OK Dolphins fans, the schedule is out, so now we know who we’re playing, when we’re playing, and where we’re playing. Just looking over the schedule there’s nothing in particular that jumps out at you as unfair. We play the Buffalo Bills in September in Week 3 on Thursday Night Football. That game follows a home game against another division rival, the New England Patriots. There should be 3 potential cold weather games this season, Week 14 (Dec 7th) at the New York Jets. The very next game will definitely be a cold one, December 15th at The Pittsburgh Steelers. The season finale will have us square off against the New England Patriots and the time of that game has yet to be determined. We do “lose” a home game because we’re the “Home Team” in Madrid as we face off against the NFC East Washington Commanders.
If you want to call anything unfair it’s that we don’t have many home games where the heat can really fry the opponent. We do get the Patriots at 1PM Week 2 at home, and we also host the LA Chargers at 1PM, so those games the heat will be our friend. Remarkably, for a team that finished outside of the playoffs and with a losing record, we’re part of FIVE Prime Time games. Week 3 at Buffalo on Thursday Night Football. Week 4 on Monday Night Football at home for the NY Jets. Then once again on Thursday Night Football at home against the Baltimore Ravens. Number 5 will be a mid December matchup which surely should bring the cold at the Pittsburgh Steelers for a Monday Night game. It’s very odd to me that we’re featured in so many prime time games, I actually don’t get it. The Vegas money is strong on under 8 wins, and you have to really lay it down to make anything if you bet the under. If you’re confident, as many of you are here, plunk down some serious money on over 8.5 WINS and you’ll make some nice cash and you can say “I told you!” as you Count de Money.
I actually think the odds makers are right on target, I think we’ll win anywhere from 7-9 games and that’s if Tua stays healthy and the offense isn’t the same offense we saw last season, but a little closer to the 2023 offense where we can run the ball well and actually throw passes beyond 10 yards. The O-line has poor depth, the defensive line while seemingly brimming with some big young players, is just that. We have some young guys we hope can play well right out of the chute, but we’ll be relying not only on our 1st RD pick Kenneth Grant to ball, but our 5th RD pick DT Jordan Phillips, 7th RD pick DT Zeek Biggers, and bevy of UDFA DT’s as well. We’ll also be leaning heavily on 2nd RD pick Jonah Savaiinaea at RG and 2nd year LT Patrick Paul too. The depth behind these guys is not great, so not only do we need these guys to play well, we need them to stay healthy. I haven’t even mentioned the secondary which if the plan is to trade Jalen Ramsey for future draft picks, that secondary is going to be awful thin with 2 YR veteran CB Cam Smith along with last year’s UDFA Storm Duck, 3 year vet NB and slot CB Kader Kohou as well as 5th RD pick CB Jason Marshall as well as some other UDFA’s. At Safety, we have two journeyman who have started a very limited amount of games over their careers, SS Ifeatu Melifonwu and FS Ashtyn Davis. We drafted a S in RD 5 five spots after we drafted CB Jason Marshall, we took S Dante Trader. Last year’s 6th RD pick S Patrick McMorris will also be in the mix, as well as a few UDFA’s. Lot’s of battles, lot’s of bodies everywhere, and then we have to hope we choose the right ones that can help our team.
On offense, as I mentioned, we have to play more like we did in 2023 when we were one of the top offensive units. That means running the ball effectively, and throwing the ball downfield for explosive plays. Both were missing last year, but we did bring in TE Pharoah Brown who is a very physical player in the run game as a blocker and physical when he has the ball as well. Will Tyreek Hill be back to 2023 form or will he be a distraction and a malcontent as he was at the conclusion of the season when he pulled himself out of the season finale due to being frustrated? I have the guy’s jersey and to be honest, I couldn’t care less whether he’s on the roster or not. I’m sure he will be because he’s difficult to trade and if he’s in line with what’s happening, he’s better than anyone we else we have on this team. I like the add of WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, a bigger, better red zone threat at WR, especially compared to the more diminutive Hill and Waddle. I loved TE Jonnu Smith last season, hopefilly he picks where he left off last season.
It’s tough for me to be really optimistic, I felt like we partially filled 2 holes, and left some gaping holes in the secondary. I know some feel we’ll be OK, but in reality, when you’re relying on a couple of journeymen safeties, 2 outside CB’s who wouldn’t even be close to be considered as starting material for the other 31 teams, a bunch of safeties who would be competing just to make the roster and likely be depth pieces, it’s hard to feel like everything will fall into place just right in that secondary. Who knows, I’m a jaded SOB who just can’t give this front office a pass any longer, but maybe whatever they did this offseason will end up working out. Maybe Tua can stay healthy and not play in bubble wrap and help the team win games this season. Maybe RB’s Jaylen Wright and newly drafted 6th RDer Ollie Gordon bring a physical run game to Miami along with our new O-line guys, James Daniels, Jonah Savaiinaea and Patrick Paul, our massive LT. That wouldn’t bother me at all, I just wouldn’t bet on it.
GO DOLPHINS!!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
BBM First!
It is tough to feel optimistic but for some reason I do, a little.
You can be optimistic for me, until they legit give me a reason to feel it. lol
I can see us being, at least, 5-3 heading into our tough stretch vs Ravens, Bills and Commanders. If we can somehow go 1-2 in that stretch we’d be 6-5 going into the bye. Go 4-2 in last stretch and we might get a WC spot.
These are rumored to be the black uni’s we’ll be wearing against the Jets on MNF. Not there’s anything wrong with that, but they look a lil gay, no?
I’m not a fan of opposite colors for team uniforms.
I’d be fine with black, aqua, orange and white. Where does the pink come in?
Replace the pink/purple with orange and that’s a winner.
MikeE, I didn’t even look at what you wrote and the first thing I thought was that looks gay.
LOL!!
Mike, until we see this team it’s all speculation. Nothing big has happened since the draft.
Exactly why I feel like I do. I feel they haven’t done enough, we’ll see what happens.
Right M – Pink makes us look even softer than we always look.
When ya look at our logo on Tua’s shoulder (pic that ya posted above), the pink/purple absolutely CLASHES with the orange in our logo!
And YES… LOL… it DOES make us look even softer!
It’s the ORANGE that gives us distinction from the blue… and our home field used to be the ORANGE BOWL!
I think it’s supposed to be kinda like a Miami Art Deco look, but it just looks gay to me, sorry if that offends anyone.
Florida ORANGES!
Mike E.
says:
May 16, 2025 at 5:46 pm
I think it’s supposed to be kinda like a Miami Art Deco look, but it just looks gay to me, sorry if that offends anyone.
———
^
om Pelissero
@TomPelissero
·
The #49ers and QB Brock Purdy agreed to terms on a five-year, $265 million contract extension, his agent Kyle Strongin of
@RangeSports
tells The Insiders. Purdy gets $181M in total guarantees, including $165.05M in the first three new years of a deal that runs through 2030.
Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo
WOW!!!
Wow is right!
Tonight is going to be a wild sports night . . .
Knicks vs Celtics Game 6
Mets vs Yankees Subway Series
^
Post
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Albert Breer
@AlbertBreer
NFL owners will vote next week to radically change playoff seeding—doing it strictly by record AND re-seeding after the 1st round. And the push-play proposal, for now, remains the same as it was in March. Looking at next week’s big (potential) changes
NFL Owners Set to Vote on Major Change to Playoff Seeding, Tush Push Ban
From si.com
·
625.7K Views
I like the idea of a an NFL Draft Lottery. No team should automatically be rewarded the top pick for losing the most. Lottery is more fair. Hope the proposal goes through
Not sure I like it. Haven’t thought about it that much though.
I hate that black uniform. You would think they would be a little original but the colors are almost exactly that of the Miami Marlins.
Miami Marlins Nike 2025 City Connect Limited Jersey – Black
Yes, and those are fugly too!
Thank you, Mike E.
I do believe in a Ravenesque D coming hard and downhill…if so, DBs just need to know the play in a new Dolphin D under Weaver…
I hate the black uniform too!!!
It’s NOT futuristic!!! It’s fatalistic!!! WTF?!
lol
A Dolphin in dark space…so fucking stupid
Seriously, it’s almost dark comic book like
If you’re looking for futuristic talk to the Oregon Ducks Uniform Designers.
I think they put out some hot unis…lol
….there’s a comma in there…lol
just got back from Leona General Store, Friday steak night, wow!
Krishna, you been there?
Huh? I’m at County Line after Bartlett’s…lol
.My backyard..lol
2 hours, surely you’ve heard of it
Purdy with 80m more in guaranteed money than Tua
So, designers can’t come up with futuristic aqua, orange, and white unis…lol
Fire them!!!
I’m quite optimistic about 2025, yet I have no idea how any game’s score win/lose will go
this team has too many unknowns, some good, some not so good
Fagetabout the secondary, if the lines are good we will be too
and it could be same ole or pretty good
You lay down any cash on the over 8.5 Wins?
I’m optimistic about the players, yet I have no idea how that will work out in wins and losses
Ditto!
for example the 3 draftees at DT, Grant is going to be a beast, Phillips has a work ethic 2nd to none, Biggers is a work in progress, that should be handy on STs
last year we paid a 2025 3rd to have insurance for a 2023 banged up Achane, this year Ollie who may be better we got with a late pick
Savaiinaea’s hands are so powerful, I have no doubts about him
Ewers is a project with much more upside, than Skylar
Daniels is a road grader we desperately needed
Ashtyn has some playmaker in him
Ikhine, all he does is catch touchdowns, great compliment to Jonnu
most of all the new physicality brought in is going to change the team dynamics
for 3 seasons now the soft FL panthers have changed their soft image, why did it take Grier so long to figure that out🤷♂️
I think Grier is a fuckin knucklehead
not only that, I don’t think Grier is responsible for the acorns found in late rounds or UDFAs
Ive heard they let the scout teams draft the late round guys, that it’s too much for the GM to scout for all the picks
I think he needs to go visit the Wizard of Oz
we could use a couple more RBs🤦♂️
What a half by the Knicks!!! Gotta keep their foot down and don’t let them get up
tried to watch the end of the last game and saw Brunson with 5 fouls before end of 3 and new the fix was in
I can’t stand Brunson, his style of play irks me, but against Boston SUCKS it’s all good
Boston sucks, Boston sucks!
Excellent win by the NY Knicks! Way to close out the series and play a complete game, tight defense and balanced scoring through the lineup!
Did the Mets win. 😉
Can’t win ’em all! In the importance scale though, Knicks game was paramount
Yes it was
Good point.
“Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa contracts continue to highlight a massive problem in the NFL
Despite the fact that Purdy has taken the Niners to a Super Bowl, many would say it was the team around him. There are serious questions about whether he or Tagovailoa deserves this much money. Both quarterbacks are good, but neither is elite.
This is a trend in the NFL that will not go away. Once contracts start to balloon for average players, it is only a matter of time before they explode for the guys at the top. Consider this: if Purdy and Tua are getting $53 million per season, what is Jayden Daniels going to get in five years if he continues to get better?”
GM’s need to talk to these guys and tell them if they want to win, they have to take less money.
I do think Tua and Purdy are very similar in that they can’t put a team on their back and carry them to a victory.
first we’re hearing that from you Mike, thought Purdy was your golden boy🤣
they really don’t care about winning vs max money
Steve – I read Dolphins twitter daily and Tua stans think Purdy isn’t anywhere near as good as Tua. They’re dead wrong!
Purdy is more of a gamer. Puts it all out there.
It’s funny, I feel the same way. when Tua does that, it usually doesn’t end well for him. I feel like Purdy does play balls to the wall all the time.
Doesn’t Tua get hurt doing exactly that?
Purdy’s qb rating: 104.9
Tua qb rating: 97.9
Is that career or last season?
MikeE,
Career. I’m not a big fan of quarterback rating, but if you’re gonna compare two guys at least it’s apples to apples. Tua has more years in the league, but it’s an average, so it is what it is.
I think they’re pretty comparable players.
Now that is a run on sentence. Mrs Rouse would not be happy and smacking my knuckles with a ruler about now.
Former Dolphins NT John Jenkins signs with the Ravens.
I thought he retired. I guess not.
Thanks Randy. I think they’re relatively close. Niners paid him but they didn’t spend the #5 pick in RD 1 and then pay him. Still pisses me off that we didn’t play him on his 5th year contract
A lot of Tua fans are in denial about Purdy. Can’t admit that Purdy could possibly be as good as their little QB
I think they’re both good.
Nice breakdown by Ryder on Phillip’s pass rush moves.
He might end up being a steal.
I think so
If Grant lives up to his draft status and Phillips makes an impact our front 7 should be in good shape.
He’s your 100% effort guy, that has some talent, an overachiever, shouldn’t ever have to worry about where his head is at
Jarvis Landry playing DT, you guys nailed this one in your mocks
Purdy 2024 20 12 96.1 career 64 27 104.9
Tua 19 7 101.4 career 100 44 97.9
both were in down years, Tua was better, when the team around them wasn’t as good
Purdy better with everything around him working, including SB year with a great running game
Both teams are going through transitions.
point was Purdy fell way off, when the team around him wasn’t as good
Okay fair enough. I’m kind of tired of comparisons because it’s not the same situation.
Tua Stans, is he our new QB Mike 😜
There are 3 CBs who may be cut before it’s all said and done: Jaire Alexander, Marshon Lattimore, and Jamel Dean. Why? All high contract$ vs lack of production and/or injury history.
Any takers if any of them hit FA?
IF the price is right (ONLY! And as in affordable for US, and without getting into a bidding war with another team), I’d consider as much.
Perhaps we’re waiting for other options to drop before pulling the trigger… that, and post-June 1s $$$.
I maintain as I said a month ago, bring Xavien Howard back… he’ll probably cost vet minimal after being out of the league for a year (allowing him to heal himself). And as I said a month ago, if he’s lost a step as a CB, he’d make one helluva Safety for us.
Happy to see that several of you agree with the Safety option for X: ball-skills don’t grow on trees.
I think that IF we’re going to trade Jalen Ramsey to the Rams, we should at least try to get CB Emmanuel Forbes in exchange. Forbes will absolutely EXCEL in Weaver’s zone-system.
I’d be cool with Jalen Ramsey and our 2026 5th rounder
for
Emmanuel Forbes and the Rams’ 2026 4th rounder
Though I’d start with Jalen Ramsey and our 2026 6th rounder.
FYI: adding Forbes (a former 1st round pick) will only cost us $2.2M against our salary cap.
We both liked Forbes
We’ve got some options out there to solidify our Secondary, although we’re not going to be looking ALL-PRO. But yes… we’ve got options to significantly upgrade before camp.
AnddDon’t forget about ASJ or Jack Jones.
Dang sticky key.
Well FUCK
There ya go, like any run of the mill Tua Stan, Tua’s better with blah blah blah than Purdy with blah blah blah. Meanwhile, Purdy went to the Super Bowl and won playoffs and our QB looks like Skylar Thompson’s backup in the playoffs
While I can agree. I have to say that Tua is not the whole problem in big games. MM just doesn’t seem to have the offense prepared for big games and can’t adjust to what teams are doing. He calls the same shit the whole game.
Ewers decision to enter the draft backfired on him. He turned down an 8m NIL deal to transfer from Texas for the final year of his eligibility. Now he’s getting paid 872K this year on his rookie deal.
However, he did just ink a deal with a sports card company, Panini, for 3m. It’s the biggest ever endorsement deal for a 7th round rookie.
Ok, here you go MikeE. What you think?
The NFL Seems to Be Confident in the Dolphins, Maybe the Fans Should be too | Yardbarker
I don’t know who this dude is and didn’t watch his youtube where he breaks down the schedule and came away with a 7-10 record.
I did it myself and came away with 9-8.
he’s Mike E 😜 right down to mentioning the Titans loss
really? We’ve played great against the crap teams
there goes word mess again, let me finish what it wouldn’t let me
…we lose 1 game and mentions the anomaly
I’d bet our record vs non playoff teams the last couple of years in games Tua started and finished is right up there with the best
An article from Bleacher Report identified the top player who could be cut by each team during final cuts.
He identified RB Mattison for the Dolphins. With addition of Gordon and if UDFA RB Nate Noel shines in TC/PS, Mattison could be a final cut.
Players he predicts as possible cuts to keep an eye on to strengthen the roster are:
New York Jets: OT Chukwuma Okorafor, Baltimore Ravens: OT Joe Noteboom, New Orleans Saints: OT Trevor Penning, Minnesota Vikings: G Blake Brandel, Arizona Cardinals: DL Justin Jones, Seattle Seahawks: TE Noah Fant, Pittsburgh Steelers: DL DeMarvin Leal.
The only DB mentioned was slot CB McMillan from the Chiefs, but we don’t need any more of those.
All his justifications were based on who the teams brought in during FA and who they drafted.
I don’t think we cut Mattison, but we will see what he does during TC/PS. I think he is a slight upgrade over Jeff Wilson.
BTW, I said early on that the Dolphins should have tried trading for OT Trevor Penning instead of resigning Eich and try Penning on the IOL.
some writer put it this way, Eichenberg is a below avg starter, but an above avg backup, that plays all 5 spots
Bleacher Reports 2025 season top rookie matchups:
Week 7: Browns IDL Mason Graham vs. Dolphins IOL Jonah Savaiinaea
Omar Kelly on the train of resigning X.
I am all for it.
why not, if the price is right?
I’d take X over any of the FA CBs, he’d be a great zone S with his ball skills
in the podcast O said, the reason Cincinnati and Dallas didn’t sign X last year was because he wouldn’t sign a waiver releasing them from liability of his foot injury reoccurring
seems he still has something left in the tank
the year off may have done him some good
problem is he didn’t exactly exit the Fins on good terms
his confidence is beaming
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45178063/ollie-gordon-addition-step-miami-dolphins-focus-toughness-2025
Achane mentioned the offseason workout program looks better this offseason, gyys are focused more, maybe my locker room concerns aren’t warranted
our prime time games aren’t set in stone as we all know, here’s some game times that could change
https://phinphanatic.com/national-tv-might-alter-3-miami-dolphins-games-2025
on O I’d say we’re mostly stacked at RB, WR and QB
at TE we may be at some point during the season, if Hill gets his foot out, Conyers is who we thought he was, or Rucci plays like he did last PS
the OL is our OL
BBMike – No question MM comes up small in big games too, but Purdy is basically in the same offense in SF, and he doesn’t have Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De’Von Achane. His O-line is better, but not so much better that you can’t fairly compare them. Purdy played well in big spots for that team, and that’s all you can go by, while Tua hasn’t. Why does Tua always fucking get excuses. Go and fucking ball out in big games and I’ll shut up!
That’s the problem. Tua can’t ball out or he gets hurt. That is our conundrum.
If we sign X, he’s immediately the best corner we have, even if he’s lost another couple of steps. Kinda sad, but true
Ryder is going to finish up his breakdowns on our UDFA’s then he is going to do some breakdowns on promising players we brought in last year who are still on the roster, Tahj Washington and Grayson Murphy to start with.
The Dolphins Season Comes Down to Three Things
CAN TUA STAY HEALTHY?
WILL THE DOLPHINS’ SECONDARY BE EVEN AVERAGE?
MIKE MCDANIEL MUST BE RESPECTED AND A BETTER GAMEDAY COACH
The Dolphins Season Comes Down to Three Things – Miami Dolphins
I think Mike Oliva is a putz, he starts off his videos like he has the best inside info on the Fins bar none, then when I’m done watching his videos it’s like he talked for however minutes and said nothing new
I don’t really care about our record. I just want to see this team start developing into a tough out. Compete and show you’re getting better. Stop playing like you think you’re a championship team. Be humble. Play hungry…like you have something to go get.
In the past this team has talked way too much and done very little.
+1
Just show up and compete for once. When/if they have a big gotta have it type game I want to actually have some hope they will at least compete. Not this go out in a whimper they have put out over the years.
it all starts with MM and his soft practices, it’s already watered down from the players union, then he cuts short the number of practices he’s allowed
Thank you!
I’m a hard pass on X. Am I misremembering that he’s a head case and malcontent? Even if he does come in and play competently, which is a leap, how does that help the team with where it’s at right now and developing for the future? Do we really think he’s going to be playing at a high level or even a competent level on this team in three years? I don’t see any reason to sign him. I really don’t want him anywhere around the secondary room where I’m trying to develop a bunch of young players.
I I think this team is closer to the verge of competency than on the verge of greatness. Build.
I’m not sure what he has left. Maybe he could complete at safety.
Maybe you haven’t heard players rarely stay around, other than draftees, for 4 yrs
each year you try to build the team for the current yr, with one eye on the future, not sure how you’d build a team to be competitive and have every player part of the long term goals
Randy – you make a good point, and picking up X is a lot like picking up Calais Campbell, just admitting you can’t fill a roster properly and have to find alternatives to find starting players. I guess in the end it always boils down to Wins and Losses and if X can help them win, they’ll take it. If we really had some young players that had nice potential, it would be better to see them develop, I’m just not sure we actually have that.
we’ve upgraded just about everywhere, except the secondary, besides Ramsey it’s even debatable if we haven’t upgraded there too, Poyer and Snowman were bad and avg last year
what we don’t know is how these guys will play together, do we have enough push on the OL in short yardage? Will the running game keep the D honest? If we’ve fixed some of our issues we could be pretty good, I’d hate for us to have fixed several things only to have the season shot down by bad secondary play, that could’ve been fixed by signing someone like X
I think the secondary could be good enough as is, we saw our young CBs ball out at times in 2024 PS, maybe Cam stays healthy, Bonner looked good late in 2023, not sure why he wasn’t getting PT last year
That’s pretty much how I view it.
I hate to be a dick, but I guess I have to. You guys keep saying we’ve upgraded everywhere. We don’t know shit about any of the guys we drafted until they play here for this team. We don’t know if Patrick Paul is good enough to not miss Terron Armstead big time, we don’t know if James Daniels will be healthy and as good as he was before his achilles injury. We don’t know if Jonah Savaiinaea is better than anyone else we’ve played at RG. You’re also immediately saying Kenneth Grant and any number of the guys we drafted and picked up undrafted are better than what we had last year. You’re absolutely just throwing best case scenario shit out there, but we might not have actually upgraded anything. You’re just projecting your misguided faith in Grier once again because you do it every season. That’s fine, but I don’t buy any of this until I actually see it happen, and history actually defers to my side on this. We’ll see . . .
Then the draft means nothing.
Ok, it doesn’t mean the draft means nothing, it’s your faith in Grier that means nothing. Let’s just go by the NFL website as a guide. We got according to them the 5th best DT in Kenneth Grant. We got the 18th or 19th best OL, I lost count. Just because we drafted players doesn’t make them upgrades over what we have, you have to realize that the possibility exists. We didn’t get a surefire no doubter with any of our picks, we just didn’t. So there was one rumor that the Patriots wanted Savaiinaea, that doesn’t mean he was going to start and be great. All I’m saying is projecting these guys as definite upgrades makes no sense to me. Let’s see if they’re good when they play.
So the schedule is out. I’ve been thinking for a while we should skip a year on the Fest at some point and thinking this would be a good one to do it. Chargers and Bills (both hot tickets) look like the only possibles. Pats are the home opener and think everyone is going to be focused on the Chargers game with all the primetime night ones.
I’m willing to help but someone else would have to take over the full coordinating. Sorta feel like leaving you guys in the lurch, but then haven’t been able to get up to the seats last two Fests.
Doesn’t mean people can’t got to games of course.
Sorry to hear that Stanger, but to be honest I’m not sure I’d be able to swing the Fest this year either. I have my annual summer vacation in the Catskills and then a destination wedding in August in Aruba. Not sure I’ll have enough time left (or money) to make it this year. Thanks though for always doing what you do, it’s really is greatly appreciated!
Part of why I have been thinking about an off year for a while is there will come a time when the Fest is not every year. Seemed a good year to start that, and will build up energy for the next one.
Also remember that Calais Campbell played very well for us last year and I know you guys love Jordan Phillips and Zeke Biggers and a couple of the UDFA DT’s we picked up, but how you think that any combination of the guys we got will be better than what Calais Campbell gave us last season is difficult for me to accept. Maybe a year or two down the line, or maybe never, but right now? Don’t see it
Mike, you’re down on this team so it’s difficult for you to see the positives that could be. I try to look for them.
That I can agree on, but saying we definitely upgraded is a huge stretch. It’s a whole lot more like “We hope we upgraded”.
We’ll find out eventually.
Stanger – I hear ya, makes sense
Hey, if you want to have faith in something, QB Quinn Ewers was rated the 5th Best QB prospect. 🙂
He’s the QB who dropped less popular than Sanders.
last year we were really thin on DL, counting E with that group, you don’t think we’re better with Phillips, Chubb, Grant and Phillips vs Calais and anyone else we lost?
OL, do you think Armstead, Eichenberg and Jones are better than PP, Savaiinaea and Daniels?
WR with Ikhine vs Berrios?
RBs with Mattison and Ollie vs Mostert who rarely played and anyone else we lost
TE with Brown vs Smythe
is it really a stretch to say we’ve improved?
of course we don’t know how things will play out and I’ve mentioned as much, which version of our team would you rather have the one that played most games last year or the 2025 rendition?
Steve – yes, it’s a big stretch. Like I already mentioned, Daniels is a question as to how he comes back from a bad injury fir a guy who all he does is push off. Savaiinaea who knows? PP too? I think it’s a big we’ll have to wait and see, no “we’ve definitely upgraded”. The D-line with Sieler and Campbell was a strength. I think counting on Chubb or Phillips is crazy. How can you? If miraculously they both stay healthy, sure it could be an upgrade. The secondary to me is just a mess
ok Mike
starting in August when the team starts playing like shit, I’ll be the first one in line to call them out, until that time I’m going to enjoy the new players and the possibilities they may bring
has nothing to do with Grier, I hate him as much as anyone here, and I really don’t think he does much as GM, maybe he’s the wheeler and dealer trade guy, but as far as bringing in guys, I think he just does what he’s told by MM and listens somewhat to his scouts
I was coming to the Fest this year come Hell or high water. Oh well……
Better off skipping this one, I think it’s gonna be a bad season for us
compared to the other 2 fests I went to, would’ve been just more of the same
LOL ER🤣
😂😂
Here’s my take on our O-Line…
LT- Darth Paul (not to be confused with Darth Maul) played college ball for the Houston Cougars… not an A-1 school like LSU or Alabama in the SEC. He certainly wasn’t going to become the best rookie O-Lineman of the ’24 NFL Draft class due to the Houston program.
Paul’s still a WIP (Work in Progress)… but he has the size, the fight in the dog, and the mentorship/tutelage from T-STEAD… who is one of the best to have ever done it in recent years and one helluva teacher to boot. Paul is going to become solid over time, and probably beginning this year, IMO. Don’t sleep on Paul this season.
LG- James Daniels. Weighing in at nearly 330 pounds, he’s one of the most elite ZBS O-Lineman in the game today. He can run-block, he can pass-block, and he can MOVE for a BIG MAN. He’s recovering from an Achilles tear suffered in week 4 of the ’24 season.
He’ll only be 28 years old when this season kicks off, he should be good to go, and modern tech/med/rehab has come a LONG way since our own Cam Wake suffered the same injury back in ’15 (Wake was 33 years old at the time). Wake came back in ’16 better than ever.
Yes, Wake was a FREAK of health, diet, and working out… but now a decade later, I don’t fear Daniels being damaged goods. Perhaps he starts out soft-ish? Possibly. But I have 100% faith he’ll paying dividends this season… and on a really friendly contract. We should sign another FA LG, just in case Daniels has any setbacks. Cue the noise for Brandon Scherff, Dalton Risner, etc… Liam Eichenberg and/or Larry Borom ain’t it.
C- Aaron Brewer. Great puller, great at getting to the second level, and great at second-level blocking. Undersized and weak at the point of attack… which is why we added James Daniels and Big Jonah (roughly 330 pounds each): to ANCHOR at the LOS.
On paper, he can work very well with our scheme… now that we’ve added Daniels and Jonah. I’d like to get a Center who can anchor, but we could do much worse than Brewer. Just don’t expect the “Brotherly Shove” under Center so long as Brewer is here.
RG- Jonah Savaiinaea. Is it possible we’ve found the right guy to replace Robert Hunt at RG? The hope is so with Big Jonah. He played college ball at Arizona, but he’s not being asked to man the LT position with all of the nuances like Patrick Paul. Ideally, Jonah can step right on in and be dominant.
That’s NOT to take away from the duties of an NFL RG. That’s to say that this smaller-schooler has a MUCH better chance of success at RG as a rook than Patrick Paul at LT as a rook… who also came from a smaller-school [*smaller-school in my definition (not to be confused with a small school): not a perennial top-25 team].
RT- Austin Jackson. Jackson may be our most under-rated O-Lineman. So long as he returns at 100% (no reason to think he won’t), he’s going to have another very solid season with Big Jonah playing beside him. Think of a return to his ’23 season when Robert Hunt played beside him.
Analysis: sign another Guard via FA (y’all know the usual suspects we like to target), and reap the benefits WHEN (not if!) the injury bug bites. This unit has MUCH potential to return to the ’23 O-Line we had… when we rushed for over 2,300 yards and Tua led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards.
I can only talk about potential… not guarantees. I really like the potential, but I guarantee nothing. We’ll see what happens once the bullets become live.
VERY seriously… IF our O-Line is fixed, we have the potential to win any game in a shootout, or even in a close-score game by running the ball to kill the clock.
Coach McD had better learn how to manage the clock.
We have never seen this projected OL play together.
Yup, but I project this O-Line is going to be NICETY (*in my Bootsy Collins voice*)!!! 😀
Tim,
I truly admire your optimism, Brother! I’m half way between you and Mike E, but I do see much potential this year.
I mean, if everything goes right (it never does, LOL), we could go far.
So if the potential isn’t met, it’s goodbye to Chris Grier and Coach McD.
I’d say there’s a better chance the OL is really good, than both or either MM/Grier get fired
I know not saying much, because the OL could be as bad as last year and neither would still get fired
We’ll see what happens, Steve. I don’t know either.
Okay, I don’t get off on firing people because they haven’t met your standards. I’m pretty sure they want to win too.
I think you’re reading me the wrong way, Tim. Like YOU, I DO see some hope! Don’t ever let people pull down your optimism.
On the other hand, if we fail to make the playoffs this season… do you really believe Grier and McD get another chance? I’m not seeing that, bud.
Not directed at you personally. We don’t know yet.
HOW ABOUT THOSE FLORIDA PANTHERS! 6-1 to close out the round. First game tomorrow night at 8pm vs the Hurricanes!
GO PANTHERS!
looked like they were playing the entire game with an extra skater
they had so much O zone time it enabled them to keep adding fresh skaters, while Toronto was on their heels with long tiring shifts
it was a thing of beauty
I hope our change to a more physical team works close to what the Panthers have pulled off since 2022
maybe we need to sign our Tkachuk
Steve, I was amazed at the amount of time they spent in the Ozone. Their passes were crisp and on target and they seemed like they were always in position.
weeeeeeeeeeeeeee
go Panthers
Go panthers indeed
From Chris Perkins at the SS: (I totally agree)
The Super Bowl window has closed for this core of Dolphins that’s led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The imminent departure of star cornerback Jalen Ramsey means something as basic as winning a playoff game isn’t a realistic option in the next couple of years.
A rebuild, led by a culture change, must occur after this season.
The Dolphins have way too much talent, especially offensively, for 2025 to be deemed anything resembling a rebuild.
That’s the good news, if there is any good news in this situation.
The bad news is the Dolphins are positioned very poorly for a rebuild.
They don’t have the resources to add significant talent, and in the meantime they’ll continue losing top talent.
What does that mean for 2025?
Mediocrity. Again.
It means the 2025 season is basically a duck-and-cover drill for executives, coaches and players.
It means the 2025 season is one that plays out the string while the front office plots the next Super Bowl run, maybe in 2028. This is a season that sets up the future while paying minimal attention to the present.
I think the Dolphins can win nine games in 2025. They’re not far from being a playoff team.
Simply making the playoffs, however, is an embarrassingly low bar that must be raised as part of the required culture change.
Here’s what I mean: when the talent-rich Dolphins made back-to-back playoff appearances in 2022-23, their first-round playoff exits were deemed a major success and celebrated with lucrative contract extensions amid a wave of optimism; when the so-so Miami Heat made back-to-back playoff appearances in 2024-25, their first-round playoff exits were deemed a major failure and earth-shaking changes have been contemplated amid a sense of frustration.
The Dolphins must rebuild in many ways.
Think of 2025 as a pivot year, the year to get things right for the future. This year’s team has almost no chance of winning a playoff game or any other significant accomplishment. That’s the reality.
I originally thought 2024 would be the get-right season and 2025 would be the go-for-it season in a final hurrah for this core of players.
But this core won’t have another “go for it” season.
The glory days are gone. Over. Finished. The Super Bowl window for this collection of players is closed and locked.
There was a small crack to squeeze through before the Dolphins and Ramsey mutually agreed to seek a trade shortly before the draft in April.
But Ramsey’s imminent departure slams the Super Bowl window shut for the core of the Dolphins players that began being gathered in 2022, coach Mike McDaniel’s first season.
Key players such as left tackle Terron Armstead, guard Robert Hunt, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, safety Jevon Holland and, in a few weeks, Ramsey, have gone away, stripping this squad of any chance of being better than the gold standard of this disappointing era, the 2023 team that finished 11-6.
As for the near future, well, consider that Tyreek is scheduled to count $51.9 million against the salary cap in 2026. One way or the other, he’ll likely be gone after this season. Once Tyreek leaves, it’s all over for this offense. It must be totally rebuilt.
And Tua’s contract becomes easier to part with after 2026 when his $34.8 dead cap money hit becomes more digestible. He’s due to count $56.4 million against the salary cap in 2026, $53.4 million in 2027, and $65.8 million in 2028, his eighth season.
Few teams are willing to stay with a quarterback who earns that much but can’t win a playoff game, so extending Tua’s contract to lower/spread his salary cap charge wouldn’t seem a wise option.
In a span of three years, the Dolphins could lose Tyreek, Tua, Armstead, Campbell, Ramsey and Holland.
Also, they must make a decision on whether to re-sign edge rusher Jaelan Phillips or allow him to depart in free agency after this season. He’s playing on his fifth-year option.
A major rebuild is coming.
The draft classes of 2023 and 2024 must form a new core, and there’s not much hope for that to happen at this way-too-early point of the process.
Running back De’Von Achane and edge rusher Chop Robinson form the nucleus of the new core, and they’re not nearly enough.
We’ll see if defensive tackle Kenneth Grant and guard Jonah Savaiinaea, this year’s first- and second-round picks, respectively, can help form a new nucleus.
But there’s not much more to offer from the previous three drafts.
Perhaps this season the Dolphins’ under-achieving offense, which loaded up on everything from coaches to quarterbacks this offseason, can finally carry this team to big things.
After all, if not for offensive additions such as senior pass game coordinator Bobby Slowik, backup quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers, guard James Daniels, Savaiinaea, running backs Alexander Mattison and Ollie Gordon II, backup guard-tackle Larry Borom, big wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and in-line tight end Pharaoh Brown this season would be the rebuild year.
Those, however, are major additions.
So there’s a chance the offense can put the 2025 Dolphins on its shoulders and carry it to big things.
But most likely, the Dolphins are playing a waiting game during the 2025 season, merely killing time before they can get to the inevitable rebuild beginning in 2026.
”major additions”? Not really.
Sounds like that reporter has been reading us again. 😜
Not a rebuild, but also an end to running this team irresponsibly while having no worry about the cap. Time to be big boys and girls and realize we went for it, didn’t make it, and now it’s time to operate in a responsible manner.
“They don’t have the resources to add significant talent, and in the meantime they’ll continue losing top talent.”
I don’t agree with this statement.
We have 14m in cap right now. The trade of Ramsey will clear another 6m and clear 7.4m in 2026. Moving on from Tyreek next year designated post 6/1 release will clear 39.1m. They can post 6/1 release or trade Chubb and clear 20.2m.
That’s 66.7m in cap cleared not to mention what we carry over from the 20m we will have when Ramsey is traded this year putting us around at least 70m in 2026 cap. That is without restructuring anyone.
We have 9 draft picks next year to include two 3rd’s (ours and Texans) and two 4th’s (ours and a projected comp). We could end up with another 4th with the Ramsey trade, maybe 5th.
Yeah, we will lose some top talent but will have the cap and draft picks to replace them. Ramsey is a done deal. We are only talking about losing the aging and cancerous Hill and aging often injured Chubb.
Next draft looks to be solid at QB, OT, CB, Safety and Edge. All probably our top needs next year.
I like Tankathon’s early picks for us: My guy #13 CB Jermod McCoy, #45 OT Austin Barber, #77 QB Nico Iamaleava, #81 Edge David Bailey.
Time for a new QB!! Do it!
Yes, I like Nico Iamaleava, but I am on the fence with him. He is getting a diva label and has fallen all ready on 2026 draft boards. He pulled a bitch move and said he is leaving Tennessee to get a better NIL deal. He was set to make 2.2m in NIL money at Tennessee. It backfired and teams balked at him. I think he signed on with UCLA and is set to make less than what TN was going to give him.
So the kid got in trouble for living up to his name?
I am a leava
lol
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article300437309.html
Man, I know that Zach Wilson sucks, I just didn’t realize how badly.
Good thing we drafted the rookie in the 7th round!
All I can say to those stats is Ewwwwwers.
Too-ugh with a $56.4M cap hit next season.
Yes sir, he gone
It depends on the 2025 season.
?? You think they keep him at that price if he has a great season? No way
You do know the cap hit will still be there and you don’t have the player anymore right?
Jamal St. Cyr
Liam Coen says the Jaguars are planning on having joint practice with the Dolphins
Tim – I suck at explaining cap casualties, 2027 is the out year where we have a lower cap hit.
Having the out in 2027 is at least 1 year too late
You do know the cap hit will still be there and you don’t have the player anymore right?
————
Not true, only on the hook for bonuses he has been paid. He has no guaranteed money left and we have a 2026 out clause in place. Pre 6/1 release of Hill will leave a dead cap hit of 15.5m. We will clear a ton of cap.
‘Reek’s fate will be determined after this season, and who knows, maybe he talks his way outta Miami before the trade deadline. He almost certainly won’t be with us next season in ’26.
The next GM and/or HC will be set up very nicely for the ’26 season, regardless.
I DO believe that Steve Ross has learned over the years of his futility: if ya want to attract killer bees (top GM and/or HC candidates), you’d better pollinate your fields with a bevy of future draft picks and plenty of cap space to work with.
I maintain there is a ‘MANDATE’ in place this year for Grier and McD… get it done this year without obnoxious spending and without using future Draft capital. To date, it seems to be true, IMO.
Around The NFL
@AroundTheNFL
Dolphins RB De’Von Achane looks for improved 2025: “Going back and watching the year and the cut ups, I feel like I left a lot of yards on the table.” https://nfl.com/news/dolphins-rb-de-von-achane-has-high-aspirations-for-2025-i-feel-like-i-left-a-lot-of-yards-on-the-table-last-season
@AroundTheNFL
Dolphins RB De’Von Achane looks for improved 2025: “Going back and watching the year and the cut ups, I feel like I left a lot of yards on the table.” https://nfl.com/news/dolphins-rb-de-von-achane-has-high-aspirations-for-2025-i-feel-like-i-left-a-lot-of-yards-on-the-table-last-season
“I’m going to get the paper, get the paper”
I was just thinking to myself about why I dislike Tua so much. So much of it stems from him screaming in a megaphone at the practice field “Show me the money”
My favorite Dolphins players ever were Zach Thomas and Dan Marino. Neither one of those guys would ever do what Tua did, and Tua is a fucking blip on the radar compared to those 2 guys who are in the Hall of Fame. It still and always will irk me the way he behaved, and what’s worse is we fucking caved to his demands. I would have played his ass on that 5th year contract and after missing 6 games last season with yet another injury I would have offered him half of what he wanted and told him to fuck himself if he didn’t like it! There, now you know!
If I were to name my two favorite players for our Phins of all-time, I’d have to go with Dan Marino and Cam Wake.
And believe me, there are PLENTY of players who are worthy of being one’s faves! We have a very storied organization.
Runner-up for me would be Ricky Williams, who once followed me for years on Twitter/X.
We knew! Lol! And, for the most part I agree.
But, before your time? I’m still pining for a lot more than 2, just on OL….lol…
The current status of the roster has not been determined yet.
M – So answer me this . . .
Would Cam Wake or Dan Marino do what Tua did?
That’s an interesting question, my guy. The problem is societal, IMO. Today’s kids are so messed up, man!!!
You do know what I’m saying, of course. Not excusing as much as it pertains to Tua, but kids today are now dictating to their parents.
I don’t want to get political, but that’s where the answer lies, my friend.
But to answer your question… NO… Marino or Wake would not have done what Tua did.
But I hope you DO realize that it takes two to tango. Can’t put all the blame on Tua, when it was Grier who caved.
Well, when you say Marino or Thomas would not have done it…how does Tua doing it get a pass? That’s confusing…lol
What does CG have to do with it other than he was an idiot!
And. MM lobbied for his precious, but fragile and reckless QB…lol
M – I hate Grier too, believe me. He should have never given Tua that contract
I guess my big point is everyone thinks Tua’s such a great guy, but that was a very selfish act by him. A couple of his teammates may still have been here if he didn’t bitch about his contract and Grier didn’t give into him. It was Me, Me, Me, Me, and fuck everyone else
who thinks Tua is a great guy? He’s as selfish as the rest
He’s not as selfish as the rest, that’s my point. He’s worse. He took it public in front of his teammates and the fans on the practice field. Dan Marino, Zach Thomas, Hall of Famers wouldn’t have behaved that way. He’s supposed to to be the leader of this team but he’s a “Me” guy.
Oh, get the fuck over that! The dolphins media guy suggested he do it and the fans roared when he did it. He was having fun with the crowd.
It happened AFTER he signed his new deal too, not before!
Jonnu benefitted from Hill and Waddle being doubled and no running game, if he has the same type of year as last it may not be good for the team
I expect others, including Ikhine to get some of his targets
not down on Jonnu, and think he’ll have another productive season, and be as valuable as ever
https://dolphinstalk.com/2025/05/phins-phorward-in-jonnu-we-trust/
when I broke down the units that we’ve improved at i left out one small, minor detail, the current year has to be an improvement (unless the previous year had no significant injuries) or there’s little chance of a good season
if you think about it the previous season includes injuries, non productive players, and everything else that went wrong, while the current season includes what you can generally expect from vets, and some hope from rookies
I mentioned I like the players, not sure of team results
with that said I have some optimism for 2025
^
If this offense can’t get back closer to 2023 scoring with Hill, Waddle, Ikhine, Washington, Jannu, Achane, Wright and Gordon. That is going to be more on MM than Tua, IMO.
Agreed, Grier has given MM at least what should amount to an avg OL, if he and his coaches can’t get the best out of them it’s on MM
I’m in the belief that drafting/acquiring players is only as good as what you do with them, so coaching them up and developing them to fit your system
The HC sets the parameters on the types of players he wants
The best teams keep things simple as to what types of players they want and how to use/develop them
Is Tomlin a great coach or is he just following the Steelers way? It’s no surprise they keep winning with each coach
There’s only been 2 since Knoll, but they keep winning year after year in the same system
Another QB to keep an eye on who is being talked about in the 1st round already is Fernando Mendoza, 6’5 225, who transferred from Cal to IU. Yes, Indiana could be dangerous in the big 10 again this year. He has a strong arm, quick release, good ball placement and some scramble ability.
Some preseason rankings have him ahead of Nussmeier and Allar.
Even if Manning doesn’t enter the draft, the 2026 draft class is going to be really interesting at QB.
Good players make bad calls work. I don’t think MM knows how to call a game more than one way. Players need to make it work. That’s why you practice. Oh wait, players don’t practice anymore.
With all those “talented” skill players, it’s on them. Make it work. Make a fricking play. Stop whining and do it. I’m so tired of the excuses.
The only thing they seemed motivated to practice was a TD celebration. It totally annoyed me last year.
Grow up and act like you might have gotten a TD before. 🤯😤
Another under the radar QB to keep an eye on is ISU QB Rocco Becht. I watched their game against UCF and came away impressed. He lost WR’s Higgins and Noel so we will see.
Starting to look at TE’s also to keep an eye on this year.
ISU Benjamin Brahmer is one. Not a lot of catches but that is not surprising with WR’s Noel and Higgins. He’s 6’7, 250, projects to run sub 4.7 and was the 11th ranked best blocking TE last year.
Another TE is Cal transfer to Texas Jack Endries, 6’4, 242, good route runner and some speed. Graded ok at blocking. About same as Tyler Warren.
Him beating a safety to the house.
Agreed, Grier has given MM at least what should amount to an avg OL, if he and his coaches can’t get the best out of them it’s on MM
Grief has given MM what should amount to an average OL IF all the scheduled starters stay healthy, and PP progresses past the low to mediocre play he exhibited last season. (VERY DOUBTFUL re injuries) the depth is shit and we are one big injury away from depending on shit players again.
So PFF dropped an article with the top 3 player for each team. Anyone care to guess who PFF chose for the Dolphins?
1.
2.
3.
I haven’t read the article, so this is an honest stab in the dark…
I’ll give you a hint. Two are wide receivers and one will not be on the team come June 2nd….
The NFL is considering reshuffling the playoff seeding in this weeks owner’s meeting.
If approved, the change could have a significant impact on the playoff matchups — as it most certainly would have for the Dolphins’ last playoff game, the freezing cold Saturday night game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in the first round of the 2023 playoffs.
Under the bylaw, the NFL playoff seeding format would eliminate the automatic home game for the four division winners in each conference and simply seed the teams by record.
The division winners still would get into the playoffs regardless, but no more home games for teams that finish with mediocre records.
So in 2023, had the rule been in effect, the Dolphins would have played that first-round game against the Cleveland Browns as the No. 5 seed. They still would have been on the road, but Cleveland obviously isn’t the same kind of matchup that Kansas City was on its way to its second consecutive Super Bowl title.
I like it. Don’t care if you win the division. Team with the best record should get the seed and possible home game.