Jalen Ramsey discusses his Miami Dolphins debut iwth an interception.

Breaking Down Miami’s Blockbuster 2024 Offseason Extensions

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Miami Dolphins made waves this offseason with a series of massive contract extensions that lock in their core talent for the foreseeable future.

 

Jalen Ramsey

This morning, the Dolphins extended Jalen Ramsey’s contract to a three-year, $72.3 million deal, securing him as the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL for the second time. This contract comes with $55.3 million guaranteed, ensuring the Dolphins keep one of the most elite defensive backs in the game locked down through the 2028 season.

Ramsey, a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, has consistently been a game-changer, even when playing through injuries. Despite a knee injury that sidelined him last season, Ramsey returned and immediately made an impact with three interceptions in just 10 games. His ability to single-handedly eliminate one side of the field is a rare asset, and this extension reflects both his current value and the Dolphins’ expectation that Ramsey will continue to be the cornerstone of their defense as they compete for AFC East dominance.

 

Jaylen Waddle

Star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle also secured a long-term commitment with a 4-year, $84.75 million extension, which includes $76 million guaranteed. This deal positions Waddle among the top-paid receivers in the league and locks him in through 2028, further securing the continuity of the Dolphins’ offensive powerhouse.

Waddle’s speed, agility, and chemistry with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa have made him one of the most dangerous receivers in the league. He posted over 1,300 receiving yards last season and his ability to stretch defenses complements the Dolphins’ offensive strategy, particularly with fellow wideout Tyreek Hill also on the roster. The Dolphins’ focus on retaining their dynamic receiver corps sends a clear message that they are building a long-term offensive juggernaut designed to compete in the ultra-competitive AFC East.

 

Tua Tagovailoa

The Dolphins didn’t stop there. Their biggest financial commitment this offseason was to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who signed a four-year, $212.4 million extension, making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in NFL history. The deal includes a whopping $167 million guaranteed and is structured with incentives that could push the total value even higher, ensuring Tagovailoa remains the face of the franchise through at least 2028.

Tagovailoa’s 2023 season was a breakout year, finishing with 4,624 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. The Dolphins have invested heavily in their offensive weapons around him, and now with this extension, they’ve shown full confidence in Tagovailoa’s leadership and ability to bring playoff success back to Miami. The faith Miami has shown in Tua, coupled with a fully healthy roster, raises the stakes for the 2024 season, where both team and player are expected to push for postseason breakthroughs.

 

Mike McDaniel, the mastermind behind Miami’s offensive resurgence, also received a well-deserved contract extension. In just two seasons, McDaniel has transformed the Dolphins into a playoff-caliber team. His innovative offensive schemes, built around Tagovailoa, Waddle, and Tyreek Hill, have established Miami as a serious contender in the AFC. By extending McDaniel’s contract, the Dolphins are signaling a commitment to stability and long-term success under his leadership.

Miami Dolphins 2024 predictions: The 5RSN Fins Team

/0 Comments/in , /by

Here are the predictions from some of the members of the Five Reasons Sports Network (5RSN) Dolphins coverage team, across our platforms….

 

@CKParrot (3 Yards Per Carry podcast)

“My official prediction for 2024 is 11 wins, which is a step back from last year’s projection of 12 wins. I think the early schedule sets up favorably for Miami to run out to an 8-3 record before having to traverse what looks (on paper) like a brutal six-game back stretch. As one of the oldest teams in the NFL this season, Miami could yet again find itself beset by injuries at an unforgiving point in the schedule. However, several of the teams in that back stretch, e.g. the Jets (twice), 49ers, and Browns, also feel susceptible to injuries. So fate could just as easily take Miami thru that gauntlet to 12 wins as it could to 10 wins. I will split the difference at 11-6 with a playoff berth, followed by Mike McDaniel accomplishing his obsessive, explicit goal of giving Miami its first playoff win since Bill Clinton was still in office.”

 

 

@Alf_Arteaga (@3YardsPerCarry podcast)

We make these predictions assuming complete health, and if they even get reasonable health, they should beat their 11 win total from last season.  This team has improved itself in every single position unit except the interior Offensive line, and interior defensive line.  Both will be compensated for and possibly improved via scheme.  I expect Miami to win 12 games, and at least a playoff game.  A Super Bowl berth would not surprise me for a team, who’s baseline expectation is the Division title and a playoff win.
Prediction:  12-5, Division Title, AFC Championship game berth.
@RonCanniffFins (Pulse of Fins Nation)

Miami’s injuries got the best of them down the stretch last year. But more costly was the late collapse at home versus the Titans. With that win they would have avoided playing KC in the cold on the road and likely would have earned their first playoff win in almost a quarter century. I believe the team is more talented than last year and has the right mindset, especially on the defensive side with many additions this offseason. Be prepared for more ingenuity in the run game and better use of the tightends with the addition of Jonnu and the emergence of Julian Hill. Achane will start fast this year and could be the best back in football.

Fins go 11-6, win the East – and finally get that playoff monkey off their back with two playoff wins!

@TheEarl007 (The Extra Yard)
I’m not picking them to beat Buffalo until they can do it. The Green Bay game will be tough and should be a close affair. Houston will be a tough out. I think they take San Fran at home & I think Cleveland will have QB issues that cost them that game. Playoff positioning will be locked up by week 17 & McDaniel rests the starters as Thompson takes an L while the Jets are fighting to stay alive. 12-5 should be enough to win the division & get a home playoff game.
Overall record: 12- 5
@EricWiedeke (The Extra Yard) 

Expectations are sky high for the 2024 Miami Dolphins. Despite the lasting image being a shellacking at Arrowhead in arctic conditions, and an arguably worse roster top to bottom, the Dolphins and their fans come into the ‘24 season as confident as ever. Featuring an offense led by newly extended HC-QB duo in Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa (Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle say hello, as well), and a defense that still features prolific names like Jalen Ramsey, Jaelan Phillips, and Jevon Holland despite the departure of Christian Wilkins in the offseason, the Dolphins will come in at 12 wins. This will be good enough for the Dolphins to snatch the AFC East crown in the process this season thanks in part to an MVP campaign by the aforementioned QB and a soft early season schedule that should set the team up to rack up early victories before seeing the likes of Green Bay, New York, and Cleveland on the road in week 12 onwards, though those matchups could well be indicative of the types of playoff hopes the Dolphins will have this season.

Record: 12-5

 

@OLCoachSmith63: The Scouting Combine

Miami is known for starting fast. I don’t see that changing in year 3 of McDaniel’s quick-strike offense with even more offensive firepower. Weaver takes over the defense and seems to be destined to be a head coach in the not so distant future. As always, health is a major factor for the Dolphins – but they have key players such as Bradley Chubb, Odell Beckham Jr. and (maybe) Isaiah Wynn looking to provide a mid-season boost as they cycle onto the active roster. After a late regular season collapse and (another) road playoff loss, I believe this is the year that Miami handles business and earns a couple home playoff games where they’ll be tough to beat.
13-4 AFC East Champs. AFC runner-up.
@LuisDSung: Pulse of Fins Nation, The Extra Yard
With the Miami Dolphins riding high thanks to the extension of both their franchise quarterback and head coach, the team is going to improve on their 2023 campaign, if ever so slightly. Miami will go 11-6 by continuing their dominance at home, with key victories on the road. As a result, they will just barely edge out their weakened rivals the Buffalo Bills for the division title.
@haitianDOLPHAN1 (Inside Leverage show)

I believe this Miami Dolphins team is set to take things to the next level this 2024 NFL season. In order for them to succeed, a few factors must come into play. Factor 1: Staying relatively healthy through this season. Injuries can’t be helped but the Dolphins have faced an extreme amount of injuries last year that hindered them in certain games. It will be important for the Dolphins to manage and stay healthy to set themselves up for the playoff. Factor 2: Implementing and growing in this New Defenses. Another year in a new scheme for the defense, how quickly can they learn and adapt to the scheme. We can assume there will be some learning curve and growth. Factor 3: Mike McDaniel next step in his head coaching Career. As we approach year three under this system and head coaching regime, it’s important that continued growth overall is shown from our head coach. With so much to learn from last year, The team has done a good job to address some of the needs to bring in a potentially Awesome year for the Fin Nation.
12-5 record

 

@MikeHernandezDD (FiveReasonsSports.com)

Hard Rock Sports-betting has the Dolphins over/under regular season win total at 9.5. And this seems to be on-point.

Where would that 10th win come from?

Tyreek Hill says this 2024 Dolphins team is the best he’s been on since arriving in Miami in 2022.

But how could that be?

The Fins lost high-caliber starters on the offensive line like center Connor Williams and right guard Robert Hunt, and replaced them with serviceable players, but none of them near the status of Williams or Hunt. Some of those replacements are already banged up, and even at full strength don’t appear as good as the 2023 starting offensive line.

This is a cause of concern for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa who may not have the same level of pass protection from a year ago. Most of the replacement linemen have higher grades in the run blocking department than they do in pass protection. Although Tua can get the ball out quickly, many are concerned that Tua gets lost after his first read is taken away. And if that first read is eliminated, and he has to move to read No. 2 while under pressure, it could spell trouble.

McDaniel was also criticized for not being able to adapt his play-calling in the late stages of last season, when it appeared that opposing defenses were taking away what the Fins offense did well.

The Dolphins face tough defensive fronts this year from projected playoff contenders and the Jets have Aaron Rodgers returning to make the AFC East more competitive. Even if Miami goes 3-3 in the division, they will have to win a dogfight or two against some of the stronger teams or defenses on their schedule.

This includes:

— Houston Texans

— LA Rams

— Cleveland Browns

— San Francisco 49ers

— Indianapolis Colts

The top questions about this Miami Dolphins team are:

Can they beat teams with winning records and playoff contenders?

Can the offense perform when Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are not on the field?

Can they win games late in the season?

It remains to be seen.

The Miami Defense lost some pieces but I would loosely say it broke even with their positional replacements — cornerback Kendall Fuller is replacing Xavien Howard; Jordan Poyer is a veteran safety addition; Calais Campbell and Emmanuel Ogbah add depth to the defensive line after Christian Wilkins departed for the Raiders; and rookie first-round selection Chop Robinson seems to be coming along to add to the pass rushing unit of Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb.

The Dolphins went 10-7 in 2023, and with a lesser-talented offensive line, the same lingering questions about the offense and playcalling, and a question-marks about Tua in big games and who can be the third receiving option after Hill and Waddle…

I’m betting the UNDER — 9-8.

Miami Hurricanes

Mario Cristobal Isn’t the Hurricanes’ Question, He’s the Answer

/1 Comment/in , /by

20 years of false starts, false hopes, false dawns.

The Hurricanes’ fan base has been subjected to more scandals (real or imagined) than wins of significance since Terry Porter’s egregious pass interference flag in the 2002 National Championship game forever altered the trajectory of the program.

And yet here we are, still standing. If perseverance strengthens, then the Canes are steel.

This weekend, many will make the drive north, exiting South Florida and entering whatever the rest of this state is. Whether their motivation is true belief, habit, or misplaced loyalty, the Canes’ Fans still show up.

But will the team?

Skepticism

I’m not Charlie Brown blindly swinging my leg at the football hoping that this time, for some reason, Lucy won’t pull it away. I understand that some, so weathered by years of losses, cannot conjure up the strength to rise up in hope this time.

But to them I simply say this team is not responsible for the failings of the last 20 years any more than they deserve credit for the successes of the 20 years prior to that. Each year brings with it a new opportunity to erase the vestiges of the yesterday and focus anew on the successes of tomorrow.

And so this Canes team will do just that, taking this road show to Gainesville, not just hoping for success, but having put in the work to enable success.

The Canes enter the 2024 season with the ACC’s best roster. This didn’t magically happen. Several years of roster building have put the Canes in a position to finally play the style they want to play, and more importantly, to finally overwhelm opponents.

The main reason for 20 years of false starts, false dreams, and ultimate disappointment is that the team flatly wasn’t good enough. The U on the helmet doesn’t win football games. And while the Canes might have had better players (and I do mean “might”) than some of the teams they have been losing to, there was not a significant talent gulf. The great programs outclass a majority of their opponents. Not all, but a majority. That has always has been and still remains the goal.

And the Canes have finally arrived at that talent-rich destination where they can accomplish that goal.

What About the Coaching?

Well, what about it?

Have their been some high profile missteps? Sure. Mario Cristobal has had to let go of multiple coordinators after his first year and in his second year infamously didn’t kneel the ball against Georgia Tech, which one could argue not only lost the Canes that game but also derailed the entire season.

While those are visible mistakes, there is no doubt that his overall track record prior to arriving at Miami has proven his ability to build programs. He did so at FIU and again at Oregon (check the record of those schools in the year prior to his takeover as head coach).

There is no reason for trepidation. None. It’s almost as if the entire fan base is afraid to believe for fear of disappointment.

But I ask you in what universe would the Canes having a poor season not be disappointing? To care about something is to risk disappointment. And if you’re still supporting this program no amount of pretending that the team is going to stink is going to soften the blow of losses.

So why not be optimistic instead?

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. – Helen Keller

This program was birthed in trying circumstances and has been repeatedly told what it can’t do, what it can’t achieve.

Stop worrying about what the Canes can’t do and look at what they can do.

Stop worrying about what the opponent is going to do to Miami and think about what they’re going to do their opponents.

Mario Cristobal has been building the program to reach this point, upgrading the talent, preparing it to dominate. It hasn’t always been smooth, but if you look at the roster without a negative lens, it is one of the most impressive 2-year roster rebuilds we’ve ever seen.

I do not believe in the fairy tale or magical thinking that wins will automatically arrive.

But I also do not believe in the contrary, that the program is cursed and forever destined to fail.

What I do believe in, ultimately, is the University of Miami.

It’s okay to believe, I assure you.

Give this team the opportunity they have earned through years of program building and they will make Miami proud.

Vishnu Parasuraman is a show host and writer for @FiveReasonsSports. He covers the Miami Hurricanes Football for @SixthRingCanes Miami Hurricanes Basketball for @buckets_canes , and Miami Hurricanes Baseball for @CanesOnDeck as part of the @5ReasonsCanes Network. You can follow him on twitter @vrp2003

The Bad Blood between Tua & Flores, and Where Fault Lies

/0 Comments/in , /by

It’s clear from this past week that Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa still has strong disdain for his former head coach Brian Flores. A disdain that may never leave him. 

 

And to be clear, Tua is right to have this disdain. Flores made a lot of mistakes while handling his starting quarterback situation with the Miami Dolphins, and could never build an appropriate offensive staff to surround his quarterback.

 

Here is a list of notable mistakes:

– After having the “Tank for Tua” season in 2019, and before the 2020 draft, the Dolphins met with Tua for an interview. Tua left that meeting questioning if the Dolphins even wanted him due to their lack of interest during their time in the meeting. 

 

– The Dolphins hired Chan Gailey as their new offensive coordinator. Gailey was admittedly already retired and not thinking about football. The Dolphins lured him back to the NFL which led to some questioning if Gailey would stick around for a couple years to groom a young Tua or if this move was related to the fact that the Dolphins already had quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick as their starter. Gailey and Fitzpatrick worked together multiple times throughout their NFL years and had success. In my opinion, this was a move that was made to benefit Fitzpatrick and not Tua. By 2021, Gailey resigned. 

 

– In 2020, Tua’s rookie season, it was clear that Ryan Fitzpatrick was the leader of the offense in that locker room, but by the team’s BYE Week, Flores made the switch to Tua. This puzzled that locker room. Fitzpatrick was coming off of 2 strong showings/victories against the 49ers and Jets, and the team seemed to have momentum. Tua was surprised by the move, and when asked by the media of why he thinks he earned the starting spot, Tua told them to ask the coaches. Gailey said comparing Fitzpatrick and Tua was like comparing apples to oranges, and after the season Tua admitted that he didn’t know the entire playbook at the time. This was shown in certain games that season. Tua was yanked late in games versus the Broncos and Raiders in favor of Fitzpatrick, who clearly appeared to have the better play. It was obvious that this move to make Tua the starting quarterback was premature and not the right call at the time. 

 

– Due to Flores mistake of prematurely promoting Tua during that season, the media went wild with doubts of whether or not the Dolphins believed in Tua. More stories came out from anonymous Miami receivers doubting Tua’s arm and his ability to make certain throws. 

 

– While approaching the start of the 2021 regular season, the Dolphins were already willing to give up on their young quarterback who was entering his sophomore season for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. These rumors/reports swirled until late October when the trade deadline passed. Owner Stephen Ross and General Manager Chris Grier admitted they received permission to talk to Watson and inquire about a trade. The trade did not happen, but everyone could see the Dolphins were doubting Tua’s abilities. This added to the media scrutiny of Tua.

 

– Keep in mind, 2021 was the year the Dolphins decided to have two co-offensive coordinators. Something that seemed unheard of at the time, possibly unprecedented. This also led to questions on how two coordinators could call plays at the same time, or if there was a sole playcaller, and who that person was in order to be ultimately responsible for playcalling a game. Needless to say, the Dolphins offense went through their troubles during this season. One of those key reasons being that Tua suffered a rib injury in WEEK 2 when he was sacked, and was out for a handful of games. 

 

– Later that season, Tua was dealing with a finger injury and would not start in a home game versus the Ravens. However, he was still listed as a backup, and was eventually put in the game. His play caused a spark for the offense and the team was able to rally enough points on the board to beat Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. After seeing his performance and his ability to throw the ball accurately in the game, many questioned why Flores made Tua the backup quarterback to Jacoby Brissett in that game. 

 

– According to Tua’s recollection of his relationship with Flores, everyday Flores would tell Tua that he sucks. Well, how can a young quarterback be successful when it seems that his coaching regime never wanted him from the get-go; gave up quickly on him after rookie struggles; tried to trade for another quarterback; changed offensive coordinators, playbooks, and quarterbacks coaches; had a terrible offensive line; and never gave him any real weapons at wide receiver or running back? 

 

There was hardly any real support for Tua, nor benefit of the doubt. Not by his head coach, not by the personnel moves made by the front office. And definitely not by media during this time. 

 

Not until Mike McDaniel took over, and the Cheetah showed up. 

 

******

 

Mike Hernandez can be found on Twitter/X at @MikeHernandezDD

For more on Tua and Flores, check out the latest episode of The Five Guys with Ethan Skolnick and Alex Donno.

Physicality needs to become part of 2024 Miami Dolphins M.O.

/1 Comment/in , /by

For the past two seasons, if there was one word you could use to define the Miami Dolphins, it would be “lightning.” Their players on both sides of the ball are lightning fast, they are a lightning rod for media talking points and controversy, one could even say that they’ve captured lightning in a bottle when their offense is running on all cylinders. But the easiest counterpoint to all that is Miami’s apparent lack of physicality. Where’s the thunder to go with the lightning?

Physicality is not just a trait, it’s a mindset. One that a team either has, or it doesn’t. In 2023, as fun as it was to watch the Dolphins overwhelm unprepared opponents with their speed and timing, more typically physical teams were usually their weakness. That lack of physicality on their part soon spread and gave Miami a reputation that they wouldn’t shake all year long.

Now, with head coach Mike McDaniel in his third year as head coach, and the entire team backing newly-paid franchise QB Tua Tagovailoa, they’re looking to finally change the narrative and add some physicality to their game. Some thunder to go with their lightning.

“New guys like myself pride ourselves on being physical, and I think of any great defense, you have to be physical.” Linebacker Jordyn Brooks said on Tuesday. “We want to be feared and so right now, we’re in the process of doing that. Not everyday is going to be perfect, but that’s why we got the pads on working in the heat and just emphasizing it day after day until we get to the point where we feel like we’re the bullies on the team.”

But physicality is more than just being big and strong, it’s about mental toughness as well. No one has a better idea of what that’s like than veteran safety Jordan Poyer, who joined the Dolphins this offseason after spending his entire career to date with the Buffalo Bills, the team that has spent more time pushing Miami around than any other these past several years.

“I think just sharing the experience.” Poyer said on July 23rd. “Like I said, playing against this team over the past few years, you kind of get a sense of, ‘OK, if you get on top of this team, they might fold.’ And there are some teams that are – this is just being honest, so what is that that happens in those moments where we get hit in the mouth? What happens in those moments so we’re like, ‘Hey, we’re good. Let’s bounce back. We’re good. It’s a 60-minute game, it’s a long game.’ I’ve been in games where I’ve been up 24 points and end up losing. I’ve been in games where we’ve been down 21 points and end up winning. So it’s just continuing to just play, play the game.”

To be clear, Poyer gains nothing by admitting this. He is merely stating that the perception of the Miami Dolphins outside of the bubble of team fandom, is that Buffalo – and others most likely – saw Miami as dangerous but vulnerable to being pushed around. That is a problem that cannot repeat itself in 2024.

So far, Miami is showing they’ve made changes to how much physicality they have. Only when the season begins will we learn if it truly pays off.

Christian Wilkins

Tea leaves predicted it: DT Christian Wilkins set to hit FA market

/0 Comments/in , /by

If you have been following the breadcrumbs or reading the tea leaves since the Miami Dolphins season ended in January, you may have gained a sense that the Fins and their star defensive tackle were about to part ways. And it’s no surprise that THAT is exactly what is about to happen come March 13th 2024. 



 

The clues that predicted this are as follows:



 

January 15th — Dolphins end of the season press conference



 

General Manager Chris Grier recalls that he and Christian Wilkins representation attempted to negotiate over last summer, the Dolphins and Wilkins camp admitted that the deal was fair at the time, but the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement.

 

Grier also used his classic line of “earned the right to be a free agent” which usually means, “this player will be leaving the Miami Dolphins in one way or another”.

 

Grier used this line when talking about the team’s former tight end Mike Gesicki last January of 2023. Gesicki found himself playing for the New England Patriots that season.

Then February and new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver came, and Wilkins status with the team was still in the air, despite high praise from Weaver.

 

“I know that he’s positioned himself, obviously, for a huge payday, and as an ex-player, I completely understand the business of the league. I love Christian and would love to have him, but man, we’ll see.”

 

Then late February came, and Grier reiterated just as much as he did the first time – using his favorite phrase again, and telling us that he’d be having talks with Wilkins’ agent.

 

But nothing fruitful ever became of it.

And now Wilkins is on the verge of hitting the free agent market.

What is odd is that the Miami Dolphins did not use a card that was in their hands during this scenario – a card that may have gave the Miami Dolphins something in return if they lost Christian Wilkins to another team during the 2024 free agency period…

The non-exclusive franchise tag.

The Dolphins could have tagged Wilkins which would have given Wilkins and his camp the ability to negotiate with other teams, while the Dolphins had a chance to match any offer.

If the Dolphins refused or could not match, Wilkins would be headed to another NFL team, but the Dolphins would be compensated with two 1st-round picks from that particular club.

 

Sounds great for the Dolphins, doesn’t it?

 

But finding a team to trade two 1st-rounders for a defensive tackle in today’s NFL would be difficult, and this would hurt Wilkins chances of having a team approach him with a deal. The tag would have also increased Wilkins cap number for the 2024 season, and the Dolphins already have a limited amount of cap space for this upcoming year while having to make some expensive decisions on starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as well as others. However, it doesn’t hurt to try fishing and see what you can catch, and the Fins could have rescinded the tag by mid-July or even earlier if no team was biting and they wanted to do right by Wilkins.

 

But the Dolphins decided not to be selfish and not to frustrate Wilkins’ opportunity to land a big payday, which goes to show how much this team has started valuing player-front office relationships since Mike McDaniel entered the building in 2022.

 

So that’s the gist of it.

 

By the way, Grier also used the phrase “right to be a free agent” with starting offensive guard Robert Hunt. So we can probably make an educated guess on where that’s headed.

Miami Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa and Trent Sherfield dance in celebration of a touchdown against the Browns.

Something to Hold You Over Until Next Football Season

/1 Comment/in , /by

Top Sporting Events Between Now and September

 

Confetti flies down on the field, and Patrick Mahomes is going to Disneyland! The most bittersweet event in sports signifies that the NFL season has come and gone. What now? There are only so many mock drafts that fans can sort through until they need to get the heart racing. Your girlfriend thinks she has you all weekend during the offseason, but we need our fix year-round! This article will serve as a guide for just that. From February to August, I have you covered with the best sporting events of the next seven months.

 

March Madness (March 19th – April 8th)

March Madness is just about as good as it gets for sports bettors and college fans. From Cinderella stories, to breakout stars and Sister Jean, a 100-year-old nun who knows ball. There truly is something for everyone in the championship tournament of College Basketball. If you miss 7 hours of commercial-free football, just wait until you get 12 hours of unhinged basketball chaos! You have not lived until your bracket has been busted before noon on day one. Grab your comfy hoodie, sit in your favorite spot on the couch, and only get up for food delivery and bathroom breaks. Time to lock in!

Cinderella Team: New Mexico Lobos (100/1)

Favorite: Purdue (8/1)

 

MLB Opening Day (March 28th)

Say what you will about Baseball, the season is too long, games too slow, and the Marlins sell off all of their stars when it comes time to pay them the big bucks. Although these things may be true, nothing compares to Opening Day. We can all agree that 162 games is a lot of games, and most will not be tuning in every night, but on Opening Day, every team is 0-0. You finally get to see your squad for the first time in six months! Can the Rangers shock the world and repeat? Will the Dodgers look as good as they do on paper? Will the Yankees bounce back from a down season? We will have some hints on March 28th!

World Series Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers (3.5/1)

 

Golf Grand Slams (April 11th – 14th, May 16th – 19th, June 13th – 16th, July 18th – 21st)

This year, more than ever before, Golf will be must-watch TV. Jon Rahm took his Green Jacket to LIV and will be defending from the “dark side.” Brooks Koepka, one of LIV’s first premier signings, dominated the PGA Championship. Wyndham Clark came out of nowhere in LA to win the US Open, and Brian Harman did the same in The Open at Royal Liverpool. For the first time, the talent on both tours is nearly equal, and tensions are rising. Can PGA stars like Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, and Scottie Scheffler hold off their LIV combatants Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson Dechambeau? In what is seemingly an afterthought for the first time in three decades, what will Tiger Woods look like? He is looking older due to many injuries, and expectations are low. Each year might be his final in competition, so enjoy it while it lasts. 

Major Predictions:

Masters: Jordan Spieth (18/1)

PGA: Rory McIlroy (10/1)

US Open: Dustin Johnson (25/1)

The Open: Ludvig Aberg (33/1)

 

UFC 300 (April 13th)

The UFC has built an empire atop the combat sports world. Dana White loves to do it big for monumental events, and UFC 300 will be no different. Although critics will claim that the mainstream “star” power is missing from this card, it is STACKED. There are top tier fighters who are barely making the bottom of the main card. UFC PPV prices are generally quite steep, and might be a barrier for the casual fan, but I believe that if there was ever a time to treat yourself, UFC 300 is that time.

Periera v Hill: Hill by 2nd round KO

 

NBA Playoffs (April 20th – June 23rd)

Similar to the MLB, there are a lot of games in the NBA regular season. Not quite 162, but 82 games is still a lot when stretched from October to April. The first half of the regular season is also in direct competition with NCAAF and the NFL. The NBA In-Season Tournament was a fun experiment that got a spark during the early part of the season, but the casual interest faded over time. For many fans, the season starts after the All-Star Break. The race to the playoffs heats up (pun intended), and stars treat every game like a must-win. The product is better and more intense during the playoffs. The 2022-2023 Miami Heat are a pretty perfect example of that. They barely—and I mean BARELY, snuck into the playoffs and still managed to beat the toughest possible route to the NBA Finals. There are tons of storylines heading into this season’s playoffs. Steph and LeBron battling it out for the final seed in the Western Conference, while the Timberwolves and Thunder have surprised many atop the West. Can the Heat sleepwalk their way through the playoffs again, or is the East too strong and stacked this season? 

Finals Prediction: The Clippers defeat the Bucks in 6 games to win it all

 

NFL Draft (April 25th – 27th)

A beacon of hope shining through the doldrums of April; showing football fans that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The NFL draft is a three-day event that showcases college football’s best. What NFL team will add what players? For the fans of struggling teams, this is a moment of optimism in an otherwise dreary fanhood (unless you are a fan of the Carolina Panthers, who traded away their first overall pick for Bryce Young last season). Will a young rookie be the spark that ignites your franchise into a decade of success? Probably not, but there is HOPE. For the better teams, this is a chance to pick up young talent and keep things moving. One rough draft can derail everything. This year, the Chicago Bears have a lot to look forward to. They traded for the aforementioned Panthers’ pick, and as a result, have the #1 and #8 overall picks this season. Having multiple first round picks is the kind of draft situation that the Miami Dolphins used to begin their rebuild. This is a dream for fans, but a nightmare for management. Do you go the obvious route, draft Caleb Williams, and dump Justin Fields after an unfair shot at leading a winning roster? Do you keep Fields, trade the pick for a haul, and build a talented roster around the talented QB? Seems like a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. Will the Bears draft according to prior history? Williams has a lot of comparisons to Patrick Mahomes. The Bears once passed on the 3-time Super Bowl winner for career backup Mitch Trubisky. I believe that Justin Fields has top-10 QB potential, but there is no way that you can pass up on a talent like Caleb Williams.

Caleb Williams goes first overall to the Chicago Bears (duh)

 

UEFA Champions League Final (June 1st) 

I used to play FIFA 13 with the fellas, and my go-to squad was Real Madrid. That front line of Ronaldo, Benzema, and Bale were unstoppable. Tony Kroos hit rocket shots from the midfield, and Luka Modric was a great facilitator. It was frustrating that for most of the season, these teams battled within their separate divisions. It wasn’t until I discovered the Champions League that my interest in the game peaked. The best teams from the best divisions battle in a bracket-style competition. Now, let’s talk 2024. Manchester City is the favorite to win UCL by a wide margin (+150, closest squads are Arsenal and Real Madrid +500). Can Erling Haaland continue to dominate and lead City to their second UCL title in as many years? Or will somebody rise to the occasion and knock off the unanimous favorites?

Man City takes the Champions League title for the second year in a row, beating Arsenal 4-1

 

Summer Olympics (July 26th – August 11th)

Let me be the first to admit the Olympics are not my thing. The good news is the Summer Olympics are in France, which gives American sports fans an excuse to get up as early as possible to watch two foreign countries battle it out in sports like Skeleton, Badminton, and Table Tennis (that was sarcasm). The mainstream competitions like Swimming, Track, and Gymnastics all have captivating storylines, and there will be some wild moments. If I could pinpoint an issue with the general interest in the Olympics, it is likely that most of these sports and athletes are not followed for four years until they show up on TV. The Olympics need more star power.

USA brings home 45 gold medals

 

Honorable Mention/Snubbed: Kentucky Derby, NHL Playoffs, Tennis Grand Slams

 

As we bid farewell to another exciting NFL season, the sports world offers thrilling events to keep us engaged over the next seven months. From the chaos of March Madness and the crack of a bat on Opening Day. From Golf’s turf war and UFC’s spectacular battles. There is something for everyone. For the fans on the global stage, you have the Champions League final and the Summer Olympics! While we wait for our fantasy drafts, let us embrace these events as we eagerly await the return of football.

 

Tua Tagovailoa has thrived in coach Mike McDaniel's offense with the Miami Dolphins.

Do McDaniel & Grier believe in Tua, or trying to save jobs for 2025?

/0 Comments/in , /by

It may not be a hotseat for Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel in the upcoming 2024 season, but the chair is definitely heating up.

The Dolphins front office has some work to do, and it’s going to be complicated.

The team has an astounding salary cap situation, and also needs to consider their pending free agents, how to extend or replace their young stars, and how to restructure or let go of some of the aging pricey veterans. 

But what is the goal and overall thinking of the Miami Dolphins front office?

Is it to assume that Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel should act like their jobs are safe for 2025 and do what’s best for the Miami Dolphins for the present as well as the longterm future; or should both feel the pressure and make immediate impact moves to in order to have a successful 2024, keep their jobs, but have longterm ramifications down the line?

McDaniel may have only been with the organization for two seasons, but in both seasons, the team (especially the offense) has crumbled in December and January. McDaniel has been to the postseason twice, but lost both contests.

Owner Stephen Ross, ever so aware of his own mortality and remaining years, may want to start over with a new coaching staff if 2024 does not come with significant postseason success. 

And if Ross wants to go that route, then Grier shouldn’t feel safe to stay either.

Grier has been the general manager since 2016, and has been with the organization since 2000. The team has had a streak of winning seasons as of late, and two back-to-back playoff appearances recently, but no postseason wins.

If Ross is growing impatient, Grier may have worn out his welcome if the team doesn’t accomplish something significant in 2024.

Grier and McDaniel loaded up for 2023, but now the salary cap ramifications need to be dealt with this offseason, and that means finding solutions to contracts, using cap savings wisely, and knowing which players to fight for and which ones to let go, even if it’s a notable name. Also, anticipating draft solutions and capitalizing on them needs to be factored into the decision-making.

In order to load up for 2024, Grier and McDaniel could create cap space by extending some of the bigger names on the team. This would lower the cap number of players for the upcoming season like Tyreek Hill, Christian Wilkins, Tua Tagovailoa, and Xavien Howard. And could help the Dolphins sign significant players whose rookie contracts are expiring – Jaelan Phillips, Jalen Waddle, Javon Holland. 

 

However, extending players who command high-priced contracts could work well for this upcoming 2024 season, but come with ramifications again in 2025. 

 

Which makes me wonder if McDaniel & Grier are acting in the best interest of the organization or for their own best interests. 

 

This could be why Grier wants Tua Tagovailoa here for the “longterm”.

If Grier does the appropriate move with quarterback Tagovailoa, Tagovailoa would be playing on his 5th-year option with the team in 2024, while the team does a wait-and-see approach, before signing Tagovailoa longterm. Tua hasn’t proven enough in order to merit a longterm contract.

Although the quarterback has put up some big numbers and led the league in passing yards and passer rating in 2023, Tagovailoa hasn’t proven himself against playoff caliber teams, the closing months of the regular season or in his lone playoff appearance.

So why would the front office be so eager to sign him longterm now when they should let Tagovailoa play out 2024 and make a decision then?

Because Tua’s 5th-year option counts against the salary cap for this year. And that’s roughly $23M against the cap that the team can significantly reduce for 2024, if they want to add more impactful players.

But signing Tagovailoa longterm, may be beneficial for immediate success this season, but not in the long run for the organization.

Let’s say Ross blows up this regime after this season, and a new coaching staff comes in.

The new staff may not want to be invested in Tagovailoa, and want to draft their own quarterback.

Or let’s say Grier and McDaniel have another winning season, but see the shortcomings of Tagovailoa in big games again, maybe they would like to move on, but it would be very difficult at that point.

Tagovailoa is a good example, but he may not be the only player that could hamstring the future in order to win now.

 

******

If Grier and McDaniel were doing the responsible thing, there wouldn’t be a rush to sign Tagovailoa to a longterm deal, but because it could possibly protect their jobs for 1 more season, it seems that’s exactly what they are doing.

However, the goal is to win now. While the team still looks like it has the chance to keep enough intact to make another push, it shouldn’t mean possibly jeopardizing the future of the organization’s quarterback position.

However, Grier and McDaniel know the reality of the NFL.

“Not For Long”

They know if they don’t win, they could both be out by season’s end, depending on the context.

McDaniel knows that new head coaches only get a 3-year window to make an impact, and that 3rd year better come with some playoff wins.

Grier understands that he has been a general manager for a lot longer than the fanbase has wanted, and that hasn’t come with postseason success.

Both the GM & head coach want that, the owner wants that, so they better deliver.

And that’s what they are attempting to do by getting a longterm deal done with Tua Tagovailoa. 

Dolphins should consider these numbers before signing Tua long term

/1 Comment/in , /by

So Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier wants to sign quarterback Tua Tagovailoa long term, does he?

Well… Grier better take a look at some of these numbers that I pulled, before he commits to Tua any longer than his 5th-year option. 

We all know by now that Tua is a fantastic NFL quarterback who can put up some impressive Top-5 numbers during the regular season…

 

— 1st in pass yards

— 5th in pass touchdowns

— 5th in QB rating 101.1

— 5th in accuracy 69.3

 

And to add on top of that… Tua played in all 17 games in 2023 – a feat he hasn’t reached since entering the NFL. Previous to that, he never completed a full season due to injury.

But is he a Top-5 talent? That’s a clear “no”.

Is he an assassin? Still waiting on that.

How does he perform against winning teams and high-profile quarterbacks? Dolphins Nation is disappointed and left wanting after losses to the Eagles, Ravens, and being swept by the Chiefs and the division rival Bills. Not to mention that the Miami Dolphins scoring dropped from putting 30 points on the Jets in mid-December to 22 versus the Cowboys, to 19 versus the Ravens, to 14 versus the Bills, to 7 versus the Chiefs on Wildcard Weekend. 

 

 

Is it all Tua’s fault? No. 

Player injuries, coaching, and play-calling play a factor as well.

But he and the offense have had multiple chances to respond in these final 3 losses, and they’ve failed.


And Tua is the franchise quarterback for now …  and if Grier has his way… for the foreseeable future. 

But here are some areas of concern the Dolphins front office needs to consider, before locking up Tua Tagovailoa to a longterm deal: 

 

Before and after Halftime

Tua’s overall passer rating during the first half of games is better than the second half. And his passer rating goes down as each quarter of the game ends. Starting from 117.3 in the first quarter, and dropping to 109.2 in the second, 92.3 in the third, and 75.9 in the fourth. 

In the first half of games, Tua has 20 touchdowns to 6 interceptions for a passer rating of 112.2.

In the second half, 9 touchdowns to 8 interceptions for a passer rating of 85.5 respectively.

 

Tua did not play well in the 4th quarter

In the 4th quarter of 2023 regular season games, Tua has 4 touchdowns which is tied for 7th-most. But the top 7 spots in that respective category, involve 25 quarterbacks.

Tua is also tied for 5th-most interceptions with 3, and an overall passer rating of 75.9 in the 4th quarter.



Tua did not perform well in primetime

In late games this season, Tua has a win-loss record of 1-3. With a touchdown-interception ratio of 3-4, and a passer rating of 84.0.

 

December & January


During 2023 regular season December and January games — his total win/loss record is 3-3 with a TD-INT ratio of 7-4 for total average passer rating of 82.0.  

During Wildcard weekend in Arrowhead, he passed for 199 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. With a 51.3% completion, and 63.9 passer rating.

 

Tua was not good under pressure

Pro football focus ranks him 30th versus overall pressure with a grade of 54.4. He is tied with Carson Wentz. 

 

Dolphins training camp

 

Leading, Tied, Trailing

When leading, Tua’s completion percentage is 70.18%, 9 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, and 98.2 rating. While being sacked 9 times.

When tied, 69.16%, 7 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 114.0 rating, while being sacked 5 times.

When trailing, 68.51%, 13 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 97.8 rating, while being sacked 15 times. 

 

Playoff record

Tua’s playoff record is 0-1. However, he could’ve been to the playoffs twice, if he would’ve not had concussion issues towards the end of 2022. If he played in the 2022 Wildcard Round in Buffalo that season, at best his playoff record would be 1-1. At worst, 0-2. 

But the Dolphins still lost 4 games in a row before Tua was ruled out for the rest of that season. During that span, Tua played poorly in 3 out of his last 4 games. 

Just like he didn’t play well or well-enough during the final stretch of this 2023 season or against the Chiefs in Arrowhead. 

So do the Miami Dolphins want to sign a proven clutch quarterback or just a high-level regular season quarterback who will take you to the dance, but leave you in playoff purgatory? 

The Cowboys signed Dak Prescott to big money a couple years ago. His playoff record is now 2-5.

The Vikings keep re-investing into Kirk Cousins. His playoff record is 1-4.

Tua can very-well be on his way to becoming part of this category.

Or perhaps… He’s already there. 

 

******

For more Miami Dolphins content, check out the Three Yards Per Carry and AllDolphins podcasts.

 

Tua Tagovailoa says he doesn't feel pressure going into next season on the final year of his contract.

Pressure Point: Dolphins’ collapse raises questions about future with Tagovailoa

/0 Comments/in , /by

A season that showed potential to be something special for the Miami Dolphins ended the same place as every other one this century.

On the trash heap.

Surprisingly it was Mike McDaniel’s highly acclaimed offense and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa that led the way to the dumpster, culminating in a noncompetitive 26-7 wild-card loss at frigid Kansas City on Saturday night.

Would have been difficult to imagine when the Dolphins were dropping 70 points on the Broncos in the third week of the season and Tagovailoa was on his way to leading the NFL in passing yards.

Rarely have grandiose — even historic — stats added up to so little. Because although Tua amassed Marino-like passing numbers and earned his first Pro Bowl selection, the true measure of his season was in how he and the offense came up short against teams that reached the playoffs.

The Dolphins went 1-6 in games against the Bills (twice), Eagles, Chiefs (twice) and Ravens. In those games they scored 20, 17, 14, 22, 19, 14 and 7 points.

Tua shrunk in biggest games

Notably, in the three season-ending losses Tagovailoa had his worst passer ratings of the season: 71.9 against the Ravens, 62.7 against the Bills and 63.9 against the Chiefs. He had four touchdown passes and five interceptions in that stretch.

In each of those games his performance paled in comparison to the opposing quarterback — Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.

If this comes across as a harsh assessment, consider that a big topic of the Dolphins’ offseason will be if or when they will pursue a long-term contract extension with their quarterback. Tua is due to make $23.1 million in 2024, the final season of his rookie contract.

The going rate for top quarterbacks these days is north of $50 million a year.

The Dolphins may wait until after next season to decide whether to offer Tua a new contract. Whenever that may occur, his agent can point to an impressive array of stats in building a case that he belongs in that category.

To be sure, Tua accomplished a lot this season and provided some dazzling moments, particularly in spectacular connections with Tyreek Hill. He finished with a league-leading 4,634 yards, 29 touchdown passes and a passer rating of 101.1.

Significantly, for the first time in his career he started every game and didn’t miss any time due to injury. He led Miami to an 11-7 record and its second consecutive playoff appearance.

Fins still winless in playoffs since 2000

But the season cannot be considered a success — and this burden ultimately rests with the head coach — after the Dolphins squandered a three-game lead in the AFC East in the final five weeks and ended with another one-sided loss on the road in the first round up the playoffs.

The Dolphins are now 0-6 since their last playoff win in 2000 while being outscored 164-62. Even the 2000 team got rolled the next week 27-0 by the Raiders. The only game that was even close was the 34-31 loss last year at Buffalo.

It is in that context that the disappointment of this season is magnified: nearly a quarter century without a single win in the playoffs. The cast of players, coaches and decision makers keeps changing, yet the path always leads back to the same crossroad to nowhere.

The latest roster overhaul begun in 2019 was going to finally fix that. The Dolphins were going to find their franchise quarterback, by golly, and a coach to break the chain of lost seasons.

That quest seemed to be coming together in the first 12 games of this season with Tua leading McDaniel’s innovative offense that was the talk of the league. But production diminished late in the season, particularly against the better teams.

Will Miami pursue extension for Tagovailoa?

Ultimately, that 70-20 trouncing of the Broncos and feel-good routs of other middling teams served only as build up to a bigger letdown.

“We were definitely expecting us to be a really good team this year. We definitely weren’t expecting a first-round exit,” Tyreek Hill said after the season-ending loss to the Chiefs.

Now the franchise reverts to another juncture of uncertainty about the future and troubling questions arise entering the offseason. Is Tagovailoa the right quarterback to invest in long term? Is McDaniel the coach to lead the way out of the wilderness?

Not that either is headed out the door. But it is understandable that patience is thin. The NFL is all about results right now. That has become expected of young quarterbacks more than ever in recent years.

Mahomes rocketed to immediate stardom. C.J. Stroud made an immediate impact for the Texans as a rookie this season and already has a resounding playoff win under his belt.

At his best, Tagovailoa is a remarkably accurate passer. He remained healthy all season and improved his record as a starter to 32-19. But his struggles against the better teams is troubling. His record in December and January games is 10-11.

In mulling whether to make a potential $250 million investment in Tua, the Dolphins must assess whether he is a quarterback who can just get them to the playoffs or can he elevate his game to win in the postseason.

Re-signing Wilkins should be top priority for Dolphins

The aftermath of a season that promised much more than it ultimately delivered will bring other immediate challenges on personnel matters. Most important, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, coming off a monster season, can become an unrestricted free agent.

On the bright side, Wilkins said after Saturday’s loss that he would like to stay with the Dolphins. It remains to be seen where the money and ambition leads.

Hill said: “Unfortunately, every locker room is going to be different every year, salary cap and guys wanting to get paid and going other places. I feel in my heart that if this team were to come back together this is the right group of people to win. We got everything what it takes. You can see that the defense came along, and as an offense, we have to be able to put drives together and help those guys out.

“We just can’t be a bunch of front-runners. Next year I feel like we’ll learn from it.”

For the Dolphins, hope always points to next year.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.