Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that LB Jason Trusnik signed a new two-year extension with the Miami Dolphins back in November worth $2.17 million. Initially a reserve linebacker and special teams player, Trusnik has played in all 15 games this year and even started two. More interesting than that is the fact that the Dolphins could have as much as $46.84 million in available cap space next season, according to Salguero. Miami will have a number of free agent players to address like OT Jake Long, DT Randy Starks. WR Brian Hartline and RB Reggie Bush, so it will be interesting to see how much of that money they use to lockup their own players or pursuing replacements in the free agent market. Source: NFL Trade Rumors
well, the payroll floor is implemented next season and teams have to spend at least $108 mill so they're going to have to spend up to about $12 mill under the cap so they better get busy.
how does that make any sense ? jake is obviously a great LT. how could him being gone make their line better? is it a chemistry issue? if jake just doesn't work in the dolphins system or with the phins other o-lineman, then that's one thing, but he is easily worth $10 mill/yr. top 10 left tackles in this league make $10 mill/yr and he is in the prime of his career so someone is going to pay him major bucks.
The problem is he isn't that good lately. He has been hurt 3 of the 5 years, he still has problems with speed rushers and can't seem to run block despite being labeled as a road grader. He wants 10 million a year but only Joe Thomas is really worth that. Trust me dude I've seen the guy to from lights out to crap in his career. The only reason he made the probowl the past few years is by his name.
i know he has been dinged up from time to time but the guy is there almost every sunday. In 5 years in the league, he's missed 5 games (tomorrow will be #6 ). granted, the guy had an unreal rookie season. teams adjusted and figured out some ways to beat him in the pass rush. and to be fair, the revolving door of coaches and QB's he has dealt with don't make the job of a LT very easy. to say he's not as dominant as we thought he would be at this point in his career after the way he started is fair. but to say he is now crap is not accurate. i will disagree with this 100%. he is still a very good run blocker. the phins still make their living running behind the guy. even this year, possibly his worst, the phins average almost a full yard more per carry running on the left side. point is, if the phins think Long is done, like you do, I believe there will be plenty of teams lining up to make them their LT and he will be an upgrade for them because he's better than most.
Believe it or not I've watched him all season and his struggles this year have been much poorer in the run game and its been masked by the play of Incognito. Long is a good LT, but isn't worth the 10-12 million he is asking, 7 million sure every day, but not the money he wants, because Martin has done an incredible job in his place and he is expendable.
