Who will be the Dolphins franchise player?

[StL FinFan]

Since we are talking draft and possible needs, it made me wonder who will be kept or lost to free agency. 

Soliai is the only guy I would really hate to lose.

[MikeO]

Yeah but if we franchise him our salary cap might be in bad shape with Dansby and Marshall and Long already on our roster. Assuming the cap comes back and is at about what it was in the past or in that ballpark

[fyo]

Yeah but if we franchise him our salary cap might be in bad shape with Dansby and Marshall and Long already on our roster. Assuming the cap comes back and is at about what it was in the past or in that ballpark

The whole Dolphins FO should be fired if they didn't use the uncapped season to move charges into 2010, reducing future hits.

We should have plenty of cap space if the level is around that of the previous cap.

Unless we re-sign a bunch of FAs to huge contracts, of course...

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

There may not be a franchise tag this year.  The union doesn't like it and it seems to be one of the things the owners would be willing to concede on in order to get other things. 

[fyo]

The one area where I think Ireland has failed (most obviously) as a GM is in addressing depth. He gets rid of decent players in exchange for what is at most a marginal upgrade. Considering that the previous players weren't always expensive, I think it has been a huge mistake not to keep them as depth.

I'm hoping that changes this year, but it will mean acquiring (and/or re-signing) a lot of players, because we're losing a good chunk in free agency. Look at running back: R&R are FAs and I can certainly understand not keeping them, although I'd personally like both to remain -- if only to piss off a few select posters on this board . Both Hilliard and Cobbs are restricted FAs, so they have to be considered as well. IF Ireland (or whomever) chooses to let R&R go, I'm not going to be thrilled with just re-signing Hilliard and Cobbs. That would completely undermine our depth at running back. Unless we spend a first-day pick on a ready-to-go rookie or grab some SOLID talent elsewhere, we're just asking for trouble when injuries hit next season.

The same with our offensive line. It wasn't exactly great, but Ireland shouldn't repeat last year's mistake and let starters go in exchange for their equivalent (or marginal upgrade). Bring in new guys, by all means, but if e.g. Incognito and McQuistan (both FAs) leave for greener pastures, we need to bring in A LOT of new players. Neither player is terribly expensive, although possibly more so now than if they had been re-signed during the season, and would make for great depth.

I realize money matters, but we need to start getting rid of the worst players and signing good ones instead. If someone is grossly overpaid, sure, fire their ass (if they won't renegotiate), but the "horizontal switching" Ireland did last year screwed us when injuries piled up. Speaking of injured offensive linesmen, Nate Garner is a restricted FA and word is Cory Proctor was on a 1-year deal (and is thus a FA), but I've been unable to confirm it. Regardless, the O-line could see a mass exodus and although Long is the only great player on the line, that's a lot of holes to fill -- starters AND DEPTH.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

^^^^ I think there is more too it than just money. 

Let say you had a choice between two players to be the back up at the end of training camp.  (Starter is all set)

A) 34 year old vet.  Been the pro-bowl.  In his prime would have beaten out your current starter, but because of age and injury, he has lost a step.  Makes up for the decline in age with superior technique that comes with experience.  If the starter goes down could go in at a heart beat.  Clearly better than player B.

B) 24 year old rookie.  Still doesn't know the entire playbook.  Not nearly as good as player A, but is twice as good as he was the the day training camp opened.  If he had to start week 2 because of injury, in game one it would be ugly.

I would keep B.  And while fans might view it as a cost saving move.  B is almost certainly cheaper than A, it would not be to save money.  I like B's trajectory.  By the end of the year he might beat on my current starter because he keeps improving ever practice.  I don't know what his ceiling is.  With player A, I know by the time playoffs roll around he isn't going to be as good as he is today.  He will be 4 months older and the guy gets worse ever day. 
 

[fyo]

Hoodie,

I agree with your arguments, but that just isn't what Ireland has done. He's brought in veterans to replace veterans. Just a sideways move that was never going to yield much of an improvement. McQuistan, for example, had 5 years with the Cowboys (and not a single start). Incognito and Berger had also been in the league for 5 years before Ireland brought them to Miami (again, in Berger's case). And, like McQuistan, Berger had exactly zero starts in those 5 years, while Incognito had more starts, but also tons of games missed due to injuries.

IOW, he's not bringing in young players who might develop into something. He's bringing in players who struggled to get playing time at what should've been the peak of their careers. There is no "unknown ceiling".