Dolphins fans expectations high as free agency begins today…sort of
By Brian Miller
Today the NFL can finally open the gift wrap off of 2017 league new year. They just can’t play with the gift until Thursday.
As of noon today the NFL’s “legal tampering window” will be opened and teams can start negotiating with the agents for FA players but they can not meet with the player or talk with the player, or host him for a physical, or even have him sign a deal. In fact they can’t even agree to a deal.
At least that is the rules. Unfortunately the NFL is too blinded by itself in all of it’s glory to realize that deals are in fact made with a simply invisible handshake and a “wink-wink, nudge-nudge, say no more”. Yes deals will be made and kept quiet until the 9th when they can officially be announced by the league. Why the league continues to do this is beyond any normal thought process. Perhaps it’s just to continue to show the world that they have rules and hold the heavy hand over the league.
So what can Dolphins fans expect today when the agents of free agents start negotiating? For starters a lot of rumors. Some will be real and others will not. The Dolphins want to keep things internal and will continue to instruct agents not to leak their interest and offers. Sometimes that works and others it don’t.
It would be surprising if any “deal” were not-so-quietly announced as something “agreed” upon or “close to agreeing to” in order to say off the NFL’s radar. The Dolphins have said they will not be a team that makes big spending moves anymore so don’t expect a top free agent to land in Miami. That is not how this team is doing business anymore.
There will still be some fun and players like Dont’a Hightower should draw interest as should a corner and defensive tackle but at what level? It’s a ride for sure. Sit back and grab your popcorn because if nothing else it’s entertaining to watch.