Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Coaches mum on Tannnehill’s future
Former Patriots coach complimentary of QB’s athleticism, however
DAVIE — When Adam Gase took over as head coach of the Miami Dolphins back in 2016, one of the first messages he sent South Florida was that he and his staff were committed to Ryan Tannehill.
New head coach Brian Flores has taken a different approach, being noncommittal to Tannehill, the franchise’s starting quarterback since 2012. And on Friday Flores’ offensive staff tapdanced around Tannehill’s future with the franchise, hinting that he likely won’t be around in 2019.
“The most important thing for our quarterback moving forward, whoever that is, we want great traits in that player,” new offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea said.
“Whoever that is” clarifies that Miami is exploring its options and positioning itself to move on from Tannehill, who could either be traded or released in the coming weeks or months.
The Dolphins have invested seven seasons developing Tannehill, and the result has been a 42-46 record and a quarterback
who threw for 1,979 yards and 17 touchdowns, completing 64.2 percent of his passes to produce a 92.7 passer rating in the 11 games he played last season.
However, Tannehill, who has a cumulative passer rating of 87.0, consistently struggles on third downs, and those struggles have stifled the Dolphins offense for the six seasons he’s started, no matter who was the team’s offensive playcaller.
At this point, players from last year’s Dolphins team have privately expressed their belief that it’s time for the franchise to move on and start fresh with a younger quarterback who has more upside.
Even general manager Chris Grier, who was given final say in the organization this offseason by owner Steve Ross, was noncommittal on Tannehill’s future with the franchise, saying he’d wait to hear from Miami’s new coaching staff.
O’Shea, who previously served as the New England Patriots’ receivers coach, said he has developed a great deal of respect for Tannehill, who has led Miami to four victories over New England in six years.
“Ryan has been a problem for us defensively in New England because of his athleticism — being able to be someone who can not only throw the ball, but extend plays,” O’Shea said, describing Tannehill’s strengths. “There are definitely some traits he has that are unique, [that] maybe the next guy doesn’t have. He’s someone we always had a lot of respect for defensively.”
O’Shea said Miami’s coaching staff is actively evaluating the roster it inherited and has been putting together a list of traits needed from every position.
For the quarterbacks, O’Shea said he’s looking for intangibles.
“Obviously, leadership is very important,” O’Shea said. “Work ethic.”
If the Dolphins decide to move on from Tannehill, who turns 31 in July, the franchise will either trade him, likely for a low-round pick, or release him, possibly in March or before the 2019 NFL draft.
Established veteran Joe Flacco, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback who served as an 11-year starter for the Baltimore Ravens, got traded this week to the Denver Browns for a 2019 fourth-round pick.
Like Tannehill, Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, Denver quarterback Case Keenum, Jacksonville’s Blake Bortles and Oakland quarterback Derek Carr will likely be shopped at the NFL combine, which starts Feb. 27.
Washington, Jacksonville and Cincinnati are teams possibly shopping for a veteran quarterback such as Tannehill.
If Miami can’t trade Tannehill, he’ll likely be released, which would clear $18.75 million in cap space if he’s designated as a June 1 cut.
If the Dolphins move on from Tannehill, they’ll either have to sign a veteran to replace him, select a quarterback in the early rounds of the 2019 draft, or use Luke Falk, a 2018 sixthround pick Miami claimed off the waiver wire last season, or Jake Rudolph, a former St. Thomas Aquinas standout who was signed last month, to serve as the team’s starters.
Brock Osweiler and David Fales, two journeymen quarterback who were on Miami’s roster last season, are unrestricted free agents. Their future with the Dolphins remains unclear.