Landry Divorce: Wringing Out A Little Juice
If a Landry trade was in the Phins plans, it should have happened last year
Landry brought juice to the Dolphins bland offense for 4 years
As of Friday, Jarvis Landry is a Cleveland Brown. In return for the trade, Miami received a 2018 4th Rd Pick and 2019 7th Rd Pick as compensation. At face value, the picks don’t even cover what Landry was drafted for. So Miami does end up the loser in regards to compensation. But this trade must be looked at in its totality to gauge the situation clearly.
Juice was an on-the-field dynamo with record-setting production. His rare intensity made him a fan favorite–without a doubt, I will greatly miss seeing him in aqua.
While these superlatives are all true, in the end, Miami did about the best they could given the situation… one that they created, of course.
Yet, while it’s en vogue to trash the Dolphins (and maybe accurate), they aren’t the sole script writer for this ending. Landry has his share of responsibly for how this turned out. He wanted a boat-load of dough–maybe too much, to which every team interested blanched at his numbers. Even the Browns, who are loaded with CAP space, preferred to trade for him as a one-year rent, rather than meet Landry’s demands–ATM. That’s a red flag for sure. Without a doubt, some of Landry’s antics, along with concerns about paying a “slot” like a #1, played into the equation. Miami moved on and not even the Browns are jumping to give Landry a long-term deal.
While Landry was a rare 2nd Round gem for the Phins, he had flaws
David Hyde refreshed my memory yesterday on the 2016 incident where Landry had to be kicked off the practice field mid-season for arguing with Ryan Tannehill. Add in his 2017 back and forth with Gase and the Bills ‘Mount Vesuvius meltdown’, and you have a trend of friction with authority. This trend gives GM’s the cherry on top of their concern about giving an incentive-laden, mega-contract making Landry one of the top-paid wides in the NFL. Not saying this trend is definitive, but it’s undeniably a trend.
Ultimately though, a day late and dollar short best describes this whole fiasco. The Ravens made an offer to trade for Landry last year. Mike Tannenbaum thought it didn’t bring enough value. The offer was never made public, but I’d sure make a bet with a per head sportsbook that it was a better deal than what they received from the Browns.
While I hate to see Landry go to another team, it’s even more troubling to see the Dolphins brass late on their evaluation of their players… again. In the NFL it’s the quick and the dead. But only the future can be changed as the deal’s done and in the books. Crying over spilled milk is worthless. Now the most important factor is, can this regime pull it’s fat out of the fire? Can the Davie Trifecta use the extra CAP space and the picks to make amends? There will be more skeptics today than a couple of days ago.
The Dolphins ‘Landry divorce’ was a foregone conclusion for sometime
But fans must remember, putting aside past mistakes and emotion, the reality is, this was the best the Phins FO could do under the present circumstances. At the very least, it’s far better than the nothing Miami would have received if Landry walked this year or next. And don’t fool yourself, he was walking 100%. Both the Dolphins and Landry were at an impasse. It would likely have been uglier this year than last if there wasn’t a divorce. That tag could have easily ended up a noose for Gase and this regime. Of course, many may feel that would be a better end.
But even if things went well in their last dance together, Miami simply couldn’t afford him at the $16 million the Franchise Tag cost. It’s evident he was never going to accept the Dolphins long-term offer–ever. That’s a rock and a hard place. The fact that the Ravens wouldn’t consider Landry’s demands is strong support that our FO isn’t completely off-base. Ozzie Newsome has been one of the best GM’s in the NFL for a long time. If he didn’t pull the trigger, then the Phins brass isn’t completely clueless. Only time will reveal the truth.
A big 2018 storyline will be Landry V.S. the FO’s actions in FA and the Draft
This situation could have a far better ending IF (ugly, ugly word) they make good use of the chips gained by Landry’s departure. If this trade didn’t happen now, Miami would have been cut out of the FA market. Given the Dolphins use of their ‘big spends’ the last 2 seasons, that might not be all bad. The skeptic in me might say that having Landry will be better than the FO going fish. We’ll see if the skeptic is correct soon enough. But again, the past only hints at the future, it doesn’t predict it. Maybe they spend wisely this season.
In my crystal ball, IF (ugly, ugly word) they can reel in Panther Free Agent Andrew Norwell they’ll end up a winner. Swapping one mid-twenties star for another would go a long way towards redemption in my book. But that’s obviously a long shot.
Am I confident that all will turn out peachy? Hell no. Am I certain that this nose dives into a concrete basement season? Hell no. But man, this is sure feeling like another Dolphins regime in the ‘prove it or lose it’ moment of their destiny. As much as I love Landry, he’s not bigger than the logo. So, GO PHINS!!!
Exciting times for the Fins organization/family,,,, I guess!
Went this far, may as well cut/release/trade Pouncey, Wake (hate to say that), Tannehill. Didn’t win with them (playoffs ’16-17 season).
I think Pouncey needs to go… Wake one more season, Tannehill for one more as well. This dumb talk of releasing Suh to get 3.9 mill in relief is asine. I guess I could see Wake, but for me let James, Timmons, Pouncey, Thomas, and maybe Larsen go. Draft Vea and move Suh to RE in 3-4 and release him next year… give Phillips a real chance to see if he deserves the new contract. Releasing Suh now is about as dumb and worthless as it comes. Top 5 Dt for 3.9 mill?
Hmmm learned something today. You can post his cut for post june 1st cut and spread the 22 mill over two years… freeing up about 14 mill. Now it makes sense. Good call Dunner.
Here is how the Brown’s stand for the draft.
For a fourth consecutive year, the Browns are poised to add more than 10 players to the roster through the draft. Cleveland holds all of its own seven picks — which fall at the beginning of each round — Houston’s first- and second-round selections, Philadelphia’s second-rounder, Carolina’s fourth-rounder and Kansas City’s fifth-rounder. The Browns do not have any compensatory picks for the first time since 2016.
Here’s how they’ll fall.
1st round: 1, 4 (from Houston)
2nd round: 33, 35 (from Houston), 64 (from Philadelphia)
3rd round: 65
4th round: 101, 123 (from Carolina)
5th round: 138, 159 (from Kansas City)
6th round: 175
7th round: 219
They have played it well… of course, they only had 1 win in 2 years. But overall they did a Pats and I wouldn’t mind that starting next year. I’m sort hooked on Vea… or Mayfield. Mayfield has grown on me, but is risky. I hated we didn’t trade up a couple of spots for Nagata and passed on Wilfork. Vea and Nelson are about as sure a hit at elite talent as there is. If Miami moves on from Suh this year or the next Vea IS the building block… far better than any other NT in this draft in my opinion. Miami is dumping all there elites… need a couple and Vea is one in my opinion. But if they trade back and hit, then it is the best move. Just not sure they will. It’s the doubting Thomas in me.
Admin
The Bottom line about the Miami Dolphins trading.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7oYIvd_0lI
Hahaha…
All the luck in the world for Landry. He is in a unique position in a rejuvenated organization. He gave it his all while here and I enjoyed watching him. We, Miami, needs more players with his desire. His desire is second to none.
Good Luck Juice
Suh is next. Traded or post June release/cut. Imo
Makes zero sense unless it’s post-June. Even then it makes no sense…
Suh to be released Wednesday according to both ESPN.com and NFL.com
According to NFL.com they believe this is Gase wanting to build the locker room culture.
Yeah Brandon. Just learned some new info… they can cut him Wed. for a post June 1st designation spreading out the 22mill hit over 2 years, essentially freeing up about 14 mill… now it makes sense. Thanks, brother.
further clarification as per Salgero: “They will save $17 million dollars in cap space while carrying $9.1 million in dead money.
What does that mean? The cutting of Suh will not be a boon immediately. It won’t factor until after June 1 and the team will carry Suh’s $26 million cap charge until then.
But the Dolphins are certain they have enough salary cap space now to do business in free agency when it begins on Wednesday. And the Suh windfall will be used to sign the draft class after June 1 and carry the rest into the season.”