Is Sunday Their Last Game In A Dolphins Uniform?
By Brian Miller
Sunday may or may not turn out to be the Miami Dolphinssaving grace. Maybe the miracles that are doled out by the football God’s give Miami what they need to move into January with a schedule in front of them. While fans and players alike await the outcome of Sunday’s “must happen” games, for some Dolphins, will this Sunday be the final appearance in a Miami Dolphins uniform? Here are ten players who could be seeing their final gameas a Phin.
10: Jason Taylor: His one year deal is up and while the Phins could opt to pay him another 1 year deal worth just under 1.5 million, the truth is that as long as JT is on the roster, Cameron Wake won’t develop. That leaves Jason possibly on the outside looking in.
Prediction: JT stays for one final season and sees his playing time and roll diminished. JT is too valuable as veteran leader.
09: Chad Pennington: Pennington played in a total of 19.3 games for the Dolphins and it already appears that his time is now up. His contract his up and he is recovering from yet another season ending shoulder injury. With the emergence of Chad Henne, and Pat White and Tyler Thigpen on the roster, Pennington’s future is very cloudy.
Prediction: Pennington suited up his last game for the Dolphins in week 3. However, don’t be surprised if Dolphins guru Bill Parcells finds a place for him on the coaching staff…if Pennington doesn’t land somewhere else.
08: Joey Porter: Porter still has 8 sacks this season but he also only has contributed less than 40 tackles. His age, his speed, and his knee all point to this Sunday being his last.
Prediction: Joey Porter is due a million plus roster bonus this off-season. The Phins won’t pay it. Porter will be gone.
07: Will Allen: The Dolphins extended Allen’s contract for a season and then he was injured and placed on IR. He will likely lose his starting job to Vontae’ Davis…for the most part he has already. Will the Phins save some money and cut the CB loose?
Prediction: The Dolphins know the value of CB depth and Allen will provide that even at a higher cost. The team saw what happened last season when they allowed two corners two depart for Denver. Allen will stay and finish out his deal.
06: Greg Camarillo: The Dolphins have a bevy of slot wide-receivers and possession guys. They lack a number 1 threat. Greg Camarillo is one of the most sure-handed players on the Phins roster. Yet, he still doesn’t start.
Prediction: Camarillo has lost his spot to Brian Hartline but the real threat to him leaving is the fact that he is likely one of only a few players with some trade value and the Dolphins will likely try and trade him this off-season. I think they will succeed.
05: Justin Smiley: The oft-injured guard was the first free agent that Bill Parcells went after for the Dolphins and at first it was a great move. This year, injury put Smiley down and then Nate Garner kept him there. Will the Phins keep him as an expensive back-up?
Prediction: Hard to say on this one as Smiley does provide valuable depth, but the problem is he is paid as a starter. The Dolphins will likely address their offensive guard positions this off-season and that should mean that Smiley is released.
04: Gibril Wilson: Wilson got beat more than any other player on the team and his down-field slap fest with NO TE Jeremy Shockey is still fresh in fans’ minds. But fans don’t make the decisions. Parcells does. Still, Parcells can’t be too happy with the lack of effort coming from Wilson and a sure INT dropped last week in a critical game won’t help.
Prediction: The Dolphins won’t keep Wilson because he has money attached to his deal. They let Ernest Wilford go before the start of the season last year. With Chris Clemons waiting in the wings, this Sunday should be the last game for Wilson as a Phin.
03: Jason Allen: Allen has yet to make even a small dent as a cornerback since being drafted by Nick Saban in his second and final season. His play as a CB rarely nets him an opportunity to be on the field when the team is in nickel and dime packages.
Prediction: Allen may not be a good CB/S but he plays very very well on ST’s and his play is one of the reasons that the Phins ST coverage improved this year. The Dolphins will keep him.
02: Ted Ginn: This is the 2nd biggest question heading into the off-season for the Dolphins. Will Miami give Ted Ginn another shot or will they finally part ways with a player who just can’t get it. The issue with Ginn is not an easy one to dissect or digest. He often will show a quick flash of what he can do, andthen immediately turn around and let you know that he won’t do it again.
Prediction: Probably the toughest one to figure out. The Phins will likely try and move him prior to the draft to obtain an extra pick for the April rook fest. If they fail in that endeavor they will likely hold on to him through the training camp before making a final decision. I think they find a trade partner.
01: Ronnie Brown: Is there any other player on the Dolphins roster that has more questions surrounding his future? Ronnie Brown is the heart and soul of the offense and a huge fan favorite. Brown, despite his injury history has one of the largest fan bases over the last decade next to that of JT and Zach Thomas. Still, his injury plagued seasons are a huge question mark and with both a CBA issue and impending free agency, Brown may not be playing in another game for the Dolphins.
Prediction: I would love to sit here and say that Brown will be back next season but truth be told, Bill Parcells has won with less of a running back. Brown needs to be relied upon and so far he can’t be consistently because of injury. His impending free agency presents another problem.
If there is a CBA in place or an extension, Brown will become a free agent and if that happens, the Dolphins will likely let him test the market and either let him go or match the offer if it’s reasonable. If the offer is too much, Ronnie Brown will be gone. The Dolphins won’t invest a ton of money in a guy who has only been healthy for two whole seasons.
Now, if there is no CBA and no extension then Ronnie Brown will not be a free agent until after the 2010 season and the Dolphins will get another year to evaluate.