Miami Dolphins have been flying under the radar, and that’s a good thing
By Shawn Digity
The Miami Dolphins have been pretty quiet during this off-season, making less splashy moves. That’s a good sign for a rebuilding organization.
The Brian Flores era already has a different feel to it. The Miami Dolphins already have the swagger of a very new team, and that’s high praise considering previous regimes.
The free-agency moves, so far, have lacked the gaudy contracts and showboating, splash signings of years past. Instead of winning the off-season, it appears that Brian Flores and Chris Grier have taken a step back and are making more calculated moves to win more meaningful battles in the Miami Dolphins’ “non-tank“.
The Dwayne Allen and Clive Walford deals weren’t over-the-top signings, nor will they likely have huge impacts on the team in 2019 or beyond with Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe leading the attack.
Eric Rowe isn’t exactly a household name, but he’ll likely make plenty of contribution this year on defense or special teams.
Chris Reed isn’t a huge name either but he’ll have a chance to start on the offensive line, possibly at right guard if Jesse Davis moves to right tackle.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is the biggest signing of the Dolphins’ off-season so far, but that’s for the role of bridge quarterback and young gun mentor.
My point from listing off all the free agency moves is that the Miami Dolphins have seemingly taken a different approach to the rebuilding the football team. It almost appears from the outside looking in that they’ve taken time to carefully evaluate every facet of the franchise.
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They’re sticking closely to the budget and not bending. We saw that when Teddy Bridgewater came and went. I like the discipline and the ability to keep their heads down and focus on the goal.
If that’s the case, then I’m on board because I haven’t had a problem with any of the small-time signings, and I’ve loved the one semi-big one in FitzMagic.
Another note worth mentioning is how sudden most of the announcements have been. I don’t recall seeing rumors, interest, or pre-reports leading up the Fitzpatrick deal. I don’t’ remember that for Clive Walford, Chris Reed or even Eric Rowe.
That’s not to say that they don’t exist or didn’t happen and I just missed them, but there’s a “loose lips sink ships” mentality in the organization now. The Ryan Tannehill trade was tightly sealed up until the announcement, which I’m sure was a surprise for many Dolphins fans.
I like the direction the Miami Dolphins is headed in. They’ve got a refreshed front office and a new strategy for building the team. All signs are pointing up.