The Tribune

By INIGO 'NAUGHTY' ZENICAZELAYA

FOR all of you Ryan Tannehill fans out there, look away now. You aren’t going to like this week’s column.

WHEELING AND

DEALING

The Miami Dolphins are currently sitting at the No. 11 overall position in this year’s NFL Draft, but Todd McShay of ESPN has maintained to his credit, the Dolphins moving up to draft their quarterback of the future.

McShay has the Dolphins jumping up from No. 11 to No. 6 with the Colts to draft Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield.

McShay offered these thoughts on the Dolphins QB situation: “If Denver passes on Mayfield, I think Miami pounces and moves up to get him.

Moving up wouldn’t bankrupt Miami from a draft capital standpoint.

The Dolphins like Ryan Tannehill when he’s healthy, but they can’t trust him to stay on the field.”

MORE TIME WITH

THE TRAINERS

THAN ON THE FIELD

Tannehill has proven to be unreliable in regards to staying healthy, period.

Tannehill, who will be 30 in July, has had two knee injuries the last two years, and has effectively been out of football for the past 21 months.

Mayfield would give the Dolphins a quarterback to groom, while giving the team a solid insurance plan just in case Tannehill can’t stay healthy.

THE COURTING

PROCESS

The Dolphins are expected to fly Mayfield to Davie to have him meet with the organisation’s top brass. They will also give him a private exam while he is at the team facility.

The Dolphins haven’t hidden how enamored of Mayfield they are. And would most certainly entertain moving up and drafting him if they had the opportunity.

Last week at the NFL owners meetings, Dolphins head coach Adam Gase spoke about how he and Mayfield hit it off.

“We’re close in personality probably, I enjoy watching him play. I like the way he plays. That whole group of guys … It’s rare that you’re talking about this many guys at the top of the draft.

“Whoever is getting who, you’re getting good players across the board. You’re getting guys that are confident. You’re getting guys with a lot of talent. Really, it’s going to be kind of really your flavour as far as quarterback goes.

“I think Baker’s personality is something that’s infectious to other guys. I think there’s a competitiveness that you love to see.You can tell that he doesn’t want to lose at anything that he’s doing.

“It doesn’t matter if football … I don’t know what else he could possibly be doing, but whatever it is, he wants to win at. As a coach, you always love guys like that.”

If that isn’t the proverbial handwriting on the wall, I don’t know what else is?

Change is coming “DolFans”.

Now does it equate to wins long term?

That remains to be seen.

• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1.

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