The Audible Ep. 54 | Ryan Fitzpatrick

So anyway, we're kind of spreading around here a little bit and talking about spreading around John, it's you know, it's coming to the point now, well you know it's it's it's funny to meet John. How how much movement goes on now in free agency? And I know I'm talking about obviously the top tier guys are going, but with the lower tier, the mid tier, lower tier guys moving around and and all that, and it's uh been

an interesting thing. And you look at the Dolphins and and really when you you kind of look at free agency and you kind of look at the landscape of the league and free agency and say, Wow, the Dolphins have been and they've been kind of low keyed on

this thing, and I think that's certainly by design. And I think is when we talked about in the last show, we talked about you know, it's gonna take time for us to kind of watch how Chris Greer goes about his business, watch about watch how Brian floor is, what his influence is on on on player personnel and what you do there and and so I think we're starting to see but you know, I think we're seeing a little bit of a puzzle John, But He's gonna take a while for all of us and all the Dolphins

fans to really get a good feel for how this puzzle is going to shape up. Because, you know, we got a whole new staff of coaches, we've got new personnel guys, We've got players coming and going. So we we've been around this team a lot, and we've been know a lot of and kind of but I'm having to look at this thing and trying to figure out what this puzzle is gonna look like. When we get that last piece and stick it in there, it's gonna be pretty cool. I think once at last piece does

finally arrive. But remember, and you know as well as any Dolphin fan, the Dolphins have had both feed in the water for a number of years. When it comes to free agency in terms of big salaries, a lot of cap space, Let's go spend it. Let's get that premier defensive tackle, Let's get that two or three linebackers. Let's go get that wide receiver that everybody covets. And

where are we? You know? So this is a complete one eight in terms of how you're going to shop in free agency, how you're going to shop for the bargains and try to get and pick off pieces here or there, because I don't think the Dolphins want to figure out the puzzle in one year. This is not a UH constructing a team that's gonna happen overnight. This is going to be pieces of of the puzzle that you have to get rid of that don't fit any longer.

That you have to kind of go out and reinvent what you need to to make this engine go to to make this team more of a team for the long haul. And I think that's what Chris Sker is doing right now. He's getting a lot of help from UH money that he's putting aside possibly for two thousand and twenty by maybe taking a step a couple of steps back in two thousand nineteen in free agency, still going in and trying to get pieces that you need to function to make this team a team and function

as a team and be competitive. But you don't want to put push all those chips in the middle of the table because you don't have them. You don't have the engine. Right now they feel like, hey we can, we can go out and compete for a Super Bowl. You want to be able to be competitive. You want to be able to try to win each and every week. But I'm not quite sure when you look around and what other teams have done that are in better positions

financially to go ahead and make that run. Right now, the Dolphins were there, they took their swings, they didn't get there. Now they have to take a step back and kind of construct a team that's built to win every year, just not maybe this year or or two years. Yeah, it's just all about the long haul. It's all about being and I'm gonna look, I'm gonna use the team.

It's all about being the New England Patriots. And I'm not saying going to six winning six super Bowls, I'm not I'm not talking about Look, obviously your goal is to be to go to a super Bowl. But to me, you're you're not gonna get to a super Bowl by going to the playoffs once every five or six years.

You know, you gotta be in that hunt. And it looks sometimes it's it's a situation where you know, if you're a team that's that's let's just go back to the Dolphins of the past, where where you just knew they're gonna be in the playoffs every year, and and and if you get in the playoffs, you know, jeez, you get a home especially if you get home field advantage. Man, you win a game, well, there's an FC Championship game.

Were one game from a super Bowl, you know. So, so I think it's the the idea is to have this team being a playoff caliber team each and every year, consistently, always in that hunt, always in the thing, because you never know when she when you Once you get in, you win two games, man, and you're you're right there on the either either right on the doorstep or or

you're in a super Bowl. And so but that's where this team needs to be and and and John, you know, for me, and I've used this term a lot about this team over the last decade, two decades, we've been in a quagmire. You just feel like you're in mud and you're you're moving, but you're you can't get anywhere. And you take two steps forward and let's get rid of this coach. All of a sudden, you slide back and you're climbing back, trying to climb out of the

mud again. And and so I think, I think what we're seeing is this team that finally said, you know what, enough enough, let's get ourselves, Let's get all this mud out of the hole, and let's build the foundation of concrete so we can be a solid foundation going forward. And it's and look, it's is it gonna be? And that's why they gave the head coach five year dealt.

I mean, you don't you don't come in that that three year and rinse and repeat is not good for for the continuity your staff, the continuity of your roster, the front office, the scouts, Hey, what type of player are we looking for to fit to play defensive end? Do we need a guy that's versatile do we need a guy at linebacker that can rush the path? You know, all those things come into play, So I think it goes from the top. You have to have clear direction.

I think the Dolphins have clear singular voice in Chris career on how he wants to build a team. He's kind of given his orders through the scouting department, uh, through through all the people that need to go out and find the pieces. And I think coach Flores is doing the same thing with his staff. This is what we're how we want to coach him, this is how we want to do it. This is how we want to be versatile on defense, this is what we want to be on offense. I think all those things will

will fall into place. It's not gonna happen overnight, but I think at least you've got a game plan, You've got a roadmap for success and how to get there. Because all these guys that are coming from other places and primarily primarily New England, they know how to do it. They had a coach in a quarterback and they built around it. So you have to find it. You have

to get to that spot eventually. I think also too, when you look at you know from a from a from a top down standpoint, you know, you've made it clear that Chris Greer is the guy that's just running the show. The buck stops on on his desk and then it filters his way down, and and and and with the changes they've made, I've I've there there's been a lot of times where I've felt like, if this team, if this team and in the in their in their front office from a football standpoint, was in a canoe,

not everyone was paddling in the same direction. Not everybody had a paddle. No, not everyone had a paddle. And some of those people people had had the paddle, they wanted a bigger paddle than the paddle was that they had, you know what I'm saying. So, and I think they've cleared all that out. So it's where I think the

focus now on this. There's no political I don't I don't see any posture politics and posturing out of the equation with the they've streamlined the group less coaches, let you know, And and so I think they're in the right direction. And now it's just about you know, staying on that on that page and not having those disruptions.

But so, so let's let's kind of look at where we're at now, you know, with with free agency and where we're at, and everyone knows, okay, so so the so the guys that have gone, Ryan Tannehill goes this way. And and you know, Ryan Tannehill, this guy came in here for seven years, busted his ass, did everything this team asked of him. You know, you can't question his work ethic, you can't question his toughness. I appreciate what he did. And I said, look, I like Ryan, I

like him as a quarterback. But whatever it is that gets you over the top, I just think he was short. That that chromosome, he just didn't didn't have that thing to get you over the top. But you know, I hate I can't say a bad thing about Ryan. I I Ryan gave you everything that he could to be the best he could be, and it didn't work out for him. It didn't work out for the franchise. And I wish him, wish him the best. Echo that you know,

great guy, great competitor. Uh needed probably a new a new scenery, he needed new scenery, a new change for him. And he gets an opportunity to go in as a backup. Now, So there's there's an opportunity for him in Tennessee and it it helps out not only the Titans, but it helps out the Dolphins as well. In the long run, We're gonna get into some of that stuff. I think we got, uh. I think Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dolfin's new quarterback speaking of coming and going, I think he's gonna join

us here. So let's let's go ahead and pick him up. All right for joining us now, the new Miami Dolphin quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick. And uh right, first of all, welcome to Miami and uh, just just your thoughts and and and and what take us through the process of that got you here to Miami and this opportunity you've got to uh to be the quarterback of this football team. Well,

thank you. I'm excited. I'm excited to come. And uh, you know, the good thing for me when I started getting calls kind of in a second way the free agency, Um, this was an opportunity I'll tell I couldn't pass up. And in terms of, you know, one of those thirty two jobs to be a starting quarterback and the leaguing intall football team, and that was the appeal to me. It was kind of the one job that was left and um, so that that part of it made me

really excited. And then you know, I know three guys already pretty well that I've worked with before on staff and get the Meat, Coach Flow and uh so many other guys on staff that just got me excited. You know what they're trying to build and obviously a winning culture that Coach Flow has been around for a long time. Use all that stuff really added up to me wanting to come and for me to be real excited about it. Right, you come in the league as a seventh round draft

choice and here you are fourteen years in. Did you ever think that when when you when you heard your name called or when you got drafted, that uh, that fourteen years later you're still gonna be uh working in this business and working in this league. No. I think when I got drafted in two thousand five and was sitting there in training camp as the fourth stringer behind Death Smoker at a Michigan State, I didn't I didn't

think I'd even make it one here. So uh, I've done an amazing ride for me and for my family, and we've met so many good people along the way. Um, but I've I've enjoyed it. I've enjoyed it so much. I'm just gonna continue to play until. Well, it looks like Ryan, it looks like you've enjoyed it, especially the last couple of years. You know, listening to you talk to the local media. Uh, you said that physically, number one, you feel great, which is always good with a quarterback

coming into his fifteenth season. But the last two years you mentioned that energized you, and you could tell by your your stats and the way you've thrown the football. I mean, four hundred yards and four of your seven starts at least four hundred yards and four of your seven starts in two thousand eighteen. Uh, what what's what's it like at at a guy with a lot of experience around a lot of young guys. Does that energize you?

Or is it energize you that you feel so good that you can perform at the level you're you're expecting of yourself. I think part of it is the youthful energy being around you guys that are closer in age to my kids and me and Uh, but part of it is just the joy love for the game. I mean, I love being out there, and you know, really, I think since you know, when I left Buffalo UM after the twelve season and my career was kind of in limbo and that I didn't know, you know, where we

go from there. Signed in Tennessee and then when I got the chance to be to start on Houston, and that kind of jump started me and and put me on I think a better path maybe the second career for me in terms of being able to sustain some success and had some success in New York, especially that fifteen year. And I think, you know, those last five years Pampa, in Houston and New York, I've been playing the best football my career. So I'm excited to continue

to do it. And i just love playing the game. And I'm sure that you're excited about getting into the building and getting into the offense. You've seen and been exposed to probably just about every offense you can imagine

through your career in college in the NFL. About having some input and seeing what's going to be on the table and and really getting to learn your teammates, I would think, yeah, that's the that's the most exciting part for me, is just being able to the launch room, sit down to guys, you know, getting known on coaching the level and then you know, working together and trying to take the things out on the field. Those relationships are you know, and with the with the coaches as well.

That's the kind of stuff that that I really enjoy and in the off season, things that you can really build upon, build strong foundation. So the XS and oes are what they are. You know, to have been in a similar system at Easton what everybody does it a little bit differently, So it'll be fun to kind of grow together and learning the system as we go here

from bottomout. But I'm just excited out there and like I said, get getting that lunch room and just hang out with the guys and get it all a little bit. And you you mentioned that there's a couple of guys on the on the Dolphin staff that you know, I'm looking at you. You you've been here for fourteen years in this league. You've been in seven different teams. Is

there anybody in this league that you don't know? I mean, with with the way with the way players and coaches come and go, I would assume that your knowledge of or know or the people that you know in this league is a pretty it's a pretty thick, uh, pretty pretty thick address book if you will, Yeah, you're, I mean, you definitely lie on that. And the last few teams I've been on of have kind of you know, I've run into guys from previous length experiences that, Yeah, that's

one I had. I was with him in Buffalo and called the well, as with him in New York, bord god as between in Houston. So there's there's different guys along the way, But yeah, I think it's it's collective all at this point. And how do it help you coming into a situation? Look, you you've you've come into

situations seven times prior to this. But how much does it help when you walk in and you see familiar faces, whether it's from a coaching staff standpoint, whether it's from a front office standpoint, or certainly from a from a player's standpoint, a teammate standpoint. Well, I think it helps. It helps a little bit. But uh, you know, I always think when I got a new place, I was thinking about my kids. They think about my oldest son.

It's well now and every time we pick up the move, you know that that first day of school for him walking in and not knowing anybody, and it's that's still even though I know if you gotta get a little bit like that. For me, I'm not familiar with a lot of the players on the team, and so you still have those first age utters when you're walking into your the middle school or high school and not a lot of people. So, um, you know, I actually I

love the way that he approaches it. And and here's a monstail, that's that's kind of way what I do is well, I kind of learned the rom been around so much. Ryan. How's the game changed for you personally since you came into the game learning the game the NFL game as a quarterback compared to now mentally physically? With rule changes, has it changed a lot the way

you play the position? I mean, the the game has changed with some of them, some of the rule changes, um and and look, I think I think a lot of the most of it, especially stuff that goes in line with players safety, has been changed for the better. Uh being said, you know, some of those head shots and knockout shops that have been taken out of the game completely, and it opened up the mod the field

a little bit. I think I think that's definitely the case. Um, but look when when they have the player's safety uh in the you know, they're keeping players on the fields in the best interest of everybody before the game. It just makes every better. And so um that the rule change a little bit, you know, and then obviously some of the other stuff. There's been a lot s you know over time, we were changes and things like that that has kind of changed the structure and strategy of

the game a little bit in general. You know, we keep playing the games evolving and every one of the areas or anything. Also, let me watched teams going the last years into sequel Bowl. We you know, a lot of some of their stuff they're going was in twenty one personnel with the fullback on the field, which which was that you know. And so the more the more things that change, uh, you know, the more things that

are also gonna go back and do the same. It's just ever evolving thing and you kind of end up where you started because there's a simplicity this game, um in a parading this game that I don't think they'll ever really change. And you know, at the heart of that, you still gotta be able to stop the offense and on offense, You still gotta be able to run the

ball or they think that change. Yeah, you know what, tackling, blocking, all those simple things in football you still have to do and and until you do that at a high level, uh, you're not gonna win on a consistent basis. I know, I heard you talking to the local media, and I thought it was really impactful for me to hear you say, you know, there's only thirty two of these jobs, and

I had other opportunities. They had other guys penciled in, but this was an opportunity for me to go out and compete and be able to be the starting quarterback. Did that stoke your fire a little bit? Did that kind of pump your chest out a little bit to say, you know what, this is the right opportunity. I'm playing at a high level right now. I have experience, and I feel like this is the right opportunity to join

the Miami Dolphins. Yeah. Absolutely, And I think I think there are a lot of guys that that appreciate it. But I don't know if there's there's many guys that appreciate it as much as I do. You know, in terms of having around as much as I have Um, that the game you've got done through in my career. To be able to you know, step out uh that opening a can and and be the starter in one of the thirty two starters at quarterback for and Altaine

is such a special honor and special extension. Um. That's not that's not something that I'd take lightly, you know. And so to be able to give um, to be given an opportune to at least compete for that, uh, you know I was, I was really uh and excited to join Lanny. You know, you've traveled around a lot, and you had the opportunity to spend some time up in Boston while you're at Harvard, and while you're up there, somehow you got tied in with the Celtics and read

our buck. Can you take us through that story a little bit, which had to be pretty you know, of of of the things that have gone on in people's lives, there's there's always those things that really stick out when you've met somebody or some icon or whatever that you had that opportunity, and you know, for me be kind of been a long time Celtics fan and to meet the guy with a big cigar had to be pretty fun for you. Yeah, that that was that was pretty

that was running up there for me. So I when I was growing up in cover to Arizona, my high school basketball team had a couple of guys with the last name of Age Austin and Tanner Ange or Danny Danny Ainge, you boys, um, and Austin was a year older and Tenner was a year younger, and so I played with them, and uh, we're on the high school basketball team together, um, and so I got to know their family a little bit. When I was out at Harvard UM. It was between my sophomore and junior or

junior and senior year, I interned for the Celtics. You know. I called Danny and asked him if I could help out in any way, And so part of it was picking guys up from the airport and you know, shuttling players to work out some things. But one day I was sitting in the UH in their basketball offices and I just smell cigars smoke, and everybody knew what that

men And it was my first experience with it. But exactly man and the red was in the building and I got to go pick up a prescription for him and bring it back, so I felt I felt pretty special. Could be able to do that? Sounds good? Hey? Were the Angel Boys any good? Or or could you take you take them down in a game of horse pretty easily? Or what I'll tell you? Austin Austin, And I think he for the Celtics out but least single hand. And he brought the Highland Hawks to the state champion year.

And then you know, Tanner, I had that whole age thing on. So, uh, he could definitely shoot better than I could. But you know, I could probably outfitsical and down low as long as long as the Highland Hawks got in what state championship? You got something to boast about the rest of your life? Right, Hey, Ryan, thanks for joining us. I know it's been a busy day for you and we look forward to seeing you out here. Welcome to Miami, and uh, let's go out and have

some fun this year. Okay, thanks, I appreciate it. Thanks right, Not Ryan Fitzpatrick Dolphin's new uh starting quarterback John and uh, you know, not nice to have nice to have a guy like that come in, a guy that look certainly understands this league he's been and you know, you look at it and when I look back at Ryan Fitzpatrick, you know that guy's had some really you talk about, you know, four or four hundred yard games, or he

has eight career touchdowns of fifty yards. Well, he guys got thirty passing yards, got a are ninety touchdowns, and I've seen him. You know the thing when I when I think of Ryan Fitzpatrick, I think a guy that's either really good or or or you know, kind of in that mid tier. I'm not gonna say horrible, but you know, he he you know what I was thinking about this last night. He he to me, is very similar to I think he's a step up Matt Moore guy. You know, he's a gun slinger. Yes, he's a guy

that's gonna do whatever it takes to win a football game. Hey, some days he's gonna throw three interceptions and you might be on the losing end, but he's gonna try to throw the fourth one. You know, he's gonna get He's gonna try to go out and fit the football into a tight window to try to make your team score points to get into the end zone. And then some games it's gonna work out really well for the Miami Dolphins. I would think down the road. So and we've seen

that throughout his career. When you're in a good team and a good environment, things are going on on a roll. I mean, he started last year with Tampa Bay. It was an unbelievable start to the season. And then you know, Jamis came back from suspension, he got another shot, turned it over a couple of times, and then you know, Jamie's got the job back. But it's exactly the way

he wanted to start the season. And I think that adds to his fire, that adds to his competitiveness of wanting another opportunity at this point, in this stage of his career to get back out and prove it. Hey, that wasn't a fluke. I'm playing my best ball right now as a fourteen year veteran going into my fifteenth season, and I want another opportunity, another chance to prove it. Yeah, and you know what, I think I've had a lot of people talk to, you know, prior to his signing,

what a they gonna do with the quarterback? Because everyone everyone knew Ryan, you know, every new one everyone knew Ryan was was was out the door, and you had a couple of young guys you had five attempts out there on your roster, and you're going, who's gonna be the quarterback? And I said, look, I don't know, I don't know who it's gonna be, but I can guarante

guarantee this before they go to the draft. They're gonna have some vep some guy who's got some some pelts on his on his belt there he's gonna come in and that can come in understands the NFL. And right now, look, is is Ryan Fitzpatricks gonna win ten twelve games? I don't know. Is he gonna win three or four games?

I don't know, But I know this. I feel more comfortable going into this season, going into the draft with this ross right now, knowing that you've got a veteran quarterback that's put up number thirty thousand yards a hundred ninety touchdowns and that can play, And yeah, is it gonna be? Is he gonna be up and down his whole career as as most quarterbacks are around the National

Football League in their whole career? Uh? But you know, I think we can feel comfortable going in with him and then seeing where the chips fall beyond the draft, when Chris Career started this search for a guy with experience, for veteran leadership, for a guy that's played and had snaps in the NFL. You know you started with Tyrod Taylor. The rumors were out there. He decides to go and be a backup and get paid handsomely to do so. Then it was Teddy Bridgewater, a hometown talent. You think

he's gonna come back to the Miami Dolphins. You make a very competitive offer, but Teddy feels like his future might be better backing up Drew Brees and going in and and getting seven and a half million guaranteed without having to play a snap next year. Maybe it it helps him become healthier, you know, than he is right now, give him another year to get feeling good about what

he wants to do. But I think Ryan Fitzpatrick was in a situation where he mentioned it, there's only thirty two of these jobs, and I want one of them, and I don't care where it's at. Give me an opportunity. Let me go to uh bring my talents with a skill set. With guys, you can throw a four yard past two, make somebody miss, and turn it into a forty yard touchdown. He has that ability on this roster.

I don't know what the offense is gonna look like in terms of schematically with with new philosophy, new new staff in defensively, you hope it improves offensively. You hope you get out of the doldrums of the red zone problems. You hope you you get rid of the pre snap penalties. You hope you get rid of a lot of this stuff that holds you back other than next is and ohs.

But with a veteran guy like Ryan Fitzpatrick, at least you feel like you've got a guy that's seen just about everything in the National Football League can throw at. You don't gonna surprise him. And look, you're you're on a team for you're one two three teams for a year or so. You better learn offense as quickly. And it looks curtly guy doesn't go to Harvard with being a knucklehead, I mean and so, and he's shown the ability to to to get in and and take over.

So um, feel better about the quarterback spot right now, But uh, look there's still a lot and we're we've kind of talked to before talking he came out he had no, no doubt about, there's gonna be someone else in this roster, on this roster that wants to take that one of those thirty two jobs and make it his own. Going in, let's kind of get back to where we were kind of talking. We're just talking about Ryan Tannehill and and and you're wishing him the best

of luck and uh in Tennessee. I think he's gonna you know, I think he's gonna get a chance of battle there. I would think that Mariota is the guy, but he's been injured, He's had his ups and downs. I think there's gonna be an opportunity for for Ryan to play and and and and I wish him, like I said, I wish him nothing but the best he's he gave. He gave this, he gave this franchise every you'd ask, kept his nose clean. Never you know, never

never heard anything problem. Neverber was a problem. And just so you know, which it's a good situation for him too. As you mentioned, you know, Mariota up and down with injuries. Ryan Tannehill has been up and down over the last three years with injuries. But if you're gonna find a guy with the experience of of Oryan Tannehill going into a situation where you have to bridge for a quarter, two quarters a game, two or three games. He has to do it, and you know he'll probably have the

horses to do it in Tennessee, no doubt. Also with Cam Wake, another guy ten years here with his football team, did some remarkable things. Kid comes out of undrafted, out

of Penn State. He ends up working in the working in hardware stores or whatever, goes up to Canada, comes down here and turns into a you know, a borderline Hall of Fame guy for you uh and a guy that really meant a lot to this organization with his sacks and and just you know, he was a leader on this football You know, he's a guy that you know, everyone looked for from a standpoint of enthusiasm and and get you going. And another guy that again goes up

to Tennessee. Continuous career and I know this, you know, Cam, Cam, Cam give everything. I think the last I think the last year and a half, kind of playing on one leg a little bit. You know, I'd watched Cam these last last two years and still still a hard a tough guy to block. But but I think some of his lateral movement kind of escaped him with some of those knee issues, and he became a kind of a bull rusher and still had his sacks. But uh, you know, I I you know, just not the same guy that

that he was. And I can understand the Dolphins moving forward, but again wish him the best of Danny Amendola comes in and spends a good year here and I was a little bit surprised by by that move, and but it kind of tells you of these things are money and a lot of that stuff. I think with Danny amnd Dola give you the experience you needed in the slot receiver. Tough catches, can catch punts, reliable, all the things that at that time Adam Gates was looking for

in a slot receive. We're in a punt returner. And you know, he probably I think he was four point five million he signed for Detroit, So you know, he'll get that money back that he probably would have lost in bonuses, I'm sure, But for right now, the Miami Dolphins, Uh, it's too much for for that type of player. And he and he lead the team and catches Frank Gore, you know Frank Gore uh, you know, he picks up and moves on to other things, and boll, I tell

you what a breath of fresh year he was. He's awesome, awesome guy to be around, great team make, great locker room guy, great, great example to to everybody out there, whether you were running back or a or a defensive back. I mean the example that he set for you, I think really stimulated a lot of guys in this franchise. And what a combo with Shandy McCoy. Now we're gonna see him twice a year. So you look at Frank.

You know, Frank had was seven hundred some odd yards missed the last what or two games, And you know a guy was he was. He was pretty close to being a thousand yard guy for being a part time back. And um so he had much more than I ever thought Frank Gore would do Last year. I thought, I thought Frank was gonna be a lot more of a spot spot player, but a guy that was gonna be in that weight room and in that locker room teaching

guys how to be a pro. And he certainly did that on the field, and much more as a guy and and and just a fun guy to have. So I hate to see I hate to see Frank go, but you know, it is what it is. Joan James looked like Joan was gonna hang around for a while. It looked like for a while there they were gonna do what they could to try to keep him here. And then once you go to free agency, you know, once once you walk out that door to free agency,

I don't care who you are. You know, the grass is always greener, you know, in that situation most of the times. And there's someone on the other side of the grass is willing to pay you more money. And and they jumped up with it, and more than the Dolphins wanted to pay. And so John James is gone. Uh. Ted Larson was let go, Josh Sitton let go. And it looks like Robert Quinn is a guy that even

they paid him that million dollar million half roster bonus. Um. I know he was shopping around with the Cowboys a little bit, Dolphins kind of shopping him. Uh don't see him coming back. And I like Robert, but you know, the more I watched of Robert Quinn, the more I could see that he was a bit of a liability. When it came to a couple of things. One run, you know, I I think he was a very wasn't a very disciplined guy playing against a run. He would freelance a lot. And then I think to also on

on on, you know, in in pass wresting situation. You know, sometimes when you gotta contain, you gotta contain one spin inside and and and and and then have that guy break contain and and and you know, and and so flashy guy made, you know, put some pressure on the quarterback.

But I think I think his liabilities were probably equal to to what he gave you on a you know, On a positive side, I don't expect Robert Quinn to be on the roster come opening day with with the Miami Dolphins, and as you said, he maybe the rumors out there trading, you know, to the Cowboys, and it might be much like a Ryan Tanniel situation where the Dolphins may have to pick up some of that salary or in some capacity to to have Robert Quinn be

a member of another team. I love the effort, love the way he played football, but as you said, at some point, I think on this new scheme of defense, you have to have a lot of versatility to go from a four three three four, And I kind of think that was where he ran out of time in l A when they when they made some changes with their defense and being able to be more discipline, as you said, being able to wear multiple hats is that defensive end. Uh So, so Robert Quinn may may find

greener pastors. Look and I think in this defensive scheme and look where we speculate, we're speculating on this defensive scheme that's gonna be some kind of a hybrid hybrid three four four three. I think you're gonna see times when where you're gonna have the line and you don't know who's coming, You're gonna do a lot of those things.

But but if you're gonna do those things, you know, a defensive coordinator has to know that those eleven guys out are going to do and be where they're supposed to be, not see something and go I can I might be able to make a big play here. I'm gonna go that way, and all of a sudden, you know, you're the guy that leaves the door open for everybody. And I think, you know, I think Quinn, Robert was I think he was a little bit of a freelance guy and and liked the guy, liked him on the team.

But you know, so he's don't don't expect him back. The one guy that that the one guy think of of the word you know, of of what we've gone through so far with free agency, that surprised me was DeVante Parker. You know, here's a guy, that boy, I mean, you know, you from a from a standpoint of what he could be at such a high level. But the frustration of him not ever really getting there. I think that weighed to me, weighed a lot in the organization.

But obviously Chris greer Uh and Brian Flores feel like he's a guy that maybe they can be the guys that that get him to that level. You know, I expected it last year, you know I I I thought last year the writing was on the wall for DeVante today, put up or shut up. This is it. We've we've talked about it, We've worked with you. You've had injury problems, you had this and that, and you've had some effort problems.

Um and so I think I think everybody for the most part, thought they're gonna get rid of a salary, let him go on and and and you know, and go wherever he goes. But they resigned him, and and and that tells you that To me, it tells you that you know, he had to be taking less, take a little less money. You took some money away from him, which which you know, if that doesn't motivate you in

this league, then I don't know what does. But it also but also I think it sends a message from Chris Grey and Brian Flores that hey, we we believe in you. We believe and you, we believe they're still more in the tank, and we think we can get you there. And I think it's a good deal for both sides. You know, you take a look at DeVante Parker. He probably you know, wanted to be more available to

do more for the Miami Dolphins over his tenure here. Uh, a lot of injuries as you mentioned, a lot of knicks and that you know didn't make him always go one in terms of being able to be reliable and where you're supposed to be. And on the other side, you know, the Dolphins said, we're not gonna pick up that option. We're gonna rewrite a contract. I mean, give you four point five. This is really a one year deal.

This is approve it now. Now that now it's approve it deals because they're out of of two thousand and twenty if it doesn't happen in two thousand nineteen. So there there's an opportunity on both sides. One for the player in terms of DeVante Parker showing his value on a sixteen game schedule, and hopefully it's more to be able to be reliable and one of those traits you have to be as healthy and be on the field.

And for the Miami Dolphins, it's it's one year. You know, we'll see what you got, what you give us, and if not, we'll move on at the appropriate time, no doubt. And then look, I wouldn't be surprised if they see him in training camp and they're not getting it and it's like, hey, the gate, we'll see what happens. But now you hope the best because you've seen at his best. You've seen it and you go, wow, we're that that's unbelievable.

Why can't that be a regular occurrence? Yeah, and look and we've seen him at that level and you're like, wow, this is you know, so we'll see on the other side, you know those are those are the deletions other than than DeVante there. But you look at the coming the guys coming in and it's funny because you know, you go out and you get Dwayne Allen, uh a tight end.

We talked to him last week on the program, and then you got Clive Walford, and boy, I tell you if that doesn't, if that doesn't raise a neon sign to the other four that are in that in that meeting room, you know, and you you talk about Gasecki and Durham Smith in particular, two guys were drafted at pretty high, pretty high level last year. They were expected

to do things. If if that doesn't tell you that, hey, they're not real happy we're bringing these guys in that you better find some way, some way to you know, if you want your career to be career, you might you need to find a way to to realize what's expected of you, what's demanded of you, and what you need to do to make the impact on this football team. You just look at the way New England played with

Duyne Allen. You know, all the balls in the passing game went to Gronkowski and Duyne Allen what he catch three pass work. He did all all the dirty work, all the blocking all and really did a good job against defensive ends, against linebackers, whatever he was asked to do in the run game. You know that that was a big part of what the Patriots did on the ground was being able to have that balance when they

needed to and rely on the run game. So now you you cup compliment that with Clyde Walford, who's really uh speed and strength guy to the outside that can run routes. That it gives you a big catch radius that can do a lot of things in the past game.

So I think it's a really good combination and it throws caution, you know, to everybody else that's in that tight end meeting room that Eric Rowe comes in cornerback, and and and two young guys are Aaron Eric Rowe comes in and then Chris Read the offensive lineman, the Jackson Jacksonville can play just about every position on the offensive line, starting the interior, all three interior positions for you.

And the thing I like about those guys, you know that they're not five six seven year guys, have been the league for three years type guy. He's still got a lot of a lot of meat on the bone there, especially from Eric Rowan. John. I watched the uh the little you did with him, and it showed a lot of you know, it showed a lot of good things. And you know, you know what, you know what, you know what I took out of that, John. I don't know if if you guys haven't seen it, you can

see it. I go to Dolphins dot com and and see it. Um is you know, you talk about him lining up in a in an outside technique and in the back, you know, and then the receiver comes in, so he's got to take it. But and then you know, and he replaces back to them. And to me that that goes back to what we talked about when when Brian Flores came in discipline being where you're supposed to be.

If you got outside technique, take outside technique and you see it, and you know, not only do you see his ability to run and to run and tackle, to to to cover the ball, to to to to play off against the ball, but to play the details of the of the defense which has made New England what they are, both on both sides of the football. So you see a little more of that kind of creep and into this dolphin organization. And for me, the more of that that we see, um, I think that the

better it is for us. Well, I think it shows a lot from this guy was their third corner, competed to be the second corner. Uh was able to run with white outs on the perimeter. Tough has good size at six one two oh five, can come up and tackle at or behind the line of scrimmage, and he can turn and run and he and he played with discipline, and I think that's probably most important. If you're looking for a guy opposite of Xavian Howard that's going to get not a whole lot of attention the way he's

played over the last year and a half. The other side is so you have to have dependability. You have to have a guy in the right spot, not guessing, being able to be really good against the run, but more most importantly, be able to run and cover. So you've got a guy now with a chance, and Eric rode to do that. And I like to, you know, I like what you talked about with Eric is the uh uh the patients, you know, patients to you know it it's it's so sometimes sometimes it's some most difficult

thing in that game to be is patients. Be patient because things happen fast, and things happen in a in a Floria things. You know, you're you got your thing here, but meanwhile there's ten other, ten other you know. I always say, it's like it's like it's eleven individual skirmish on every play. And so you've gotta be able to know when to I gotta stay away from that. Let me, I gotta, I gotta, I gotta be in my place,

I gotta. And sometimes that takes that patience of you know, let me see where this guy's gonna go, when he's gonna end up, and and you know all these types of things that come along with it. So I thought that was a nice a nice little a little picture, a little snapshot of who he is, one type of player he is, and where he fits in to this organization.

And one thing I like about these Walford Alan Erico Fitzpatrick read, all these guys that they're bringing in to me are all fundamentally sound, solid players that can come in,

step in and help your football team. They're not the big name free agents, they're not the guys, but but it puts the Dolphins both in a fiscally sound position while adding players to the roster that are gonna that are going to bring stability and I think going I think to me going forward with this team John this year, stability and being smart are probably the two things that

need to be accomplished most in my eyes. Well, the good thing, too, Bow is to add to your point, coaches on his staff have had experience with a lot of these guys that we brought in. Chris Reid, uh, you know, he played for Pat Flattery up in up in Jacksonville for a few years. Ryan Fitzpatrick, he talked about George Gotzy being with him and a couple other coaches on his staff and being under Bill O'Brien with

the Texans. A lot of that synergy and a lot of that uh you know, offense that you're gonna see installed here for the Dolphins gonna have the same terminology. Eric Row you know, he he played for the head coach up there. He played for the defensive pass specialist

and Josh Boyer. You know, there's a lot of synergy in terms of having experience with these guys, so they're not gonna come in walk in the first day without the expectation of knowing what he is expected of each individual on this call and this defense, on this offense, and and overall how you handle yourself and how you go about your business and within the building and on the practice field. So there's a lot of good things about knowing the player and the player knowing the coach

and the coach reverse knowing the plane. And look, if you're if you're a guy in this football team, or whether you're a player or whether you're a coach on this football team, and you've got all these people players coaches coming in from that New England franchise, you know you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't pull him aside at some point and getting there, Hey, how did you guys do this in New England? What what made

you guys special New England? And for a guy like that to come in that knows the defense, that that they know him, that can talk to X, that X can say, hey, how did you guys? What are you know to me? There's that factor too, I think, or bring along that knowledge, bring along and look, there there been we've we've look, we've talked about it for a number of years here everybody else talking culture, environment, whatever where,

whatever spin you want to put on it. You know, your your your locker room has to be a locker room that that guys want to play for each other, that doesn't have in fighting and I think bringing these guys in and that influence. Look there, there's always gonna be times during the course of a year, you're in there with these guys every day all day. You know they're they're gonna be skirmishes, and there's gonna be guys

you know, MF and this guy and that guy. But but when But that's that's all well and good as long as when you get together on Sunday, it's every man. Every man has got every other man's back. Everyone's in the same fox all together, and I'm gonna cover you, whether I like you or not, I'm gonna cover you as as if you were my own, my own son

or daughter. And most importantly, sometimes Bo, those guys that are out playing have to have the respect of the head coach and those coordinators and those position coaches that you feel like, you know what, I'm not gonna let that guy down. He's coached me hard all week, told

me exactly what he wants me to do. And at some point, you have to have accountability, no matter if you're getting paid at the National Football League level or you're playing Pop Warner football, you're playing high school football, you have to have that respect of why you're going out number one for your team and number two not to let the guy next to you down. But most importantly, these guys have put in all the work and trying

to get us ready. Why can't we go out and execute a scheme at least gives us the best chance to win a game. Yeah, I don't know what this team is gonna look like, John, I really don't. And and and you know, and I'm saying this because I'm I'm I'm answering the question on on this podcast that I get twenty times a day. How much are we tanking? How people I don't even know what they're wrong to hand, what they're gonna do. I look, I wish I could

tell you get tanking one all the time. And I have never in my life played a game of professional sports where I've not tried to do my best to win a game. I don't think you can do that, John.

Let me tell you what I used to play scrabble with my us competitive when when when when my daughter, my oldest daughter was probably eleven years old, my youngest daughter was probably six years old or whatever, you know, the difference, and I'd be playing scrabble with him, and I always take that one piece that I need to turn it over, turn it over, so I got a blank, you know, just so I can win the game. And that didn't count the five letters you have in your

pod right now. So it don't matter, you know, you just get you get out there and compete and and and get the job done. So so and I think those are the guys. I think if you look at a lot of these guys, hey, do you ever do that to your kids or anything or your wife? You're darn right I did give him an elbow and I one on one basketball game, throw them in the bush

is absolutely doubt about that. But anyway, so here we are, I mean, we're we're kind of getting into it now and uh, starting to kind of see a little bit about what this team needs. And and look, we're all gonna be in there. We're all gonna be in this ride together. Many it's changed changes on and uh and and and and know to me, just stability, stability, stability, stability, stability to me, that that that's the keyword for this. Not not I'm not forget the team, the football operations.

I'm talking about a franchise staff from We have a plan from top to bottom. Stick with the plan. You know, you'd like to in five years say, man, this is you know, this is reminds me of that old the Pittsburgh Steelers and in the New York Giants, in the San Francisco, you know, those those organizations that have had staying power because the continuity at the top has been there,

stayed there and demanded excellence. Not not that people haven't demanded excellence from this football team, but I think this is I think they're I think they're way of going. They're doing more than they're doing, more than just talking. Yeah that you can have a plan, but if you don't execute it, it's not worth anything, you know. So now they have a plan and they need to stick

to it and execute on that plan. And I think you know the start of that is you have to find out who needs to leave and who needs to come in, and and how many years it's gonna take, and how many drafts and how how many free agency periods and maybe you know, maybe this squad surprises a few people this year. It might happen. You don't know until you play the games. But I can get te you one thing. There's a new plan in place with new guys running it. And there's a new voice at

the top. That's the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. That's gonna try to execute that plan. Uh, you know, through the players and and see we'll see the results on the field. You know what I I I always run too these people. That's it. I'm done. I'm not watching anymore. And you know what, don't watch. That's really how I feel about it, because you know what, if you're if you're not, if you're not while you're not a fan, that's all right, you're not a fan, that's fine,

Go be a fan of somewhere or something else. But next to those people walk in and talk and question. But I love, I love when I go to places. Now I'm done. I'm done. I said, Okay, we'll see when September comes around and you're texting me going hey, so I usually answer, well, then you're not much of a fan. Well I am a fan, No, you're not jumping off the ship. Yeah, you know, you'll go go up to Detroit, You'll go to some of those places that have lived through one win Sea and look, we

had our one win season. But and I know this team has been disappointing, but you know, we've had one year where it's been very bad. Other than that, we've been the middle of the road. The middle. In the middle of the middle of the road is no better than being the last because it doesn't get you, get you anywhere. For that Cleveland fan that thinks he's going to the Supervis May, they might who knows, who knows, but they've been living through hell for the last ten years.

Are anyway, Well, we've been living through our own little deal. But yeah, but hey, what I'm saying is stick with us, man, stick with us. At some point, John and Jimmy, Kimbo camper with you. I want to thank Ryan Fitzpatrick for a joined us looking forward to to seeing him, and I'm looking forward to seeing him. And I know I heard him in the Compress conference talk about, you know, I've had this beard up in Tampa and this and that, and I don't know if he's had it down here

in South Florida. So we'll see how that. Maybe we'll see how the maybe we'll see how that thing go. And that's what I say, A little bit surprised. That is it's a lot more it's a lot more quaff. It's groom. It's a lot more groom. And it was it was, it was a little bit, uh, it was wild. It was a little bit out there. I guess it was like I was watching guns smoke the other day and I saw a tumbleweed come rolling right down the middle of tackle. Damn, that looks like logan, logan in

the face flipping around. That's gonna do it for the odd We we'll catch you next week.