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Tannehill deal a climb Dolphins are considering
INDIANAPOLIS — Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey is not far into a new layered approach to the offseason captained by executive vice president Mike Tannenbaum, but Miami is maintaining a close contact with quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Hickey declined comment on any discussions with agent Pat Dye, who represents Tannehill, but confirmed he had dinner with disgruntled wide receiver Mike Wallace. Wallace is a potential cap casualty in Miami and ended the season frustrated by the tendency of the offense to stall, and the inability of the scheme to produce big plays.
“We’re looking at each individual situation with all of our players,” Hickey said. “We had a good conversation. We have an open line of communication.”
Tannehill, the eighth overall pick in 2012, has never missed a start due to injury and the Dolphins are building a solid offensive line in front of him. He’s entering the final year of a four-year deal but the Dolphins could choose to exercise a fifth-year option for 2016 worth $15 million. With the salary cap bumping to over $140 million next season, there is conceivably more room to squeeze in a supporting cast around a $100 million quarterback.
Hickey said the Dolphins believe their Pro Bowl core, including cornerback Brent Grimes and center Mike Pouncey, coupled with ascending players JuWaun James and Jarvis Landry, gives the team a chance to be competitive very quickly despite again missing the postseason in 2014.
“Year Two is when you usually see the big jumps,” Hickey said. “All of them need to have great offseasons. All of them showed they had talent, but we expect their ability to jump.”
Hickey said the biggest values in the scouting combine include the medical evaluations.
“Physically, what their makeup is, and then your coaches getting a chance to meet them face-to-face,” Hickey said. “Getting the players on the field in a controlled environment to compare apples to apples, so to speak.
“We always go back to the tape. How does a guy play on the field? … That’s the important thing is for us.”
The Dolphins are not shopping for a new starting quarterback. Tannehill, facing a threat from head coach Joe Philbin, performed well in the majority of games in the second half of the 2014 season. Reports last week surfaced that Tannehill could be in line for a seven-year deal worth up to $105 million with incentives. He is 23-25 as a starter, but had a career season with 27 touchdowns and 4,045 yards.
“We feel really good about Ryan — learning the new offense, the growth that he made throughout the season — we’re excited about his future as our quarterback,” Hickey said.
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