Miami Dolphins, Mike Wallace Need to Mend Fences

Mike Wallace is a winner, plain and simple.

He won in Pittsburgh in 2008, and nearly did it again in 2010. He's made a career on long, highlight-reel touchdown catches. He's known for his speed and his ability to get open on any given play.

So what happens when the winning, and the being wide open, and catching sixty yard bombs, suddenly goes away?

Well, in Wallace's case, and in Miami's case, nothing good.

My how times have changed in South Florida.

Wasn't it nearly two years ago now that everything was great in Miami? Remember that March day, when then GM Jeff Ireland inked Wallace to a five-year, $60 million contract? Remember how great it felt to finally have that deep ball threat? To finally have that type of player?

Everything was rosy. Everyone was on the Miami Dolphins bandwagon.

Until the 2013 season opener in Cleveland. Ironically, it was his first game as a Dolphin where the relationship started going downhill.

One catch, 15 yards, and a visibly upset Wallace walking off the field following a Miami victory.

Fast forward to last month, where the embattled receiver reportedly refused to play in the second half of a 37-24 loss to the New York Jets, and it appears the roller-coaster marriage could be headed towards an unthinkable conclusion.

Do the Dolphins cut Mike Wallace?

That's the hot topic swirling around South Beach right now, and it's one that's been met with great debate.

On one hand, you have a receiver who led the team in touchdowns this year with 10. You have a gifted player, with all-world speed, who can change the course of a game at any given moment.

On the other hand, you have all the drama and friction that comes with him. You have a guy who gets angry when you win, and refuses to play when thing's aren't going right.

What do you do?

To answer that question, I'll ask you one in return: Can you find a guy to replace Wallace's 10 TD's? More importantly, do you have the money to find a guy like that?

The answer to that is no. It's a resounding NO.

This isn't the 2013 Miami Dolphins who had all the money in the world. This is the 2015 Dolphins, who are now going to have to make some difficult financial decisions.

Think of it like this: Jeff Ireland used a credit card to sign all those players in 2013, and now it's time for Dennis Hickey to pay the bill.

Brian Hartline has a huge contract that will either be restructured, or cut. The same concept applies to guys like Brandon Gibson, Dannell Ellerbe, and Philip Wheeler.

It's not different for Wallace, either.

If the Dolphins want to trade Wallace they'll be hard-pressed to find a team willing to take on his $12.1 million in 2015.

If they want to cut him they'll have a decision to make: If they do it before June 1 they'll save $6.9 million in cap space and carry over $5.2 million. If they cut him before then they'll carry a $9.6 million cap hit against only a $2.6 million savings.

But that's just the financial side of it. What about the football side?

Let's not sugarcoat it here, the Mike Wallace/Ryan Tannehill connection isn't where it needs to be after two seasons together. It stinks.

Tannehill can't hit the deep ball, and that's what Wallace does best. Why do you think Jarvis Landry saw the success he did this season? Because he's perfectly suited to Tannehill's strengths, which are short to medium range passes.

But even with all of that in mind, Mike Wallace STILL had 10 touchdowns this season, which tied a career high (2010). Think about that for a second—a speed receiver, who was turned into a possession receiver (something he's not known for), still produced double-digit touchdowns for the season.

Mike Wallace is simply too talented to just cut ties with. This isn't a Brandon Marshall situation from three years ago, where the supremely gifted Marshall was traded away following his second season.

Marshall was a cancer in the Miami locker room; he didn't get along with the quarterback, and he didn't get along with some of the coaching staff either.

That's not Mike Wallace. I've covered Wallace up close, I've talked to him, heck I've even stood in the lunch line with him after practice.

Players love Wallace. The media loves Mike Wallace. Even though he's most definitely frustrated with him, he still has yet to publicly say anything bad about Ryan Tannehill.

The guy works harder than anyone else on the team. Again, I've seen this up close, when he stood in front of a jugs machine catching balls for an hour after practice ended every single day this summer.

Mike Wallace is a winner, and he hasn't won yet in Miami. Some of that is on him, some of that is on Ryan Tannehill, and some of that is on the coaching staff.

But it can all be fixed. Now is not the time to be cutting your star receivers. Not when you're in win-now mode. Not when next year is a must-win year for everybody, and I mean everybody, in that locker room.

The Miami Dolphins/Mike Wallace marriage hasn't gotten off to the best of starts, not even close.

But that doesn't mean you quit; not when there's so much at stake, and so much on the line.

With the status of their star receiver in limbo, now is not the time to cut ties with Mike Wallace.

Now is the time to strengthen them.

My Take: No Problem with Tannenbaum, but Chain of Command Concerning

Can everybody just calm down for a second?

Here I am, trying to enjoy my final week of vacation, and I have people calling me, texting me, and tweeting me, all because Stephen Ross promoted Mike Tannenbaum to VP of Football Operations.

Seriously, the way people are talking—and I'm including the South Florida media in this as well— you might as well forgo the entire 2015 season already.

What did Aaron Rodgers say earlier this season? Oh yeah:

R-E-L-A-X.

Everybody just relax for a minute. Please. For the sake of my own sanity, please, just step back from the ledge and rethink this for a bit.

First of all, let's get one thing straight— I have no problem with Mike Tannenbaum. I think he's a football minded guy who had some successful years with the Jets, had some spot on draft picks (Revis, Mangold), and made some mistakes along the way (who hasn't). Having another smart football guy in the room will not cripple the Miami Dolphins, folks.

And now, let's get a second thing straight.. This isn't surprising. It's just not. I told you last summer that Stephen Ross brought Tannenbaum in as an advisor. I told you last summer that I sat not thirty feet away from the guy at lunch one day in the team's training facility.

So let's stop acting like Ross' promotion of Tannenbaum is completely out of left field, okay?

What is puzzling to me, however, is the new chain of command at Dolphins headquarters.

In it's simplest form, it looks like this:

Head coach Joe Philbin reports straight to Stephen Ross, and has full control over who plays, and who coaches.

GM Dennis Hickey now reports to Tannenbaum, but still has full control and final say with personnel decisions, meaning he controls who they draft and who they sign.

CEO Tom Garfinkel remains the team's president and will run the business side of things.

Tannenbaum, now the VP of Football Operations, reports to Ross, and has the responsibility of tying all of these moving pieces together into one nice, big, pretty bow.

Got it?

This is where I have a problem... It seems that GM Dennis Hickey is getting cut off at the kneecaps here, and I strongly disagree with that.

Hickey, in his first full year as a GM last season, had a strong draft. Don't think so? How many team's in this league can say they have two legitimate ROY candidates on their team right now?

Ja'Wuan James has been spectacular wherever you put him. Jarvis Landry led the team in receptions. Those two don't just grow on trees, folks. And they weren't just handed to Hickey, either. He had to scout them, find them, and take a chance on them.

For a first year GM, I thought Hickey did a wonderful job last May. He also didn't do too bad last March either, when he brought in Branden Albert, who would've been an All Pro this year had he not tore his ACL in November.

So no, I do not agree with the new chain of command. Hickey is said to still have full power and control over the personnel department, but he still reports to Mike Tannenbaum now. That just seems like it's going to be an issue, no?

But back to the beginning.. It's January 7, 2015. September is a looooooooooong ways away right now. Free agency is still to come. The draft is still to come. OTA's, minicamp, and training camp are still to come.

So let's stop with the whole 'the world is ending, the season is already over' act, okay?

The season is not over. The world is not ending. Before crucifying this organization, let's just let this thing play out a little more. Deal?

Okay, back to vacation. The offseason blog will begin in the coming weeks...

You know, barring any more apocalyptic events in South Florida.

In Season Finale, Dolphins Get Rex'd Once Again (With Mike Wallace Update)

The Jets recovered a fumble with a little under three minutes left to ice the game..

And I've got to be honest with you, I'm glad they did, because Ryan Tannehill didn't have many more hits left in him.

Seven times Tannehill was sacked today. Seven. That's a Jets franchise record. I believe at one point he was taken down three times in four plays. It was hard to watch, and Dolphin fans should count their blessings it ended when it did, because the kid was holding on for dear life.

What a disaster for the Miami Dolphins today, mainly on the defensive side of the ball.

Geno Smith had a hall of fame performance from the get-go, completing 20-25 passes for 358 yards, and 3 TD's. His passer rating was a perfect 158.3. He was barely touched. His WR's, mainly Eric Decker, were wide open all day long.

The defense is a mess right now. A big, expensive, mess, that I expect will be completely overhauled over the next five months, starting with DC Kevin Coyle.

Look, I like Coyle. His group did a nice job over the first half of the season. But it simply cannot be overlooked just how bad the implosion has been since early November.

Once the backbone of this team, the unit has been their achilles heel over the stretch run this season. It's been so bad that they've given up over 28 points five out of the final six games. It's been so bad that they may very well have saved Geno Smith's job. GENO SMITH.

I don't see Randy Starks returning. I don't see Cortland Finnegan returning. I don't see Philip Wheeler, or possibly even Dannell Ellerbe returning. I also, as I mentioned above, don't see Kevin Coyle returning.

Cornerback, linebacker, interior lineman.. all of these will be priority number one starting, well, now. Expect a completely new unit beginning in 2015.

Now to the offense..

Ryan Tannehill was great in the first half, when he had time to throw. He finished the day surpassing Dan Marino in regards to completions in a season, and also threw for over 4,000 this season. He was fine today, and finished the season with career numbers in every single area.

Lamar Miller also had a career day today, rushing for nearly 180 yards and surpassing 1,000 on the season. He also had a 97 yard TD run in the third quarter, which broke a franchise record.

Brian Hartline had his best day of the year, catching five passes for 97 yards. I don't suspect he'll return next season because he just doesn't fit the new offense. However, you never know.

Somebody who did absolutely nothing today was WR Mike Wallace, who was apparently benched for most of the game. During the first quarter, Ryan Tannehill was seen shouting at the wideouts coach, who then walked over to Wallace and said something to him. Wallace then walked to the bench and remained there for the entire game.

I suspect this could be the last we see of Wallace, who the team may cut given his contract despite his 10 TD's this season. Don't be surprised to see some more dominos fall here shortly as this is a fluid situation.

The offensive line, like Wallace, was a joke today. As I said, Tannehill was sacked seven times and took three times as many hits. Besides Pouncey, Albert, and Ja'Wuan James, expect some serious retooling in this area as well this offseason.

Another domino I expect will fall is the firing of special teams coach Darren Rizzi, who's unit has been awful this season. It may have been at it's worst today, when they brought an all out block on fourth and five from midfield. Rex Ryan, who is notorious for fake punts, called it once again, and the Jets found a wide open Zach Sudfeld over the middle of the field to basically ice the game.

You can say that's on the players, but why call that play in that situation? It doesn't make sense, and, unfortunately for Rizzi, I expect it could have been his final call for the Miami Dolphins.

Another 8-8 season, another collapse to the Jets in the final game, and another long offseason ahead for the embattled team that resides out of South Florida.

Unfortunately, it's groundhogs day all over again.

To the offseason we go.


[UPDATE: Brandon Gibson just stood next to Mike Wallace during post game interviews and answered questions on his behalf. Seriously. Wallace did not say a single word.]

Jets, Dolphins tied at 24 after three quarters

An opening 90 yard kick return by the Jets was followed by a Miami stop on fourth and one.

The next play Lamar Miller took the handoff 97 yards untouched for a Miami touchdown.

The Jets would respond with a 74 yard touchdown to Eric Decker, who's nearing 200 yards receiving today.

Following a Miami failed fourth down try, Nick Folk tied the game with a chip shot FG.

The Jets are currently driving inside the Miami 20.

To the final quarter of the 2014 season. 

Tannehill, Dolphins lead Jets 17-14 at halftime

Don't tell Ryan Tannehill this is a meaningless, because, like most of the year, the kid's come to play today.

Tannehill finished the first half 15-20, 161 yards, and a last second 23 yard strike to Charles Clay to put the Dolphins up 17-14 at halftime.

The other offensive star has been Lamar Miller, who rushed for 51 yards on 11 carries in the first half. WR Brian Hartline, who could be playing his final game in Miami, finished the half with three catches for 47 yards.

Offensively, it hasn't been bad. Defensively though? Yeah, it's been ugly.

Geno Smith, yes, GENO SMITH, finished the first half 9-10, 122 yards, and a touchdown pass to a wide open Chris Ivory. Along with Smith, the Jets running attack has been successful as well, running for 74 yards on 16 carries.

The Dolphins defense did force a Geno Smith fumble, which led to a Daniel Thomas touchdown. But they're still struggling with getting off the field, as the Jets have converted 3-5 third down opportunities.

New York will receive to begin the final second half of the season.. can Miami reach nine wins for the first time in six years?

To the third.

Jets lead Dolphins 7-3 after first quarter

Another frustrating first quarter from the Miami Dolphins.

The opening drive nearly resulted in a safety. Following a missed Folk FG, the next Miami drive stalled inside the Jets 25 after a failed third and one.

After the Sturgis FG, the Jets drove down the field quickly and scored a TD on an end around, which was eerily similar to the one last month they also scored on.

The next Miami drive stalled yet again on ANOTHER failed third and one.

See a pattern?

To the second.

Jets, Dolphins nearing final kickoff; full inactive list

A hot, humid finale today for the Miami Dolphins, as they're just under an hour away from kicking off week 17 from Miami Gardens.

The inactives for Miami:

18 - Matthews

33 - James

35 - Aikens

62 - Coleman

63 - Thomas

65 - Brenner

83 - Hazel

The inactives for New York:

QB Simms, WR Harvin, WR Powell, S Jarrett, G Johnson, C Mangold and DT Barnes.

The Dolphins are in all white, while the Jets are in green tops with white pants.

Live blog begins after the first quarter.

See you there.