Miami should look at new FA Oline
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins have a very nice opportunity on their hands. Free Agents. Oline free agents at that. The Fins avoided the high priced FA veterans during March madness and instead focused their money and their acquisitions elsewhere.
With cuts looming for each team by COB today, the Dolphins should start seeing some surprise veterans on the FA block.
Already two names have entered the market of the unemployed footballer. Keydrick Vincent and Rick DeMulling. Both have been long time starters for the Ravens and Colts respectively. Both would be upgrades over the existing problems that the Fins have at the guard position.
Miami is using LJ Shelton, Chris Liewienski, Anthony Alabi, and Rex Hadnot, or at least combinations of them all. DeMulling brings a Super Bowl ring and leadership. Vincent has started 21 games for the Ravens since joining them in 05′. He is a 7 year NFL veteran. According to the official Ravens site, Vincent was battling for a number 2 spot at guard due to a youth infusion on the line. They say that his release was due in part to the youth that they have. He was previously part of the line for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Like all veteran players, those released come with some sort of baggage. Teams do not practice the art of releasing great players. For whatever reasons each year some veterans find their services no longer needed. Be it salary cap moves, youth movement, whatever it is, they are there. In the NFL, one teams garbage is another teams starter. Such is life in the NFL.
So Miami is in a position to possibly upgrade at a position of need. The question is, do they go after the first wave or wait for the 2nd? On Saturday, teams will need to be at the league mandated 53 man roster, so therefore each team will have to vacate around 22 people off of their roster. The odds of a gem being there are rather good. Still, is it worth the risk.
The Dolphins have the chance to improve now. As fans, we may not know the reasons behind the Phins would consider passing on any now. They know far more than we do. For now, there will be names on the wire that fans from everywhere will inevitably say, “so and so just got released!, should we go after him?” It is like this every year. The answer should always be…”maybe”!