Pouncey Gets a 5th Year; Preseason Times/Dates Announced

The Dolphins have exercised the 5th year option on C Mike Pouncey's rookie year contract, the team announced earlier today.  This means that Pouncey will earn roughly $7 million this season, a salary that's guaranteed in case of injury.

Pouncey was a pro-bowler in 2013, and has routinely been the best lineman on the Dolphin's O-line since his rookie year.  However, some have disputed whether or not the Dolphins would exercise this option after Pouncey's involvement in the Jonathan Martin/Richie Incognito scandal that took place last November.

The league still has not announced whether or not Pouncey would receive any punishment, including a fine and possible suspension.


PRESEASON SCHEDULE

The order of the opponents have been set for a few weeks now, but today the official dates and times were announced for the full preseason schedule:

@ Atlanta, August 8th (Fri), 7 pm

@ Tampa Bay, August 16th (Sat), 7:30 pm

Home vs. Dallas, August 23rd (Sat), 7 pm

Home vs. St. Louis, August 28th (Thu), 7 pm


Miami will play Dallas in their third game of the preseason, otherwise known as the most important game before the regular season begins.  This should be a good test for the Dolphins ahead of their season opener, at home, against New England.


As many of you know, the draft begins (finally) next Thursday.  Expect the blog to come out of offseason mode in the coming days in preparation for round one.

Until then..

Dolphins 2014 schedule right here

And the leak continues, this time with the entire 2014 schedule. Enjoy:

The instant takeaway is week 1, where the Fins will host the Patriots. Heck of a way to begin the season, huh?

It doesn't get any easier the next two weeks, as the team will travel to Buffalo (remember week 16?), then come home to host Kansas City.

Following the bye, Miami has back to back games against Green Bay and in Chicago, again, no easy feat.

The "easy" part of the schedule, if there is such a thing, seems to come between weeks 8-11, where they'll go to Jacksonville, host San Diego, go to Detroit, then host the Bills on Thursday night.

The only other prime time game of the year comes December 1st in New York against the Jets.

The Fins end the season the same as last year: hosting the Jets.

Enjoy.

First schedule leak of the night right here

The first leak of the night is out:

Week 10: @ Detroit

This according to the Detroit Free Press.

That means the Dolphins will NOT play in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day like many suspected last year.

The Lions will also be coming off a bye week.

More to come.

Offseason Program In Full Swing; Schedule to be Unveiled at 8 pm

We've made it to the first couple of milestones in this never ending offseason:

- Voluntary offseason workouts began on Monday

and

- The 2014 schedule will be released TONIGHT, around 8 pm.


We'll start with the former.  Unfortunately, workouts are closed to the media and the public, so there's not much to report on.  I can tell you that Mike Wallace was not in attendance on the first day, but the team knew this in advance and he's been there ever since.  I can also tell you that Dion Jordan, according to Joe Philbin, arrived hours before anyone else on the first day of workouts.

This is a HUGE year for Jordan, who played in a limited role in his rookie season last year, and has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason (although the team, and those who cover the team, never confirmed them).

I can also tell you that Ryan Tannehill and Mike Wallace spoke on the phone 8-9 times this offseason, according to Tannehill, as the two look to build on their 2013 campaign as well as learn new OC Bill Lazor's new offense.

Speaking of that new offense, according to Tannehill, the team had their first classroom meeting yesterday, where Lazor began to install his new scheme.

One more interesting tidbit before moving onto the schedule unveiling.  Joe Philbin told The Finsiders, the team's in-house TV show, in an interview yesterday that he thought the new offense would be good for QB Ryan Tannehill.  Remember, Philbin is just months removed from having to fire mentor and friend Mike Sherman.

I like this from Philbin.  It shows he's not completely oblivious to how dull Sherman was last year, and the year before for that matter.  Whether the change is ultimately a good thing is yet to be seen, but it's no secret that Tannehill needed a shake up after playing 6 years under Sherman.


SCHEDULE UNVEILING

Now to tonight, where the 2014 schedule will FINALLY be released by the NFL.  The unveiling is set for 8 pm, although don't be surprised if things start to leak out before that.

Check the Facebook page often as I'll have the very latest, and, as always, I'll have the full schedule RIGHT HERE the minute it comes out.

Until then, I leave you with the opponents and locations for the 2014 season:


AWAY                                                                                              

Jets                                                                                                      

Bills

Patriots

Broncos

Raiders (in London)

Bears

Lions

Jaguars



HOME

Jets

Bills

Patriots

Chiefs

Chargers

Packers

Vikings

Ravens

Dolphins Preseason Schedule Announced

We interrupt this (lingering) offseason for this breaking news:

The Dolphins preseason schedule has been announced...kind of.  The dates and times are still up in the air, but the opponents and order are out!

And they are as follows:

Aug. 7-10      at Atlanta Falcons      Georgia Dome     WFOR        TBD

Aug. 14-18    at Tampa Bay Bucs      Raymond James   WFOR        TBD

Aug. 21-24    DALLAS COWBOYS       SUN LIFE          WFOR        #TBD

Aug. 28         ST. LOUIS RAMS          SUN LIFE         WFOR        #TBD

 

Alright, the offseason may resume now.