Ochocinco is coming home !

 

Love him or hate, but Chad Ochocinco is now a Miami Dolphins. The very mediocre Dolphins receiving core gets a very interesting facelift!

While there will be sceptics, including myself who is not sure how I feel about the move but none the less the circus is coming to town. Chad certainly a character is a player who comes to work everyday, puts his all in his game and certainly now has a lot to prove after a year of falling off the face of the earth despite playing with the leagues best QB.

Ocho has all the talent in the world and he has been an elite receiver most of his career. With the weak receiving core Ocho will be given an opportunity that he still has a little bit left in the tank. Ocho most likely has enough experience and talent to secure a roster spot and wouldn’t even be surprising if Chad made his way into the starting line-up this year.

While Chad might be a diva receiver his work ethic can not be questioned. He should help develop a few of the Dolphins younger receivers develop their game will competing to make the starting roster.

Chad broke the news himself through OCNN ( his new network) that he had signed a one year deal with the Dolphins.

It will be very interesting to see how Chad meshes with this team but we will get to see it for ourselves as I am sure he will be a features part of Hard Knocks this year.

Well, there you have the Dolphins add another weapon, there is a potential for this to be a great success and there is a chance that Chad doesn’t even make the roster, time will tell, but it is exciting for Dolphins fans in the meanwhile.

Per PFT, Ochocino's one-year deal likely is worth $975,000, with a cap charge of only $540,000 under the CBA.  

RT @BenVolinPBP: Ocho also got $0 signing bonus and $0 guaranteed. But full $925k salary is guaranteed if he is on Week 1 roster 

Sun Sentinel Omar Kelly made a pretty bold tweet this afternoon about the Dolphins QB battle,

“It appears David Garrard is the man to beat for the starting QB spot. “

There had been rumblings that Garrard was the most impressive QB so far this offseason, that being said it is still very early in the QB battle and nothing is settled yet that is for sure.  That being said with Ryan Tannehill being the developmental guy in Miami, Garrard winning the QB position would definitely put Matt Moore on the roster bubble.

Moore who battled all last year to impress many might be left with the short end of the stick. It would be a sad parting; however that is how the business of the NFL works. One day you’re the starter the next you could be struggling to find work.

Garrard was working as the teams starter at today’s OTA.  Garrard has the most experience and success in the league which clearly gives him an advantage. Garrard also was a player that Ireland and Philbin brought in together which could speak to how they feel about him.

While like I noted it is still early, Garrard looks pretty good for a QB coming off a year of injuries. Right now Garrard does look like the favorite to start week 1. We shall see, Rome was not built in a day and the QB battle won’t be over in one. Reps will change every day, and as Philbin said today he plans on giving every guy a chance with every unit. 

On a side note it also appears that Hard Knocks has already started it’s filming.

He is 34, his play has significantly gone down his, his speed isn’t where it once was, and he is probably one of the most infamous wide receivers to ever play the game, yet I’m sure there is still a handful of Dolphins fans out there who wants Miami to sign Ochocino.

While his play has considerably dropped there are some out there who believe Chad still has a bit left in the tank. Not a benefactor of the Patriots scheme and a part of a trial that just went wrong, the Patriots cut Ocho this afternoon.

The Dolphins are Ochco’s childhood team and he definitely still has ties to South Florida. While it wouldn’t be shocking if the Dolphins decided to kick the tires here, I would implore them not too. An over the hill diva WR is not going to reap many benefits for the Dolphins.

Ocho also would not be the greatest influence for rookie QB Ryan Tannehill. That being said Ocho’s NFL career success can’t be ignored and with a very weak Dolphins receiving core, it makes the Dolphins a possible destination for the diva.  Ocho is now a free agent with the ability to sign where he pleases.

There is also talk that the addition of Ocho would bring added value to Hard Knocks which I believe would play absolutely ZERO of a factor in deciding if Ocho should be looked at.

Another free agent who was also released today Aaron Kampman (DE, OLB) interest me more. A player with a high motor and character who has struggled to stay healthy. If Kampman is given a look I think that if he would be able to stay healthy he could give the Dolphins pass rush a much needed boost.

Our friend RJ Bell at PreGame.com recently sent me an email about all the Dolphins Vegas gambling odds, while it is more than risky to be on the Dolphins for those of you crazy enough take a look at some of the available odds that Vegas has to offer.

Take note that Vegas doesn’t think too much of Ryan Tannehill this year only listening him at 20 to 1 odds to win the rookie of the year award.

Current Vegas odds – Miami Dolphins

Super Bowl odds: 40 to 1 ($100 wins $4,000)
Tied for 17th best odds (Packers favored at 6 to 1)

AFC Conference Title odds: 22 to 1 ($100 wins $2,200)
Ranked 9th best odds (Patriots favored at 3 to 1)

AFC East odds: 9 to 1 ($100 wins $900)
(Patriots favored at $400 to win $100)

Other Props:

Ryan Tannehill odds to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year?
20 to 1 ($100 wins $2,000)

(Andrew Luck favorite at 3 to 1)

Season Wins:

How many games will Dolphins win this season?
You can bet over/under: 7.5 wins

Dolphins are currently favored in 8 games.

Spreads on individual Dolphins games:

WEEK #1 Miami Dolphins (+6) at Houston Texans

WEEK #2 Oakland Raiders (+3.5) at Miami Dolphins

WEEK #3 New York Jets (+1) at Miami Dolphins

WEEK #4 Miami Dolphins (+2.5) at Arizona Cardinals

WEEK #5 Miami Dolphins (+2.5) at Cincinnati Bengals

WEEK #6 St. Louis Rams (+4.5) at Miami Dolphins

WEEK #7 BYE

WEEK #8 Miami Dolphins (+4.5) at New York Jets

WEEK #9 Miami Dolphins (-1) at Indianapolis Colts

WEEK #10 Tennessee Titans (+3.5) at Miami Dolphins

WEEK #11 Miami Dolphins (+2.5) at Buffalo Bills

WEEK #12 Seattle Seahawks (+3) at Miami Dolphins

WEEK #13 New England Patriots (-6.5) at Miami Dolphins

WEEK #14 Miami Dolphins (+7) at San Francisco 49ers

WEEK #15 Jacksonville Jaguars (+7.5) at Miami Dolphins

WEEK #16 Buffalo Bills (+3) at Miami Dolphins

WEEK #17 Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots No Line

Dolfans, it's incredibly early to tell who will win the Miami Dolphins three team (three horse) race. 

There are three possibilities at the QB position that vye for a chance to be the starting quarterback. 

First there is Matt Moore, who took over in week 4 due to an injury to Chad Henne.  While Moore showed early on that he could move outside of the pocket and make plays, he did not start off well.  It wasn't for a lack of trying and the pivotal KC game in week 9 after going bonkers and showing all of Dolfan Nation what the Dolphins had at QB and that Jeff Ireland was a genius.  Truly, Matt Moore had an incredible run and his final 6 games going 4-2 was something that should be commended for at least a start openning weekend in Houston.  Matt Moore in most situations around the NFL he would be the starter.  This situation proves interesting since the Dolphins have been wanting to replace him.  They went after every QB that had a big name.  Manning and then Alex Smith.  Matt Moore quietly worked in Davie while the Dolphins wanted to replace him.  What does that say about Moore?  It says that he's unflappable.  However, Moore needs to improve his footwork, his anticipation of defensive coverages, and make sure he catches the ball in the shotgun. 

Next we have a proven veteran QB in David Garrard.  David Garrard was the prized QB signing by Jeff Ireland.  However, it was not the fan's choice as many fans, including myself wanted Alex Smith or Matt Flynn if Peyton Manning was not available.  David Garrard brings that "kill" instinct that Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel raves about.  He has won games in the final seconds with a QB Draw versus Pittsburgh in the playoffs, a last second bomb to short Mike Thomas, and has shown that he can command a locker room and an offense.  Garrard has some serious issues that have plagued him in his career.  One, overcoming Crohn's disease which is managable and his recent back injury.  If he shows that he is healthy enough, his pocket prescence, ability to scramble for yardage, and quick release could allow him an opportunity to be the starter. 

Last, the Dolphins in April drafted Ryan Tannehill with the 8th pick overall.  Ryan Tannehill comes to the Dolphins at the right time when a new coaching staff is looking to right the ship and navigate their way to get back on top of the AFC East.  Ryan Tannehill brings a ton of athleticism, command of a locker room, a team player attitude, and an ability to get rid of the ball.  He projects to have better than average accuracy, but does have smaller hands than most QBs.  What Tannehill does bring is a new hope or dream to this lackluster offense.  What Tannehill does not have is known weapons.  Weapons in wide receivers and tight ends that look good on paper. Instead, Tannehill inherits Davone Bess, Brian Hartline, Clyde Gates, and Roberto Wallace.  However, Tannehill can be an Aaron Rodgers type QB, limited collegiate experience, but with a high degree of upside with practice and development.  I predict that Tannehill can win the job, but he will have to play extremely well with limited repetitions in practice and have only the pre season to show for his improvements that could prove difficult.  Some experts have noted (Omar Kelly via the Sun Sentinel) that Tannehill struggled during OTAs with his decision making.  However, it can be empahasized that practices that are involuntary and not mandatory do not include any press coverage.  Maybe Tannehill has a chance to turn some heads if he is signed by minicamp.  This much is true, Philbin constantly provides sound bites that would lead Dolfans to believe that Tannehill is the guy.  Not to mention, embattled GM Jeff Ireland mentioned on draft day that he was drafted 8th and should be expected to play. 

This QB race will be and should be entertaining.  It's difficult to know the exact pecking order of Philbin's preferences of QBs.  However, if Matt Moore shows command of the offense and the Dolphins can win with Matt Moore today, it might be Tannehill who will be waiting in the wings until the first of many interceptions are thrown by either Moore or Garrard.

Please continue to follow @DolphinMick @PhinsDaniel and our site as more writers come on board!  Happy Dolphins Offseason!