Very well done Brian, totally agree with your points here:

http://finnation.com/re-sign-jake-long- ... forget-it/

I'm not sure Martin is ready, he needs to get stronger. Draft needs to be about playmakers at WR and CB. If we had to tag Jake and over pay him until we were in a better position next year I wouldn't mind.

Starks is replaceable, Odrick is capable, but we can't afford to lose Starks and McDaniel.

If the plan is to use the 1st pick on DE I'm not for it, to many bust for my liking with 1st round DE's and we have Vernon and Shelby. I honestly would rather use it on one of the 2 guards coming out than a DE. But think we should use it on a WR or trade down and pick up another pick and take one of the 2 TE's.

Not only could you kill Tannehill confidence you could get him hurt if you don't protect him right.

So me and Doug are the only ones left who want to keep Jake Long.

Yep!

Long wants 10 mil a year. Way to much for someone who is on the decline.

Miami needs a pass rush and a wr. The two are virtually equal as far as I'm concerned. If this team is ever going to turn the corner it needs two things. Big plays on both sides of the ball. Big plays come from scoring and turnovers that lead to scoring. A strong pass rush leads to turnovers. Odrick is good for five or six sacks a year but Miami needs another pass rusher that can get a double digit sack count. I'm not sure if Shelby or Vernon can be the guy. Both look more like backup relief players than full time starters.

Miami needs two receivers or one very good one. We need someone that can stretch the field and we need someone that can elevate to catch in the red zone.

In no way am I saying sign Jake Long to a long term contract that pay's him 10mil on average. What I did or tried to say was Martin is not ready to take over LT in 2013 he needs to be stronger. If you can't sign Long to a long term contract that pay's him in accordance with his play we could put the franchise tag on him and pay him 15 mil next year just to hold us over, 2014 either Martin is ready or we draft a LT high in next years draft. Who knows Long could heal and regain his pro bowl form and be worth it, he's not right now.

If you don't protect Tannehill you run the risk of stunting his growth or worse getting him hurt.

IMO offense is what Miami needs most, WR's that can grow will Tannehill, 1 in FA and at least 1 very high pick in the draft possible 2 total out of the draft and that's with resigning Hartline. TE in FA or the draft that will be able to contribute this year, that's with signing Fasano unless you get 2 new guy's that are better. Once opposing defense's started to key on our running game it went no where and the holes closed, we need a better guard than John Jerry, Martin needs to improve (get stronger) and we need to start Lamar Miller and could use a power back we don't have one.

I can live with Odrick as DE next year, the defensive line was a source of strength for the Dolphins and turned most teams 1 dimensional. We need better corners at least 2 draft 1 get 1 in FA whatever it takes. Resign Clemens and extend Jones contract.

This is what a poster found when I started complaining about the success of DE's picked high

Quarterbacks: 9 of 30 = 30.0 percent

Running Backs: 8 of 27 = 29.6 percent

Wide Receivers: 10 of 37 = 27.0 percent

Tight Ends: 7 of 13 = 53.8 percent

Offensive Tackles: 8 of 37 = 21.6 percent

Centers: 3 of 7 = 42.8 percent

Guards: 3 of 7 = 42.8 percent

Defensive Ends: 7 of 41 = 17.0 percent

Defensive Tackles: 8 of 33 = 24.2 percent

Linebackers: 13 of 32 = 40.6 percent

Cornerbacks: 13 of 39 = 33.3 percent

Safeties: 9 of 16 = 56.2 percent

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2 ... pointments

17 percent is not very successful, think if push came to shove I'd take Warmack or Cooper over most of the DEs in the draft.

This draft should be about fixing are offensive woe's #1 and solidifying are corners #2.

17% isn't very successful but at the same time we can't select a guard or center 43% of the time. Sometimes theres a risk reward factor. Ireland get's paid for those decisions.

Warmack doesn't fit our system. Sparano would have loved him. Right now I want Patterson, Milliner, Werner or Eifert. And those are about the only 4 guys I'm ok with us taking at 12 at this moment.

Absolutely Martin needs to get stronger. We all knew that when he was drafted. He'll have a full offseason in the Phins' weight program, and unless he's a total idiot that doesn't care about his future (ala John Jerry) there's every reason to think he'll be ready to go next season. Martin held his own at LT as a rookie, so it's logical to expect him to get even better with a full offseason at the position.



And then ruin our ability to upgrade the rest of the roster? Nope - no way. We have holes at every single position - you can't tie up that kind of money in a declining player at a non-imapact position.



Tannehill can be protected without Jake Long.

Long wont be resigned after the team leaked he wanted $10 M. I'm glad his demands are unreasonable because I wouldn't sign him at any reasonable price. As for Starks I think he is worth re- signing at $5-6 mil. An adequate replace might be found but we need to replace two DT's.

Not only did Martin go to Stanford, but his parents went to Harvard. He grew up in a household with high expectations and he knows what it means to work given his accomplishments. Unlike John Jerry, we have every reason to believe Martin will put in the time he needs to be his best. With his athleticism and intelligence he should exceed "good enough" in this system. He isn't going to get Tannehill killed.

Where's the advantage to keeping Long at $15 mil for one season?

The average RT salary is $5 mil, with the highest paid RT getting $8 mil/season. That means Miami could slide Martin to LT and use the $15 mil to sign a good RT *and* one of the top flight WRs rather than franchise Long.

LT Martin + RT free agent + WR Jennings/Wallace

>> is GREATER THAN >>

LT Long + RT Martin, with the former battling injuries and the later playing out of position.

And please, puh-lease don't suggest playing Long at RT at $15 mil, practically double what the highest paid RT is making.