INDIANAPOLIS _ Steve Ross has spent his entire tenure as the Miami Dolphins owner signing big-ticket free agents.
To borrow a Pat Riley term, Ross enjoys being a "whale" hunter.
During his decade-plus as the team's majority owner, Ross has taken pride in giving out record-setting contracts that allowed players like linebacker Karlos Dansby, receiver Mike Wallace, offensive tackle Branden Albert, and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to set the pace for highest salaries at their respective position.
Even though the Dolphins have roughly $100 million in cap space this offseason, don't expect Ross to ball out in free agency this year, according to league sources.
The Dolphins plan to spend responsibly in 2020 because the organization is in the second phase of building the foundation of a roster they hope will be playoff contenders in the next few years.
Ross has been convinced by general manager Chris Grier and coach Brian Flores that building through the draft is the best way to sustain success. That's why both Ross and Flores said the Dolphins wouldn't be a good fit for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who is expected to become an unrestricted free agent on March 18.
"I agree with Steve as far as, 'Why would he want to come to Miami?' " Flores said at the NFL combine when asked about luring Brady, whom he worked with during his tenure with the Patriots.
The Dolphins are coming off a five-win season, and in the midst of a roster overhaul, which could lead to the addition 25-30 new players on the roster through free agency and the 2020 NFL draft.
Grier has previously stated that his philosophy is to use the money the team would previously spend signing a big-ticket free agents like Suh _ who received a six-year, $114 million deal that included $60 million in guaranteed money in 2015 _ on three potential starters.
"The way I grew up in New England is I never spent huge money on a (free agent)," said Grier, who began his NFL career as a scout for the Patriots, who also happened to be the organization his father, Bobby Grier, served as an executive with, overseeing the pro and college scouting departments from 1995-1999.
"To me, I'd rather have three really good players than one great player who may, or may not impact what you're doing," Grier said. "I'd rather have three good players that are going to help a team win."
That means don't bank on Miami being the highest bidder on free agents like Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jake Conklin, pass rushers like Baltimore Ravens' Matt Judon and Seattle Seahawks' Jadeveon Clowney, or a tailback like Melvin Gordon of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Expect the Dolphins to feast on the second wave of free agents, the players that will accept contracts in the $3-8 million a year range. Veterans who are willing to accept manageable three-year deals.
According to a team source, Ross is fine with this approach because "doing it the other way has led the franchise absolutely nowhere."
Because Miami has more cap space than any other NFL team, they will be popular with agents looking to create a market for free agent clients this week in Indianapolis. But the Dolphins have made it clear the goal is to spend responsibly.
"Chris has got a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C for everything. And that's a good thing," Flores said. We kind of bounce a lot of ideas off each other. It's a really good working relationship, and we'll see what happens as we move forward."
Outside of Florida's weather, South Florida's nightlife, and the fact Florida doesn't have a state income tax, what the Dolphins are selling to free agents is the same thing they are selling to fan base _ hope.
Promise, potential, and the belief that the franchise will continue to improve with the infusion of new talent.
"At the end of the year, going up to New England, beating New England like that with New England playing for something that was really important, (while) everyone was telling us, 'lose for a draft pick.' It didn't make any sense," Grier said. "I think we can have a team that's going to be competitive, tough, smart, and building it the right way with a coach that's going to lead us to good things in the future."
