http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3245927 I'll set aside my contempt for the 3-4 and the fact you allegedly need bigger players to run it. Marty Schottenheimer ran a 3-4 that emphasized speed. Y'all recall Derrick Thomas? Age was a factor in ZT's release though not so much as health and $$$ IMO; Just so long as ZT doesn't sign w/ the NFL's evil empire I mean the pats. lol??
Its a shame, this guy is a class act and an auto- HOF in my opinion, insanely underrated. BUt it was pretty obvious this was going to happen, his age, his injury, his 6 million $ contract....its a shame, but Im sure someone will find good use for him.
So let's assume that Zack can't get a team to pay him $6 million next year. Would the Dolphins take him back at less cost? I would assume that Thomas and Parcells would at least try going in this direction. Would Parcells take an inside linebacker that some consider to be a bit small?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Return of the Raider @ Feb 14 2008, 02:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So let's assume that Zack can't get a team to pay him $6 million next year. Would the Dolphins take him back at less cost? I would assume that Thomas and Parcells would at least try going in this direction. Would Parcells take an inside linebacker that some consider to be a bit small?</div> I honestly don't know if they'd take ZT back at a cheaper price. Sparano has said that he isn't married to the 3-4. So, who knows? It makes me wonder though whose concussion was worse Zach's or Trent's? Further, have they been completely candid w/ medical history? It seems he's was 'on the shelf' alot these last few years.
I think it says something about a player's future when he has no market value and who was going to give up anything to get him? The issue here is Thomas' health. I think most people realize that Zach needs to retire in order to protect his quality of life. Same goes for Trent Green.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale @ Feb 14 2008, 08:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The issue here is Thomas' health. I think most people realize that Zach needs to retire in order to protect his quality of life. Same goes for Trent Green.</div> But its a shame that the Phin's had to cut him. Im not going to say I know everything about Miami but I do know that Thomas was one of Miami's better players and he shuld go out on his own turns.
This was unexpected and I'd hoped that Zach could go out on his terms. The person who most needs to comes to grips w/ Thomas' health is Zach himself. He has been the leader of not only the D but the franchise thru some of the darker days. He has been the definition of resilence and a great example of how to how to apply heart and other intangibles to become of the best at what appears to be a dying position i.e a fast, undersized MLB in a 4-3. I wish him the best... even if he pulls a Junior Seau. Hopefully, his next football related milestone will be Canton in 2012.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder @ Feb 14 2008, 10:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This was unexpected and I'd hoped that Zach could go out on his terms. The person who most needs to comes to grips w/ Thomas' health is Zach himself. He has been the leader of not only the D but the franchise thru some of the darker days. He has been the definition of resilence and a great example of how to how to apply heart and other intangibles to become of the best at what appears to be a dying position i.e a fast, undersized MLB in a 4-3. I wish him the best... even if he pulls a Junior Seau. Hopefully, his next football related milestone will be Canton in 2012.</div> I think you just hit on why Zach had to be released. He hasn't come to terms with the fact that he needs to retire. He still wants to play football, so the best that the Dolphins could do for him is to give him his release and let him try to play elsewhere. I hope he comes to his senses and retires. There's no doubt that Zach deserves to be in the Dolphins Ring of Honor. I think he deserves the HOF as well, but I won't hold my breath. For some reason, sportswriters never really appreciated Zach.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pack Attack @ Feb 15 2008, 12:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He's going to be a Cowboy next year. Jerry Jones is already reaching for his check book.</div> That would not surprise me nor would Snyder opening up the bank vaults for ZT.
I, personally & subjectively, hope Zach has a little more pride & common sense than to see if he can get a degree from the Prime Time school of mercenary studies.
I was right... http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3260529 Looks like ZT is going to the Cowboys.