The Miami Dolphins have faced numerous issues with their special teams over the years, but head coach Mike McDaniel has started addressing them this offseason. One major change was the dismissal of Danny Crossman, who had served as the team’s Special Teams Coordinator since the Brian Flores era. Despite the Dolphins’ consistently poor special teams performance, Crossman was retained by McDaniel for the first three years of his tenure. However, after continued struggles, he was finally let go at the end of the season.
Another concern within the Dolphins’ special teams has been the inconsistent punting of Jake Bailey. Bailey has struggled with flipping the field at times, leading to subpar field position for Miami. This issue may soon be resolved, as the team has brought in legitimate competition for the punting job.
A recent report states that former Tennessee Titans punter Ryan Stonehouse has joined the Dolphins. Stonehouse, who has been a consistent performer since entering the league in 2022, is expected to challenge Bailey for the starting role. His ability to effectively change field position makes him a strong candidate to replace Bailey. The move appears to be confirmed, as Stonehouse has updated his social media profile to reflect his new team.
One key factor that could impact the competition is Miami’s kicker, Jason Sanders. Over the past two seasons, Sanders has been reliable, and part of that success has been attributed to Bailey serving as his holder on field goal attempts. If a true competition takes place between Bailey and Stonehouse, it remains to be seen whether Sanders will push for Bailey to remain with the team due to their established chemistry.
Despite this, Bailey’s departure could be imminent. Releasing him would free up nearly $2 million in salary cap space while incurring a relatively small dead cap hit of $555,000. The financial aspect of this decision could play a crucial role in determining whether Bailey stays or is released in the coming days or even hours.
The specific terms of Stonehouse’s contract with Miami are still unknown. However, if his deal is more cost-effective than Bailey’s, it would make financial sense for the Dolphins to part ways with their current punter. If Stonehouse’s contract is more expensive, Bailey’s release becomes even more likely, as the team would not bring in a higher-priced punter unless they planned to move on from Bailey.
While punter changes don’t typically generate excitement, Dolphins fans may feel differently given the team’s long-standing special teams struggles. Bailey, who was once a Pro Bowl punter during his time with the New England Patriots, never lived up to that standard in Miami. This move could be a step toward improving a unit that has been an area of concern for years.
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