The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2009/02/20/dolphins-sign-vernon-carey/

Dolphins sign Vernon Carey, 6 years, $42 million

by Edgar Thompson

The Dolphins have locked up right tackle Vernon Carey to a multi-year contract, two NFL sources said today at the scouting combine.

The deal is worth $42 million over six years.

The move solidifies the tackle position for the team for the next several years, pairing Carey, 27, with left tackle Jake Long, who started 16 games and played in the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2008.

The team’s first-round pick in 2004, Carey, 27, has started 59 straight games for the Dolphins.

The deal comes a day after the Dolphins opted not to place the franchise tag on Carey, which would have locked him up for one year for $8.45 million.


Also Thursday, Carolina signed All-Pro right tackle Jordan Gross to a six-year deal worth a reported $30.5 million during the first three years.

The details of Carey’s contract were not made available.

The Dolphins still have four 2008 starters who would become free agents if unsigned by midnight next Friday - safety Yeremiah Bell, linebacker Channing Crowder, cornerback Andre Goodman and safety Renaldo Hill.

Despite an impasse in negotiations, Crowder, who with 114 tackles was second to Bell (120) last season, still has a chance to return, an NFL source said, estimating the chances to be “30 percent.”

Hopefully it wasn't for too much money, but this will keep some continuity on the line.  I think it was Phishfan or dolfan13 or fyo that said once that the best lines are ones where the guys have played together for a while.

I'm happy for this, but I would have liked to see them make YB a higher priority.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-carey022009,0,3380078.story

BREAKING NEWS: Vernon Carey agress to terms with Dolphins

Omar Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

1:28 PM EST, February 20, 2009

The Miami Dolphins shouldn't have to worry about the offensive tackle spot for at least a couple of seasons.

According to a league source, right tackle Vernon Carey agreed to a five-year deal today that will allow the Miami native and former University of Miami standout to remain one of the bookends on the Miami Dolphins' offensive line opposite Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long.

The Miami Dolphins opted not to place the franchise tag on the four-year starter Thursday because the feeling was all parties were close to finalizing a long-term deal that will allow the former first-round pick to possibly finish his career with the team he cheered for as a child.

Carey, who is 27, started 59 straight games for the Miami Dolphins and would have been in demand if he hit the open market because quality tackles rarely become free agents.

Coach Tony Sparano, who worked his way up the NFL ranks as an offensive line coach, is a big fan of Carey because of his durability and the leadership he provided last season.

"He brought veteran leadership to that group, an outstanding leader," Sparano said.

Carey's signing now leaves the Miami Dolphins with four potential free agent starters to address.

Representatives for linebacker Channing Crowder, cornerback Andre' Goodman and safeties Yeremiah Bell and Renaldo Hill are all in Indianapolis working to hammer out new deals with the Dolphins. But it's likely they'll all test the free agent market when it opens at the end of this month.

  For all we know, he may be the next guy to ink a new deal.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2009/02/20/0220dolphins.html

Dolphins sign Vernon Carey to multi-year deal

By EDGAR THOMPSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, February 20, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS — Vernon Carey and Jake Long will hold down the Dolphins' offensive tackle positions for the next few years.

The Dolphins signed Carey to a multi-year deal, two NFL sources said today at the scouting combine. Carey, who has started 59 straight games for the Dolphins, was on track to become a free agent next Friday.

The move solidifies the perimeter positions on the offensive line, with Carey, 27 and the team's first-round pick in 2004 out of the University of Miami, at right tackle and Long, who started 16 games and played in the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2008, on the left side.

The deal comes a day after the Dolphins opted not to place the franchise tag on Carey, which would have locked him up for one year for $8.45 million.

Also Thursday, Carolina signed All-Pro right tackle Jordan Gross to a six-year deal worth a reported $30.5 million during the first three years.

The details of Carey's contract were not made available.

The Dolphins still have four 2008 starters who would become free agents if unsigned by midnight next Friday - safety Yeremiah Bell, linebacker Channing Crowder, cornerback Andre Goodman and safety Renaldo Hill.

I won't second guess the Irish Tuna about personnel issues, and without seeing the numbers, it's hard to gauge value anyway...but I'm not 100% sure this was a great decision. I just don't see Carey as an above average right tackle.

What it DOES tell me is that Miami didn't want to address OT in the early rounds of the draft, so wanted to lock in Carey so they could focus on other areas. It also tells me that they didn't think they could get an OT in FA that could duplicate what they felt Carey could do for them.

But 5 years? You have to be pretty sure about the guy to give him that long of a contract.

Doesn't mean he won't be gone after 2 or three if they come upon a better option...

It makes me wonder if the Front office was looking at Jordan Gross,when he re signed..They thought they better re sign Carey....

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_seasonticket/2009/02/fins-carey-resigns-will-he-earn-it-.html

Fins: Carey re-signs; will he earn it?

The new Dolphins regime has extended the contracts of the likes of Greg Camarillo and Patrick Cobbs.

Today's re-signing of Vernon Carey marks the first major commitment to an inherited player.

When the Cowboys kept Marc Colombo, Carey's extension became a likelihood.

Now here's the question:

Will Carey earn it?

After performing admirably as a left tackle in 2007, he was average in 2008.

There were questions when he came into the league about his level of motivation. Obviously, this regime has seen enough to believe he will work hard, even after he is paid.

Your thoughts?

> Posted by Ethan J. Skolnick at 2:09:52 PM

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/breaking-news/story/913475.html

Miami Dolphins sign tackle Vernon Carey for six years, $42 million

BY JEFF DARLINGTON

Those questions surrounding the Dolphins' offensive line received at least one major answer Friday, when the team locked up right tackle Vernon Carey for another six years.
The deal is worth $42 million for the length of the contract.

Carey, a South Florida native who played at the University of Miami before getting drafted as a first-round pick in 2004, will maintain his roots in his hometown area. He agreed to the extension Friday, two sources said.

On Thursday, the team passed on the idea of franchising Carey for another year -- instead feeling confident enough in him to keep him around for much longer. He was scheduled to hit free agency Feb. 27, when he would have been one of only a few starting-caliber tackles on the open market.

http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/news/top_story.asp?contentID=6344

Dolphins Sign Vernon Carey To Contract Extension

February 20, 2009

The Miami Dolphins today signed offensive tackle Vernon Carey to a multi-year contract extension.

Carey, the team’s first-round draft choice in 2004, has played 78 regular season games in his career, including 64 starts. He currently has appeared in 76 straight league games and started 59 in a row. He opened all 16 contests at right tackle in 2008, one year after he started every game at left tackle. As a regular starter since 2005, Carey has been part of a line that has helped the Dolphins’ running game attain a 4.0-yard average per attempt or better each of the past four seasons, as Miami is one of only four NFL teams to have achieved this.

A Miami native who also played at the University of Miami, Carey has been equally successful off the field. Most recently he was the Dolphins’ nominee for the 2008 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. In addition, he was selected as the co-recipient of the club’s Nat Moore Community Service Award for 2007.

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2009/02/with-carey-done-whats-next-for-dolphins.html

With Carey done, what's next for Dolphins?

It's always good when the hometown product, the player who has bleed and sweat for Miami teams his entire life, doesn't have to uproot his family and play for another team.

I know for a fact Vernon Carey was prepared to pack up his wife and kids and take them wherever the money was. An NFL player's second contract is the one that he'll likely be living off when his career's over, and the brutality of the game prevents him from getting a real job.

It has to be a relief for Carey to get a multi-year deal done with the team he's cheered for since his days in diapers. Now there's a strong chance the former Miami Northwestern star, and Hurricane standout could end his career with the Dolphins.

Now Carey's community work will continue to touch lives.

With Carey finally locked up, and the bookends of the Dolphins offensive line stable, what area do you think the Dolphins should address next?

Talks are ongoing with most of the representatives of the team's other free agents, four of which are starters. And maybe dialog with a few other free agents (wink, wink) have taken place.

The market for stud talents dried up yesterday when team's whipped out the franchise tag. But there's still some pretty good pieces left out there for the Dolphins. Should the Dolphins enter the bidding war for Albert Haynesworth? Should the Dolphins bring former McArthur standout Bryant McFadden home? Does Ray Lewis make sense?

The team has needs at both inside and outside linebacker, all the interior offensive linemen stops, nose tackle, and the entire secondary must either be rebuilt, or re-signed since Yeremiah Bell, Renaldo Hill and Andre' Goodman are on track to be exposed.

What should the Dolphins top brass address move up on their list of areas to address, and how should they do it?

What exposed free agents (they aren't touching anyone with any kind of tag) do you think would fit this system?

What draft areas have enough depth, allowing the Dolphins to address those positions with one of their nine picks in 2009?

Deuces.

> Posted by Omar Kelly at 2:44:28 PM

its gotta start with the line of scrimmage, and carey being able to play both tackle spots and guard is quite valuable. he's 27, has stayed pretty healthy and has more upside than bell at this point. of all the free agents he has the least replaceable skillset...

developing a young line, and being able to keep them together is going to payback huge dividends to this team.

Carey is very flexible, played in 16 games for 4 straight seasons and is above average at his jobs. Not Pro Bowl quality, but above average. It's certainly not flashy, but he is very valuable. This is what a guy of his stature would go for on the open market, several teams were lining up to offer him big deals.

It's kind of tough to see them spend so much on a "non-skill" position, but it was the right move. Carey and Long as bookends until 2013 is a good idea. Football is won and lost with your linemen.

The tackles are the most valuable positions on your offensive line.  While I don't believe Carey was worth this much money.  I think he should've gotten somewhere in the $4 to $5 million a year range.  But I'm glad he's staying. 

Northwestern High
University of Miami
Miami Dolphins

The homeboy stays home. 

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2009/02/breaking-down-careys-deal.html

Breaking down Carey's deal

While the framework of Vernon Carey's new deal with the Dolphins was known, the details were a little sketchy on Friday.

I'm being pulling in too many directions to get it, but according to WQAM's Orlando Alzugaray, who was the first to report that Carey's reps and the Dolphins were closing in on a deal Thursday, Carey will be making $23 million in the first three years of his new six-year contract that could be worth as much as $42 million.

Carey will a $12 million signing bonus. He's due a $2 million roster bonus in March, and will receive a base salary of $800,000, has a workout bonus of $200,000 for 2009 season. That's where the $15 million guaranteed comes from.

He's due a $2.5 millions roster bonus in 2010, the uncapped year.

That trigger will give him $17.5 million in the first two years of the deal.

Carey's deal was triggered by lackluster free agent market ,and the team's desire to use the No. 25 pick on finding a starter at another position. I'd be guessing if I said what that was, but I do have some ideas.

I'm told by someone in the know Bill Parcells knows exactly how he's going to use that No. 25 pick. He's got a certain player targeted, and is willing to move up for him if the Dolphins have to.

Considering I'm told Parcells is the ultimate poker player when it comes to the NFL draft, if you hear or read someone say they know exactly who it is it's probably NOT that player.

But who can it be based on the team's needs at center, nose tackle, linebacker, receiver, and in the secondary?

 While there is a large need at center (which I've addressed in this story), my pick is USC linebacker Rey Maualuga. Just a hunch.

For the record, at about this time last year I also predicted the Dolphins would draft Michigan left tackle Jake Long, and told you they had quarterback Chad Henne rated very high on their board, and would pick him if he's available in the second round.

To keep track of what's going on at the Combine numbers wise check out nfldraftbible.com for some meaty updates

So who would be your best guess?

Deuces.

> Posted by Omar Kelly at 12:38:31 PM

Interesting speculation by Omar Kelly having the Dolphins getting Rey Maualuga.  I'd love to have "Junior" Junior Seau.... but he'll be long gone by pick 25.  And I don't want to see the Dolphins give up picks to move up to get him.

There is something to be said for hard work, keeping your mouth shut,  and showing up everyday ready to play. Its a message that Crowder didn't get............

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2009/02/vernon-carey-i-didnt-want-to-go-anywhere-else.html

Vernon Carey: "I didn't want to go anywhere else"

Vernon Carey realizes he's blessed. Not a lot of Americans, much less football players, are fortunate enough to find their dream job in the same hometown they grew up in.

Not only do his parents, and his wife's parents, get to watch their grand children grow up, but his friends and extended family get to continue watching him suit up for the team he dreamed about playing for as a young child.

Carey admits he's living a dream.

His new deal with the Miami Dolphins, which he talks about during his WQAM interview with Joe Rose, makes him the highest paid right tackle in the NFL. It's a game-changer for most teams who are struggling to find a quality tackle, and has altered the free agent market slightly.

Carey was going to get his money from somewhere, and the Dolphins top brass knew that.

They also knew Carey possessed all the qualities they were looking for in an offensive lineman, and didn't want to start over. I'm told the Trifecta is hopeful that the line will become a better unit when Donald Thomas gets back to his starting spot. During the interview Carey talks about the challenge of helping the youngsters grow, which he did last season.

I'm also told he and Jake Long are the best of friends, and Long brought Carey with him to Hawaii to thank him for all the mentoring he did, which helped Long reach the Pro Bowl.

It'll be interesting to see what the Dolphins do next to supplement the offensive line, which I'm told is the No. 1 priority this offseason.

Does their desire to make drastic improvements mean they will enter the high stakes bidding for Ravens center Jason Brown, who is looking to trump the deal offensive guard Alan Faneca got last season from the Jets? That's right, Brown wants guard money, and his play warrants that!

How much money are the Dolphins willing to commit to the offensive line? Can that unit afford to have four big ticket players in Long, Justin Smiley, Vernon Carey and another piece added in free agency?

According to a source, Carey will be on the books for $5.25 million this season. That means the Dolphins have roughly $19 million to work with in free agency to possibly re-sign guys like Yeremiah Bell, Andre' Goodman, and lure others this weekend.

Who should be the targets, and why? If you had to pick one big ticket free agent to push for would it be Brown, inside linebacker Bart Scott, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, or Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden?

In case you haven't noticed the Combine wrap up videos on the right side of the blog PLEASE check them out. The video and sound isn't stellar, but the information broken down in all three portions is worth your time because it will help you stay up on what's going on around the league. We touch on everything, from the growing trend of the 3-4, to the window for college coaches making the jump to the NFL closing.

Deuces, and thanks for a record-setting week.

> Posted by Omar Kelly at 3:43:42 PM