NFL Positional Value Chart

1. Quarterback

If you have a bad quarterback, one who throws a lot of interceptions, you most likely are not going to make the playoffs. If you have a decent game manager, you can win but you need a hell of a support cast. A good quarterback, not only creates more yards than any other position on the field, but also opens up lanes for running backs, makes his receivers look better, and keeps his defense off of the field and rested, making them better. In fact, 18 of the 19 last Super Bowl winning quarterbacks made a Pro Bowl before winning the Super Bowl. Eli Manning is the only one to not make the Pro Bowl before winning the Super Bowl and he eventually made it the next year. There’s a reason for that.
Best in the league: Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers

2. Offensive Tackle

A franchise quarterback isn’t much good if he’s on the ground every play. Not only do sacks and hits disrupt a quarterbacks rhythm, but too many over a long period of time can cause a young quarterback to develop David Carr syndrome and a veteran quarterback to develop Marc Bulger syndrome. Offensive Tackle also support the running game as well.
Best in the league: Joe Thomas, Jake Long, Jared Gaither

3. Defensive End/ Rush Linebacker

Well if hits can do things that bad to quarterbacks, it only makes sense that the guys who hit them are of great importance. It is an old and time tested football saying that in order to win you need a quarterback, to protect your quarterback, and to get to the other teams quarterback. Defensive ends are not the only players who accumulate sacks and hits and pressures, but they are the only ones whose first priority is getting to the quarterback. Rush Linebackers are essentially the same, only they line up at different spots on the field in different schemes and more often have to drop back into coverage. Nonetheless, rush linebackers normally lead their team in sacks, pressures, and hits.
Best in the league: Jared Allen, DeMarcus Ware, Dwight Freeney

4. Running Back

Well if you don’t have a franchise quarterback is the next best thing in terms of gaining yards. Franchise running backs don’t win you Super Bowls like quarterback do, but they certainly help. They can tire out the opponents defense and open up passing lanes for the quarterbacks and also catch passes and even do some blocking.
Best in the league: Chris Johnson, Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson

5. Wide Receiver

Quarterbacks can win without great wide receivers, in fact some can even argue that quarterbacks make great wide receivers, but it certainly will help any quarterback to have a speedy deep threat and a reliable possession guy at his disposal to help him guide his team. Just ask Eli Manning how he likes playing without Plaxico Burress (10-11 including playoffs since Plax shot himself in the leg).
Best in the league: Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Vincent Jackson

6. Cornerback

That being said, if you have a great #1 cornerback, he will nullify the opposing #1 wide receiver. Darrelle Revis shutdown every #1 wide receiver he faced last year. Don’t think that didn’t win them some games. If your quarterback is forced to essentially play 10 on 10 without his best receiver, he’s going to struggle.
Best in the league: Darrelle Revis, Charles Woodson, Leon Hall

7. Nose Tackle (3-4 only)

Other than rush linebacker, no front 7 position is more important to a 3-4 than nose tackle, even more than a defensive tackle to a 4-3. They don’t put up huge stats, but having a huge shield of a nose tackle than can occupy two blockers and also move around some makes everyone on the defense better.
Best in the league: Vince Wilfork, Kelly Gregg, Shaun Rogers

8. Defensive Tackle/3-4 Defensive End

Essentially the same position, only a 3-4 end lines up a little farther outside, but the job description is the same. Be a big body against the run and also get to the quarterback if you can.
Best in the league: Albert Haynesworth, Kevin Williams, Haloti Ngata

9. Middle Linebacker

Slightly more important in the 3-4, but they are the heart and soul of a defense and while they aren’t the most important, they are usually they most outspoken and the most versatile defenders on the field.
Best in the league: Patrick Willis, Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher

10. Offensive Guard

Just two offensive tackles alone isn’t going to be enough to protect your quarterback, though guards are primarily designed to get the big defensive lineman away from your running back and are not as used against the pass rush because of their size and position on the field, and for that reason they are ranked lower than offensive tackles.
Best in the league: Jahri Evans, Steve Neal, Chris Snee

11. Outside Linebacker (4-3 only)

Not quite as much of a versatile defensive player as a middle linebacker, and you can get away without great outside linebackers as shown by the fact that neither the Saints nor the Colts have good outside linebackers this year. Their main job is cleaning up the messes of the defensive line and chasing down running backs out of the backfield. They can also be blitzed.
Best in the league: Daryl Smith, Brian Cushing, Lance Briggs

12. Tight End

They may be more important to rookie quarterbacks than veterans, but most quarterbacks enjoying having a good safety value tight end who can catch the ball over the middle. Their job description includes both catching the ball like a receiver and blocking like a lineman, but because of their hybrid type status, they aren’t extremely important.
Best in the league: Jason Witten, Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez

13. Center

The most underrated position on the field, there’s a reason that Peyton Manning does so well, he has had the same center snapping him the ball for his entire career. That definitely helps. They are also the smartest offensive linemen in terms of football knowledge, oh, and they also have to do some blocking. Just look at what happened to the Eagles after Jamaal Jackson got hurt for the first time in many seasons, Donovan McNabb looked uncomfortable and the entire offensive line fell apart.
Best in the league: Jamaal Jackson, Jeff Saturday, Nick Mangold

14. Safety

They aren’t necessary to a good team, but they certainly help. The Steelers have given up 10 more points per game over the last 2 years in games in which safety Troy Polamalu missed than in games he played in.
Best in the league: Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed, Nick Collins

15. Kick Returner

Nothing energizes a team more than a kick return touchdown, and they also give you good field position, the only issues, the difference between good ones and bad ones in terms of yards per return is minimal and even a good one will only score like once or twice a year. Their career length also isn’t very long.
Best in the league: Joshua Cribbs, Clifton Smith, Johnny Knox

16. Punt Returner

Basically the same as a kick returner, but because of the situation, they often get a much smaller chunk of yards per return. 10 yards is good. Their career doesn’t last long either.
Best in the league: DeSean Jackson, Joshua Cribbs, Quan Cosby

17. Full Back

Not all offenses even use one, but having a big fullback that can run and catch the ball, in addition to block, adds an extra little element to your offense.
Best in the league: Leonard Weaver, Le’Ron McClain, Ovie Mughelli

18. Punter

A good punter can make a good defense even better by setting them up with good field position, the only issue, they are only used when struggling so if you’re a good team, they aren’t extremely necessary.
Best in the league: Shane Lechler, Andy Lee, Ben Graham

19. Kicker

They can kill you or not kill you, the issue, one who doesn’t kill you one game, can kill you the next. They are extremely inconsistent.
Best in the league: Matt Prater, Sebastian Janikowski, Stephen Gostkowski

20. Special Teams

There’s a reason all the special teamers are the backups of other position that you can risk getting hurt. Much love for the position, it takes a lot to suck up your pride and play special teams, but they aren’t super important. You can only really tell when they are bad and miss a tackle. The holder and the long snapper are a little bit more important, but not much.
Best in the league: Tim Shaw, HB Blades, John Wendling

Top 3 Picks Overall

2009: QB, OT, DE
2008: OT, DE, QB
2007: QB, WR, OT
2006: DE, RB, QB
2005: QB, RB, WR
2004: QB, OT, WR
2003: QB, WR, WR
2002: QB, DE, QB
2001: QB, OT, DT
2000: DE, OLB, OT
1999: QB, QB, QB
1998: QB, QB, DE
Top 3
QB: 15
RB: 2
WR: 5
TE: 0
OT: 6
G: 0
C: 0
DE: 6
DT: 1
OLB: 1
MLB: 0
CB: 0
S: 0

1st overall
QB: 9
OT: 1
DE: 2
Every other position: 0

Now, these numbers are no sure indicator of what will happen this year. However, the NFL is a copycat league so using the history to predict the future is not a bad idea. Going off of that, what does this all mean. No defensive tackle has been taken in the top 2 picks in the last 12 years. Only one has been taken in the top 3. In fact, you have to go back to 1994 to find a draft where a defensive tackle was taken first. Ndamukong Suh is an amazing prospect, but, with the Rams desperately needing a quarterback, and 9 of the past 12 #1 overall selections used on a quarterback, it makes a little bit more sense that they’d go that route. Remember 2008? Everyone was saying that the Falcons should take Glenn Dorsey (defensive tackle) at 3. Who’d they take? Matt Ryan, quarterback. I think if given the chance, they’d make that pick over and over again. Remember 2009? Everyone was saying that the Lions should take Aaron Curry (linebacker) first. Who’s the take? Matt Stafford, quarterback. Curry fell out of the top 3 completely. If a team in the top 3 needs a quarterback, they take one. I still think Suh doesn’t fall past Detroit and becomes the highest drafted defensive tackle of the past 12 years because he deserves that honor, but not #1. The Rams need a quarterback too badly.

Also, in the past 12 years, we have only had one draft where a quarterback did not go top 3. That year was just not a good year for quarterbacks. Only one went in the first round, Chad Pennington. He went 18^th. There just were no elite quarterbacks in that draft, but in years where they are, they normally go top 3. Despite what Todd McShay says, and for more on why he’s wrong, click here, there are actually good quarterbacks in this draft class. Jimmy Clausen, Sam Bradford, I’d even argue Tim Tebow, but that’s a completely different article somewhere else, they are all elite quarterbacks. Remember, Todd McShay hated Matt Ryan too, said he wouldn’t use a top 15 pick on him, said the Ravens would have to reach for him to get him at 8. Again, Ryan went 3^rd and took the Falcons to the playoffs in one year. I find it highly unlikely that both Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen will fall to the Redskins at 4.

Other things to notice, no defensive back has been taken in the top 3 in the last 12 years. We have to go to 1997, when the Seahawks drafted Shawn Springs out of Ohio State with the 3^rd overall pick. That doesn’t bode well for Eric Berry, safety. In fact, we have to go to 1991 when the Browns drafted the late great Eric Turner with the 2^nd overall pick to find a draft in which a safety went in the top 3. A little side note, as I’ve been researching this, all of the exceptions, DE Courtney Brown #1 overall in 2000,  DT Gerald Warren #3 overall in 2001, Turner, they all come from the city of Cleveland for the most part. Now I understand why that franchise is in the miserable state they are in right now.

Another interesting fact, two drafts in NFL history have featured no offensive players in the top 3. The years? Not coincidentally right next to each other, 1991 and 1992. Remember what I said about the NFL being a copycat league. Obviously it wasn’t very effective otherwise they would have continued to copy, but the point is, for those mock drafters who have Suh, McCoy, Berry going top 3, not likely if we look at history.
One final thing that doesn’t pertain to this draft, but could to future drafts, only two players who were not quarterback, offensive tackles, defensive ends, running backs or wide receivers have gone in the top 3 over the last 12 years. It just so happens that those are the top 5 positions on my positional value chart. I don’t make these things up.

Drafter Tendencies

When predicting a draft, its important to know what certain drafters and organizations tend to draft.

San Diego Chargers- Known for being a bit unpredictable when drafting, but seem to enjoy taller players.

Denver Broncos- Like to draft players who don’t fit their scheme at all, likeplayers who fit small niches, like blocking tight ends, believe they’ll all be fired by next year so they have no issues with trading away future 1^st round picks, like system quarterbacks with weaker arms

Oakland Raiders- Put an extra emphasis on speed and size, actually scratch that, only puts an emphasis on speed and size, Darrius Heyward Bey is the greatest player of all time

Kansas City Chiefs- Come from the New England school of drafting only they aren’t quite as good, enjoy building in the trenches, especially defensive line, known to go with positional value over need

Indianapolis Colts- Strong believers in the best available player theory, much more likely to draft offensive early rather than defensive

Jacksonville Jaguars- Badly need to sell tickets so big name guys are going to be high on their radar, otherwise they are big fans of the best available player theory and also enjoy drafting a player at a position they just drafted

Houston Texans- 3 of their last 4 first round picks were used an offensive or defensive lineman, so there is a strong tendency to build from the inside out

Tennessee Titans- Put extra value on building in the trenches and adding to their defense, though their last two first round picks were used on offensive players

Cincinnati Bengals- Enjoy drafting players with a criminal record, no character, no problem, all they care about is football talent and potential

Pittsburgh Steelers- Tend to go with best available player and also enjoy watching Big Ben get hit many times and not doing anything about the offensive line, enjoy bigger offensive lineman rather than smaller

Baltimore Ravens- Often ignore positional needs for the best available player

Cleveland Browns- Enjoy drafting low on the positional value chart and are known for getting ripped off in draft day trades, last year traded the rights to a franchise quarterback for the rights to a center, as well as a free safety, a 3-4 defensive end, and a few later picks

New England Patriots- Hate to draft in their assigned spot and will make about 35 draft day trades in an effort to someday have every pick in the entire 2^nd round, prefer to draft in the trenches, and do not fall in love with prospects and will never trade up to get a guy, a bit afraid to draft rush linebackers, known for making smart draft moves

New York Jets- Presumably like to draft defense based on Rex Ryan’s history as a defensive coordinator, but there isn’t much evidence either way. Drafted a quarterback in the first round last year because it was a huge need and were not afraid to move up 12 spots to get their guy, also later traded many picks for the rights to Shonn Greene so a history of falling in love with players is there

Miami Dolphins- Speed over size, fundamentals over athleticism, build in trenches, its been the Parcells way for years

Buffalo Bills- New regime, no idea about drafting tendency, though securing a franchise quarterback would likely be high on their list

Arizona Cardinals- Offense over defense, value over need

San Francisco 49ers- “I want winners!” -Mike Singletary

Seattle Seahawks- New regime so it can be tough to tell, especially since no GM is currently in place, but Pete Carroll, like college coaches before him, will likely put a greater emphasis on guys who were good college players, and also put added value on guys they worked with at the college level

St. Louis Rams- Big fans of positional value upstairs and their coach puts an extra emphasis on defense and a good pass rush as shown by his years as a pass rush minded coordinator with the Giants

New Orleans Saints- Big fans of best available, known to stock pile wide receivers

Atlanta Falcons- Draft for need rather than positional value, known to reach a bit, and also known to draft up for a guy they like

Carolina Panthers- Known to trade away their first round pick, and build in the trenches, offensive line over defensive line

Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Committed to building around their young quarterback, but their head coach is also a defensive minded guy who lacks a good defense right now, so defense could be high on his list as well

Minnesota Vikings- Don’t put a huge stock on guys with character issues, big lineman over faster more athletic lineman, known to take risks

Green Bay Packers- Straight off of the draft board, best available always, regardless of needs

Chicago Bears- Defensive over offensive, haven’t had a ton of early picks in a while

Detroit Lions- Value over need every time, might be committed to building around Matt Stafford, but I’m not sure

Dallas Cowboys- The bigger the name the better, also enjoy ignoring needs and drafting many guys at the same positional, would rather eat bugs than draft defensive backs, especially early, big offensive lineman over smaller lineman

Philadelphia Eagles- Build from the inside out, enjoy large offensive lineman, hate to draft running backs

New York Giants- Big fans of drafting best available, also enjoy building their defensive line

Washington Redskins- Owner like the big name, head coach will be looking for his own quarterback, like to pick some random running back late and run him 300 times the next season then repeat process, athletic lineman over bigger lineman

Ryan Clark to visit Miami Dolphins

by: Mike Berardino March 7th, 2010

As soon as the Miami Dolphins got into the Antrel Rolle sweepstakes on Thursday afternoon, Ryan Clark of the Pittsburgh Steelers started to make a lot of sense as a fallback option.

Rolle, released on Thursday by Arizona, wound up signing with the New York Giants for a record amount at the safety position — $37 million over five years — and the Dolphins wasted little time moving on to Plan B: Clark.

According to agent Joel Turner, Clark’s South Carolina-based agent, a visit was set up on Friday afternoon at 3:30, right around the time Rolle was finalizing his deal with the Giants and turning down $32 million over five years from the Dolphins.

With Karlos Dansby in town through Saturday, the Dolphins decided to hold off on the Clark visit until Monday, but the unrestricted free agent arrived in South Florida early Sunday evening and immediately expressed optimism a deal would get done.

So did Turner, who said seven other teams expressed “legitimate” interest in Clark, including a late arrival to the party on Sunday.

Turner, who also represents Dolphins backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen, is not making the trip to Davie on Monday, which could tell you this thing is essentially done already, though not necessarily.

Will this be “it” for Clark?

“You’re hopeful any of them will be ‘it,’ ” Turner said.  ”You want to make sure the organization you go to is a good place for him, for any of your clients, and that it’s a place where they’ve got an opportunity to not only contribute but to do something that could be special.

“You’re looking for a place where you’ve got an opportunity to go to an organization that truly gets it, not only in terms of what they want but how to go about getting there. Signing Dansby shows the commitment of those guys in Miami to getting there. We think this organization has got a lot of nice attributes.”

Clark, 30, recently completed his eighth NFL season since signing undrafted out of LSU in 2002. He spent two years with the Giants, including much of his rookie year on the practice squad, before Tom Coughlin released him; Clark spent two more years with the Redskins before jumping to the Steelers in 2006.

That contract was just $7 million over four years, including a $1.65 million signing bonus. Clark should do a little better this time around.

Clark, 5-11 and 200 pounds, is coming off a season in which he had to step up during the prolonged injury absence of Troy Polamalu. Clark tied a career high with three interceptions and set career bests with 88 combined tackles and eight passes defensed.

The last of those three picks came off Thigpen, ironically enough, down near the goal line to foil a Dolphins comeback in Week 17 last season. Clark outmaneuvered a slipping Ted Ginn Jr. for the ball, and the Steelers went on to win 30-24.

This came after Clark made just two combined interceptions his first three years in Pittsburgh. He was a starter on the 2008 Steelers team that brought the franchise its record sixth Super Bowl title, ironically beating out Dansby’s Arizona Cardinals in a classic finale.

His 2008 year included an epic hit on Ravens running back Willis McGahee (the ex-UM star) in the AFC Championship Game. That hit left McGahee with a concussion, a bruised spine and whiplash.

In case you’ve forgotten, it was Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor, not Clark, who knocked out Pat White in the Dolphins’ final game of the 2009 season.

Clark had a career scare of his own in 2007, when he had a blood reaction during a game at Denver and had to be rushed to the hospital, where his spleen and gall bladder were removed. He missed the final 10 games that season and skipped last fall’s Steelers game at Denver due to the sickle-cell traits he must monitor.

Clark lost 30 pounds after that scare in Denver, but he returned to health the following season and started 14 games for the Super Bowl champions.

Clark and Turner apparently see the potential to reach the mountaintop once again in South Florida.

“Every organization is not on the same plane,” Turner said. “Some are trying to rebuild, some are trying to be competitive and some have a chance to compete for a championship.

“Ryan has got a Super Bowl ring from one year ago. He’ll be one of about four people that have one there in the building, I believe. Hopefully it’s a situation he’ll like and he’s a guy they’ll like.”

So how do you feel about this news? Is Clark a suitable consolation prize at free safety? Or should the Dolphins have made a bigger push for Rolle?

Dolphins incorporan a Karlos Dansby

Por Adam Schefter y Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com

DAVIE -- Los Miami Dolphins han renovado por completo su cuerpo de apoyadores.

 

Luego de cortar a Joey Porter y Akin Ayodele, firmaron a Karlos Dansby, uno de los hombres más codiciados de la agencia libre.

Dansby acordó con Miami por cinco años y 43 millones de dólares, con 22 millones de dólares garantizados, según informó una fuente.

Eso lo convierte en uno de los apoyadores mejor pagados de la liga.

Reclutado por Arizona en la segunda ronda del draft del 2004, Dansby ha sido titular desde su temporada de novato.

En los recientes playoffs, fue el autor de la devolución de balón suelto para touchdown que les dio el triunfo a los Cardinals sobre los Packers en tiempo extra.

En sus seis temporadas con los Cards, Dansby jugó como apoyador interno y externo.

Con Mike Nolan como nuevo coordinador defensivo, los Dolphins están buscando mejorar una unidad que el año pasado permitió 140 puntos de último cuarto, un récord de franquicia. 

VUELVE PENNINGTON

En otra movida, los Dolphins acordaron un contrato de un año y 2.5 millones de dólares con Chad Pennington, para que el veterano mariscal regrese al equipo como reserva de Chad Henne.

Pennington exigió una cláusula de no-intercambio, según la cual, si Miami lo canjea, el mariscal recibirá 4.15 millones de dólares en el 2010 como compensación.

El objetivo de ambas partes es que Pennington se tome este año para recuperar su hombro lesionado, y mientras tanto ayude en el desarrollo de los mariscal jóvenes y provea una póliza de seguro como experimentado reserva.

Información de Tim Graham fue utilizada en la redacción de esta nota.

Kiper: Dolphins will debate McClain and Bryant

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper has the Dolphins picking Alabama inside linebacker Rolando McClain with their No. 12 overall pick of the first round in the upcoming draft.But Kiper believes the Dolphins will have a healthy and perhaps heated discussion whether to go with McClain or Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant if the wide receiver is on the board when Miami selects.

"Dez Bryant, I think he'll be in the discussion, but you look at him and he could go higher," Kiper said today on a nationwide conference call. "I have him going at No. 10 to Denver still ... [The Dolphins] certainly need wide receiver help and you got to get it at some point and I think they will try get in this draft. 

"But at that point, I think McClain would be the best option if Bryant's gone. And even if Bryant's there it's going to be a heck of a discussion, I would think, even if Bryant is still on the board."

Yeah, I could see that discussion going something like this:

Jeff Ireland: Bill, we've got a wide receiver and a linebacker on the board and ...

Bill Parcells: I'm Bill freakin' Parcells and I love linebackers.

Ireland: Linebacker it is.

Seriously, the Parcells penchant for drafting linebackers is well-known. And picking McClain, whom Kiper says has "a Ray Lewis-type enthusiasm and Bill Parcells will see that in McClain," seems logical.

"You look at Parcells when he was with the Giants and at other places, he loves linebackers that have that type of ability, especially guys with his kind of size too, with LT and Carl Banks and those type of guys," Kiper said. "This is an inside linebacker that looks like an outside linebacker." 

And that is where Kiper and I disagree. I believe the Dolphins have a greater need at OLB than ILB. But Kiper doesn't see any OLB as worthy of the No. 12 selection.

I believe Michigan's Brandon Graham is more than worthy of that pick, talk of his short arms be damned. I love Graham! I have put in adoption papers for Graham because I want that guy in my family if he's not going to be on the Dolphins!

And here's the kicker, despite saying Graham rates around No. 20-32, Kiper also seems to love Graham.

"I've liked him all along, that's the one guy I've been consistent with all the way through," Kiper said. "He's got that great work ethic, he comes hard every play. He took advantage of some offensive tackles that were very suspect, obviously, and in the NFL that's not the case."

Kiper believes Graham will somehow wind up chasing Dolphins quarterbacks someday, either for a Miami division foe, or a team the Dolphins must eventually beat to become great.

"I actually have him going to New England in the latest projection I did from the standpoint of being a 3-4 outside backer," Kiper said. "As a 4-3 defensive end situational guy if Indianapolis looks at him in that rotation with [Dwight] Freeney and Robert Mathis it makes sense. I think his character and every game bringing it, the way he did production-wise is the reason why he's a pick to go now between 20 and 32."

I think that's precisely the reason the Dolphins should take him at No. 12. The kid brings it every play. Every single play. And he brings it with speed and explosion and good instinct and discipline.

Why isn't he rated higher?

Anyway, if the Dolphins decide to address their 3-4 OLB need later in the draft, Kiper has a handful of guys rated after the first round. They are:

Jerry Hughes of TCU, Ricky Sapp from Clemson, Antonio Coleman at Auburn, Cameron Sheffield at Troy, Eric Norwood at South Carolina. Kiper had Wisconsin's O'Brian Schofield rated as a first-rounder until he blew out his knee at the Senior Bowl in January.

¿Etiqueta de Franquicia en Miami?

Bueno, a que Dolphin ustedes creen que se deba poner la "Franchise Tag" este año ahora que el limite es el 25 de Febrero???

A mi parecer a ninguno... aqui el por qué...

No tenemos a alguien que realmente lo merezca. Tenemos unicamente 4 "URFA" (unrestricted free agents) que son:

Chad Pennington

Jason Ferguson

Jason Taylor

Nathan Jones

Chad Pennington no la va a obtener, porque ya no es una una necesidad para el equipo. Por supuesto que seria placentero verlo de nueva cuenta en Miami como respaldo de Henne, pero eso no signfica que estariamos pagando por él 16 millones por un año.

Jason Ferguson tiene una probabilidad de 50/50 en cuestion de retirarse o regresar a la NFL por otro año más. Si regresa, sería con Miami... Ha dicho publicamente que solo jugaria en Miami en la proxima temporada porque no quiere empezar de nuevo en otro equipo.. máximo estaria jugando un año o dos...

Jason Taylor podria regresar otro año con los Dolphins, pero su salida no seria tan devastante si se quisiera ir por otros rumbos.

A Nathan Jones me gustaria que lo recontrataran, hizo buena chamba en las nickels, pero no es ni siquiera titular y definitivamente no vale un contrato de 9.5 millones que en promedio gana el top 5 de CB's de la liga...

Entonces, como pueden ver no hay un "URFA" en Miami que valga la etiqueta de franquicia. Tenemos dos RFA (Restricted Free Agents) que es Fasano y el LB Moses... Fassano probablemente gane 1.8 millones en el 2010. Moses no tendria tanta suerte, pero si la tuviera... estaria ganando lo mismo que serian 1.2 millones (bastante alto) para el 2010 y costaria estar firmando a fuerza una 3a ronda.

Davone Bess, Joey Haynos, y Dan Carpenter todos son ERFA (Exclusive Rights Free Agents) que significa que todo lo que Miami tiene que hacer ofrecerle un contrato y ellos lo tienen que aceptar, asi de sencillo... por lo tanto no hay que preocuparse por Bess.. esta casi en la bolsa de vuelta!!!

Lesson from the Miami Dolphins drafts

What have we learned about the Miami Dolphins decision makers from the past two drafts?

Here are a few nuggets of knowledge I’ve put together from the Trifecta’s drafting history.

1. Draft picks are the Trifecta’s most valued commodities because the player selected are locked up for a long time (at least four years) at a relatively cheap salary (outside of the first-round pick). That’s why they rarely trade anything above a fourth-round pick away.

2. The Dolphins don’t stray from their bigger is better blueprint on size requirements for each position. So if that linebacker is a little bit on the small side (like Jon Beason was) you might was well drop him a round no matter how productive he was in college. Size matters to this regime because it impacts a player’s durability.

3. Their success or failures in addressing key positions (NT, ILB, OLB, FS, WR, TE) during free agency will drastically impact the team’s draft needs. But that’s not much different than any other team. However, at positions they want to get younger (CB in 2009) they’ll use a draft pick or two to do so.

4. The Trifecta likes players from big name schools (Michigan, USC, Ohio State) that have produced a long list of NFL talents, and usually lean heavily on their prospects because of the coaching involved.

5. Bill Parcells and company usually pick two positions to address in the draft and go hard to fill their needs. In 2008 the Dolphins addressed the trenches (offensive and defensive line). In 2009 they addressed the skill position areas, drafting a pair of cornerbacks and receivers.

6. The Trifecta likes to draft in pairs at each position, doubling down on OG, RB and DE in 2008, and CB and WR in 2009. And coincidentally their second pick at the position has usually outperformed the first one for some reason. Why? Because they have a chip on their shoulder and less money in their pocket. At least that’s my theory.

7. They drafted a quarterback in the second round each year. Coincidence? Quarterback Pat White is proof the Trifecta can fall in love with draft prospects, and couldn’t care less where everyone else has them rated. If they want him they’ll do what it takes to get him.

Now that we’ve gone over the Dolphins’ draft habits, let’s check out the nine picks the Trifecta’s working with in 2010.

First round: No. 12 in round

Second round: No. 11 (43 overall)

Third round: No. 10 (74 overall)

Fourth round: No. 12

Fifth round: NONE…traded to Kansas City for QB Tyler Thigpen (No. 11 in round)

Sixth round: from Kansas City for Andy Alleman/Ike Ndukwe trade (No. 4 in round)

Sixth round: from Washington for the 2008 trade of Jason Taylor (No. 5 in round)

Sixth round: No. 10 in round

Seventh round: from Kansas City for the Dolphins’ 2009 7th (No. 5 in round)

Seventh round: No. 12 in round

¿Cuáles son las mayores necesidades de los equipos de la AFC Este?

¿Cuáles son las mayores necesidades de los equipos de la AFC Este? Echemos una mirada:

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Por tercera campaña consecutiva, receptor abierto es la necesidad más apremiante en Miami. Dolfans han estado rogando por ayuda campo abajo y la necesidad ha aumentado ahora que Chad Henne es el mariscal de campo. Los Dolphins sobrevivieron con una colección de receptores de posesión por la increíble precisión de Chad Pennington en rutas cortas y medianas. Una amenaza profunda ayudaría a Henne. 

Los Dolphins tendrán que tomar una decisión en la posición de tackle izquierdo. El titular Jason Ferguson viene de una lesión en la pierna que le costó perderse parte de la campaña y cumplirá 36 años la siguiente temporada. Si los Dolphins miran a otra parte, entonces se convierte en un gran hueco. 

Ain importar lo que suceda, deben mejorar en sus apoyadores interiores y profundo libre, las posiciones que más jugadas grandes permitieron a lo largo de la campaña. El profundo libre del año pasado, Gibril Wilson, recibió mucho dinero y permitió muchas jugadas. Los apoyadores internos Channing Crowder y Akin Ayodele simplemente no son explosivos. Se combinaron el año pasado para una captura, una intercepción, un balón suelto forzado y dos balones sueltos recuperados. 

BUFFALO BILLS

Los Bills tenían cráteres por llenar a ambos lados del balón antes de que el nuevo entrenador en jefe Chan Gailey llegara y decidiera cambiar a un esquema defensivo 3-4. Eso ha creado más necesidades posicionales. Crítico para el éxito de su transformación defensiva será hallar a un ancla clásica que ocupe el puesto de tackle nariz. No hay un sólo jugador con esas características actualmente en plantilla. 

Pero donde los Bills realmente necesitan ayuda es en las posiciones de tackle ofensivo y mariscal de campo para una ofensiva que ha ranqueado N° 30, N° 25, N° 30, N° 30, N° 28, N° 25 y N° 30 en las últimas siete campañas. Hicieron caso omiso a la posición de tackle izquierdo después de negociar al jugador de Pro Bowl Jason Peters antes del draft del año pasado. Despreciaron a Michael Oher. Sin esa pieza, ¿podrán los Bills darse el lujo de reclutar a un mariscal de campo 9° global, pagarle la cantidad de dinero que comandaría, y esperar que se desarrolle detrás de una línea ofensiva mediocre? 

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Crucial para la temporada baja de los Patriots será hallar cazamariscales, ya sea a través de la agencia libre o el draft. No hay profundidad en la posición de apoyador externo, donde los agentes libres Tully Banta-Cain y Derrick Burgess terminaron en primer lugar (9.5) y empatado en segundo (cinco) en el equipo en capturas. Es difícil imaginar a Adalius Thomas permaneciendo en la plantilla. Bill Belichick negoció a Richard Seymour durante el campamento de entrenamiento. Jarvis Green es agente libre sin restricciones. 

Ofensivamente, sonaría gracioso decir esto hace un año, pero los Patriots necesitan ayuda en sus receptores. Nunca localizaron una tercera opción legítima la temporada pasada. Randy Moss mostró su lado volátil por primera ocasión como Patriot. Wes Welker tiene una larga recuperación por delante tras una operación de rodilla. Ala cerrada es otra área con problemas. Benjamin Watson es agente libre sin restricciones, y aún si vuelve, los Patriots nunca han parecido cómodos con él. 

NEW YORK JETS

Hace un año, los Jets se embarcaron en lo que parecían renovaciones masivas. A la ofensiva, receptor es un área en la que deberán enfocarse. Braylon Edwards y Jerricho Cotchery son un buen inicio, pero los Jets no pudieron hallar ayuda confiable después de ellos. Ya sea que añadan a un receptor abierto exterior o ayuda en la ranura, Mark Sanchez podría agradecerlo mientras los Jets se convierten en una ofensiva más balanceada. 

Línea ofensiva y ala defensiva son lugares donde los Jets están envejeciendo. A los Jets no les urge hallar titulares para ninguna posición, pero requieren ayuda desesperada en la profundidad para desarrollar con un ojo en el futuro. El gerente general Mike Tannenbaum no teme negociar selecciones de draft y el resultado ha sido contar con apenas 13 reclutas a lo largo de los últimos 3 abriles, incluyendo tres del año pasado. Cuando constantemente se llenan huecos en la parte baja de l plantilla con agentes libres no reclutados, la profundidad puede sufrir a la larga.