Rotoworld: Phins think Miller better than Bush.

[Fin-O]

Reggie Bush, Brian Hartline, Sean Smith and Jake Long will be gone. Who are you going to replace them with? Those are key players although most of them are JAGs you still have to replace them. And you are doing it with a GM who has been a complete disaster in free agency.

Problem is they don't want to be paid like "key" players they want to be paid like elite players.

Jake is not an elite LT
Hartline is NOT a #1 WR
Smith is not an above average CB
Bush I'd like back for the right price.

Either way this team will ONLY regress if Tannehill regresses.

[Wildbill3]

no, what is interesting here Nublar, is that the trend is to be negative, say gloom and doom stuff, and offer zero possibilities of their own. all they are saying is, we can't spend the money, we can't afford to resign our own. Ireland sucks.

That is pure speculation at this point. Long and Bush probably won't be back but I have a gut feeling that Hartline, Smith and Starks will be back. Pure speculation on my part but no different than you speculating.

If some of these players leave you can replace them with free agents from other teams or draft replacements. After all the draft is where the majority of the team will be built from. Not my words, that came from Ross, Philbin and Ireland. For example if Long leaves than Eric Fisher or Lane Johnson could be a replacement in the draft. I really think Greg Jennings will be signed in free agency so the blow of Hartline leaving would be lessened. If Starks leaves, Odrick can be shifted to defensive tackle and perhaps Michael Johnson could be signed in free agency. Or they could have Vernon compete with a draft pick for playing time at end. If Smith leaves, maybe Milliner or Rhodes becomes a target in the draft. The Dolphins have a lot of options and resources on their hands this offseason.
There it is, another "Ireland is a big meanie and I hate him" post. Should have figured it was going to lead to this.

[JakeMcAwful]

Personally, I'd be excited to see the backfield of Miller, Gray, and (insert 5th/7th round draft choice here).

However, I have that deep sinking feeling that Daniel Thomas will still be a featured back next year... Obviously I'd love for him to set the league on fire, but ehhhh I don't see it happening.

[Bagga-Viagra]

I think Bush will walk most likely.

We have a very promising Miller, the hope that D-Thomas matures, and a (hopefully) healthy Jonas Grey coming to camp to make some noise.

[Wildbill3]

Personally, I'd be excited to see the backfield of Miller, Gray, and (insert 5th/7th round draft choice here).

However, I have that deep sinking feeling that Daniel Thomas will still be a featured back next year... Obviously I'd love for him to set the league on fire, but ehhhh I don't see it happening.

with the way miller played this year, and the way DT was always injured, that's your worry?

[roy_miami]

Half the team? I don't see it. Right now there are 8 starters on defense from last year still under contract. I would expect 1-3 of the defensive free agents starters(Smith, Starks and Clemons) to re-sign this offseason. So the defense will return pretty much intact with the exception maybe of one or two changes. On offense 7 starters from last year will return and again I think a couple of the impending free agent starters(Hartline, Long, Fasano and Bush) will be back. All three special teams position players are retuning.

So right now 18 of the 25 starters from last year are under contract. I would expect at least 20 to be under contract before the start of free agency, hardly half the team. 5 picks in the top 82 will likely result in at least 2 immediate starters.

To make the comment you did was just ridiculous.

There's a lot more to a football team than just the 22 starters on offense and defense.

[kmev827!]

The only guy I absolutely want back is Starks. Maybe also Hartline at the right price. I think Miller/Thomas and/or rb from draft will produce better than Bush. Our O-Line is not great but I didn't notice a huge drop when Long went out. It was inconsitent with Long and w/o Long. He's not worth the money he is asking for and the money we would save not signing him will go a long way towards improving several positions. Smith is average and soft. If Hartline goes we surely will be able to replace him with Jennings/Bowe and then also be able to draft a young speedster. I think Ireland is assesing all these players exactly as I would and I'm pretty excited about that.

Let these guys go, draft Millner and a wr or two, sign Jennings or Bowe = faster, tougher, younger, less egos and playoff bound.

[Wildbill3]

There's a lot more to a football team than just the 22 starters on offense and defense.

don[t move the target roy. The target was, half the team is unsigned. which would be a blanket statement that implies half our starters are not signed. Josh completely tossed that notion out the window.

[Casas9425]

don[t move the target roy. The target was, half the team is unsigned. which would be a blanket statement that implies half our starters are not signed. Josh completely tossed that notion out the window.

Key players are unsigned.

[Wildbill3]

Key players are unsigned.

half of the teams key players are unsigned? does that mean I should go around and show you which playoff teams have half their starters unsigned? Should I do some more work and try to hit your moving target?