Culture Change for the Phins

          “We have to change the culture.” “We need to breed a culture of competitiveness, finish and intensity.” “We need to become a more aggressive front, team in general.” “You want to get the most out of them, you have to challenge them…they have to be pushed and they have to be worked.” “…we are going to scratch and claw and do whatever it takes to win your one on one.” “I want us pulling the trigger, I don’t want us playing conservative.”

These are direct quotes taken from Dan Campbell’s introductory press conference about two weeks ago. Dan Campbell, tight ends coach promoted to interim head coach after Joe Philbin was fired, talked the talk & definitely walked the walk. The Dolphins were pretty much sleep-walking through the first four games of the season, on to a 1-3 record. Everybody in South Florida had questions about why we were struggling and even performing worse than last season after all the moves that were made in the offseason. Campbell took over during the bye week & was like a 4 a.m. alarm clock and an ocean of freezing cold water in the Navy Seals that woke the players up.  From the 38-10 win against the Titans yesterday, the Dolphins appeared to be a completely different team & he implemented the culture change he kept stressing two weeks ago.

            Before Dan Campbell, the Dolphins were starting out slow, couldn’t run the ball, couldn’t score, couldn’t block, couldn’t set the tempo of the game, couldn’t stop the run, couldn’t get pressure on the quarterback, just couldn’t do anything right. After Dan Campbell, they scored their first touchdowns of the first quarter all season, we ran the ball and ran it successfully, pass & run blocking was improved, the game plan & play-calling was executed to the T, and the Titans were playing to catch up with us instead of the other way around. Lamar Miller got his feet back and looked like the running back that averaged 5 yards a carry last year. 

            Best of all was the defense, the constant pressure and the many big plays they made all game. The defensive line under Philbin was nonexistent and only had one sack coming into the game. Under Campbell, they totaled 6 sacks & Cameron Wake had 4 of them by himself. The whole d-line was getting after Mariota all game and he lost two fumbles & threw two picks. Linebackers held their own & the secondary was legendary, led by the huge pick-6 from Reshad Jones & the momentum-killing interception by Brent Grimes. All in all, the Titans finished the game with four turnovers, only 63 yards on the ground and only 4.6 yards a play. Not only did the Dolphins play an all-around solid game, but individually and as a unit, it was a great performance from everybody. Even the coaching staff had great moments. After what appeared to be an incomplete pass that nobody questioned from Mariota after he was pressured and hit, Darren Rizzi told Campbell to throw a red flag on the play. As it turns out, we got the ball back after it was reviewed to be a fumble. Even small decisions like being aggressive to try & score right before the half with under 2 minutes to go or when we were up by 14 points in the 4^th quarter, pinned down against our endzone inside the 5 and coming out the shotgun, Ryan Tannehill tossed a 38 yard bomb to Kenny Stills to get us out of that heat.

The season is still young and if the Dolphins continue to play like this, we might be able to salvage that 1-3 start and get ourselves back into the playoff picture. I was hesitant to get overly excited about Dan Campbell and his words in the press conference because I didn’t want to hear any more talking, I just wanted to see how they were going to come out and play. After one game, I saw the culture change, the intensity and the aggressiveness that he was talking about. Game ball definitely goes to Dan Campbell. But still, it’s only 1 game. Now we’ll see if they can follow up that performance with another win against the Texans. 

2015 NFL Season Preview

            They should’ve handed it to Beast Mode. But nevermind that, we made it through another offseason & football is finally here. As always, there are many interesting headlines, questions & situations around the league so I’ll enlighten you all & do a division-by-division breakdown, including predictions on division winners and conclude with my playoff & Super Bowl picks.

Starting off with the AFC East:

1st) Patriots 11-5. Tom Brady da Don will be on the field in week 1 after his suspension was lifted. I had them winning 10 games with the suspension but Tom Brady is worth a few more wins by himself. They won’t repeat as Super Bowl champs but as long as they have Brady & Belichick, they’ll always be a winning team primed for the playoffs but my biggest concern is their defensive secondary. After losing Darrelle Revis & Brandon Browner, there are big holes back there.   

2^nd) Dolphins 9-7. As much as I want to say the Dolphins will top the Patriots & finish as the division winner for the first time since 2008, I don’t trust them. Miami had golden opportunities the last two years to get into the playoffs late but couldn’t finish the season off right and ended up with 8-8 records. I definitely like them to be a playoff team, they got too much talent not to be one. Ndamukong Suh, the biggest offseason prize in the league, will have a huge impact on the rest of the defense and will be vital in improving our run defense & pass rush. The offense is looking like the most dangerous Miami has had since the Ricky Williams & Chris Chambers days. The receiver unit is revamped with Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings, DeVante Parker & Cameron Jordan joining Rishard Matthews & Jarvis Landry. Ryan Tannehill will have a lot to work with. My biggest concerns are the depth & coaching, and can they stay consistent throughout the season?

3^rd) Bills 9-7. One thing I love about the Bills is their defense & new head coach, Rex Ryan. With Marcell Dareus & Mario Williams, they probably have the best defensive line in the league. Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin, Charles Clay & LeSean McCoy are great weapons on the offensive side but just like last year, the quarterback position will make or break this team. Rex believes this team will have the most success with Tyrod Taylor under center.

4^th) Jets 5-11.  Defense will carry this team once again. They do have a few capable running backs that can carry the load on offense. Brandon Marshall fell off but can he return to being one of the best receivers in the league? Offensive line is a major issue & the quarterback situation is a clown show.

          AFC North

1^st) Steelers 11-5. Pittsburgh has 2 of the best weapons in the game. A majority of the offense will run through Antonio Brown & Le’Veon Bell. They’ll finish in first place once again in the strongest division in the league but can the defense keep up with the offense?

2^nd) Bengals 10-6. Ahh the Bengals. Great in the regular season but fold in the playoffs. Great on local tv but fold in national games. Made it into the playoffs each of the last 4 years but lost in the wildcard round each of the last 4 years. They’re a very strong team offensively & defensively and I believe they’ll make it into the playoffs for a 5^th straight year but if they don’t finish top 2 in the conference, can they finally make it of the wildcard round?

3^rd) Ravens 9-7. With Jim Harbaugh & Joe Flacco, the Ravens will always be contenders. Last year they finished with a 10-6 record but barely got in the playoffs despite a 3^rd place finish in a strong division. Facing a strong schedule, they’ll end up in 3^rd place again this year but will miss the playoffs. They’ll have to beat the Steelers & Bengals to have a chance.

4^th) Browns 6-10. My gut feeling is that the Browns will regress from last year. Can’t even lie, they have the talent. They can compete week in & week out and the defense is solid but they have major inconsistencies at quarterback. Gordon is suspended for the year so receiver depth is weak. I believe the offense should run through the running backs to have success.

          AFC South

1^st) Colts 12-4. One of the best quarterbacks in one of the best offenses in the league. T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, Phillip Dorsett, Frank Gore, Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener. Sheesh. Defense & the offensive line has to improve if they’re going to go back to the AFC championship game.

2^nd) Texans 7-9. The Texans went 9-7 last year while winning just 2 games the year before. That’s a huge improvement but they’ll regress this year due to injuries & the quarterback situation. Andre Johnson is gone but DeAndre Hopkins is good enough to hold it down. Arian Foster will miss some time & Brian Hoyer was just named the starter at QB. Defensive line will be the strong point of this team with JJ Watt, Vince Wilfork & a healthy Jadeveon Clowney.

3^rd) Jaguars 5-11. The Jaguars have been stuck in mediocrity for a long time now but I got them improving to win 2 more games than their 2014 season. The offense is taking strides in the right direction with newcomers TJ Yeldon & Julius Thomas. Add that with the Allen receivers & Blake Bortles and they should make some noise. Defense should be improved also but the biggest thing holding this team back is their offensive line, leading the league in sacks allowed last year with 71.

4^th) Titans 4-12. Marcus Mariota will make a difference in Tennessee but not enough to save one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They have an underrated WR core that can make plays, the running back position still has question marks and the offensive line must protect their rookie QB.

          AFC West

1^st) Broncos 11-5. The Broncos remind me of the L.A. Clippers. Successful in the regular season but underachievers in the playoffs. With Gary Kubiak on board as the new coach, will things change? The Broncos are one of the most talented teams in the league and it is a given that they will reach double-digits in wins, but will they achieve postseason success?

2^nd) Chiefs 9-7. The Chiefs are a good team with talent on both sides of the ball. Jamaal Charles is the focal point on offense & the defense is top-notch against the pass. But to be a playoff team, the wide receivers must get involved in the passing game and the defense has to apply more pressure against the run

3^rd) Chargers 8-8. Another good team in the West that could be a playoff team. Biggest concern about San Diego is their running backs, as they were among the worst in rushing yardage last year. Defense is solid & Phillip Rivers still has it in him for another playoff run.

4^th. Raiders 5-11. Baby steps. The Raiders are finally making good moves in the offseason and that is a good thing. 5 wins will be an improvement from last year. The offense was among the worst last year in total yards & points. They do have solid pieces in place on the defensive side but were last in points allowed in 2014.

          NFC East

1^st) Eagles 10-6. I see another 10 win season for Philly. Chip Kelly has made a ton of moves in the offseason to tailor the team to his liking. The Eagles look different, but might be even better than last year. Defense is solid…scary run game with 3 quality backs…will Sam Bradford stay healthy & be productive on his new squad?

2^nd) Cowboys 10-6. Was it DeMarco Murray or was it the offensive line? With Murray gone, the running backs unit is crowded but somebody will have to step up. Passing game is still potent, defense is average. Tony Romo is playing the best football of his career & should be able to lead his team to the playoffs again.

3^rd) Giants 9-7. Good on offense, bad on defense. That pretty much sums up this team. Defense has the talent so they must produce when it counts. Running backs as a whole are better than average in my opinion, I believe they’re good enough to get the job done. Which Eli Manning will they get this season?

4^th) Redskins 4-12. The Redskins are bad & that offensive line is looking even worse. One of the worst teams regarding turnover margin. They have talent on offense but they have to keep RGIII on his feet & RGIII (I don’t know if it’s his confidence, locker room issues, or lingering injuries) has to perform like a 1^st round pick. RGIII has been benched & Kirk Cousins was announced the starter. It was a make or break year for Robert Griffin but it looks like he won’t get the chance to prove himself. Whether it was truly the concussion or the perfect excuse to bench him, they have lost their patience & his time with the Redskins might be over.

          NFC North

1^st) Packers 13-3. They’ll finish the regular season with the best record. An all-around solid, talented team with not many weaknesses. Even though they lost Jordy Nelson for the year, I believe they’ll be able to overcome that setback & go deep into the playoffs.

2^nd) Vikings 9-7 I like Teddy Bridgewater & the Vikings this year. Teddy is a natural at QB with poise under pressure & a big arm. Team him up with AP, who he was missing last year, and they can do big things. The defense is solid and they’ll improve from last year’s 7-9 record. Borderline playoff team.

3^rd) Lions 8-8 They’re not reaching 11 W’s again this year. Still solid but missing a big piece of their defense, as Suh took off for Miami. So we’ll see how the defense responds without him. They still have Stafford & Megatron and Bell & Abdullah taking over the backfield so they can score better than the majority of teams in the NFL.

4^th) Bears 5-11 Chicago fell off bad (shouldn’t have fired Lovie Smith) after hiring Marc Trestman to take over last year. Issues with Jay Cutler & one of the worst defenses in the league got him fired and now John Fox is in charge. He has a tough job in fixing the defense & getting Cutler back to where he used to be. The talent is there on offense but moves will have to be made on the other side of the ball.

          NFC South

1^st) Falcons 10-6 With new coach, Dan Quinn, coming over from the Seahawks, the Dirty Birds will be one of the most improved teams in the NFL. His specialty is defense & I believe the defense will be a lot better than last year’s. Look for Julio Jones to put up another monster year.

2^nd) Saints 8-8 What did the Saints in last year was their defense. I believe this year will be more of the same. They also lost many key weapons on offense so Brandin Cooks & Mark Ingram will be more of a focal point on that side. Another average year.

3^rd) Panthers 7-9 Best defense in the division but, that offense will be their downfall. Holes in the offensive line, weak wide receiver depth, & major questions at running back (I don’t believe they can rely on Johnathan Stewart all season long.) Even worse is Kelvin Benjamin being out for the year.

4^th) Buccaneers 6-10 On paper, the Bucs are a good team. They have talent on both sides of the ball. Doug Martin had a great preseason, Vincent Jackson & Mike Evans will be clutch for Jameis, and Lovie Smith’s defense should be much better than last year. It all depends on how well Jameis Winston can transition to the NFL game in his rookie season.

          NFC West

1^st) Seahawks 12-4 I see another 12 win season for the Seahawks. I don’t see no reason why they shouldn’t make another deep playoff run. The nucleus of the team is still there, add the best tight end in the league after Gronk with Beast Mode & Russell Wilson, and you have a more potent offense than last season. Defense from the d-line to the secondary is the best in the NFL, but how will they respond after losing Dan Quinn?

2^nd) Cardinals 10-6 Another double-digit win season for Arizona. Defense will be among the best in the league and they excel in forcing turnovers. Biggest concern is Carson Palmer & if he can stay on the field to lead his team to another playoff run. Andre Ellington will also need to stay healthy. 

3^rd) Rams 7-9 I like the Rams this year & believe they will finish 3^rd in the division. A defensive line that can control the momentum of the game. Offensive line will need some work after allowing 40 sacks last year but they do have weapons on that side of the ball. Biggest factor for success is Nick Foles & Todd Gurley. Is Foles the real deal or can we just attribute his success in Philly to Chip Kelly? How much will Gurley be able to contribute in his rookie year?

4^th) 49ers 4-12 The worst offseason I can remember will bleed into the new season. The 49ers lost so much talent, including head coach Jim Harbaugh, I don’t think they’ll recover. They will finish last in the division. Now the biggest question is whether Colin Kaepernick will perform up to his $100 million contract after having a down year.

Playoff Predictions

AFC: 1) Indianapolis Colts 2) Pittsburgh Steelers 3) New England Patriots 4) Denver Broncos 5) Cincinnati Bengals 6) Kansas City Chiefs

On The Bubble: Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers

NFC: 1) Green Bay Packers 2) Seattle Seahawks 3) Philadelphia Eagles 4) Atlanta Falcons 5) Dallas Cowboys 6) Arizona Cardinals

On The Bubble: Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints

Super Bowl 50

Indianapolis Colts over the Green Bay Packers

Back to Back Univeristy

           With all the championships the University of Florida has won in recent years, they might as well adopt a new moniker: Back to Back University. Along with the gymnastics squad that just won their 3^rd straight title, UF softball soon followed by beating Michigan in the Women’s College World Series to win their 2^nd consecutive title. There are 6 other Gator athletic teams that have won 2 or more consecutive championships including Men’s Outdoor & Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Golf, Women’s Tennis & Men’s Swimming. 

            Led by USA Collegiate Player of the Year, Lauren
Haeger & a #1 preseason ranking, the Gators finished the regular season with a 49-5 record (18-5 in SEC play) & the regular season title. The Gators came up short in the SEC tournament but then ran through the NCAA tournament on its way to a World Series title, outscoring opponents 41-8. Other key players that were vital to this year’s championship run are junior second baseman Kelsey Stewart, freshman left fielder Nicole DeWitt, junior center fielder Kristi Merritt, sophomore right fielder Justine McLean, outfielder Bailey Castro & Taylore Fuller (3^rd on the team in home runs & 2^nd in runs batted in). On top of being named WCWS Most Outstanding Player, Lauren Haeger also finished the year with the 2015 Honda Award & SEC Female Athlete of the Year. She is also the only player, college & pro baseball or softball, besides legend Babe Ruth with 70 home runs & 70 wins during their career. 

            On the other side of campus, the men’s baseball team were close to winning their 1^st title before losing to eventual champion, Virginia, in the World Series. They finished the regular season with a 52-18 record (19-11 SEC) & a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Florida had an easy test in the Regionals, defeating FAMU, South Florida & Florida Atlantic to advance to the Super Regionals where they swept Florida State. They then moved on to the World Series where they eliminated the Miami Hurricanes but fell short against Virginia. Gators baseball were led by JJ Schwarz & Harrison Bader, who have led the team in home runs & runs batted in. Also important were Josh Tobias, Buddy Reed, Richie Martin Dalton Guthrie & Mike Rivera.

University of Oregon Double Up

Oregon Men Celebrate after Wining National Title

With the collegiate track & field season officially over, we would like to send a huge congratulations to the University of Oregon’s men’s and women’s track teams for winning the NCAA Outdoor Championship! After catching all of the talent at the preliminaries a few weeks back, it is absolutely no surprise at the records and stats broken at the historic Hayward Field this past weekend. While we had our eyes set on the Gators taking home the big win, they still had some stellar performances. That really goes for a lot of the schools that came out to compete. Just a few weeks ago, professional sprinter Justin Gatlin set the Hayward record for the 200 meter with his 19.68 finish at the Prefontaine Classic. That record has since been broken with the University of Southern California’s Andre De Grasse took the first place win with a 19.58 finish! And he wasn’t the only sprinter to hit a sub-20 run this weekend! Baylor University’s Trayvon Bromell and Florida’s very own Dedric Dukes closed the race in 19.86, with fraction of a second between their third and second place wins respectively. De Grasse also took home the title for the 100-meter sprint, finishing in just 9.75 seconds and breaking the collegiate, NCAA meet, and Hayward Field records all at once. Jumper Marquis Dendy successfully defended both of his titles in the long and triple jump! Go Gators! And of course, we can’t forget about the most exciting events, the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see our Gators take the title, but Arkansas took home a win for the first time which helped them finish the meet in third place, just behind our Gators in second.

Andre De Grasse winner of the 100 & 200m

                Although they didn’t win the meet, University of Kentucky’s women’s squad pulled a close runner up to Oregon. Their most notable performances came from sprinter Dezerea Bryant and hurdler Kendra Harrison. Dez is one of my personal favorites on the track and definitely left all her troubles on the track as she went 22.18 in the last 200-meter sprint of her collegiate career. In the short-hurdles, Kendra Harrison finished both the indoor and outdoor seasons undefeated! An elite hurdler, Harrison’s winning time of 12.55 was just another contribution to her title as the third-fastest hurdler in NCAA history. Of course, we can’t forget about Jenna Prandini, one of Oregon’s top performers, taking the 100-meter title, securing her teams lead in the meet. Also contributing the Lady Duck, distance runner Raevyn Rogers took the win with a 1:59.71 finish in the 800-meter race. Although our Lady Gators did not come out on top in the individual events, they managed to pull of two championship wins in both the 4x1 and 4x4 relays.

Women National Champ: Oregon Ducks

                With the season now over, the NCAA’s elite athletes will prepare for their final bid at the USA Outdoor Championships back in Eugene, Oregon at end of the month. Big congratulations to all of the athletes finishing their collegiate careers and graduating from college! To the seniors, best of luck in your endeavors as we look forward to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games!

           --solementality

University of Florida Track & Field: Still Great

This week, the world of collegiate track & field heads to the historic Hayward Field out in Eugene, Oregon for their last event of the season. Our No. 1 ranked Florida Gators are looking to reestablish their title as the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Champions after losing to Oregon last year. Just before heading to Eugene, the Gators made a quick stop in Jacksonville, Florida for the NCAA East Preliminary rounds. To call the weekend a success is an understatement, with a total of 23 athletes, both men and women, qualifying for the outdoor championships. 

There is a tremendous amount of talent within the Southeastern Conference, but Florida has consistently proven to be a track and field powerhouse thanks to Coach Mike Holloway and his staff. Most notable of his team are senior sprinter Dedric Dukes and senior jumper Marquis Dendy. Both athletes have built an impressive resume on the track over the past four years. You can expect that they end their final season with the Gators with some of their best performances yet! Before the meet ended, I got a chance to talk with both athletes about their performances and what we should expect to see out at Hayward Field. “It’s exciting to have the team heading back to Oregon. We are really looking to bring home the championship, it would be a great way to end my last season,” said Dendy. Keep in mind, Dendy had a record-breaking 8.05 meter leap in the long jump. Sprinter Dedric Dukes is looking forward to the same season ending, with hopes of taking his career to the next level. His feelings on the moment were summed up in four simple words, “Last one, best one.” With a winning time of 20.14, Dukes is looking to hold on to his title in the 200 meter dash. Do not be surprised if we see a sub-20 performance this weekend, as he told us he has been working really hard for this moment, especially after overcoming an ankle injury just before the start of the indoor season.

While these two Gators shine in the spotlight, there’s still much more to expect from the team. Including runners Najee Glass and Antwan Wright who are a part of the 4x100 relay. You should also look out for senior Mark Parrish, who is looking to take his final wins in the steeplechase and the distance duo consisting of Andres Arroyo and Ryan Schnulle dominating the 800 meter race. Of course, we can’t forget about our Lady Gators! They are heading into the competition ranked No. 6. If regionals were any indication of what to expect of the Florida women this weekend, we are in for a treat! Sprinter Kyra Jefferson broke a University of Florida record with her 22.49 finish in the 200 meter dash. Senior hurdler Bridgette Owens also had a great performance in the 100 meter hurdle alongside fellow senior Cierra Brewer, who is best known for her success as Florida’s leading triple jumper. The women’s 4x100 team also took a huge lead in the last leg of the relay, confirming their spots in Eugene with a 42.93 finish.

You can catch the NCAA Championships starting June 10^th, hosted by the University of Oregon. We wish our men’s and women’s teams the best of luck as they make their way to Oregon this week. As always, it’s great to be a Florida Gator!

--solementality

Tannehill’s Place Amongst the Best NFL Quarterback’s

            Ryan Tannehill recently signed a 6-year contract extension worth $96 million with $45 guaranteed. This confirms that the Dolphins are 100% behind their franchise quarterback. Some would say that is a lot of money for an inconsistent QB with a losing record that has never taken his team to the playoffs. I’ll even admit that. But I don’t think that was the point of the contract, to reward his performance over the past 3 years. I see it as a proactive & good business move from the Dolphins to lock up their quarterback sooner rather than later at a bargain price. And it was important to do so before other quarterback’s from the 2012 draft class such as Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson & RGIII got their contracts. There is a Super Bowl victory, multiple playoff wins & an Offensive Rookie of the Year between those QB’s and Tannehill hasn’t been nowhere close to reaching those achievements. Their extensions will be well over $100 million, especially Luck, who just might be the highest paid quarterback in the league when his time comes. So of course, in terms of on-field performance & contract value, Tannehill isn’t on their level (except RGIII). But if the Dolphins waited until after another good season from Tannehill & contract extensions from the other QB’s, that new contract would’ve been worth way more than they are giving him now. 

            There’s been a lot of talk about Tannehill’s performance, his worth, & his rank among the starting quarterbacks in the league after the contract numbers went public. I’m a big Tannehill supporter & I believe we found our quarterback for the next decade. Yes, he has to work on his pocket presence & deep ball. Despite another 8-8 record, he is trending upwards & has improved in every relevant statistical category in each of his 3 seasons. This past season, he threw for 4,045 yards & 27 touchdowns with a 66.4 completion percentage & a 92.8 passer rating. If you ask me, those are generally good numbers for a quarterback in his 3^rd year and the Dolphins could have easily went 10-6 if it wasn’t for a few late drives from Green Bay, Detroit & Denver. So I know we’re good enough to achieve it & the talent is definitely there, the Dolphins just have to get tougher physically & mentally and finish games better.

            If we get a better record (playoffs) from the Dolphins & better play from Tannehill, Miami will be in a better situation than other teams with $100 million quarterbacks that haven’t played up to their big contracts. Colin Kaepernick & Jay Cutler signed $100 million contracts within the past couple years but have regressed since then. Tannehill might not have the athleticism of Kaep or the big arm of Cutler, but Tannehill had a better year than both of them in 2014. If you ask me, we have a top 15 quarterback in Tanny. He’s not in that elite bracket with Brady, Manning, Rodgers, Luck & Brees but he’s better than the average quarterback. Cam Newton, Philip Rivers, Big Ben, Matt Ryan & Russell Wilson would round out my top 10. The rest of the top 15 with Tanny included would be Matthew Stafford, Tony Romo, Eli Manning & Joe Flacco. Ryan Tannehill could creep into the top 10 real soon & could be worth more than his new contract with a couple more good, consistent seasons & some playoff wins under his belt.  

Tannehill Rob the Dolphins for $100 Million

The NFL is not the same as it was 10-15 years ago. The Quarterback and passing game is what makes the game interesting. Quarterbacks such as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are consistently elite no matter what type of team is put around him. The next tier of QB’s can be put in any order whether its Eli Manning, Drew Brees or Tony Romo, etc. In recent years, teams are awarding this prominent position with $100 million contracts for mediocrity. Andy Dalton just received one before he won a playoff game, even though he put his team in the playoffs since entering the league it hasn’t translated into any success. 

Ryan Tannehill received a multi-year $96 million contract from the Miami Dolphins, with $45 million guaranteed. He doesn’t deserve this large amount of money this early in his career. I have heard every argument as to why he deserve this contract. My co-worker says he has gotten better every year and this is the first stable QB since they had Marino. I counter that by saying YES, he has improved statistically but does that equate to w’s in the win column. No, the dolphins have been on the verge of the playoffs the last two seasons. Coming up short both years. 

 Now I agree he does deserve to be given an extension and this helps them dictate the market since the contracts of Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson to be done soon. I thought the NFL was a league of results once you make it in the NFL. Players are drafted because off of potential and growth but this type of investment should be based on the end result of the overall team. Dolphin fans will be paying close attention to the play of Tannehill this year. Any regression from last year will have the dolphins choice to pay him this money to be questioned throughout the league.