BillC
05-11-2003, 05:21 PM
I already posted wha they gave Buffalo In the Bills Forum (http://billszone.com/fanzone/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17050)
Here is the rest of the division
Miami Dolphins
Offseason Priorities
1. Jump start the passing game - Incomplete. The Dolphins have gotten a little faster at wide receiver by replacing Oronde Gadsden with Derrius Thompson. But better? That remains to be seen. The ineffectiveness of Ray Lucas as Jay Fiedler's replacement has cost him his job and a veteran backup remains high on the priority list. A lot of people assume Brian Griese will be signed next month after the Broncos release him, but he might go somewhere else to be a starter instead.
2. Come up with a better salary cap strategy - Incomplete. The Dolphins have been very successful for a long period of time. Last year was one of the few seasons in the last 20 years that they did not make the playoffs, and they still had a winning record. Yet that prolonged success in this era of salary caps and free agency has finally caught up with them, and they will be faced with difficult cap decisions every offseason for the next several years. At the beginning of the offseason, I suggested the Dolphins take a page out of the Eagles strategy guide to managing the cap, and start signing their young, up and coming talent to long term deals now. Instead, they've gone the opposite path, signing veteran talent to short term deals hoping to make a push this year for the Super Bowl.
3. Learn to innovate on defense - Incomplete. We won't know if this has been accomplished until late in the season.
Position Needs
1.WR Grade: C Oronde Gadsden is a free agent that they have not re-signed. They released Dedric Ward and let Cris Carter slip back into retirement. In free agency, they signed Derrius Thompson from the Redskins, who had 53 catches for 773 yards last year. He can be a good supplemental player, along with James McKnight who is still hanging around the roster. The hope in Miami, though, is that Chris Chambers bounces back from his sub-par 2002 season.
2.OT Grade: C The Dolphins entered free agency hoping to coax one of several available left tackles down to South Florida. They failed and remain with the status quo by re-signing converted guard Mark Dixon.
3.QB Grade: Inc. Ray Lucas has been released. Brian Griese is expected to follow in his father's footsteps by signing a free agent contract in June. But it hasn't happened yet.
4.OLB Grade: B Junior Seau may be slowing down, but he has at least one more good season left in him. The thought of him playing side by side with Zach Thomas has 'Fins fans in a heightened state of hysteria. Derrick Rodgers will be released after June 1st. On the other side, top draft pick Eddie Moore will compete with Morlon Greenwood
Here is the rest of the division
Miami Dolphins
Offseason Priorities
1. Jump start the passing game - Incomplete. The Dolphins have gotten a little faster at wide receiver by replacing Oronde Gadsden with Derrius Thompson. But better? That remains to be seen. The ineffectiveness of Ray Lucas as Jay Fiedler's replacement has cost him his job and a veteran backup remains high on the priority list. A lot of people assume Brian Griese will be signed next month after the Broncos release him, but he might go somewhere else to be a starter instead.
2. Come up with a better salary cap strategy - Incomplete. The Dolphins have been very successful for a long period of time. Last year was one of the few seasons in the last 20 years that they did not make the playoffs, and they still had a winning record. Yet that prolonged success in this era of salary caps and free agency has finally caught up with them, and they will be faced with difficult cap decisions every offseason for the next several years. At the beginning of the offseason, I suggested the Dolphins take a page out of the Eagles strategy guide to managing the cap, and start signing their young, up and coming talent to long term deals now. Instead, they've gone the opposite path, signing veteran talent to short term deals hoping to make a push this year for the Super Bowl.
3. Learn to innovate on defense - Incomplete. We won't know if this has been accomplished until late in the season.
Position Needs
1.WR Grade: C Oronde Gadsden is a free agent that they have not re-signed. They released Dedric Ward and let Cris Carter slip back into retirement. In free agency, they signed Derrius Thompson from the Redskins, who had 53 catches for 773 yards last year. He can be a good supplemental player, along with James McKnight who is still hanging around the roster. The hope in Miami, though, is that Chris Chambers bounces back from his sub-par 2002 season.
2.OT Grade: C The Dolphins entered free agency hoping to coax one of several available left tackles down to South Florida. They failed and remain with the status quo by re-signing converted guard Mark Dixon.
3.QB Grade: Inc. Ray Lucas has been released. Brian Griese is expected to follow in his father's footsteps by signing a free agent contract in June. But it hasn't happened yet.
4.OLB Grade: B Junior Seau may be slowing down, but he has at least one more good season left in him. The thought of him playing side by side with Zach Thomas has 'Fins fans in a heightened state of hysteria. Derrick Rodgers will be released after June 1st. On the other side, top draft pick Eddie Moore will compete with Morlon Greenwood