Miami Dolphins re-sign OT Vernon Carey to a six year, $42 million dollar deal

[YoFuggedaboutit]

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. 

[DolFan619]

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

[YoFuggedaboutit]

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.

[Defense54]

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. 

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............

[DolFan619]

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