For young football fans that follow the Miami Dolphins, they might not know of the organization’s storied history. From 1970-2003, the Dolphins only had two losing seasons, while they would win a pair of Super Bowl Championships in five appearances. But since 2004, the Dolphins only have one playoff appearance while they’ve only produced two winning seasons over this stretch. The Dolphins were looking to reverse their fortunes in 2012 when they used a first-round pick on quarterback Ryan Tannehill. From Tannehill’s first day in Miami he has been the team’s starting quarterback, but he won’t ever be confused as being the next coming of Dan Marino.
Ryan Tannehill
In 68 starts for the Dolphins, Tannehill has thrown 93 touchdown passes to 59 interceptions. Each of the last two National Football League seasons have seen Tannehill pass for more than 4,000 yards, but the most important stat that a quarterback is judged by is the win-loss column where he is 30-38. And as the Dolphins have begun this NFL season with a record of 1-3, should the honeymoon between the Dolphins and Tannehill be coming to an end?
Adam Gase is in his first year as the Dolphins head coach and because of that he isn’t attached at the hip with the majority of Miami’s current roster, including Tannehill. Last year Tannehill did receive a $96 million extension with $45 million in guaranteed money that could keep him in Miami through 2020. However as Tannehill is set to earn nearly $18 million next season, it is decision time for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins are no closer to being a playoff contender now with Tannehill than the day that he was drafted which makes you wonder why they would be willing to attach so much money to him.
This season Tannehill has passed for 1,081 with 6 touchdowns and 5 picks, while has has already committed 4 fumbles. With the Dolphins in a 24-24 tie late in their Week 3 contest against the Cleveland Browns, Tannehill had a chance to lead Miami into scoring range, but he was sacked by outside linebacker Corey Lemoiner who also forced a fumble. Lemoiner would recover the Tannehill fumble which put the Browns in position to win the game. But kicker Cody Parkey would miss a 46-yard field goal as time expired that would have sent Miami and Tannehill to an 0-3 start.
Tannehill would get a reprieve in overtime as on Miami’s second possession of the extra quarter, running back Jay Ajayi would end the game on an 11-yard touchdown run.
This past Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tannehill and the Dolphins offense were held in check. The Bengals would limit the Dolphins to just 222 yards of total offense, while Tannehill was 15-of-25 passing for 189 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception. The Dolphins were a paltry 2-for-11 on third down conversions, while Tannehill was also sacked 5 times and things won’t be getting any better for Miami anytime soon.
Surprisingly the New England Patriots have taken control of the AFC East even without the services of quarterback Tom Brady who is currently serving a four-game suspension. And with Brady set to return this week, you can all but pencil in the Patriots for another AFC East Title, which leaves the other teams in the division such as the Dolphins to vie for one of two playoff berths in the conference. But with the slow start by the Dolphins, you can’t be that optimistic about their postseason chances which lines up to be another long National Football League season in South Florida.
What defines quarterbacks in the National Football League is what they are able to do late in games that will make them legends. In more than four years with the Dolphins, Tannehill has yet to have a moment such as that which simply makes him another guy. And as Tannehill has consistently illustrated that he is not the guy, it’s time for the Dolphins to move on from him in order to once again start over at the most important position on the field.
As you can pretty much put a lid on the playoff chances, they can be put in the same category with the Browns who I wrote about last month as Miami is simply three years away from being three years away.
Sources: Spotrac.com, Pro-football-reference.com
Leave A Comment