Dolphins News You Might Have Missed

Apr 27, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins first round pick Dion Jordan speaks to reporters at the training facility at Nova Southeastern University. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Did you know that the Miami Dolphins are still planning on bidding for either Super Bowl “L” or “LI”?  They are.  In fact, today they submitted to the NFL some of the attractions they are planning to offer.  Despite the recent denial by House Speaker Weatherford to get a referendum passed to allow local Miamians a right to vote on stadium upgrades, the Super Bowl committee is moving forward in the hopes of landing another game.

For starters they are telling the NFL that they will have a Super Bowl park set up in Miami with zip lining in translucent footballs.  Whatever that exactly is I’m not sure.  They are also planning on having a full size football football installed on the deck of a Navy aircraft carrier.  What game will be played there is anyone’s guess.  In addition they will offer floating nightclubs literally on Biscayne Bay.  Now that would be something cool to see.

Weatherford has of course been in the news lately for his denial of allowing the stadium referendum to get voted on by the Florida House of Reps even after it sailed through the Senate for approval.  The Dolphins contend that Weatherford offered them a guarantee to have the vote happen not once but several times.  Weatherford denied those claims but since two local Miami politicians have since said they were present during the meeting in which Weatherford agreed to let it go to vote.

The Dolphins may find themselves with another hold out on their hands come training camp.  First overall selection Dion Jordan will face the same dilemma as Miami’s number 1 pick a year ago, Ryan Tannehill.  The cause is off-set language in the contract.  It appears that several top of the draft rookies are receiving 100% fully guaranteed deals.  The Dolphins want “off-set language” in any contract they deliver to a first round pick.  In other words, the Dolphins want the right to terminate a contract should that player bust at this next level.  Without the off-set language, any player released by one team and then signed by another would be guaranteed his full amount on his original deal plus whatever he gets in his new deal.  In the off-set language he would only receive 100% of his contract if he fails to land on another team.  If he signs with another team then Miami would no longer owe him the remainder of his deal.

It’s double dipping for the player and it’s a show of commitment by the team to not put the off-set language into a contract.  Dawn Aponte who regarded as one of the top capologists in the NFL will not likely cave into the demands that language be removed.  Last year she held tight until the Dolphins and Ryan Tannehill came to a better agreement.  Usually it involves increases in salary at some point.

Former Dolphins LB Karlos Dansby has visited the New York Jets but it appears that he will likely return to Arizona where he started his career.  Dansby has drawn lukewarm interest since his release from the Dolphins.

NFL teams have been signing their rookie class at a fast paced rate however the Dolphins have not signed any of their draft picks as of the posting of this article.  The Dolphins do not need to rush but the rookie salary cap and scale has made it much easier to get draft picks under contract.  The rookie wage scale makes negotiations on dollar amount far less back and forth as has the cap on years for rookie deals.

The Palm Beach Dolphins?  The Dolphins have been a hotbed for relocation rumors since the breakdown involving the stadium renovations.  Now it appears that CEO Mike Dee is giving hints that a relocation may be possible.  No, not to LA to PB.  According to an article on the Miami Herald Dee said the team would have to consider options if say Palm Beach built them a state of the art stadium.  Of course that is not likely to happen and in reality it would leave Stephen Ross paying ren on a stadium north on I95 when he has a fully functional one right now.  Unless they plan to use the stadium for other purposes a move to PB simply doesn’t present as a valid option.