Miami is bad spot. Too good to tank, not good enough to compete. Tannehill probably wins 2-3 more games than Thompson, but what does that get them?
Isn't that why it's a good spot?
Because I don't think Tannehill takes them to the next level. This team wasn't winning it with Tua. They surely aren't winning with Tannehill. At least starting Thompson all year they have a change at a reset in 2025.
Can't say I agree with that...it is week 2 and you have a team with Super Bowl aspirations pre-Tua injury...no way should you be throwing in the towel...that could be a disaster for a franchise that seems to have finally found solid footing...I think you still have to do whatever you can to have a positive season and if they can get competent QB play there is still a chance to make the playoffs which would be a big victory for McDaniels and the overall culture of the franchise going forward...the biggest issue is what happens if Tua is done...that is where some very hard decisions are going to have to be made but for this year you need to see if you can duplicate something like the Browns with Flacco last year.
I didn't put the Dolphins in the conversation for SB contenders. The narrative around McDaniels is that his teams can't beat good teams and his record reflects that. They still had a ways to go to take the next step IMO. Win a playoff game or two and then we can talk SB.
Even this season, they barely beat the Jags (more like the Jags lost) and then were crushed by the Bills. It just feels like more of the same. Tannehill probably gives them a better chance to win, but I also don't know how realistic it is for Tannehill to walk in off the streets and learn the system and be good at it. Flacco was an outlier last year. He was a SB winning QB going to system he knew.
I think it boils down to the fact that I believe Tua is done as a Franchise QB. The Fins without a franchise QB are at best a fringe playoff team. If you want to say picking up Tannehill is the best thing this team can do for this season, you're probably correct. I'm more in the camp of a bandaid QB for this season isn't increasing Miami's contention hopes going forward.
Not to be a pain but I don't understand what your overall point is as far as this year goes...I think everyone agrees that they are not a Super Bowl contender without Tua and the playoffs will be a battle...with him they are a quality team that while not on the level of KC or probably Baltimore they are a legit playoff team who you could see a pathway for...if he is done in week 2 how does it help them as a franchise to throw in the towel? I just don't understand how that is the right move for them...if you get to week 14 and they are 4-10 that is a totally different story but for now they cannot simply say the season is over... that would be a total disaster for the culture of this team by telling them in week 2 you have no faith in them and you would rather move up a few spots in the draft.
Because we're acting like signing Tannehill off the street means more wins or a better culture. I don't think Tannehill is such a talent to elevate this team much if at all. We're still making some logical jumps that he's the type of QB McDaniels even wants. The OL is pretty bad and Tannehill isn't a mobile QB. I don't see not signing him as a sign of giving up. Skyler Thompson earned that backup job and gives them the best chance to win short term. The Dolphins also now get an extended look at Thompson which is a plus. I don't think starting your #2 QB is throwing in the towel, but the truth is his upside, along with the team's upside, is probably limited.
I think in this QB driven league its now becoming obvious the worst thing to be is mediocre without a Franchise QB. That is where the Dolphins are now and signing Tannehill doesn't change that.
I think we have a disconnect...if your point is they should go in another direction other than Tannehill I have zero issues with that thinking...my point is they cannot simply give up on the season...if they think Thompson is the answer than go with him but if they don't than they need to do something (and probably need to even if they do believe in Thompson)...Tannehill's name gets thrown around because he is readily available (and since it is week 2 options are very limited) without giving up anything but if they can add another QB without giving up too much that than can compete with Thompson or pass him on the depth chart than they need to do that.
I fully realize an NFL Franchise can't and shouldn't be run like a fantasy team. However, I think the nature of NFL (and all sports to some degree) are changing because I think "giving up on a season" is viewed as a viable strategy. If you want to say this Dolphins team has too much talent to give up, I can understand that position while possibly disagreeing a bit.
We only have to look back at the 2021 Bears team. They we 6-11 and Ryan Poles comes in 2022 and guts the team. He traded or released six pro-bowl players. Including two in-season trades. That was a teardown that resulted in the #1 overall pick. Poles made a couple follow on moves and now the Bears are in great position to be competitive for years. Other owners/GMs saw this and have to at least consider the teardown option.
For the Dolphins, Tannehill will only cost money to bring in so that is a plus. If they are really committed to winning, they need to spend some draft capital to get a better backup/Starter.
