Dolphins, Bills close out disappointing seasons
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) and the Dolphins fell short of expectations this season.
When the Miami Dolphins visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, a spot in the playoffs won't be at stake.
The Dolphins (7-8) and Bills (5-10) have already been eliminated even though they started the season with legitimate optimism.
Buffalo was coming off its first playoff season since 1999 and Miami was getting its quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, back from a season lost to injury in 2017.
But the Dolphins were hit hard by injuries again this season. Thirteen players landed on injured reserve, helping to crush a 3-0 start.
"I wish everybody hadn't gotten hurt," Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said. "That would've been nice.
"There's a reason why we started 3-0 when all of our guys were there. Then we started losing guys ... "
With a win, the Dolphins would at least avoid a second straight losing season.
"Like Coach (Gase) said, '8-8 sounds better than 7-9,'" said Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard, who will miss his fourth consecutive game with a knee injury. "We just want to finish strong."
But beyond that potential team achievement, the every player on the roster is playing to enhance his stock.
Tannehill, for example, will want to show he is worth his bloated $26.6 million cap hit. Whether he returns or is let go will be Miami's biggest offseason decision.
"Every position has its faults. Start with me, and go all the way down the line," Tannehill said.
Safety Reshad Jones, with a $17.2 million cap hit, could be another salary-cap casualty as the Dolphins have T.J. McDonald and Minkah Fitzpatrick to plug in at the two safety spots.
"We put in a lot of work in the offseason," Jones said. "To not make the playoffs -- it's tough."
Wide receiver DeVante Parker ($9.4 million) almost certainly won't be back, meaning that Sunday will be one final audition for the former first-round pick.
Because of their age, running back Frank Gore, 35, and defensive end Cameron Wake, 36, are in precarious positions.
Defensive end Robert Quinn ($12.9 millon hit) and wide receiver Kenny Stills ($9.8 million hit) have been solid but would love to have big performances on Sunday because they carry big price tags.
"Every year brings changes," Wake said. "There will be changes this year just like the year we made the playoffs. I'm sure the (undefeated) '72 Dolphins made changes."
The Dolphins won the most recent game against Buffalo, beating the Bills 21-17 on Dec. 2. Buffalo had a chance to score a go-ahead touchdown with 65 seconds left, but Josh Allen's pass to an open Charles Clay in the end zone was a bit short and fell out of the tight end's hands.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott chose to remain upbeat about the team going forward after the lackluster 2018 season. One of the disappointments was the play of running back LeSean McCoy.
"Overall, I'm really excited about where we're going and LeSean being a part of that," McDermott said. "I know this year wasn't what he had hoped it would be and the biggest thing I want to see is what we're going to do to get it to back to where it needs to be. And so I think he's committed to that cause, as are we."
McCoy, who will turn 31 before the start of the 2019 season, has rushed for 488 yards, nearly 200 fewer than his previous low mark of 637 as a rookie with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009.
Last week, McCoy was benched for the first play of the game against New England because of a disciplinary situation.
"Yeah, that's between LeSean and myself and I appreciate him being accountable," McDermott said, referring to the fact that McCoy admitted he was in the wrong and that McDermott put him in his place. "We've moved on and that's where we're headed. That happens from time to time. Nobody's perfect."
Clay is another underachiever who may have played his last game for the Bills. The veteran, who has been Buffalo's starter for four years after he signed a free-agent contract in 2015, was a healthy inactive for the first time with the Bills last week.
Clay is enduring the worst season of his NFL career with just 21 catches for 184 yards and no touchdowns.
"You're looking at production and looking at young guys," McDermott said. "And when you have opportunities, you've got to make plays and then looking at some young guys."
Recent Stories
Rams hard at work despite earning bye
The Los Angeles Rams will continue to stay hard at work despite earning a bye through the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs.
Players will continue to visit the ...
Packers' lost season includes losing Rodgers to concussion
Green Bay's 6-9-1 season ended with Aaron Rodgers getting knocked out of Sunday's 31-0 loss to the Detroit Lions with a concussion. That was dubious and fitting ...
49ers will retain defensive coordinator Saleh
The San Francisco 49ers gave up a lot of points and did not force many turnovers, but Robert Saleh will return for his third season as the 49ers' defensive coordinator, ...
GM Licht says Winston is Bucs' quarterback
Dirk Koetter was fired as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' head coach on Sunday, but his quarterback will be staying.
General manager Jason Licht, who will lead the search ...
Chargers get another chance against Ravens
The Los Angeles Chargers didn't have to wait long for a chance to avenge their Week 16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Los Angeles was shut down by Baltimore's stout ...
Latest Player Notes
How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...
Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...
How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...
Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...
College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...
Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback
San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...
Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall
Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...
Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather
CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...
Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense
Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...
Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game
With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...