Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summerWhen the New York Jets tossed Chad Pennington aside in favor of Brett Favre, the Miami Dolphins were happy to pick up the 32-year-old veteran and put him under center.
They were rewarded with a quarterback that finished second in the league's MVP voting, as the team completed one of the most improbable one-year turnarounds in NFL history, claiming the AFC East title one year after a forgettable 1-15 season.
Unfortunately for Miami, it all came to an end when Pennington's comeback season turned sour in a five-turnover performance in the opening round of the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens. It appears as if Miami will have the toughest schedule in the league in 2009, while it also has a couple of key free agents and a few areas that need to be addressed in the offseason.
Free Agents: Yeremiah Bell (UFA), Vernon Carey (UFA), Channing Crowder (UFA), Andre Goodman (UFA), Renaldo Hill (UFA), Al Johnson (UFA), Tab Perry (UFA), Derek Smith (UFA)
Draft picks: 1 (26), 2 (12), 2 (25), 3 (24), 4 (27), 5 (26), 7 (5), 7 (24), 7 (29)
Needs
1. Linebacker. Pennington wasn't the only player on the Miami roster to have a resurgence in 2008, as outside linebacker Joey Porter set a new career-high with 17.5 sacks, leading the AFC. The problem? Matt Roth was the only other player on the team to register more than four. Channing Crowder, one of Miami's leading tacklers the past four seasons, is also an unrestricted free agent.
NFL Trash Talkers
Add some more fuel to the fiery rivalry between the Chargers and Broncos. Linebacker Matt Wilhelm, left, called Denver quarterback Jay Cutler, right, a "punk" and a "crybaby" in a radio interview. Click through to see other players that ran their mouths this year.
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Former Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington may be retired, but that didn't stop him from ripping his old coach. Arrington called Joe Gibbs a "coward" and then "coward-like," claiming he only returned to the sidelines in Washington to promote his NASCAR team.
Joe Robbins, Getty Images
Dolphins star Joey Porter, left, argued that Jaguars receiver Matt Jones should not be allowed to play after a felony cocaine charge against him earlier this year. So Jones responded by, among other things, asking if Porter liked men.
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What, you're surprised to see Porter in here twice? Porter took aim at the Broncos' Brandon Marshall after Miami's Week 9 win, saying that Marshall turns into a head case when he doesn't get the ball enough.
Doug Benc, Getty Images
Cincinnati's Keith Rivers, out for the year after a Hines Ward block broke his jaw, issued a warning to the Steelers wide receiver, saying "what goes around, comes around."
Tom Hauck, Getty Images
Sensing a theme here? Baltimore's Terrell Suggs put Ward on notice in advance of the team's Dec. 14 game, bragging that the Ravens had put out a bounty on Pittsburgh's star wideout. The Steelers won 13-9.
Rick Stewart, Getty Images
Browns defensive tackle Corey Williams talked smack to Brandon Jacobs and the Giants before their 'Monday Night Football' clash. He said, "I'm going to try to knock his head off." Cleveland stunned New York 35-14.
G Fiume, Getty Images
Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson said he was going to "kiss the star" at Texas Stadium before a matchup with the Cowboys. 'Ocho Cinco' managed just three catches for 43 yards in a Dallas win.
G. Newman Lowrance, Getty Images
Minnesota's Pat Williams talked a big game before a MNF matchup with the Packers, saying he would hold Green Bay running back Ryan Grant to less than 100 yards. While Grant only rushed for 92 yards, the Packers won the game 24-19.
Joe Robbins, Getty Images
In days leading up to a another emotional game versus his old team, Cowboys star Terrell Owens said he got "too big" for Philadelphia and former teammate Donovan McNabb. Dallas won the game 41-37.
Ronald Martinez, Getty Images
2. Wide receiver. Ted Ginn Jr. hasn't been the waste of a pick many people thought he would be when Cam Cameron selected him over Brady Quinn, but he could certainly use some help on the outside.
3. Long-term quarterback. As great as Pennington was in 2008, the Miami front office doesn't appear ready to commit to him for the long-term. It's probably for the best, seeing as how he's going to be 33 and has played a full 16-game schedule only twice in his nine-year career. That said, for the 2009 season he's a bargain as far as starting quarterbacks go. But what about after 2009? The Dolphins seem high on 2008 second-round pick Chad Henne, but will he be a real solution? Or another John Beck?
4. Offensive line. Initially, it appeared as if Vernon Carey was going to be a priority for the Dolphins, then came a report from the Palm Beach Post that quoted a source as saying, "they don't think he's worth the price tag." Aside from Carey, starting center Al Johnson is also an unrestricted free agent.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-18-2009 @ 1:32PM
markm said...
Sorry but I am not yet sold on Ted Ginn. He is beginning to look like another "great potential but no production" receivers like the famous "Cement Hands Pruitt" or the overrated (next year he will be great) Duriel Harris.
This year we went 11-5 against the worst in the league and we played close games at that. Next year will be very tough and although I hope for the best I really think that a .500 season is in the cards. While I am confident in the coaches and Parcels/Ireland, the problems are (1) there just aren't that many desireable free agents out there, and certainly no one worth mortgaging the future for, and (2) the Dolphins do not have much to offer as a trade. I believe that the Fins will look to beef up the team thru the draft and build intelligently for the future.
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