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Holding for Bass for a month or two in Training Camp almost 2 years ago is not going to make them value him over a veteran. He hasn't practiced with any team in almost 2 years and has a career total of 1 Punt in the Pre-Season. If Martin can't go, it'll be a vet coming in. It's the Playoffs. Not a roll the dice situation.

He was writhing in pain on the field, couldn't stand on it, and was carted off the field with an air brace applied bc they thought it was broken. I assume it's a High. But whatever kind of sprain it is, that's not something that you just "tape up" and play on 6 days later. Hopefully we're in the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl. Maybe he has a chance for at least one of those games. But next week we have to hope Dodson is back and that a full week of practice with the expectation of a heavy workload for Klein and Williams makes them play even better.

Yeah, that's not how heavy sprains work in the NFL. If it was bad enough that they had to put him in an air cast and on a cart, it's really good news it's a Sprain. But severe High Ankle Sprains keep NFL players on the sidelines for Weeks. You don't "tape it up" and have full mobility in 6 days.

Araiza is essentially a Rookie and hasn't practiced with a team in 2 years. If he's brought back by anyone, it won't be until Training Camp to evaluate him and compete with someone. They're not going to bring him on the field in the Playoffs with a career total of 1 Punt in a Pre-Season game.

Allen Shakir Jackson Oliver Klein

I was never confident with Bass and this season, he's gotten worse. I think we really need some serious competition for him in Training Camp next year, at least. When he lines up, I assume he's going to miss it and am pleasantly surprised when he doesn't. That's not where I want to be with a FG kicker.

Bass is toast. He's just awful.

First 2 picks back to back? No, that won't happen. Too many needs, as you stated. But there needs to be one in Round 1 or Round 2 (preferably Round 1) and 1 more between Rounds 3 and 7.

The possibility exists though. And when it comes to a Punter who is a developmental prospect, teams don't want to even bother. Signing him will undoubtedly have the situation brought up again by the media, informing some fans who didn't know the situation prior. Then there's the problem that even though he has been cleared of criminal activity, what has been confirmed involving him is unscrupulous. Though he was unaware of her age, the fact remains that it is documented, public knowledge that he slept with an underaged girl. And regardless of whether he knew or not, that fact and it being public knowledge is damning and cause for outrage to some, if not many. Media will surely have questions for the GM who does bring him in about the situation. These are things teams don't want to deal with Midseason for a Punter who isn't even on the roster. I'm not saying it's right. I'm not saying he shouldn't get another chance. I'm simply saying when it comes to why he's not on a Practice Squad right now - it has nothing to do with his talent or lack thereof. I do believe he will be given an opportunity by someone to earn a job in Training Camp. I don't see him being handed a job, essentially being a Rookie, and being 2 years removed from Football. And I think that's another part of it. Midseason, teams have their Punter situation all set. Teams don't generally keep a Punter on the PS. Teams probably view him as a bring to Training Camp, have him compete, and see what happens type guy right now. And I think that's what teams are waiting for. That and dealing with any sort of distraction or fall out is much easier to deal with in the Offseason. I could be wrong here, but I think that only happens if he doesn't have any other options. I do know that Araiza has said Buffalo has been keeping in contact with him through the process. So I do think it's very possible that they offer him a shot to come to Training Camp to make amends. On the other hand though, Araiza during his appearance on HBO Sports seemed upset that he was cut and felt it wasn't fair to him. So I could easily see a scenario where if he has another option, he'd rather go there.

It's not a matter of ability that's keeping him off teams. It's teams not wanting to deal with ANY controversy or distraction amongst media or fanbases for a Punter. Especially midseason and especially for a player not even on the roster.

Hearing Baker say on the last play before Halftime, "if he throws it over here, i'm gonna let him catch it" was rough. Absolutely can't try that and it seems like they goaded him into doing it by staying back, leaving him open, and preparing to stop it. Luckily it didn't matter in the end.

I don't expect any changes. McDermott survived the 9/11 media storm and rather than losing the team down the stretch (which is what it would have taken for any change to be considered there), the team rallied behind him and miraculously pulled off winning the division. He's safe. I think Brady will keep the job. The offense when it struggles of late seems to be execution issues more than playcalls or game planning. And the team has gone 5-1 since he took over. And I don't expect a horribly called game on Sunday. So I'd bet he keeps the gig for next year.

It goes to show how respected league wide Brandon Beane is. Assistants of his are consistently looked at for GM jobs.

We fired Ken Dorsey when we were 6-6. Since then, with Joe Brady as our OC, we've gone 5-0 and just took the Division and secured the 2 seed. Really odd time to be talking about replacing him.

NSFW:

I think it's too late now. If we wanted to do that, the time to try was a couple weeks ago. Offensive Line is a different situation where you're playing as one unit off of each other. You don't experiment with switching guys around there in the Playoffs.

He's DK1 now.

This would require the entire team not looking at their phones, every players family and friends knowing of the gag order, literally encountering no one at the stadium or hotel (as I'm sure someone is going to say "congratulations on making the playoffs"), not interacting with any fans pre-game, avoiding being within earshot of fans, and not interacting with the Dolphins at all (as there is often friendly interactions during the game, as evidenced by mic'd up replays). Long story short, no, it isn't possible.

If we're playing the "in a different world" card, I'd prefer to imagine the one where we have the 1 seed locked up and tonight means nothing.

In Miami, someone asking you if you "want to party" means something a little different.

OP updated with Free Agent list

No, I think there's no way Johnson is inactive with the way he's been performing compared to how Murray has been the past couple weeks. Murray hasn't been getting the tough yards that he was getting earlier in the season. His pass blocking hasn't been as good and his hands have become suspect. While he's the lead pusher for Josh, that's about all he's been bringing the past couple weeks. Articles have been written that Murray should sit and it's pretty clear that's what's happening here.

People keep pointing to the overall savings on Tre White this year and neglect to take into account - he also has a 16.7m cap hit in 2025 that would come off the books. And this is the Offseason to get out from under that as well. We can't be on the hook for that number next season in the condition he's in. Even minimal savings this year while getting out of next year's massive number is something that pretty much has to be done.

Interesting. I went off Spotrac and while they list outs for all of the players I listed, they did not list an out for Hines. I think that's a no brainer if there is one in his deal. As is most of the options to get out from under, save for McGovern and Bates. But then again.... as @Beck Water so eloquently put it: So probably not. That makes a LOT of sense.

And that's where it gets tricky. How do you quantify in dollars the estimation of the type of player he will be when he returns? It's a complete unknown. As I said earlier, when he returns, he'll have played a total of 10 games the last 3 years. He'll be coming off not 1, but 2 injuries that cause a player to lose a step and will be closer to 30 than 29 on top of that. Even if he didn't take those step losing injuries, he may have just naturally lost a step bc of age. Honestly, if he were on the market, all he'd be offered is incentive laden prove it deals because at this point, you just don't know what you have. I love Tre and appreciate his past contributions. But when you take everything I said, combine it with our cap situation, the fact that we replaced him already, and that we have an out to free ourselves of his cap hit this year and next year built into his contract for this offseason - fans really need to remove emotions from the equation. It's a really obvious, albeit rough, business decision.