Dec. 23, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush (right) celebrates his touchdown with teammate wide receiver Brian Hartline (left) during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

There has been a lot of speculation about how much money the Miami Dolphins would have left to spend after the contracts signed by back-up QB Matt Moore and Brian Hartline.  Today we know.  The Dolphins had around 44 million to play with, designated Randy Starks with the franchise tag for 8 million leaving them with around 37 million to spend.

According to today’s hard working local beat writer Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post, the Dolphins only spent around 4.6 million in 2013 cap space on the two re-signs.

Neither player get’s a huge amount guaranteed.  Moore has a 4 million base in 2014 but it’s not guaranteed and the signing bonus and 2013 base of 1 million are.  Hartline got 12 million guaranteed in the form of his signing bonus and his next two seasons base salaries.  $715,000.00 in 2013 with 4.75 million in 2014.  The rest of the 30 plus million is back loaded and not guaranteed.

For both Ireland and the players, it’s a good situation.  Ireland keeps important members of his team while not sacrificing is spending power.  The Dolphins still have around 30 million to start spending tomorrow afternoon and could still sign Randy Starks to a new deal that would reduce his cap number as well.

To see the contract details, click here.

Nov.25, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore (left) talks with teammate Ryan Tannehill (right) during the the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Dolphins locked up QB Matt Moore for the next two years on an 8 million dollar contract.  The deal secures the one Miami Dolphins impending free agent I listed as the top off-season priority.  Let me repeat this…the top Dolphin impending free agent re-sign.  Yes, more valuable to this team than Jake Long, Reggie Bush, Randy Starks, and Sean Smith.  Even Brian Hartline.

The Dolphins have had a history of poor QB’s since Dan Marino left.  They also have had a long list of bad back-up QB’s since Don Strock walked off the field.  The Dolphins needed to shore up a position that could be critical if the team loses Ryan Tannehill for any real length of time.  As we saw last season, Moore is capable of coming in cold and winning you a game.  Isn’t that right New York?

Going back to the early years of the Dolphins, Bob Griese had Earl Morrall and then had Don Strock.  The best years of Dan’s career was with Don Strock riding pine behind him.  Ryan Tannehill needs that guy he can turn to.  That guy who can team him and finding that kind of player is not all that easy in this NFL.  The Moore deal will give Miami a legit starting caliber QB to back up a sophomore QB who reportedly will run more of the read-option and be allowed to simply run more often.  QB’s who run put themselves in position to take a lot of unnecessary hits.

Moore may never step on the field and the Dolphins very well may waste 4 million a season.  Or the team may opt to trade him prior to the trade deadline.  A deal that would work out for Matt Moore.  As of now there simply isn’t enough teams with definitive starting QB problems.  There are a lot of question marks but next year QB’s will have their heads roll.  Moore, should a team lose their starter or their starter in question fails, could be a widely sought after option in that trade.

The Dolphins now have the benefit of having two very capable QB’s who have both learned the system together and can work with the first team.  The second team offense now will have a QB with NFL starting experience throwing them the ball.  Making the roster better.  Finally, Moore is one helluva respected player in the locker-room.  Many players were lobbying for his return and the Dolphins will keep an important leader in touch with the players as Tannehill develops more.

Nov.25, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore (8) during the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Head over to Finheaven.com.  Phinatics.com.  FinNation.com.  Phins.com.  And any other Miami Dolphins fan forum DOT.com you choose.  Hot topic?  What the Dolphins will do with their free agents and what they will do with those that are not.  It’s dicey and it’s a full blown debate.

For the most part, many fans believe that the loss of Jake Long is not only a foregone conclusion, but not a tremendous loss for the team.  Start talking about Sean Smith, Brian Hartline, and Randy Starks, suddenly the opinions run from “let ‘em go” to “must keep”.  One thing is for certain however, not everyone shares the same opinion and even fewer accept the opinion of someone else.

So here of course is mine.

Starting at the top I have to look at Jake Long.  The former 1st overall pick is nothing close to the perennial Pro-Bowler he used to be.  Some will point out that this year is the first year he has not been voted to the Pro-Bowl and I would argue that he shouldn’t have been voted in last year.  Long is a good blocking LT but I question his actual leadership.  It’s been pointed out in the local media that he has an ego that far exceeds his on field performance.  The truth is, injuries have derailed his production and he is not likely going to get the top dollar salary he is looking for.  At least not from the Dolphins.

It’s always easier to say “let ‘em walk” but allowing  Long to leave in free agency creates a problem on the Dolphins offensive line.  There is a hole.  Jonathan Martin played well in Long’s place and it’s likely that he could and will slide to his natural left side but if he does indeed move over, another hole will be left on the right side.  Despite the glaring needs at WR and to some degree TE, this offensive line is still not a well balanced in your face unit.  While losing Long may not hurt the line play and keeping him will most assuredly not necessarily fix it, a hole will be there none the less.

There are options if Long leaves and more talk out of Miami seems to be leaning in that direction.  The Phins could as I said move Martin to the left and find a RT in the draft.  With five picks in the first 100 selections, the Dolphins easily could add tackle help on the outside.  The addition of yet another lineman however will not likely go over well with Fans.  It’s still a need and one that will be even more so if/when Jake Long leaves.

After the talk of Long subsides Brian Hartline talk begins.

Hartline has evolved into a fan favorite.  His 1,000 yard season surprised everyone especially after he missed all of the training camp with a non-football surgery.  His ability to gel with rookie QB Ryan Tannehill was exciting to watch and he became Tannehill’s go to WR.  Despite the fact that most believe Hartline is a number 2 WR, opposing teams struggled to stop the soon to be free agent.

Most fans believe that Hartline is the number 1 must sign free agent.  The Dolphins are seriously thin with impact WR’s and it’s an off-season priority for Jeff Ireland to find a legit stretch the field number 1.  The reality is that Hartline may be expendable despite the public opinion.

Facing facts, Hartline has had one stellar season and that was in 2012.  Looking back on last years off-season and many believed that Hartline was a candidate to get cut.  The question now becomes this.  How much is Hartline worth to the Dolphins?  It’s been rumored that Hartline will command a 5-6 million a year salary and while his yardage was over 1k, he still isn’t a big end-zone target and that is not likely to change.

The second thing you have to ask is whether or not Hartline is worth being paid 5-6 to be a number 2 wide-receiver.   Then you have to ask if the Dolphins have any younger WR’s on their roster at this point who could have similar success with a top WR opposite them.  As the season wound down, I admit, I was one of those who believed that Hartline was a top priority to re-sign.  As the off-season ticks away and I start looking over the team, the stats, and how this team won and lost, I’m not 100% certain that Hartline is a must sign in-house free agent.

Don’t get me wrong, I see Hartline as a valuable asset and a player that Ryan Tannehill needs to have to continue his development but I don’t believe that necessarily warrants a 6 mill contract.  If I can get Hartline for four or less or a solid team deal that subsequent years help the cap, then I’m on board.

For the purpose of this article, I will address the one player I believe is the teams number 1 priority.  The other remaining free agents will be covered later.  To me, this player is QB Matt Moore.

The Miami Dolphins have two HOF QB’s.  Bob Griese and Dan Marino.  Griese had Earl Morrall and Don Strock.  Dan Marino had Don Strock.  Since the retirement of Marino the Dolphins have not had a star caliber QB let alone a veteran back-up who could step in on a whim and win the game.  Young, hungry, and still holding out the hope that he can land a starting gig, Matt Moore is Ryan Tannehill’s Don Strock.

Moore is as valuable to this team as any of their other free agents.  If the Dolphins allow Moore to walk they will need to draft a back-up.  Either to stand behind Tannehill or stand behind Pat Devlin.  Looking at the NFL landscape only a handful absolutely need starting QB’s and each of those teams will likely address their future starter in this years draft.  Which means whatever team Moore would land with, would be a temp job.

In Miami, Moore can find some stability.  He can compete and make himself and Ryan Tannehill better.  He knows the system and he knows he can walk onto a field and take control.  He has the respect of his teammates and the confidence in his ability.  More than that, he has the respect of his coaches and the guy standing in line in front of him.  Matt Moore is a perfect back-up QB and keeping him on the team will only help improve the play of Tannehill.

Most won’t agree that Moore should be a top priority but he should.   Moore will test free agency and will be given the promise that he will be competing for a starting job.  It’s unlikely however that anyone will offer to pay him like he will be.  His return to Miami shouldn’t be ruled out and the Dolphins shouldn’t summarily dismiss his value to the team either.