The Dolphins are Big, Bad Spenders
Apparently $126 million buys you a 7-8 season
Getty Images
MIAMI - DECEMBER 06: Tackle Vernon Carey #72 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates after linebacker Channing Crowder #52 intercepted quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots at Land Shark Stadium on December 6, 2009 in Miami, Florida. The Dolphins defeated the Patriots 22-21. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vernon Carey
Ever wonder what you would buy with $126 million? Well, the Dolphins so far have purchased a 7-8 season and a slim to none chance at the playoffs.
The Dolphins boast the second-highest payroll in the NFL, according to the Miami Herald, falling just behind the New York Giants, who will be watching the post season on the som HD flat screens despite spending more than $137 million this year.
Darn it! If we would have spent a few million more maybe we could be 8-7, too.
Maybe the Giants aren't a shocker as a big spender, following in the trend of many New York franchises, but the Dolphins? We wouldn't exactly call them big spenders.
Yet somehow owner Stephen Ross and GM Bill Parcells broke open the piggy bank this year to pay a band of players who have proven they are mediocre and aging talents at best.
It should be noted that the $126 million pricetag on this year's team does not include: minority owners J Lo and Marc Anthony's bar tab or dog-sitting expenses, fines for Serena or Venus Williams cussing out referees or Romero Britto's traffic tickets.
Most of the salary money this year is locked up in the offensive line, with three of the four top money makers on the team being Vernon Carey, center Jake Grove and tackle Jake Long. None, as you can imagine, has scored a touchdown this year and neither Carey nor Grove are headed to the Pro Bowl. Long made $8 million this year, which ranks third on the team, and he is the lone Dolphin representative in the NFL all-star game.
No surprise Parcells invested in the offensive line since the run game and the Wildcat are the team's bread and butter.
But then there is the vaunted (not!) Dolphins secondary that is making all kinds of money for missing tackles and not being able to cover the opposing teams deep threat, which turns out to be just about anyone who is an eligible receiver.
Gibril "I Can't Tackle" Wilson was brought in as the key free agent signing before the 2009 season and has been nothing more than an $8 million tax write off. Zero interceptions and making other people's highlight reels have been the only signs that Wilson even exists on the football field on Sundays.
Notice that in a quarterback driven league, we haven't mentioned Chad Henne, who will make about $900,000 this year with one of the lowest starting QB salaries in the NFL.
And the team's most valuable player, Ricky Williams, makes $3.4 million. At least someone was worth every penny.
Top 5 Dolphin Salaries
Vernon Carey, $15 million
Jake Grove, $14.2 million
Yeremiah Bell, $8.6 million
Jake Long, $8 million
Gibril Wilson, $8 million
Posted Wednesday, Dec 30, 2009 - 3:53 PM EST
