Miami Dolphins players we will and will not see the last of Sunday

The Miami Dolphins disappointing 2018 season comes to a close on Sunday in Buffalo. Fittingly in a chilly hostile environment.

The Miami Dolphins, specifically Adam Gase wants to get to .500 because it looks better than 7-9. So he is going to start DeVante Parker instead of sitting him despite the $9 million guaranteed fifth option if he gets injured. It’s DeVante Parker so there is a chance.

There is also a chance that Parker blows up and scores four touchdowns and posts 200 yards because if that happens, the Dolphins will keep him around next year. Sadly, I’m only half kidding.

The reality is that Sunday’s game is not only the last game of the season but the last game as Dolphins for many players and maybe a coach but if there is one thing we know with certainty is that we simply do not know anything but to expect the unexpected.

Sunday could mark the final games for several. Matt Burke, Adam Gase, Mike Tannenbaum, Ryan Tannehill, Chris Grier, Daniel Kilgore, Cameron Wake, Robert Quinn, DeVante Parker, Danny Amendola, Ja’Wuan James, Kenyan Drake, William Hayes, and Andre Branch. More than likely that won’t happen.

We already have been told by the mainstream media rumor mill that Mike Tannenbaum is gone and that a decision on Gase and Grier won’t come immediately if at all after the game. Both are still likely to stay.

If Gase stays as head coach then there are players mentioned above that will likely stick around and Gase’s presence makes more sense for Ryan Tannehill to hang around for another year as well. As Gase has consistently said, “he hasn’t reached his ceiling”.

Gase loves to defend Tannehill and recently said that the inconsistency of the offense and offensive line has made it hard to really evaluate Tannehill. Put a pillow down before you smash your head on your desk.

A lot of speculation also surrounds Cameron Wake. Wake is finishing his final year of his contract and turns 37 next month. He recently said he wants to play in 2019 and would like to say with the Dolphins but understands it’s a business. Look for Wake to come back on another one or two-year deal.

Danny Amendola is going to make $6 million in 2019 and I believe that it will be with Miami. Gase likes the professional attitude and habits of Amendola and it is that reason that I believe he will keep him despite many believing that Miami will cut him and save the entire contract.

DeVante Parker is completely different. No one really knows what Miami continues to see in him. They reportedly tried to trade him prior to the trade deadline but didn’t and then denied that they were trying. So did they? Who knows. It is possible that they try to trade him this off-season before releasing him. They could get a mid-round pick at best.

It is hard to figure out who actually will stay and who will go simply because we are not yet sure on who will be calling the shots for the Dolphins personnel once Sunday is over.

Robert Quinn is a popular release. He is scheduled to make $12 million and the Dolphins could save all of that by releasing him. More than likely they will try to restructure the deal to lower the cap hit and base salary.

Quinn played a little bit better towards the end of the season but here is the rub on this. If the Dolphins ask Quinn to take a pay cut, he won’t likely do it figuring he could make more on the open market. In that case he could force the Dolphins to release him outright. I think they try to keep him first.

Ja’Wuan James is interesting as well. He has played very well but for some reason this regime doesn’t see him as a big priority. They were rumored to be in trade talks with Denver last year and offered him a lower than expected contract that James refused. Miami kept him on the 5th year option and James did nothing this year to hurt his stock. Scheduled to be a free agent in March, the Dolphins are going to have to make a decision with James and Sunday may be his last with Miami.

Above Kenyan Drake was mentioned. It is hard to imagine the Dolphins parting ways with him but honestly Adam Gase does strange things sometimes. Drake was supposed to be the bell-cow runner this season but that turned out to be Frank Gore and when Gore got hurt the Dolphins turned to rookie Kalen Ballage who ran well.

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Behind Ballage is Brandon Bolden and he too ran well. The fact is Kenyan Drake has been seeing fewer than expected touches and by a wide margin which leads me to believe that he could be on the trade block this off-season. Relax, I’m not hearing anything specific just trying to read the tea leaves so to speak.

Whatever happens after Sunday will start with what happens in the days and weeks following the end of the season. Stephen Ross will make the decisions that will in turn effect the 2019 season and the players that will or will not be on it. Not directly but through firing and hiring of certain executives or even doing nothing will inevitably have an impact.

Gase told the media earlier this week that after Sunday this team will never look the same again, is that a good thing in his mind? It should be because this team isn’t very good as it is now.

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