Zach Thomas Leaving? Crowder a Free Agent?

There is so much going on right now for the Miami Dolphins that a private investigator would have hard time keeping up with it all…even if he worked with Bill Parcells.  With the season over and the off-season in full swing…for Miami…there is some concern that Zach Thomas could be leaving and that Channing Crowder could become a free agent.

The Zach Thomas issue is a little interesting.  The concussed pro-bowl linebacker was seen taking his private parking sign…shown in this video (Scroll down to the video box)…before leaving the training facility yesterday.  It is not known if this is a normal practice of Thomas’ at then end of each year.  With the head injury, his wife asking him to hang it up, the many changes going on within the organization, and the 1-15 season…there may be more to this than a simple…”I just wanted the sign” type of thing.

Channing Crowder has made no comments on his future with the Dolphins but a clause in his rookie contract gives him the opportunity to opt out of his contract this off-season.  It would be speculation that he would then immediately become a free agent or a restricted free agent.  Crowder, although missing 4 games, was the team leader in tackles this year.  Should Crowder opt to leave, Zach retires, and Jason Taylor requests a trade, the Miami Defense will be almost a completely different unit than what it was over the last 3 to 5 years.  It is something worth keeping an eye on.

No word on the future of head coach Cam Cameron.  He and Parcells were scheduled to speak today…likely after Bill has spoken/interviewed Cowboys Jeff Ireland for the GM spot.  What is known is that if Parcells has an interest in Cowboys assistant Tony Sparano or Jason Garrett, he may want to move quickly.  Sparano is scheduled to meet with Atlanta on Friday and Garretts’ name is circulating for the HC job in Baltimore.

Under NFL rules, playoff teams can have their staff interviewed by other teams until this Saturday.  After that, a coach can not interview with another team until their team is eliminated from the playoffs.  In the case of the Cowboys…that may not be until after the Super Bowl.