Extinction Eludes the Miami Dolphins…For Now

Today marks the weekend opening of Ice Age 3:  Dawn of the Dinosaurs and the Fan Sided Network has posted a blog about the aging NFL veterans who really should be hanging up their cleats instead of lacing them.  You can read that by clicking here.

That whole concept led me to thinking about these Miami Dolphins.  The roster.  The aging veterans who should be calling it a career.  Is there a Brett Favre on the team?  An over the hill veteran who really needs to take a long look in the mirror and cry “No Mas!”  The answer is simply no.

The Phins have 4 guys on the team that are over 10 years in the league. Chad Pennington is the youngest of the bunch at 10 years NFL service.  He is followed by Joey Porter at 11 and then Jason Ferguson and Jason Taylor with 13 each.  Of those 4, an argument may be had in regards to Ferguson but even then it’s a bit of a stretch.

Ferguson seems to have become a bit younger since joining the Dolphins and there is no reason why he shouldn’t make an impact on the defense in his 13 season.  While the years ahead of him are dwindling, he still can play an important roll on the team and anchor the 3-4 defense until the Phins can find a younger solution.  Ferguson doesn’t need to retire just yet.

The other 3 are a bit less debateable.  Jason Taylor is only a few years removed from defensive MVP and last years one season in Washington while injury fatigued was hardly an example to why he should call it quits.  In Miami he should return to his former self albeit in a more limited roll.

Chad Pennington has some good football left in him and his age isn’t creeping on him as it does on other QB’s.  Mainly because in CP, the long ball is not any more a threat today as it was 6 years ago.  He still uses his brains to run the team and that doesn’t change with age.

Joey Porter was on the verge starting last season but his 17 sacks a year ago put an end to speculation that he is done.  This season with Jason Taylor back in the mix, could provide the opportunity for Porter to become a dominant force once again.

The Phins also only have 4 guys with 8 or 9 years experience and only Ricky Williams is likely to find himself out of football in the next two years.  Will Allen, LB Akin Ayodele, and TE David Martin are all in that group as well.  David Martin may not be on the team come September.

While Dawn of the Dinosaurs will likely take home this weekends box office championship, the Dolphins list of aging veterans and over the hill never were’s looks to finally have gone the way of the dinosaurs.  If you are looking for ancient relics to pour over, take a look towards New England and their linebacking corp.