Frustration, Aggravation, Irritation, Annoying, Nuisance; all adjectives that could describe the NFL lockout quite accurately. That being said, today is supposed to be the day that it all gets settled. Yesterday the players voted conditionally to approve the new CBA and the owners will reportedly meet in Atlanta today and also vote to approve the new CBA. Obviously, we can’t take anything for granted in this process, but today is SUPPOSED to be the day this mess comes to an end.

If all goes as planned, teams will have the opportunity to resign their players on the 25th and free agency would open on the 28th.

So whether you're Christian, Jewish, Muslim, atheist or whatever you might be, let us pray that this all ends today!

There was Watergate, Spygate, and now there is Shirtgate. Currently in the official Miami Dolphins team store is a New York Jets t-shirt that says “Home of the Jets” on it. This has been confirmed by Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald and even made national news on Pro Football Talks website.

Many Dolphins fans on twitter are insulted and very upset.  After this scandal started becoming a huge story on twitter, Dolphins CEO Mike Dee said that at the request of fans, the team will "remove immediately" the #Jets shirt.

Possibly one of the main reasons for the rage that has come from the Dolphins' fan base is that both Jets and Patriots team stores are not carrying ANY Dolphins' apparel.

Personally, I was annoyed when the news broke, but I didn’t think it was as big of a deal as many other fans did.  A bigger issues for me is the fans that show up at to Sun Life (Which aren’t nearly enough). For the fans that do show up to the game, our Sun Life Stadium is quieter then a library.

So Dolfans stop crying over shirtgate and step up and make some noise this season!

It’s been a reoccurring theme here at Phins Phocus to start every post with a daily update from the labor front. The good news is that trend is reportedly on the brink of coming to an end, as the players and owners now appear to be virtually the voting process away from finalizing a new deal.

Our days as pretend legal analysts are almost a thing of the past and we can thankfully concentrate solely on what we do best: discussing Miami Dolphins’ football.

It’s been like pulling teeth at times this offseason trying to come up with interesting and relative reading material, but things are about to change rather rapidly here once we have a new CBA.

Free agency and training camp basically opening simultaneously is going to stir up a league-wide frenzy. It’s going to be exciting and possibly a little overwhelming, especially considering that the Dolphins are expected to be major players in free agency with holes to fill at quarterback, running back, and outside linebacker among lesser needs and the impending addition of several undrafted rookies.

There’s no doubt that we’re experiencing the calm before the storm. We’ve been passing the time by previewing Dolphins’ training camp, which, if the schedule isn’t interrupted by the lockout, will kick off a week from today.

Contrast to tradition, we’re only looking at the positions that won’t drastically change in free agency. As you already know, the Dolphins will be signing or possibly even trading for at least two potential starters. Once those positions have been addressed, their outlook will drastically change depending who is brought in.

The secondary likely won’t be adjusted much by Jeff Ireland, outside of a few roster fringe moves. I suppose there is always the chance that the Dolphins land a starting caliber free safety, but with a weak market and two promising young players in Chris Clemons and Reshad Jones set to battle it out, Miami is probably content with what they have.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN FREE AGENCY
Chris Clemons and Reshad Jones flashed too much potential in 2010 for the Dolphins to go out and spend big bucks to reel in a quality starting free safety. Odds are one will emerge as a solid player for the Dolphins’ secondary.

Obviously, the Dolphins are set on the top end of corner as well, with two stars in the making and a valuable veteran presence that projects to take over nickel corner duties.

Expect the Dolphins to add at least one or two free agent cornerbacks, though, most likely of the undrafted rookie variety, as they opened camp with nine corners on the roster a year ago and presently only have six under contract.

CORNERBACKS

SAFE

Vontae Davis: He may not be there quite yet, but after watching the progress Vontae Davis made in his second season as a pro, it’s clear that the Dolphins have themselves an elite corner in the making. Some naive fans point to Vontae’s decline in interceptions from four as a rookie to only one last year as a sign he regressed as a sophomore. But picks don’t even tell half of the story.

After being burned deep frequently as a rookie, Davis was targeted far less in his second season and rarely gave up the big play. In addition to being sound in coverage, he’s also established himself as a complete football player. He’ll come up and make plays in run support when need be and he’s an exceptionally physical open-field tackler.

I expect him to continue to build off of the improvement he made in his second season and eventually establish himself as one of the league’s top corners.

The final days of the NFL lockout are upon us. With free agency drawing near, the rumors are beginning to circulate every which direction. As always, plenty of that speculation involves the Miami Dolphins, who are usually one of the league’s more attractable destinations.

To get a full recap of the rumor mill, check out Daniel’s post from earlier this morning. But I want to zero in on one rumor, or should I say one man’s opinion, that surfaced last night when Peter King said he expects Donovan McNabb to end up in Miami.

We’ve talked about many quarterbacks this offseason, Carson Palmer, Kyle Orton, and Vince Young to name a few. But one name that hasn’t been discussed much until now is McNabb. It was thrown out there as a possibility when it was made known that the Redskins would likely release him when the lockout is over, but many quickly dismissed the Dolphins as his landing spot because Miami won’t be running a West Coast offense under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

But would a transition to more of a run-oriented scheme really be that difficult for McNabb to overcome? It’s not like he’s a college quarterback who’s coming to the league after playing four years in a spread offense where he never took snaps under center or rarely was forced to go through progressions.

For those of you who don’t know, the West Coast offense is a pass first scheme that attempts to utilize more of a horizontal passing game. Maybe at his age, McNabb would benefit from relying on his running game more often. Now, Brian Daboll is thought be installing more of a vertical passing game this season, but McNabb is certainly capable of throwing the ball down field. And it’s not like the Dolphins wouldn’t tailor their offense to whoever the starting quarterback is.

To make a long story short, I don’t believe McNabb has to sign with a team that employs the West Coast offense. But that is far from the only concern that would come with signing the 34-year-old veteran.

Things are heating up as the NFL lockout is SUPPOSE to be ending Wednesday or Thursday and the excitement for free agency has begun. Free agency is scheduled to begin on the 28th of July.  Already, the buzz is going crazy, as many agents are starting all kinds of rumors trying to build up their client’s value. Here is a little up to date recap of a couple of things that have been going around the rumor mill.

Jason LaCanfora (NFL Network) – Said on NFL Total Access that the Miami Dolphins will set the market for Reggie Bush

-          LaCanfora also said that Tarvaris Jackson will also be on the Dolphins radar.

Adam Schefter

- Said on Espn's the Herd that Miami Dolphin will make a splash right away for a running back

- Adam Schefter on the The Herd said Pitt, Mia, NYG, and Tampa all potential suitors for Bush and that he isnt likely to return to the Saints


Peter King (Sports Illustrated)

-          Also made his statements on NFL Total Access saying he believe Donovan McNabb will be a Miami Dolphin

-           Appearing on NFL Network Total Access Monday, SI's Peter King said he'd be "surprised" if the Vikings were able to re-sign free agent Sidney Rice.

Plaxico Burress (WR)

-          On Sid Rosenberg’s show, Plax expressed his interest in playing for the Dolphins. Omar Kelly, however, stated that the feeling is not mutual from Miami.

Drew Rosenhaus (Super Agent)

-          Stated on a Miami radio show that his client Ahmad Bradshaw would love to play for the Dolphins

-          That being said, Bradshaw, on @1050espnNY, just said the #NYG are his "first option" in free agency. He said "I love New York more than anything."

- Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN's Mike & Mike says he has already planned out mock free agency situations for his clients

-Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN's Mike & Mike that teams have boards and plans already all set up for which players they will go after


Tim Hasselbeck (ESPN)

-          Said that he expects his brother Matt to sign in Tennessee

Phoenix Beat writer Mike Jurecki

-           Mike Jurecki of XTRA 910 in Phoenix, reports that the Cardinals "are prepared" to offer Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie "straight up" for Kevin Kolb when free agency kicks off.

Pro Football Talk

- Reported that Kolb  said on idea of going to Arizona: "I've obviously envisioned myself there"

Buffalo Beat writer

- Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 in Buffalo considers free agent Tyler Thigpen the "odds-on favorite" to be the Bills' backup quarterback this season.