INDIANAPOLIS — If Terron Armstead does indeed plan on returning for a 12th season, he should probably tell the Miami Dolphins.
Last week’s report from the Miami Herald that “the full expectation” is that Armstead will play in 2024 apparently didn’t come from the Dolphins.
Because Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel made clear at the NFL Scouting Combine here Tuesday that he’s still awaiting word on Armstead’s plans.
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“I have let time allow for what is an important decision for him,” McDaniel said. “Let time from the season evolve so that he can give us a window into what he’s thinking. But I haven’t [heard].
“There’s a rollercoaster of emotions when you’re talking about potentially leaving a game that you’re elite at and the pros and cons of that,” McDaniel added. “He’s been an unbelievable leader, and he’s really battled through a ton of different things for us. And, you know, right now, he’s determining something that him and his body are the only people that know.”
If Armstead retires, he’d be forfeiting, at the very least, the $5 million in base salary that is fully guaranteed. In all, he’s due $14.3 million in cash this year, although the Dolphins could ask him to take a reduction due to his injury history.
Armstead has missed 11 games in the two years since he signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Dolphins.
While the Dolphins are sensitive to Armstead’s need for time, there are some non-negotiable deadlines approaching.
The first is the start of free agency (which starts in two weeks).
The other is March 16, when the entirety of Armstead’s salary becomes guaranteed.
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If he does not play in 2024, the Dolphins would enter free agency with just one starting offensive lineman under contract: Austin Jackson.
“The Miami Dolphins have plans regardless of any sort of scenario, which is what we get paid to do,” McDaniel said. “There’s not anybody that’s earned more liberty to take his time to figure out what’s the next step in his life and if it’s with his team or not, so we’re allowing that with Terron and excited to hear some conclusions he has drawn in the near future.”
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