Author Topic: Miami Dolphins Rumors: Branden Albert Trade Rumors Heating Up  (Read 582 times)

Fish Fiend

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 989
  • Location: Sitting on a park bench
    • View Profile
  Miami Dolphins Rumors: Branden Albert Trade Rumors Heating Up




The Kansas City Chiefs used their franchise tag on left tackle Branden Albert and the two parties have been at odds ever since. Now, the unhappy offensive lineman has signed the franchise tender, a move that can be seen as a possible prelude to a change in scenery for Albert.

The free agent market has not been as player friendly as the average free agent would like, and by signing the tender, Albert locks in a $9.828 million, one year contract. It also makes Albert a candidate to be shopped around the league, and the Miami Dolphins could be a possible suitor.

The Dolphins have made several big moves this off-season in an effort to challenge the New England Patriots’ supremacy of the AFC East. One area Miami is in desperate need is at left tackle.

Jake Long had been the guy protecting their quarterback’s blindside, but he recently turned down the Dolphins’ contract offer, and is now a member of the St. Louis Rams. This leaves Jonathan Martin as the only option on the roster at this moment. Martin played five games at left tackle last season as a replacement for Long who was sidelined by injuries. His efforts were among the worst in the NFL. Out of 80 offensive tackles rated by Pro Football Focus, Martin came in at 76.

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is feeling very nervous right about now.

Miami does own several picks in this year’s NFL Draft, including five picks in the first three rounds with the 12th pick overall. Offensive tackle is thought to be a deep position in the draft, but to get the sure thing for the future, the Dolphins would have to consider trading up to get a crack at the top candidates. It may be something general manager Jeff Ireland is not willing to do.

There are also other roster spots the Dolphins want to address in the draft. Having their first pick available for a top tier cornerback would be an option Ireland would love to have.

The Chiefs own the first pick in the upcoming draft, and the rumors are swirling that they are interested in left tackle Luke Joeckel. If this is the case, trading Albert is their best bet. Right now it sounds as though they would be open to a possible 2nd round pick for Albert, and the Dolphins would be foolish to squander such an opportunity.

The need is there, the player is worth it, and it works hand in hand with the Dolphins assumed draft plans. This deal appears to be the perfect pairing, and if it is going to go down, expect the news within the next 24 hours.

http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2013/03/18/miami-dolphins-rumors-branden-albert-trade-rumors-heating-up/

Keep up the good work Matt Moore!

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter


Fish Fiend

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 989
  • Location: Sitting on a park bench
    • View Profile
Long's departure ends Dolphins era; trade possible to find replacement; Kansas City LT Branden Albert could be an option

Jake Long signed with the RAMS, what is next for the Miami Dolphins.

By Chris Perkins, Staff writer 8:39 p.m. EDT, March 18, 2013

When left tackle Jake Long agreed to contract terms with St. Louis on Sunday night, it marked the end of a Dolphins era. Long, a four-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the faces of the franchise, held down the job since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2008.

How the Dolphins fill Long's void is anyone's guess but the possibilities — trade, free agency and the draft — are intriguing.

Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland was asked Monday at the annual NFL Owner's Meetings in Phoenix if trading for a left tackle was a possibility and replied, "All those things are on the table."

Speculation is the Dolphins could be on the verge of a trade for Kansas City left tackle Branden Albert, who is expected to sign his $9.8 million franchise tender soon and is eligible to be traded after signing. Albert was the 15th pick of the 2008 draft.

The Chiefs are believed to be listening to trade offers and such a deal could cost the Dolphins a second-round pick.

Conventional wisdom says Miami will move right tackle Jonathan Martin to left tackle, where he played the final month of the season, and find a right tackle.

Miami has agreed to terms with right tackle Nate Garner, which helps cushion the blow of Long's absence. Garner started the last four games last season after Long was injured.

Ireland also said there are "other offensive lineman out there in free agency we'll look into."

That could mean Miami will pursue free agent tackles such as Kansas City's Eric Winston, Baltimore's Andre Smith or New England's Sebastian Vollmer. Winston, who played at the University of Miami, and the Dolphins seem to have mutual interest but a deal doesn't appear imminent.

The draft remains a possibility, too. It's a good year for offensive tackles and Miami has the 12th pick in the draft.

But it seems losing Long was a genuine downer for Dolphins owner Steve Ross, who, such as Long, is a Michigan alum.

"I hate to lose those Michigan guys," Ross said. "He was a class act. He did a great job in Miami."

Long's time with the Dolphins came to an end largely because of injuries. He ended the last two seasons on injured reserve and battled biceps, triceps, back and knee injuries the last three seasons.

"He was a pillar of our team for the last five years," Ireland said.

Long's contract with St. Louis is reportedly four years, $34 million. It's not known what the Dolphins offered.

With Long's departure the majority of guys the Dolphins hoped would change their fortunes in recent years — Long, quarterback Chad Henne, Bush, cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, linebackers Dansby and Kevin Burnett, wide receiver Brandon Marshall, tight end Anthony Fasano — are now gone.

A few key guys remain, but Long's departure was pretty much the capper for that crew.

The lockerroom is officially under new management; the Dolphins have cleaned house.
Keep up the good work Matt Moore!

Fish Fiend

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 989
  • Location: Sitting on a park bench
    • View Profile
"""I hate to lose those Michigan guys," Ross said. "He was a class act. He did a great job in Miami."""

Just shut up about your Michigan Ross. Good players can come from anywhere. Even Kutztown State.

Kee-rist Ross how do you think your Meatchicken rah rah sh!t goes over for all the other guys on the team who AREN'T MEATCHICKEN alum? Huh? HUH? Yeah! Just shut your ridiculous trap.
Keep up the good work Matt Moore!

Fish Fiend

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 989
  • Location: Sitting on a park bench
    • View Profile
break time
Keep up the good work Matt Moore!

Fish Fiend

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 989
  • Location: Sitting on a park bench
    • View Profile
Oh and btw we picked up two compensatory draft picks in this years draft; one in the fifth and one in the seventh. Here's the link
Keep up the good work Matt Moore!

Fish Fiend

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 989
  • Location: Sitting on a park bench
    • View Profile
Dolphins owner and itinerant dingbat Steve Ross: 'We're not done'

By Omar Kelly, Staff writer

Steve Ross didn't become a billionaire sitting on his hands. This week alone the Miami Dolphins' owner has a couple of deals pending.

The Dolphins will become the first NFL team to put Wi-Fi throughout the entire stadium, and offer broadcasts of the games on cellphones.

The team is launching the new logo and jerseys in exactly a month.

Later this month Ross' sports enterprise will announce another major event he's holding at Sun Life Stadium. His camp is lobbying the Florida legislature and Miami voters for support of public funds for stadium renovations, which he hopes will attract Super Bowl L to South Florida.

And by the way, the Dolphins just so happen to be the most aggressive and active NFL team during free agency, remodeling the team's roster. And Ross warns "we're not done."

The Dolphins have already spent $185 million in total value of the deals luring five players, and re-signing five members of last year's team. Ross has guaranteed nine players $83.2 million on their new deals. And what scares the rest of the NFL is that Miami still has another $19-20 million to spend on free agents, and the team's 10 draft picks.

"You can't help but like what they've done," said one AFC coach, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "Mike Wallace and Dustin Keller are both scary players."

But Ross and General Manager Jeff Ireland, the architect behind Miami's makeover, will be the first to admit teams don't win championship based on the moves made in March.

"The only place it really matters is on the football field. We can all talk about it, but you've got to win," Ross said. "But you don't do it unless you've got the right ingredients. We're certainly going down that direction."

The addition of Wallace, a receiver who has scored 32 touchdowns in his first four seasons, and Keller, a tight end who has scored 17 touchdowns in his five seasons with the Jets, provides the Dolphins the weaponry needed to open up the west coast offense. Both players create mismatches that help the offense feed off their speed.

"You can see where the NFL is going. It is about speed, the passing game and explosiveness and excitement," Ross said. "We're developing that. I don't think we're done."

Ireland explained the linebacker sway, which saw Miami cut Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett and replace them with Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler, by saying the defensive coaches aim to create "a more physical presence" on defense.

"They are younger," Ireland said. "They run exceptionally well and are very, very physical."

The Dolphins still need to address the offensive line, especially after the defection of former No.1 pick Jake Long, who signed a four-year deal reportedly worth $36 million with the Rams.

The Dolphins are also shopping for cornerback help, and additional pass rushing. There are a number of aged but experienced defensive ends — Osi Umenyiora, Dwight Freeney, John Abraham, James Harrison, Elvis Dumervil — still available, and the Dolphins have expressed interest in a few.

The Dolphins have taken minimal cap hits on the new additions to preserve space for more newcomers, and Ireland said that's by design. For explain, Wallace, who received a five-year, $60 million deal, only costs the team $3.2 million in cap space this season. But next year he'll account for $17.2 million.

That tricky distribution of his cap value would allow Miami to easily part ways with the receiver before the 2015 season if things turn sour. Most of Miami's deals have similar three-year structures, and Ireland acknowledged that's purposely done to create a three-year window for the team.

Ireland hinted the Dolphins will remain aggressive, and is exploring trades that could also improve the team's talent base.

"We've got contingencies upon contingencies upon contingencies trying to get the best players we can that are available," Ireland said. "We've got [10] draft picks coming up and dollars to advocate in free agency. We knew we had to be active. … We're still trying to upgrade this football team."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-nfl-annual-meeting-0319-20130318,0,1385268.story?track=rss
Keep up the good work Matt Moore!

Fish Fiend

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 989
  • Location: Sitting on a park bench
    • View Profile
I couldn't help it. I had to throw the "itinerant dingbat" in there
Keep up the good work Matt Moore!

Pizza Boy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 816
  • Looking for cheap yes sir coach, apply within
  • Location: Tennessee, USA
    • View Profile
"We're not Done" says Ross......Better give that memo to Irelack, he just keeps bringin em in
and shippin em out.....I guess we better have a good D Line and LBs, because we ain't got (beep)
for a secondary.....we are doomed from the start. Brady will dissect the DEF and 3 and out Tannebust will
keep feeding them the ball, and I said 5-11? Can I change that to 4-12? <walks out of thread with head hung so low, the chin has scrapes>
JEFF IRELAND COULDN'T BUILD A SQUARE WITH SQUARE BUILDING BLOCKS.

 




Welcome Heraldtalk Refugees!

WELCOME


Dolphins News
FinHeaven Finformation
Phins.com News Wire
Florida Sun Sentinel
Palm Beach Post
Miami Herald
WQAM
Google News

Charities
Fisher House
Habitat For Humanity
Compassion International
The Home Foundation
Mercy Ships
The Red Cross

NFL News
NFL Rumors
NFL.com
ESPN - NFL
KFFL Hotwire
Sporting News - NFL
Scorecard Truth & Rumors
USA Today - NFL

Dolphins Forums
FinHeaven.com
Dolphins Digest Forum
Dolphins Endzone Forum
AFC Beast Forum
Miami Herald Fin Forum

Dolphins Websites
Phins.com
MiamiDolphins.com
NFL.com Dolphins News
Dolphins Digest
Forum Administration of Miami DolphinTalk is not responsible for posters lost jobs, lost time on the job, or failed relationships, or any other stupid crap you might do or have done, due to posting on or reading this forum.
r>