The Dolphins’ leverage game to coax the Houston Texans into giving them a king’s ransom for star left tackle Laremy Tunsil seemed to be going swimmingly. The Texans had reportedly offered up a 1st-round pick to go with Jadeveon Clowney in hopes of getting a deal done, but Miami insisted on getting more.
If the Dolphins are going to move on from such a talented player, they were going to need an offer too good to refuse. And while the Texans are seemingly desperate enough to play ball, the centerpiece of the deal coming back to Miami reportedly is not. The latest report in the Jadeveon Clowney saga comes from Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle — one of the primary reporters who has been providing information on this story. It isn’t good for the Dolphins, either.
Despite having a sit-down meeting with several members of the Dolphins leadership group, Clowney “remains adamant that he doesn’t want to play for the Miami Dolphins regardless of the trade discussions between Texans and Dolphins”, according to Wilson’s league source.
Well then. That may make a deal difficult. Clowney ultimately has the leverage — he has yet to sign his franchise tag offer sheet and until he does, he’s unable to be moved. Instead, he’s an asset frozen in time — ineligible to play, not getting paid, unable to be traded.
At this juncture, the Dolphins may be wise to pack this idea away and move on. Tunsil clearly holds a lot of value for the Dolphins, considering their reluctance to move him without a premiere package of a Pro Bowl defender and multiple high draft selections. Perhaps the best move now is to transition to smoothing things over with Tunsil — who for the first time in his pro career is getting a taste of the ugly side of the business.
