More on Crowder's potential departure

by Matty I on Jan 27, 2009 4:11 PM EST in News Comment 23 comments

It's been known for a while now that the Dolphins might lose LB Channing Crowder this offseason to free agency. And now PFT is hopping on the story as well. Says Mike Florio:

What’s unclear at this point is whether the two sides will be able to work out a deal.

One of the knocks against Crowder, a four-year pro who played college football at Florida, is that he had a couple of knee surgeries in college. But he has appeared in 58 of 64 games during his NFL career, and he racked up 113 tackles in 2008.

As we hear it, Crowder’s camp believes that the Dolphins are lowballing him, which could result in Crowder heading to another city.

The term "lowballing" is an interesting concept, though. I think what we have here is a player who feels he's better than he is. Or more accurately, a player who perceives himself to be more valuable to the team than the team perceives the player to be.

Seriously, while Channing was a solid starter for 4 years, he has also been...unspectacular. And while his absence from the game in Kansas City was glaring and showed just how valuable Crowder was to this team, that's not enough to warrant a big contract extension. All that game showed was how much better Crowder is than his backup, Reggie Torbor.

Simply put, Crowder has not made those kinds of big-time, game-changing plays that great inside linebackers make. Over the past 4 years, Crowder has just 1.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and no interceptions. His 11 tackles for a loss is also an unimpressive stat. Compare Crowder's numbers over the last 4 seasons to those of fellow free agents Bart Scott (16 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 24.5 TFLs) and Karlos Dansby (19.5 sacks, 8 interceptions, and 23 TFLs) and you'll see just how unspectacular Crowder has been.

So tell me - would you sign Crowder to a lucrative extension?

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Matty

You guys are making me laugh with this stuff. A bunch of you will say we MUST keep Andre Goodman but get rid of Crowder because of money?!! There’s always a chance at he could leave but yes, I hope they sign Channing because he is solid and we can build around him. That’s what Parcells likes in his Mlb’s solid guys who make tackles, not guys running around getting out of position getting interceptions and sacks.

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you."

Coach Paul Bear Bryant

by AussieKen on Jan 27, 2009 4:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

good write matty

Crowder brings something stats cant reflect attitude.. and that makes others play at a higher leavel
I really like him but he is no ZAC……….this is a big desision………

ride and die dolphin fan

by phinfan on Jan 27, 2009 8:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He isnt a playmaker thats what guys like Scott ad Dansby are

Like Matty said, he’s solid but unspectacular.

"How can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?"

-From the Unforgiven III off of Death Magnetic

by Patssuck456 on Jan 28, 2009 9:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Crowder

He seemed to make more of an impact when he was an outside LB, or maybe it was just because Zach was in the middle. Let him see what he can get. He might come crawling back…

by VA phin Fan on Jan 27, 2009 4:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

From what I"ve read

Crowder deserves a better contract that what the Dolphins are offering him. He has been a solid starter, as you said, but his contract offer would place him as one of the lower paid starting inside linebackers in the league. Crowder has certainly not been spectacular, but he deserves to be paid like an average starting inside linebacker. Certainly, if the team feels they can get a better player than Crowder, then there is no need to even pay him what he is worth, which is probably what is happening. However, unless the Dolphins are able to sign Scott or Dansby in the off-season, I really don’t know who they can get that would be a better option than Crowder.

by kcorona4 on Jan 27, 2009 4:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i would rather draft laurinaitis at 25

hes very smart and i think he will be a force in the nfl. i like crowder and i dont want him to go really but this is the nfl and players go elsewhere all the time. oh and not to mention if he goes that means parcells let him go. i dont question parcells. im behind EVERY decision he makes.

smoking rally bowls for the phins since 2002! oh and screw the jets

by badjah on Jan 27, 2009 5:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The problem with relying on the draft to find a replacement is

that Laurinaitis could very well be gone by pick 25. And outside of Laurinaitis and Mauluga, there really aren’t any inside linebackers in the draft who are ready to start in the NFL their rookie year. Of course, with Parcells drafting, anything is possible, but it would still be too risky to rely on finding a starting inside linebacker in the draft.

by kcorona4 on Jan 27, 2009 6:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Aaron Curry

by math_geek on Jan 27, 2009 11:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's more of an outside linebacker

but yes he could definitely be moved to ILB in a 3-4. Regardless, it’s a moot point because he will definitely be gone by pick 25.

by kcorona4 on Jan 28, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The fan in me says keep him, but the part of me that really, really wants to win says we need someone more impressive. So if he stays I’ll be happy, but if he goes I’ll be okay with that too. I do like that it’s up to him. Give him a number and let him decide if it’s good enough. I don’t think Channing is the type of player you should push out the door, because his career may just be getting started.

Take care of the little things, and the big things will take care of themselves.

by SunDolphin on Jan 27, 2009 5:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No large $$$

I would rather have an aging Zack Thomas back, giving me 110% on each play. FA or a nice draft pick is the way to go. There has to be another Zack out there somewhere and the Trifecta is the team that can find him.

Miami Dolphins 2008 AFC East Divison Champions

by Phintastic on Jan 27, 2009 5:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

They already found him!

That’s why they could care less if CC go.
Not worry on this camper. CC never imprest me.

I will see the Dolphins win a SUPER BOWL before i die(21 years and counting)

by Aleta on Jan 27, 2009 10:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't wanna lead the Channing hate parade but...

honestly….the dude needs to make a smart choice here. Anyone whom this regime didnt draft was on notice from that first practice Parcells watched….ur replaceable. If money is more important to you then this isnt the team for you. The way this regime drafts I am confident they would make a pick that would be BETTER than Channing by 2010.

Lets all face it…..Channing screwed up when he mentioned this before the Ravens game….unless he takes the low offer he wont be back…and I’m not gonna shed any tears

"Worst 2 First"...Your 2008 AFC East Champion Miami Dolphins

by Rzayo24 on Jan 27, 2009 6:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree-

he needs to realize he is more of a role player than a franchise player. He cleans up in the backfield like he is supposed to- but doesn’t do much else. It would be in both of our best interests for him to come back but we will have an easier time finding a replacement than he will a huge contract.

I don’t like going with this position in the 1st round. Maualuga will be gone- and Laurinitis is not as good as advertised- he will be OK but not worthy of a 1st round pick. Antonio Appleby all the way!

"They say statistics are for losers, but losers are usually the ones thinking that. . . . Everything we do is analyzed. Is that the bottom line? No. You can't analyze the heart of Tim Tebow." - Urban Meyer

by GatorPhan on Jan 27, 2009 7:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

keep crowder

he is a solid run stuffer. Get a beast Defensive end. and the LB and CB corps will be fine.

by phatfinfan on Jan 27, 2009 7:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If we get a BEAST DE...

& by doing that, the LB & CB are going to be fine, then WHY IN HELL pay a LOT OS $$ on CC? Show him the door and if it hit him in the back, said sorry! ; )

I will see the Dolphins win a SUPER BOWL before i die(21 years and counting)

by Aleta on Jan 27, 2009 10:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

DE?

I think you are thinking of OLB in our scheme. . . the DEs in a 3-4 basically just play the run and free up the OLBs to get to the passer. . .

by GatorPhan on Jan 27, 2009 10:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

BTW! We have to young DE in Merlin & Landford

He might be thinking NT

I will see the Dolphins win a SUPER BOWL before i die(21 years and counting)

by Aleta on Jan 27, 2009 10:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No, I'm not confused. I'll explain:

I think the INT/ TD against Farve showed that the D. line could use a (as I said above) beast DE. I know that the OLB is the primary pass rusher in the 3-4, but the belief that D. Linemen cant bring the heat in a 3-4 is ridiculous. So I’ll change my statement: we need a D. Lineman that can bring the heat from the gut so that we do not get picked apart by average QBs that have all day. That’s what happened in 2008. I know Porter had sacks, but once he was doubled we had no one.The reason that Crowder didn’t get any “flash” points is because QBs had all day to wait for the inside patterns to come open. I’m not blindly stumping for Crowder. . .but I would like to keep him because he has played solid. I agree, we don’t need to break the bank for him but if he accepts reasonable money we do not need to pay someone else. Crowder has much upside, everyone loved him when he smacked LT on 4th and goal. Not all value is measured in flash.

by phatfinfan on Jan 28, 2009 7:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Big Plays.

Maybe more a random/scheme thing than anything else.
He stuffs the run and puts up big tackle numbers, that stuff is far from random. Put Crowder in a different group and maybe the big plays come as well.

by Braun Holio on Jan 27, 2009 10:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I know a group!

Flag football ; )

He has been 4 year in the NFL in a team that gave ALL oportunities to the MLB! Enough said

I will see the Dolphins win a SUPER BOWL before i die(21 years and counting)

by Aleta on Jan 27, 2009 10:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lucrative is the operative word here.

Do I want him back? Yes. Of course. Realistically, we should be ADDING a playmaking ILB next to him. Am I willing to overpay? No. He’s not a great player that should be setting the ILB market with a large contract.

Saying we don’t want to pay him isn’t hating on him, or ignoring his value to the team, but rather realizing that he isn’t worth the kind of money he wants. He can be upgraded. And if money is his only concern, then he won’t be long with this regime.

Bottom line is, there’s a ceiling that Parcells and Co. have set, whether it’s reflected in his current offer or not, that they won’t go over to keep him. And I have to believe that if they let him walk, they already have a plan to replace and upgrade him.

"Are we doing this? Is this happening?"

by Little Nicky 21 on Jan 27, 2009 11:22 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Nicky knows what he is talking about

I wouldn’t mind if he came back but I have to agree with Nicky here .. we can’t overpay. He simply doesn’t make enough plays to warrant the type of contact he is looking for. If we could keep him and add a playmaker that would be ideal.

Another thing I want to point out about the KC game he missed .. it was reported that the play calls weren’t getting out very well because of the cold and Akin was having problems with getting the calls out for everyone to hear. I know that is an excuse but I still don’t really think the big problem in that game was the fact that Crowder was missing, I think the coaches know this and we as fans need to find a reason.

I am just tired of no game changing plays from a player who is suppose to be “elite”. We can draft a player in the early rounds who I think will provide us with more or even pick up a FA for less money.

by markus_13 on Jan 27, 2009 11:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs