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Dolphins News: Sean Gilbert Update
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Dolphins News: Sean Gilbert Update
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*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Mar 20, 1998: -- Sean Gilbert Update --

The variety of news reports on the Sean Gilbert deal have left the situation somewhat confused on details, but generally clear on the current state of affairs with the Redskins' player. Depending on which source you read, the Dolphins either have or have not made a formal offer to Gilbert's agent, Gus Sunseri, this week.

However, it is clear that they have been in contact with Sunseri and are talking concrete numbers with him concerning the acquisition of Gilbert as early as next week. In fact, JJ himself spoke with the agent, which is unusual and seems to indicate that he is very serious about trying to acquire Gilbert.

The Dolphins have made it clear to Sunseri that they want to make a competitive bid on Gilbert. One report says that they have tentatively offered a contract worth about $5.9 million per year for 5 years, including an $8 million signing bonus.

Gilbert's case was heard on Monday before special master Jack Friedenthal, who is dean of the George Washington School of Law. Gilbert's argument is that the Redskins did not act in "good faith" when they placed the franchise designation on him. According to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL Players Association and the NFL, the franchise designation is only to be used on players that the team intends to keep. Gilbert argues that since the Redskins did not intend to keep him, they should not have put the franchise designation on him.

If the case is decided in the Redskins' favor, the Redskins will get a first round pick if he signs with another team. If the case is decided in Gilbert's favor, the Redskins would not get any compensation. However, the case could turn out to be a compromise, with Gilbert getting the transition player designation, much like Robert Smith of the Vikings, in which case the Redskins would get some lesser form of compensation, such as a 2nd or 3rd round pick.

The case is expected to be decided next week sometime. In the meantime, Gilbert's agent is fielding offers from as many as 6 teams. According the Sun-Sentinel, he has concrete bids from 4 teams and has said that he will take the highest bid, regardless of who makes that bid.

In other unrelated news, the Dolphins have spoken with the agent for running back Chris Warren, who was released by the Seattle Seahawks earlier in the year. Warren has been an outstanding player for many years, and gained 1000 yards for 4 years in a row from 1992 to 95. His lifetime career average is 4.3 yards per carry and he has been to the Pro Bowl 3 times.

My Comments:

The only reason I can think of that the Dolphins have not made a concrete offer to Gilbert yet is that they want to wait and see how high the bidding goes before they put an offer down on paper. That way they can be sure that they have the highest offer, if they chose to make one or get out quickly if the price goes too high.

However, it's abundantly clear that JJ thinks that Gilbert would make a huge difference in the defense, otherwise he wouldn't be spending so much time and effort on this deal.

Personally, I don't know enough about Gilbert to know whether or not he's that great, but I don't think that they should spend $6 million a year on this guy. He has not played football for an entire year and has never had the kind of overwhelming numbers that indicate that he is a true impact player, in the John Randle mold.

Now, having said that, JJ must have studied him pretty extensively and spoken to Norv Turner about him. And after all that, he still wants him, so maybe he will work out. I think that he would almost certainly be an improvement at left defensive end (where he would probably start) over Trace Armstrong. But would he be worth 6 times the cost of Armstrong?

And the other problem is that if the Dolphins do pay Gilbert what it will take to get him, they won't have the money left under the salary cap to sign Tim Bowens to a long term deal. With the kind of money that defensive linemen have been getting recently, Bowens can reasonably expect at least $4 million per year. However, with the franchise designation on him, the Dolphins don't have to pay him more than $3 million this year and if they sign Gilbert, they won't have the cap money to pay Bowens any more than that.

If they don't pay Bowens any more than the franchise designation requirement, they won't be able to work a long term deal with him and I'd rather see them work a long term deal with Bowens than bring in Gilbert.

But JJ apparently thinks that Gilbert is worth the money, so the Dolphins may be able to land him. Right now, I would guess that the odds on the Dolphins signing Gilbert are about 3-1 against.

On the Chris Warren situation, it's true that Warren has had a great career, but he's 30 years old and his production has dropped off recently. I would have no objection to signing him for a bargain price with incentives, but he's not going to be the running back of the future for the Dolphins, regardless of what he does over the next few years, so I am against paying big bucks for him.

But if JJ were to sign him for a low salary, I think he might be able to start for the next year or two for Miami.

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Curt Fennell, curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
     
   

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Curt Fennell
curt@phins.com
DOLFAN in New England