Phins Add LB Gay Jr., So Please Cut Tindall!

Miami adds a linebacker & hopefully cuts one too

The Miami Dolphins added former New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. to the roster Wednesday to pair along with Jordyn Brooks, K.J. Brit, Quintin Bell, Tyrel Dodson, and Channing Tindall. Clearly, you can bet with the best pay per head that Chris Grier isn’t aiming at a linebacker early in this draft, if at all unless they decide to move off one of these players.

So, this appears to be the Phins LB roster for Week 1 with maybe one more addition, if they cut someone.

Gay Jr. Once played well… unlike Tindall

Willie Gay Jr. has had an up and down career so far with some nice high points and some tough low points. The question is where will his career with the Dolphins land: in a peak or valley?

Gay Jr. is a former 2nd Round pick who was playing well but tore his meniscus his rookie season and missed the Super Bowl where they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After running afoul by breaking a vacuum cleaner and some other household appliances in his son’s mother’s house, he was forced to miss 4 games due to suspension.

After a troubled start, two very solid season followed and two Super Bowl wins as well. Gay’s best season was in 2022 where he posted 88 tackles, 2.6 sacks, 8 pass defenses, 1 interception, and a fumbled recovery.

In 2024 though, after his release from the Chiefs, Gay Jr. played for the Saints in a down season where he posted 28 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 pass defenses, 1 forced fumble, and 2 fumbled recoveries in 8 starts.

Gay Jr. is big at 6’2” 245lbs and has proven he can play football at a reasonably high level. While the 2024 season was a downer, he managed some good production with few reps.

I think it’s a decent flyer to see if Gay Jr. can find his way back to his 2022-2023 form.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of Channing Tindall.

It’s time Grier moves off his beloved projects

My hope is that the Dolphins cut Tindall. The kid isn’t a bad kid, but his contribution has been near non-existent. Missing out on Zach Tom for Tindall is one of the big blunders of Grier’s tenure, which there have been many. I banged on the table for Tom, but instead we went Tindall and EZ, both who have been flops for us.

I know legit competition will never happen because the return of Eichenberg signs, seals, and delivers who Grier will always be. But I wished we could wipe the slate clean and only keep players that perform the best, not ones that will buff Grier’s dirty resume.

I guess 2025 Season of acorns, flyers, reclamation projects, and late bloomers for the win! ‘Lion, tigers, and bears, oh my’! Go Phins!!!