alonso shouldn’t bite on the outside. Let the receiver go outside. It is a harder throw plus there are other defenders as well as the sideline. 

​Alonso does a great job of hitting the hole and tripping up Blount from making a bigger gain. 

Alonso’s strength is blitzing. He has a knack for timing and a good burst. He demonstrates his blitzing ability on this play, though he doesn't get the sack. I feel when he brings pressure from the second level, like on this play, and not from the line of scrimmage he is a lot more successful. 

This play is another example of Alonso struggling with smash mouth power offense running games. This was very clear in the entire Titans game. Here the Titans run right at him. Alonso gets stuck on a blocker and can only make a play eight yards off the line of scrimmage.

​Alonso also gets aggressive sometimes and over commits to a hole. That gets him in trouble when RBs bounce runs outside. This play is an example of what I am talking about. 

Alonso looks lost in zone coverage. He struggles at finding his man while keeping his eyes on the QB.

​Here is an example of what happens when he doesn’t over commit to a hole. Murray tries to bounce outside, but Alonso stays where he is and is able to contribute to a stop. 

​Alonso does have a tendency to come through in the clutch. Here the game is tied and San Diego is almost in position to kick a game winning field goal. Alonso sees Rivers locked on Williams who is running a short slant route. Alonso makes a beautiful pick six to seal the deal. 

Once again the opposing team is in a position to score what would be a game tying touchdown. Kaepernick decides to run it in for the TD. Alonso and Suh cut him off and smears him before he is able to cross the goal line. Game Over.

This review was completed by Matthew Knowles. Follow him on Twitter: @blueflamespcl

We all have been touched by cancer in some form or another. Whether it's a personal experience, a close friend or family member, or happening to know someone who knows someone with cancer.

"When I was small, when I was probably about thirteen, fourteen, my childhood friend, he died of leukemia." said Dolphins cornerback Byron Maxwell. "It hits home, it hits home for me, I'm aware of it, it's an ugly disease. My pops just had it, got cleared of cancer a couple months ago. It hits everybody, no matter who you are or where you come from. You can't hide from it."

Truer words have never been spoken. Hiding from the reality of cancer is impossible. But, as the Miami Dolphins have proven over the past seven years, why hide from it when you can face it head on? That's why for the past seven years, the Dolphins Cancer Challenge has been dedicated to fighting against cancer with their annual bike ride and walk.

And in 2017, the DCC broke records with the number of participants, reaching over 4,000 cancer fighters who donated and gave it their all during their bike routes or the 5k run/walk.

Most were just your everyday individuals, but there were quite a few celebrity participants, not the least of which was owner Stephen Ross, who addressed the crowd before the start of his 14 mile ride alongside alumni participants Troy Drayton and Nat Moore, and Dolphins Senior VP of Communications and Community Affairs Jason Jenkins.

Even some of the celebrity riders had their own survivor stories to tell. Nascar driver Scott Lagasse Jr. is one of those riders, as he had a personal run-in with colon cancer back in 2015.

"Your mind runs pretty quick into weird places it's never been," Lagasse said of the emotions that come with finding out you have cancer. "As a Nascar driver, you don't think about death or injury or any of that kind of stuff. So I started to worry about those around me, there's a lot who are affected by me and by what I'm doing, so you got employees and family members, you start to look at things you've never looked at before and get life insurance in place, all the things you don't really wanna get in place, you make sure they're good.

"At the end of the day, you see who your true friends are. For me, fortunately, I had a lot of people step up and help me, still behind me to this day. It's a blessing in disguise, I hate to say it that way."

Lagasse has since been in remission and is back to doing what he does best, but his story shows just how much change a run-in with cancer can do to someone's perspective.

Then there's the physical impact, especially when a family member is lost because of the disease.

​"My dad, Jim 'Mad Dog' Mandich, he was diagnosed with cancer in late 2009, unfortunately lost his battle with cancer in early 2011," said DCC Vice President Michael Mandich. "In memory we've continued on this legacy of the Dolphins Cancer Challenge which now has raised over $16.5 million dollars for cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. It's been a signature part of this organization and I think the community.

"He (Jim Mandich) definitely would be proud of not only what this organization has done to help cure cancer, but I would love for him to be really happy, I know for a fact he would be deeply grateful, thankful, and he would probably look with great pride on not only myself and others that have helped make this the largest fundraising event, namely in his honor."

Everything started on Friday with the kickoff party held in the Hyundai Club inside Hard Rock Stadium, where riders got the opportunity to take photographs with players Byron Maxwell and long snapper John Denney, and were also thanked for their efforts by Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, who addressed the excited crowd.

The next day was when things really got started, as bikers left their respective destinations, starting at Hard Rock Stadium at 6:30 in the morning for the "Hurricanes Hundred" supported by Hard Rock, a 100 mile bike ride with Mandich, DCC Chair Eric Feder and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Director Dr. Stephen Nimer.

“We are so grateful and would like to thank everyone who participated in the DCC,” said Nimer.. “It was inspiring to see so many people gather together to raise money for cancer research at Sylvester. Friends and families were cycling, running, walking or volunteering so we can make a difference in the lives of cancer patients. With the funds raised at the DCC, we will continue to grow our research programs and translate new discoveries into personalized cancer treatments as quickly as possible."

Once all the participants and riders rendezvoused at the finish line inside Hard Rock Stadium, they were treated to a festival and a concert held by American rock band Counting Crows.

The atmosphere during and after the rides were electric, and anyone asked what it was like while on their bikes cited how much support they received from people who weren't actually riding themselves.

"Once we got on the road, we got a lot of support from people who were driving by, a lot of people who were sitting out at different times," said former Dolphins tight end Troy Drayton, who took part in the 14-mile ride from the practice facility. "It's good to see that people kinda were encouraged by the ride. Overall this thing has been a success and it's getting bigger and bigger every year."

And all signs point to that trend continuing as the years go by. Though the total amount of money raised by the seventh annual DCC has yet to be confirmed, with more riders than ever in event history taking part, it's safe to assume that the amount of money donated will surpass the previous year's record of $5 million.

Cancer continues to be a devastating disease that has taken countless lives and caused heartbreak in many, many families worldwide. But with each DCC that goes by, progress gets made towards finding a cure that will eliminate the threat of cancer once and for all.

More and more testimonies come out every year from people who have survived their bouts with cancer, and with any luck, one day there won't be anymore testimonies, as hopefully cancer will one day be nothing more than a horrific piece of human history.

Until it does, the Dolphins will be there, battling it head on.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Quentin Moses, 33, a former defensive end for the Miami Dolphins (2007-10), died in a house fire early Sunday morning.

Moses starred at the University of Georgia, and was drafted in the third round of the 2007 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders. He was released before ever playing a down with Oakland, and the Dolphins claimed him off waivers, and he played sparingly for four years, totaling 35 tackles and 3.5 sacks while filling in at both defensive end and outside linebacker. He has worked since 2011 as an assistant coach for Reinhardt University outside of Atlanta.

Former Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor, who played alongside Moses, offered his condolences via Twitter, saying, “My heart breaks for former teammate and friend Quentin Moses and his family. Thoughts, prayers and tears! So sad. Life is too short  #RIP.”

Local newspapers report that Moses was found unconscious inside the house and moved outside. The roof of the house collapsed as the fire department attempted to get the fire under control. Andria Godard, 31, and her daughter Jasmine Godard, 10, were found dead inside the house. Moses was later pronounced dead at Clearview Medical Center.

The cause of the fire has not been determined at the time of this story.

Our condolences go out to the families of the Moses and Godard families.

This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball

If ever there were criteria for getting into the National Football League’s Hall of Fame, Jason Taylor thinks that current Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake fits the bill.

How?

“I mean he never wears a shirt, so you guys see how he’s built, and how he takes care of himself,” said Taylor.

Taylor and Wake played two seasons together in Miami in 2009 and 2011, and while both have had similar impacts on the Dolphins defense throughout their careers, it’s not likely that Wake will ever match Taylor’s sack total. Taylor had 139.5 sacks in his 15-year career, while Wake’s total sits at 81.5 after eight seasons.

But Wake just turned 35, having gotten a late start in the NFL. He signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2005, but was cut prior to the season, and didn’t play again until signing with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League in 2007, where he played for two years before joining the Dolphins. It’s not likely he’ll play into his 40’s to have a chance at Taylor’s franchise record, but Taylor nonetheless feels that Wake has an excellent chance of joining him in the Hall of Fame someday.  

“I think he’s been trending in that direction,” said Taylor. “Hopefully he can play as long as he can and keep being as productive as he’s been. He’s just a remarkable athlete. The things he’s able to do, and the way he bounced back from an Achilles injury at his - I hate even saying it, but at his age, so to speak.”

Taylor cites Wake’s work ethic as the main source of Wake’s NFL success – he is a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time second-team All-Pro, and was named first-team All-Pro in 2012.

“(Wake’s success) doesn’t surprise me at all,” says Taylor. “Having a chance to be around Cam and be a teammate of his, knowing the way he works, knowing the work he was putting in, in the offseason. When this building was empty of players, and they’re off, and then he’s probably supposed to be on crutches still or in a boot still, and he’s pushing it. He’s just that kind of guy. He takes care of himself. He’s super athletic, ridiculously strong. He can do it for a long time.”

So if Wake can continue for a few more highly productive seasons, is he legitimate Hall of Fame material?

“Trust me, Cam Wake is a better football player and a better pass rusher than I ever was.”

​This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball

Ask any Dolphins fan their thoughts on this past Super Bowl, and they will more than likely tell you that they were heartbroken or even disgusted as they watched the New England Patriots climb out of a 21-3 hole against the Atlanta Falcons and come out on top for the fifth time since Tom Brady's NFL debut.

Running back Jay Ajayi got to watch it happen in person, and he can relate to those fans who are tired of watching New England annually dominate the league.

"I watched it from probably the north endzone at the Super Bowl for three quarters," Ajayi said Wednesday on the Hochman, Crowder and Krantz show on 560 WQAM. "And then I left. I was disgusted. It hurt in my heart too much to be there."

The day after his radio appearance, Ajayi went to the facility and acted as the featured guest for a community event hosted by Citi and No Kid Hungry, where he spoke to reporters and reaffirmed his stance on the results of the Super Bowl and what it stirred in him personally.

“It puts a fire inside of me for sure, just because basically the Super Bowl came through us,” Ajayi said. “It came through our division. The winner is in our division. Knowing that reality, it makes me just want to do anything possible and do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t continue to happen.”

Reports out of New England have said that the Patriots envision Tom Brady being their quarterback well into his 40s, which does not bode well for the Dolphins if this is indeed the case. New England has dominated the AFC East for the past decade and a half, and Brady is a very large reason why.

In 2016, Miami proved that - under new head coach Adam Gase - they are on the rise and could potentially be a real playoff contender in the near future. But despite making their first playoff appearance since 2008, the Dolphins were still swept by the Patriots, illustrating that the gap between the two teams is still daunting.

But after watching New England become the champions of the NFL once again, the determination to stop them in their tracks has only grown stronger in Miami.

“We were able to create a new culture this past season in what we can do,” Ajayi said. “It’s about building off of that with the new talent that comes in and who’s still here. We really have to prepare ourselves to try and have a great season to put ourselves in the Super Bowl.”

Ajayi had a breakout season in 2016, going from not even being active on gameday and being left behind during Week 1 for disciplinary reasons, to becoming a star in the league and putting himself in elite company, running for over 200 yards three times in a single season.

Despite that, however, Ajayi knows there's still a lot that he needs to improve on, and he intends to work with Tony Villani, who owns XPE Sports Academy in Boca Raton to build on what he's learned in 2016 and become an even better runner than he was before in an attempt to once again lead his team to success in 2017.

"This offseason I'm probably just - work on completing my game even more, adding more to my toolbox, and just trying to keep building off of what I was able to do last year," Ajayi said. "Right now at this point, I think probably when I go into film, maybe if I just need to be a little bit more patient here or there, lower my base, lower my pad level, and I think all of those things is what I'll do when I evaluate and going into when I start hitting my training hard."

As big a part as Ajayi was to the Dolphins 2016 success, it still wasn't enough to keep the Patriots out of the Super Bowl and giving Dolphins fans (and apparently the team's players) an upset stomach. After watching it happen for the fifth time, it's clear that Miami will be doing everything in their power to make sure that feeling never comes back.

"It's about focusing on ourselves," Ajayi said. "Focusing on bringing in the right talent pieces that can help us move forward. and then just everyone still buying into what we are trying to do here at the Miami Dolphins, and if we can do that, and play against them and play our 'A' game, I think we can challenge anybody, including the Patriots."

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

As you may have heard, one of the Miami Dolphins favorite players of the past two decades got the call to the NFL Hall of Fame last weekend. And to listen to Jason Taylor tell it, it still hasn’t completely sunk in that he’s a Hall of Famer. In fact, during his press conference this week, he said he hasn’t even given a though yet to his speech or who will present him at the ceremony in August.

“I haven’t had an hour where I’ve sat down yet and really took it in,” he says. “When I get home at night, I just go to bed and try to get as much sleep as I can, and kind of pound the pavement the next day. I’ll figure those things out. I’ll talk to a bunch of guys that are in. I’ll go have a bite to eat with Dan (Marino) hopefully, and get a lot of direction with him about the theme - I didn’t even know there was supposed to be a theme. This is all new, man. I have a lot of people to thank and they give you, I don’t know … How long did you talk Dan?”

Dan Marino: “Fifteen minutes.”

“Dan talked 15 minutes - they give you eight,” continued Taylor. “They try to stress to keep it to eight, but I don’t know how you get everybody in eight minutes. There are just so many people that make this engine run from upstairs, the administrators, and assistants, and coaches, and equipment guys, and security guys, and trainers. There are a thousand people to thank, and unfortunately you only get so much time. So we’ll figure it out.”

As for some of the guys you can be sure he’ll mention, Taylor was equally effusive. He credits cornerbacks Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain, fellow defensive end Trace Armstrong, and offensive lineman Richmond Webb with being the reason he was even in the conversation for the Hall of Fame. But he saves his highest praise for his brother in law, former linebacker Zach Thomas.

“There are a lot people that made me who I am,” says Taylor. “There are a handful of guys that I’ve played with that are elite status as far as players, people, competitors, teammates. And Zach Thomas is number one on that list. He made everybody that played with him better. He’s one of those guys that I think never got the respect he deserved. He never got the attention he deserved. To me, is he a Hall of Famer? Absolutely. Because without Zach, there is no way in the world I’m standing here right now.”

In spite of Taylor’s obvious Hall of Fame caliber numbers during his playing career (including 139.5 sacks, 8 interceptions, and 29 fumble recoveries), he didn’t think he’d be voted into the Hall on the first ballot, something only two defensive ends have accomplished before him.

“Correct me if I’m wrong,” he said. “I think the other defensive ends to go in on the first ballot were Bruce Smith and Reggie White? Is that right? Bruce Smith, Reggie White and Jason Taylor? I just never put myself in their class. I didn’t win a championship, and I thought that would come up, but for whatever reason, maybe I was … trying to talk myself into not worrying about it so much … I thought that it would happen one day, maybe.”

But there was one who never doubted. Taylor’s youngest son, Mason, kept repeating all day before the inductees were announced:

“Dad, if you don’t believe it, you can’t achieve it.”

As for the letter that Tom Brady wrote in recommendation for Taylor to be included in the Hall of Fame, Taylor was just as excited about that as anyone.

“It’s pretty cool,” Taylor said of the letter. “It’s pretty humbling that a guy of Brady’s caliber - we know his resume and his body of work and how much weight he carries in this league. You play this game for a lot of different reasons. The number one reason is to win. And you want the respect of the fans and the media and everyone that plays, but there is nothing better than hearing from your peers - the guys that are in the trenches and doing it as well and putting the time and the work in over the years and understanding what it takes to play this game at a high level.

“So to get that respect from someone like Tom Brady … The letter from Brady was ridiculous. It was humbling. We had a lot of battles. But I see comments from Jonathan Ogden and Orlando Pace and Bill Polian and all of these guys that are so lofty in this league, and it’s really humbling to get those kinds of comments.”

This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball