Peyton to the Jets? Plus Other Dolphin Notes
Peyton to the Jets?
With the small announcement that the New York Jets have increased consultant Tom Moore’s workload for the rest of the season, it makes me wonder if the Jets are going to make a push for Peyton Manning next year. By all accounts, Mannning is very much a creature of habit; what better way is there to woo Peyton than to give his long time coordinator input into the offense?
Peyton seems to be holding most of the chips in determining where he will play. He is scheduled to receive a 28 million dollar bonus before the league year begins. He can, at some point, tell Indianapolis that he would be willing to delay that bonus in order to be traded to whatever team he wants to be traded to. Or he has the option of not delaying the bonus to force Indy to either keep or release him. The cap hit for releasing or trading Manning after the payment of the bonus would be somewhere in the realm of 38.8 Million Bucks, per Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star. It is unlikely that the Colts could absorb that kind of cap hit and field a team anywhere close to competitive, so if Peyton gets that bonus, chances are he remains a Colt. If we see that Peyton has delayed that bonus payment a bit before the start of the league year, look for a trade, and my money would currently be on the Jets.
Also of note is that Jeff Saturday, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Anthony Gonzales are all scheduled to become Unrestricted Free Agents, meaning they could join Manning wherever he went.
Playoff scenarios
Just because I am a morbid individual that loves punishing himself, I decided to look and see what all would have to happen for the Dolphins to make the playoffs. I do not have the time to write 10000 words though, so I’ll just run through things that can happen this weekend that would eliminate them. The Dolphins could either loose, or Cincinnati could win this weeks game.
Vick against the Dolphins
One of the most memorable random plays that has lodged itself into my memory was during Michael Vick’s game against the Dolphins in 2001. Chris Chandler was the starting quarterback that season, but during the game, he injured his arm, so Vick was put in. On one play towards the end of the game, Vick was feeling some heat. He escaped the pocket, rolled out to his right, and at almost a full run, threw a 45 yard rope that was perfectly placed to his receiver setting up a first and goal from the two yard line. It was one of the most incredible throws I have ever seen, and it serves as a reminder that attached to Vick’s left shoulder is a Howitzer.
Brian Daboll’s inner mad scientist
Some of the odd things on Offense we have witnessed this year include: Every lineman lining up to the right of center, Jake Long lining up as a flanker, two wildcatish looking touchdown runs by Reggie Bush. What will Daboll unearth against the Eagles this week?
Slim Shady
LeSean McCoy is having quite the impressive campaign this season. He is currently second in the league in rushing with 1134 yards, behind only Maurice Jones-Drew, and leads the NFL in touchdowns scored with 15. As I have noted in the past, he is also the exact type of back that has traditionally given the Dolphins Fits; small, quick and fast. In games where McCoy has rushed for over 100 yards the Eagles are 4-1. In games where McCoy rushed for less than 100, Philly is 0-7. If Miami shuts McCoy down, their chance of winning goes up exponentially.
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