A contract extension seemed to be the least likely outcome considering the Dolphins financial situation.  With limited funds at their disposal, Miami has pushed itself to the limit having signed 16 undrafted free agents, a handful of veterans, and after making good use of a full complement of Draft picks.  Cameron Wake looked as if he were destined to play out the last year of a meager contract, and face being hit with the franchise tag in 2013.

Then Wake posted this on his twitter account @Kold91, surprising everyone.

#Donedeal.... http://t.co/YY9AOLNy

May 6, 2012 11:05 am via InstagramReplyRetweetFavorite

@Kold91

Cameron Wake

Signing a contract extension worth $49 million over the next 4 years, with $20 million guaranteed, puts Wake among the  highest paid pass rushers in the NFL, a place he deserves to be.  Over the last two seasons, Wake has put up 22.5 sacks, with over half of them coming on 3rd down.  He is a hybrid player, a dangerous rusher from anywhere around the line of scrimmage, and excels at forcing opposing offenses off of the field.

Signing Wake to extension is a great move by General Manager Jeff Ireland, not only securing one of the best pass rushers, and a shining star of the Dolphins roster, for the next 4 years, but also going a long way towards appeasing the Dolphin faithful that have been calling for his termination.  Although the offseason started off rough for the GM and the Dolphins franchise, things have started to look up over the last few weeks, drafting a solid cast of rookies, including a hopeful franchise quarterback in Ryan Tannehill, and now eliminating the destraction of a Wake holdout.

The Dolphins are still behind the rest of the AFC East in terms of strengthening their roster this offseason, but they have made another huge step in the right direction.

Jeff Everette is a featured columnist for Rant Sports.  You can follow him on twitter @jeverettesports, or his facebook page Jeff Everette- Rant Sports, for all of his latest articles, opinions, and rants.

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This is a new beginning for the Dolphins, just as it is for several teams around the NFL, and no player that took the field yesterday (i.e. 5/4/2012) had more eyes on him then the Dolphins’ first selection in the draft, Ryan Tannehill.

When talking to the media, Tannehill expressed his familiarity with the offensive system, having been the quarterback in practically the same system at Texas A&M, where Dolphins Offensive Coordinator, Mike Sherman, was his head coach.  Tannehill claims that “80 to 85%” of the offense looked familiar to him, and that he felt it necessary to step up and be the leader for the other new guys.

The familiarity may be why Tannehill seemed to be so relaxed and in command during the mini-camp’s first day.  According to the Miami Herald, he was seen correcting fellow rookies, guiding other players through the offensive sets, and assuming the command of the starting quarterback.

The 3^rd quarterback to be drafted, there are many who feel that Tannehill was over-hyped, and is not the franchise quarterback that Miami is banking on him to be, but none of the negativity seems to affect him.  Instead, he wants to reinforce the quarterback position as being the leader of the team.

His familiarity with the offense has given him an early advantage against the other quarterbacks on the Dolphins roster, including last year’s starter Matt Moore.  Coach Joe Philbin believes this will even out over time, leaving the starting position to be determined by each individual’s ball skills, i.e. accuracy, decision making, and play making ability.

Not everyone is satisfied with the steps Miami has taken to become a contender in the National Football League, but the process has just begun, and there are signs for hope in the Dolphins’ future.

Jeff Everette is a featured columnist for Rant Sports.  You can follow him on twitter @jeverettesports, or his facebook page Jeff Everette- Rant Sports, for all of his latest articles, opinions, and rants.

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A Miami Dolphin For Only 3 Seasons, Junior Seau Will Always Be Remembered

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My memories of Junior Seau always appear in the form of devastating hits and a big smile.  The guy was one of the best linebackers I had ever seen, and one of the most joyful personalities in the NFL.

A San Diego Charger for most of his career, Seau was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2003 for a conditional draft pick.  This seemed sacrilegious at the time.  How could Junior Seau ever be anything but a Charger?  The NFL can be a cold business at times, and seeing Seau in the aqua and orange for the first time reminded me of that truth.

Miami welcomed Junior with open arms.  A future Hall of Famer that played with such passion and commitment would be a welcome addition to any team, but to have all of that lining up alongside Zack Thomas and Jason Taylor?  Man, that was a thing of beauty.  Unfortunately, Junior’s time in Miami was overshadowed by injuries, causing him to miss much of 2004 and 2005, eventually leading to his release.

He may not have been able to make the impact he wanted to as a Dolphin, but he gave it everything he could while he was on the field.  He always did, whether it was in San Diego, Miami, New England, or even Honolulu, a place Seau visited 12 straight years to make a Pro Bowl appearance.

The events surrounding Seau’s death are still murky, and can only hope that the truth is one day known.  One thing that is certain, Junior Seau was an incredible human being and the sporting world lost one of its most beloved figures.

“I’m shocked and saddened.  Devastated, really.  Junior was one of the most positive, uplifting people I have ever known.  He was always full of life and energy and had an infectious spirit that lifted everyone around him.  Junior called everyone “buddy” and treated them like he had known them forever.  It would be easy for me to say he was a great friend and teammate, and a tremendous competitor, but that would be selling Junior short.  Junior Seau was an individual of great honor and integrity, a leader of men and someone with a deep rooted passion for giving of himself to make the people, the community and especially the children around him better.  This is an  immeasurable loss for so many.  My heart and prayers go out to Junior’s family, Gina and their children.  I’m going to miss you buddy.”– Former Dolphins Defensive End Jason Taylor

It is an idiom that we often hear in reference to sports teams going through a rough stretch.  Regardless of the problems, the mismanagement, the blown calls, or anything else that has caused some sort of tribulation for the franchise, winning will cure it all.  Winning will ease the pain, increase patience, and allow the world to overlook the failures of the past.  After all, winning is the goal every time a team takes the field, and successfully accomplishing the goal is what matters, right?

Usually these wins take place on the field, court, diamond, or pitch, but for the Miami Dolphins, the victory has happened in the latter half of the offseason.

Just a month ago, fans and critics were pointing fingers at the team, accusing them of being incompetent.  Fans had held protests, demanded that the General Manager be fired, and were critical of owner Stephen Ross’ attempts to calm the masses.

Yet, here we are just a few weeks later, and there seems to be a sense of excitement in South Florida; the kind of excitement that comes from winning.

Before the 2012 NFL Draft, there were many fans and critics, including myself, who were critical over the possibility of the Dolphins taking a risk on a quarterback with the 8^th pick of the Draft.  Those reservations were not unfounded, but now that the powers that be have made their choice, there is a certain assurance in knowing that the team has a plan.

Selecting Ryan Tannehill with a top ten pick was risky, but there are a lot of positives to be considered, one of which is the support he has gotten from the Dolphin coaching staff.  No one knows Tannehill better than his former coach, and current offensive coordinator, Mike Sherman.  If he felt secure enough to tie himself to Tannehill, then he must have a strong belief in the young quarterback’s ability to become a franchise type of talent.

The biggest positive seems to be simply feeling like the team is heading somewhere.

Earlier in the offseason, it felt as if the Dolphins were lost at sea, chasing big name free agents around, releasing long tenured fan favorites, and making no significant improvement, while the rest of the division was making major improvements.

Now, Miami has clearly stated the course they feel will lead them to be a constant contender, and if nothing else, this has bolstered the faith of the fan base.  There is still a split out there among the Tannehill believers and his detractors, but that is to be expected.  Many are just taking it for what it is, and waiting to see what type of team the Dolphins will put on the field come fall.

The offseason may have not began the way that fans and critics would have liked, but there is no doubt that the NFL Draft, and subsequent free agent signings, has brought about a feeling of success, the satisfaction of achievement, and a hope for the future.

And, that is what winning is all about.

Jeff Ireland, Joe Philbin, and their staff jave done a decent job so far in the 2012NFL Draft.  The most questionable pick was the first one, when they selected Ryan Tannehill 8th overall.  Tannehill jumped up the Draft Boards and was the cause of much debate throughout the sporting world.  In the end, the Dolphins decided that they like what they see, and Ryan Tannehill is now the future of the Fins.

The best moves have come with the teams picks in the following rounds.  Looking at the players available when the Dolphins were on the clock, it is arguable that there were better selections out there, but the guys they grabbed all fit the team needs.  Here are the team selections up to this point.

Round 2, 42nd pick: Jonathan Martin, OT Stanford.  A solid offensive lineman that comes with the experience of playing in an NFL style offense.

Round 3, 72nd pick: Olivier Vernon, DE Miami.  Vernon adds another pass rusher to line up opposite Cameron Wake, adding strength to a decent defensive front.

Round 3, 78th pick:  Michael Egnew, TE Missouri.  Egnew is a strong tight end that can be an asset in the run game as well as passing attack.  Current Dolphin stand out Anthony Fasano is in the last year of his contract.

Round 4, 97th pick:  Lamar Miller, RB Miami.  This pick is a little surprising.  The Dolphins already have Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas in the offensive backfield.  A wide receiver would have made more sense here.

Round 5, 155th pick: Josh Laddu, LB Oregon.  6’3″ 240lb. 1st Team All American, Laddu shows the potential to become a force in the middle of the field.

Round 6, 183rd pick:  B.J. Cunningham, WR Michigan State.  Finally, a little help on the outside.  Not the talent to replace Brandon Marshall, but a start.

Miami still has 2 picks in the 7th.

While, it may not seem like the Dolphins knocked it out of the park with big name players, they have selected quality players that will add to the foundation of this team moving forward.

Jeff Everette is the featured columnist for the Miami Dolphins on Rant Sports.  You can follow him on twitter@jeverettesports, or like his facebook page: Jeff Everette- Rant Sports for all of his latest articles.

Martin is a 6 foot, 6 inch, mammoth of a man.  He weighs over 300 pounds, and promises to be a solid edition to an offensive line that already boasts Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long.  Ryan Tannehill should feel safer already.

When Martin’s name was called, NFL Network’s resident draft guru, Mike Mayock stated that the Dolphin’s got first round talent with their pick.  One reason that he would feel that way is how NFL ready this young man is.

Martin was on the line at Stanford, which means he was protecting Andrew Luck.  One of the things that made Luck a first over all pick, was the pro-style offense employed at Stanford.  When the offense would break huddle it would be with three or four plays possible, and Luck making the call at the line.  Martin had to be able to recognize the defense and adjust to the signals on the fly.  This gives him valuable experience that will go a long way in his transition to the pro’s.

While there were several wide receivers and defensive ends that could have been taken, this pick makes sense and will go a long ways towards solidifying the Dolphins offense.

Jeff Everette is the featured columnist for the Miami Dolphins on Rant Sports.  You can follow him on twitter@jeverettesports, or like his facebook page: Jeff Everette- Rant Sports for all of his latest articles.

Congrats to @ryantannehill1! Welcome to Miami. #Dolphins

April 26, 2012 11:28 pm via Twitter for iPadReplyRetweetFavorite

@DanMarino

Dan Marino

Ryan Tannehill must have been heavy on Marino’s mind to have the 50 year old using twitter after midnight on a weeknight.

Maybe he was doing the same as I was, lamenting the woes of the franchise, and resisting the urge to spend some time with the bottle of cognac winking suggestively from its place on the wet bar.

Maybe he was sitting there lamenting and resisting, and he started wondering if a possible come back was in the cards, after all there are a lot of new stadiums that have been built since 1999, and Eli really needs someone to put him in his place since Peyton is no longer keeping little brother in check.

Maybe he was sitting there lamenting, and resisting, and wondering, and finally could take it no longer.

Maybe that is when he decided to just give up and stop lamenting, to give up and no longer resist, give up and quit wondering.

If this was the case, than maybe it was at this point that he realized, as I have, that the choice has been made.  There is nothing that can be gained from lamenting, resisting, and wondering about what can not be.

Maybe this is what caused him to turn to twitter to extend his hand to the young quarterback, showing the fan base  he was on board, assuring us all everything will be just fine, and we should all go to bed.

Yeah, I’m sure that is how it went.

Maybe.

Jeff Everette is the featured columnist for the Miami Dolphins on Rant Sports.  You can follow him on twitter@jeverettesports, or like his facebook page: Jeff Everette- Rant Sports for all of his latest articles.

During Thursday’s opening round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins decided to bank on a quarterback they feel can be the face of the franchise, and selected former Texas A&M Aggie, Ryan Tannehill with their first selection. Tannehill is the third quarterback to come off of the board, following Andrew Luck and Robert Griffen III.  Luck and Griffen werre the 1st and 2nd overall picks, with Tannehill goin in the 8th spot. The former Aggie comes into the league as the subject of debate among many NFL and NCAAF analysts.  Tannehill ended the season as a middle pf the pack quarterback, and after a good showing at both the NFL combine and the A&M Pro Day, he shot up the draft boards, placing him in the top 10.  Many feel that this much higher than his talent should take him, while others feel that he has everything needed to become a franchise quarterback in the NFL.  Rant Sports’ College Football Network Manager Kris Hughes, sent expressed his sentiment earlier today when asked for his opinion:

@jeverettesports Nope I haven't. I've seen him play in College Station a couple of times and I'm just not impressed.

April 26, 2012 12:29 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@KrisHughesRS

Kris Hughes

It seems that this thought is echoed by many, yet nearly every Mock Draft leading up to tonight’s Draft had Tannehill going exactly where he went.

Only time will tell if this was a smart move, or not, but it bears to keep in mind the last time they selected a selected a quarterback in the first round they did pretty well.  That pick…Hall Of Fame QB Dan Marino.

Jeff Everette is the featured columnist for the Miami Dolphins on Rant Sports.  You can follow him on twitter@jeverettesports, or like his facebook page: Jeff Everette- Rant Sports for all of his latest articles.

According to Miami Harold’s Armando Salguero, and ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, THe Dolphins are looking to fall back two to eight spots, picking up a second round pick in the process.

This would mean likely having to give up on quarterback Ryan Tannehill, but the move makes a lot of sense for a team that has needs all over the board, and truthfully.  There is also a good chance that Tannehill could still be there when the Dolphins turn does come up, if they choose to go that direction.

An extra pick in the second round would allow the Dolphins to consider DE Nick Perry out of USC, North Carolina’s OLB Zach Brown, or wide receiver Reuben Randle from LSU.  It is a lot easier to choose two of these guys, than to settle on just one.

Ireland is taking and making calls now, but don’t expect the action to heat up until after players begin coming off the board.  There will be plenty of teams looking to move up if there are players like Justin Blackmon or Mark Baron still on the board when the 8th pick comes up.

It is still early in the day, but things are heating up around the league.  My suggestion?  Go get your popcorn and get ready for the show!

Jeff Everette is the featured columnist for the Miami Dolphins on Rant Sports.  You can follow him on twitter@jeverettesports, or like his facebook page: Jeff Everette- Rant Sports for all of his latest articles.

A more realistic tale is that they draft Tannehill at 8 and he takes the next few years to develop.  The team will almost certainly be forced to start him before he is ready, with the other quarterbacks on the depth chart becoming free agents at the end of this season.  Neither David Garrard, nor Matt Moore will want to stick around Miami when they know that they will not be the featured quarterback there.  The 8th pick means that you are going to be the franchise quarterback, and these two guys are competitors who believe they have what it takes to be the man for whatever organization they play for.  They will not be satisfied babysitting the team while the rookie learns the ropes.

Tannehill will be forced to start before he is ready.  This is nearly a certainty.  Like I said, anything is possible, and after having sat behind a starter for the 2012 season, he may be ready when Garrard and Moore move on.  His college numbers were decent, but nothing to be blown away by, and the limited amount of starts may either be hiding critical imperfections revealed over time, or hiding the extreme talent he may be.  It is a toss up, something the 8th selection in the draft should not be.  Not when your franchise remembers greatness.  Not when the last few seasons have reeked of defeat.

There are so many other places that the Dolphins need help, and the quarterback pool is actually decent in terms of depth this year.  The best move Miami could make is to take a playmaker, like Michael Floyd, wide receiver out of Notre Dame.  If Floyd is there it fills the hole created by the trade that sent Pro Bowl wide out Brandon Marshall to Chicago earlier this year.  It also gives you a guy that will put points on the board.  Matt Moore is a capable quarterback who went 6-3 last season.  Give him a chance and put weapons around him to help him win.

Or the team could stiffen up a defense that has always been a Miami staple, by taking Melvin Ingram, Fletcher Cox, or Quinton Coples.  If by some miracle Morris Claiborne fell to 8, they should snatch him up and send a box of Cubans to each of the GM’s from pick 3-7, thanking them profusely.

Two other players are possible that would be good picks, but would drive the Dolphin fan base crazy.  One is in the unlikely event that Matt Kalil drops to 8, and the other is Riley Reiff.  Both are strong Offensive Tackles that would be able to be used immediately to shore up the offensive line.  With former number one pick and Pro Bowl tackle Jake Long already on the left side and Mike Pouncey in the center, the offensive line would represent 3 of the Dolphins’ last 5 first round draft picks.  This would be a source of frustration for many of those who want to see instant success for the Fins, but a solid offensive line that can protect the pass, and facilitate the run, could be the foundation the team needs to reclaim their position among the NFL Elite.

Tannehill is a good prospect.  There are a lot of positives about the young man, but there many more questions.  If we were talking about taking him later in the draft, there would be no issue with the former Aggie going to Miami.  I would love to get behind Tannehill, and after tomorrow I may have to, but the issue I have with him is, if he is taken in the top 10, he needs to be able to step in and make the team better.  This is something that he simply cannot do.  Tannehil does not make the team better than they are with Matt Moore.  The Dolphins have several picks in the first few rounds including back to back picks in the 3rd round.  This could be the draft that solidifies the team, strengthening where it is needed and establishing a core group of talent that will help Moore win in a tough division.

It is hard to pass on a guy that the media has been hyping as a franchise quarterback.  It is hard to remember that no one was hyping him like that the day college football came to a close.  The Dolphins need to resist the temptation to give in to the media pressure, pass on Ryan Tannehill, and take a player worth the pick.

Jeff Everette is the featured columnist for the Miami Dolphins on Rant Sports.  You can follow him on twitter@jeverettesports, or like his facebook page: Jeff Everette- Rant Sports for all of his latest articles