The Eagles released guard Evan Mathis today...

SIGN HIM NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!


That's all.

who can Miami get rid of with him being gone and most likely will want to sign to a team that has a higher change of making the playoffs like the Pats, Colts, Cowboys or Broncos.

rightchea wrote:who can Miami get rid of with him being gone and most likely will want to sign to a team that has a higher change of making the playoffs like the Pats, Colts, Cowboys or Broncos.

Miami can cut one of their scrub linemen to make room for Mathis...they have plenty of them. I'd go with Dallas Thomas, but the Phins love him, so maybe someone like Sam Brenner or one of the undrafted rookies. In any case, the fact that we'd have to cut someone if we sign Mathis is a non-issue - plenty of guys to choose from.

The Patriots, Broncos, Rams and Colts are some other teams that I think could be interested in Mathis. It could come down to who offers him the best contract.

JMP wrote:SIGN HIM NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!


That's all.

No no NO. You're not conveying the proper sense of urgency. You have to do it in red letters, LIKE THIS!!!

Otherwise thank you for propping up this place while I've spent the past few weeks relaxing. Yeah that's it, relaxing

I agree. I mentioned Blalock yesterday, but Mathis would be an even better option and he's played in Lazar's system already. Sign him now. (I'm more subtle about it.

If there ever was a time to overpay for a player, this is it.

Fills a huge need with a talented player, and at 34 he can't exactly "break the bank". So even over market value for a two year deal should not be a cap buster by any means.

Tannenbaum was able to land Suh, let's see if he can get Mathis into the fold.

Yeah I'm okay signing Mathis but I've read he's not interested in coming back to Miami.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-news-0617-20150616-story.html?track=rss

Looks like Mathis to the Phins ain't happening...the Phins don't want to spend more money this year because they need to roll money over to 2016 when the cap is a mess. And, of course, they're happy with the guards they have.

Here's a gem from Philbin:

"There's no question in my mind that they'll be capable of doing the job. I think they just need experience, they need repetition, they need exposure, they need to work with [center Mike] Pouncey and the guy next to them and get it figured out," Philbin said. "It may not be as pretty as we want it day one of training camp, but I think they are great guys. Football is important to them. These guys have been working extremely hard.

"You just never know," Philbin continued. "You have to have some patience and kind of a long-term view of this thing."

Great, so we're pinning our offensive hopes this season on "You just never know." Wow, that sure inspires confidence. Let's just throw a bunch of crap against the wall and hope something sticks...because hey - you never know.

Yeah, I'm a little nervous about paying a GUARD 6 million who is 34 and missed 6 games last year. Although I've heard Miami is still interested. They just want someone else to set the market for a change.

Birdmond wrote:Yeah, I'm a little nervous about paying a GUARD 6 million who is 34 and missed 6 games last year.   Although I've heard Miami is still interested.  They just want someone else to set the market for a change.  

Well, I don't think Mathis is going to get close to $6 million. Regardless, I'm just frustrated that this team can NEVER find quality guards, year after year. The issue becomes critical when you look at the Jets and Bills D-lines...it's scary to think what they can do against what will likely be 2 first-year starting guards for the Phins.

I generally believe you can get away with average linemen...problem is, the Phins can't seem to even find average guards - let alone good ones. I guess we'll see how it plays out....

Mathis was with Miami until 2008 and blossomed a couple years later. Bet you've never heard a story like that before

The problems is that Miami doesn't have good quality at any other position so when the draft happens they have to picks between skilled position and non skilled position. Miami still filling whole won't stop until Miami can remove the shit stain called Ireland/Sparano. the other unfortunate issue is that Ross has created a new stain called Philbins as well.

JMP wrote:...it's scary to think what they can do against what will likely be 2 first-year starting guards for the Phins.

and that's the best case scenario.

During Tuesday’s minicamp, it was notable that veteran Jeff Linkenbach took many of the first-team right guard snaps ahead of Billy Turner, while Dallas Thomas and Jamil Douglas shared first-team snaps at left guard.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2015/06/wake-looks-to-future-with-suh-dolphinsmathis-update-heat-nuggets-marlins-a-rod-future-.html

while Douglas pushing Thomas (hopefully out the door) is promising, if Turner can't hold off Linkenbach - that ain't good.

The Dolphins are optimistic that at least one of them will pan out as a starting guard. And they also plan to return Jason Fox into the guard mix once left tackle Branden Albert is cleared to practice.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-news-0617-20150616-story.html?track=rss

umm, one of them?? don't ya need 2 starting guards? so the fall back plan is to throw the back-up OT into the mix and hope he works out. the same guy they refused to let see the field until Thomas got hurt - even though he was clearly better.

white1 wrote:Mathis was with Miami until 2008 and blossomed a couple years later.  Bet you've never heard a story like that before

Far too often, the Phins keep the young players they should have cut, and cut the young players they should have kept.

rightchea wrote:The problems is that Miami doesn't have good quality at any other position so when the draft happens they have to picks between skilled position and non skilled position. Miami still filling whole won't stop until Miami can remove the shit stain called Ireland/Sparano. the other unfortunate issue is that Ross has created a new stain called Philbins as well.

Nailed it. Poor leadership at the top has buried this organization for years. Hopefully Tannenbaum can turn it around, but Philbin has to go first IMO for any progress to be made.

mercury22nathan wrote:while Douglas pushing Thomas (hopefully out the door) is promising, if Turner can't hold off Linkenbach - that ain't good.

It's good to hear that Douglas actually looks like he belongs in the NFL (at least when he's not wearing pads...), but the news at right guard is definitely not good. Linkenbach is terrible, and if Turner hasn't already earned that job it's a real bad sign. I know we still have time, but the fact that no one has clearly claimed a starting job at guard is sad...it seems like just a bunch of less-than-mediocre players battling it out, and it may not even matter who wins because none of them are very good. I'm not giving up hope yet, but it sure doesn't look good at guard right now.

mercury22nathan wrote:umm, one of them?? don't ya need 2 starting guards? so the fall back plan is to throw the back-up OT into the mix and hope he works out. the same guy they refused to let see the field until Thomas got hurt - even though he was clearly better.

Has Fox even played guard before? Just leave him at tackle where he belongs, and bring in a guard that can actually play the position!

It's strange that the organization has bent over backward this offseason to make life easier for Tannehill...yet they refuse to adequately fix the one area that just might get him killed: guard.

No matter who Miami gets they'll struggle against the Jets and Buffalo IMHO. It's just the nature of the zone blocking scheme. It's very hard to find guards who are both athletic and road graders who can handle great defensive lineman. By handle I just mean slow down because no offensive line will consistently win against a great DL. But yeah, it's obvious the line must improve.

Birdmond wrote:But yeah, it's obvious the line must improve.  

No doubt. I've been reading all the mini-camp tweets from today's practice, and it sounds like pass protection was U-G-L-Y. Hard to take much from these practices, but it's clear that we really need Albert back, and two of the guards - whoever they may be - have to step up and anchor the line.

Too bad JEGnj lost weight, at this point I think HE could beat out Thomas.

If by "blossomed" you mean "finally improved to average three years after leaving Miami after three years with the Panthers before that" then yes, the Fins made a huge mistake Seriously, the dude's made ONE Pro Bowl in his NINE year career, we need to get over it and focus on why players can't be good when they're Fins instead of years down the road later.

BTW trust me, even in Madden horrible guard play will just kill you.

Has Mathis actually signed with anyone yet? You'd think if he was all that then *somebody* would have by now. Maybe no team wants him.

DolFan 316 wrote:Has Mathis actually signed with anyone yet? You'd think if he was all that then *somebody* would have by now. Maybe no team wants him.

He hasn't signed yet. Last I heard, the story was that at least 10 teams were interested at some level, but he probably wouldn't sign anywhere till right before training camp opens.

Will be interesting to see the contract he is eventually offered.

Considering the Eagles cut him for zero in return, and he's 34 years old, I'm wondering what the market really will bear for him. Also he was injured and missed I think 7 games last year.

Not that he's a bum, but definitely past his prime.

white1 wrote:Not that he's a bum, but definitely past his prime.

I think PFF had him ranked as one of the top guards in the entire NFL the past two seasons, so that would seem to indicate that he may be in his prime right now. Then again, it's PFF, so take it with a grain of salt...

Regardless, Mathis would make the Dolphins' OL a whole helluva lot better than it is right now.

Oh certainly, I am mostly wondering what the market will bear for a guard his age.

white1 wrote:Oh certainly, I am mostly wondering what the market will bear for a guard his age.

It's a good question...can't imagine he'll get a big payday unless a team is really desperate.