Grier Shows Guts Letting James Walk In Free Agency

Low-key Free Agency the wisest move for Miami


Free Agency will take a back seat to the draft

The only news the Miami Dolphins have made in Free Agency so far is from their ex-players heading to other teams.

The most notable and recent departure is the Dolphins former 1st Round pick Ja’Wuan James.

They wanted to keep him, but he wanted Fort Knox… so Chris Grier and Brian Flores waved goodbye.

Good for them.

In previous years this would be terrible news. Miami has only won one phase of the football season for decades: Free Agency. If they missed that one winnable portion of the schedule, then nine times out of ten the rest of the calendar year was a trip to the morgue.

High-priced Free Agents have been the pied piper leading Phins Fans smiling to the slaughterhouse of a dismal draft and a more dismal Regular Season… year after year.

Hey, you gotta’ put those fannies those seats somehow, I guess.

That failed model of Free Agency winners was like Jason Voorhees rising up to destroy every regime…

… We are far overdue to put that nightmare to rest—for good.

This year is feeling more and more like the evil spirits could be exorcised… and not just waiting to jump out. Starting with Steven Ross’ genuine mea culpa to the departure of James, this regime is going about its business the right way–so far.

Now as I’ve said, it’s early, so there’s plenty of time for them to screw it up. Many pay per heads like AcePerHead.com are betting on it.

Remember the trade back in the 2016 Draft, when the last regime seemed to gain a modicum of sense. Unfortunately, sensibility was short-lived, and they lost their marbles with the desperate move for Cutler the next season.

Phins Fans are perpetual victims of whiplash going from the right direction to the wrong direction and back again… over and over.

We are jaded for sure… and we have every right to be.

So, let’s tentatively give credit where credit is due.

Miami Dolphins Free Agency move and non-moves so far
  • Danny Amendola was asked to take a pay cut. He declined and was cut.
  • The security blanket of the Great Frank Gore wasn’t asked to return.
  • A blockbuster deal to Trey Flowers was a lock for an opening salvo of a new Dolphins regime… not for this one.
  • Signed Dwayne Allen for a short and modest deal.
  • Jake Brendel wasn’t tendered.

I don’t have the foggiest idea if different means better… but same ole’, same ole’ way of doing business has this fan to drink… literally. So a change of pace can’t hurt.

Some may say letting James walk is madness. As a wise and good man named Lemmus once wrote in an article for us: The Dolphins Offensive Line is THE key unit and Miami’s “Forever Issue”. So how can you let one of the better Right Tackles go?!

Breaking down the James move

James had a PFF Grade of 70.8 which ranks him the 34th best Tackle in the NFL, 14th best run blocker and 57th best pass blocker.

Not too shabby… except for the pass protection:

James Palmer’s report adds plenty of context:

Then consider his price tag against his consistency… or lack thereof:


Being healthy every other year appears to be a trend for James. 

Would you bank $50 plus million on it changing?

Here’s the deal:

Should Miami lose a 3rd Round Compensatory Pick and make an above average Right Tackle with pass protection and injury issues the highest paid player at the position?

No siree! We are still suffering from these sorts of moves made under Tannenbaum.

I have said it before, patience is key to the process… for both Grier and for the fans. Go Phins!!!

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6 comments

  • Steve

    Juan James was Miami Dolphins 19th picked in the 1st round of 2014 NFL Draft. Even though James was An early reached, the fins could have traded backed to at least 27th or further to draft him. He has been productive while with the FINS. And happy for him and his big contract with t he Broncos.

    If we want the best player on the board then defensive tackles are there from the start of tge 1st round to the end of the 1st round.

    Offensive Tackles late second or third rounder like Elgton Jenins Miss State or Chris Linstrom Boston College would most likely start for the Fins without having to reach in the 1stor maybe second ROUND.

    • admin

      We could have had Carr… at the very least it would have allowed Tanny to be traded with some value a few years ago…

  • Lee Matalon

    Now that the Dolphins are in a tanking philosophy, as a fan from day one (yes, that’s correct – I am 83 yrs old) am I supposed to root for the team to lose?

    • admin

      Lee, first congratulations on making it to 83! I don’t think tanking is what they are doing. Tanking is technically purposely losing. This isn’t what they are doing. They trying to build a team the proper way in the modern era. Any other way would fail anyway, sir. They can’t do what they have done for the last 20 years and succeed. If they had landed Brees on one of their two chances, then things might be different. If this team doesn’t break this cycle what you have seen from this franchise will be what you see going forward–letdowns and underachieving. This will be a 2 year set up to get back to the middle of the road and years 3-4 is where we should be poised for a real move… if we find the QB. It must be so frustrating for you after seeing the Glory Years… but this the only way at this stage. We are such an undesirable team that the elite coaches and GM don’t want us… So sad, but so true, Lee. Thanks for the comment… but, honestly, it will be one down year and then we’ll be back to 6-9 wins in 2020. Hopefully we do this the right way, sir!! On a last note, I think you’ll see a better team now. More steady and consistent with less penalties and collapses. You could very well like this team better than the last due to this increase of quality of team play… it’s not like we’ve had a good team in years. Last decent team was Parcells first in 2008! This defense will also be much better than the last three years… that’s not aying much I know… but it’s something.

  • Van E Hamlin

    I can’t criticize allowing James to move on. He is above average but isn’t a great pass blocker. He is prone to holding and therefore killing drives.
    Gore is another story. Frank Gore is a hall of fame roll model and leader.
    The offense will suffer this year. It will siphon off a couple of draft picks that are needed to fix the defense.
    It appears we are in the tank mode.

    • admin

      I agree, Van. I do think that the defense just on scheme alone will be much better. I heard they might be interested in Malcom Brown. He ‘d an excellent and cheap interior NT on run downs. I don’t think it is a tank. They are just cutting off the dead weight and not building through FA… this will be a draft and reasonable FA build… we haven’t seen that as a Phin Fan so it’s very foreign.