A couple hours after the Dolphins announced they suspended linebacker Lawrence Timmons indefinitely they then made a trade with the New Orleans Saints to acquire linebacker Stephone Anthony. Details of the trade have not been disclosed at this time (UPDATE: Miami gave up a 2018 5th round draft pick.) This move to me is a sign that Lawrence Timmons time with the Miami Dolphins is all but over.
I recorded a Breaking News Audio on Tuesday afternoon going in depth about the details of the Lawrence Timmons suspension. A lot of news leaked on Tuesday about what really took place and when it took place last Saturday surrounding Timmons going AWOL. As I made clear on the audio none of the news was good. In the wake of that news and suspension the Dolphins had to do something to address the linebacker unit and that something was making a trade to acquire another linebacker.
Stephone Anthony was a 1st round pick in the 2015 draft by the New Orleans Saints. He had an outstanding rookie season in which he compiled 112 tackles. His play took a step back last season when he only played in 10 games and had 16 total tackles. Currently Anthony was the back-up weakside linebacker for the Saints but he has not played one down this season for the Saints.
In Miami Anthony will have a chance to start and get on the field and contribute. He is young, athletic, and known for his coverage skills. Something Miami needs desperately after Mike Hull was burned and beaten 9 times in coverage giving up 95 yards pin the passing game this past week vs the Chargers.
There is no word on what draft pick Miami gave up to get Anthony; one would have to figure it was a conditional 2018 draft pick (UPDATE: Miami gave up a 2018 5th round draft pick). The Saints overhauled their linebacker group this past offseason and Anthony was the odd man out so he will get a chance to revive his career now in Miami. One thing to also remember is former Saints linebackers coach Joe Vitt is the father-in-law to Adam Gase and Vitt currently works for the Dolphins as a consultant.
This addition to me all but ends Lawrence Timmons time in Miami. As I said in the Breaking News Audio earlier today that Adam Gases looked like a very upset man at the press conference on Monday. And with the news that is coming out regarding Timmons and why he left (it may not be him wanting to be home with his child) this move isn’t shocking.
If the earlier reports are true that the Dolphins can void the guaranteed money Timmons has in his 2018 contract then the Dolphins here are making the most of this bad situation in clearing cap space for next year that now can be used to re-sign someone like Jarvis Landry. If they can get out of that guaranteed money in the contract then this move makes perfect sense and it is a move the Dolphins have to make.
Adam Gase has shown in his brief time in Miami that he is in charge and if you don’t play well or listen then you won’t be around. Last year he left Jay Ajayi home week 1 and didn’t let him travel with the team to Seattle, he benched Byron Maxwell vs the Bengals for an entire game, and of course he cut Jamil Douglas, Dallas Thomas, and Billy Turner for underperforming play. What Timmons did in the football world was far worse than any of those events from last season. In this league you cannot walk out on your team and quit. Lawrence Timmons quit on his team and it most likely cost him his job (and money) in Miami.
There have been a lot of twists and turns with this Timmons story and we expect more to come in the coming hours and days. Be sure to keep checking back here at DolphinsTalk.com for more details.
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