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Here is what I think is going on here . . .
Agent Drew Rosenhaus said, “There was a time when we were talking to [the Jets] — it was almost a done deal. So the Dolphins got in in the nick of time there to get this done, and I give them a lot of credit because a lot goes into this type of contract.”
Yet, Tyreek Hill said. “How close was I? Who? The Jets?” Hill asked. “I knew I was going to pick Miami no matter what because I’m basically from here, I’m here all the time. This is home for me, for us.”
So what is going on here?
Simple. Semantics.
The Jets were the first team that reached an agreement with the Kansas City Chiefs on trade compensation for the player.
But Rosenhaus was working the phones hard, and once Miami found out the Jets placated the Chiefs’ demands in a trade, the Dolphins proceeded to make a trade offer commensurate to the Jets’ offer, and backed up a Brinks Truck for the players in a new deal.
As for what the Jets were offering in a contract, it’s hard to comment on that, because nobody has been able to land that information.
The bottom line is Hill wanted to go to the Dolphins, he lives down there, there is no state income tax and he’s now reportedly dating Mary Isabel — a Miami-based Instagram model.
He got what he wanted.
So why is Rosenhaus pushing the Jets’ angle?
Well, if there were no other legitimate suitors, and no other good trade and contract offers, Hill probably would have agreed to go to the Jets. He has a Super Ring, so it’s imperative that he gets paid handsomely in this new contract, which will likely be his last huge deal. He’s a speedster in his late 20’s, who still runs great, but who knows for how much longer. He needed to cash in now.
But when you are talking about a player of this magnitude, of course there was going to be more than one suitor, it’s just that the Jets broke out of the starting gate the fastest. They were like the speedy horse that breaks early and takes the early lead, but we all know, those horses often don’t win the race.
Look, none of this is a criticism of the Jets. They made a strong effort here, but Rosenhaus is perhaps being a little kind here saying, “It was almost a done deal.”
All of us in our lives have been in talks about something that was “almost a done deal” but it doesn’t mean much unless it’s a “done deal.”
Rosenhaus is a great negotiator. He needed other suitors to get Hill to Miami and land him the monster deal he got.
But he’s not going to say what Tyreek said publicly that the player was “going to pick Miami no matter.”
And there is a good reason for that. Rosenhaus has done, and will continue to do, many deals with Joe Douglas on other players. He recently did a deal for Braxton Berrios.
He’s never going to dis Douglas and the Jets publicly.
Hill is not Rosenhaus’ only client.
There is no way he would do anything to burn bridges with Douglas.
So while Hill was dismissive of the Jets in his press conference, Rosenhaus would never go down that road.
March 28, 2022
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