The Dolphins would have bid farewell to standout cornerback Xavier Howard at the start of the upcoming championship season, effectively concluding an impressive tenure in Miami that included four Pro Bowl nods and a third place finish as the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year.
The initial report came from Mike Garafolo and Peter Schrager of NFL Network on Friday.
Howard holds the record for being the most tenured member of the Miami team and will maintain this position until March 13, when the upcoming championship season commences. The Dolphins are anticipated to announce this change on that day.
Howard entered the scene as a top defender for the organization, recording 29 interceptions during his eight-year tenure in Vice City – the fourth highest in finals history.
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The response, similar to the situation in the NFL, is related to finances. Howard’s agreement, filled with bonuses and rewards, would require Miami to pay $25.9 million if they retained him on the team for the upcoming season.
Several of these incentives are anticipated to be triggered on March 15th – two days after the NFL schedule resumes. The Dolphins were obligated to pay $7 million if Howard remained in his position in the defensive backfield when March 15th arrived.
His nonattendance will be significant. However, both parties have been contemplating this for a while. Howard’s 2023 season was cut short due to a left foot injury. This gave the team and the player a chance to observe how the franchise would progress without him.
Howard appeared to be aware that the situation was not looking good. It was implied that Miami would need to pay the $50 million from their salary cap by March 13 in order to follow NFL regulations. Considering the likelihood of the Dolphins using a franchise tag on defensive tackle Christian Wilkins if they are unable to negotiate a longer contract, that amount could potentially increase.
It’s up in the air,” Howard remarked about his future as the season comes to a close. “Ultimately, it’s a business. During my eight years here, I’ve made the most of it. If this happens to be my final year and I have to bid farewell to some of my teammates, I accept that. It’s just part of the business. Wherever I end up, I’ll continue to do my best.
The Miami team had plans to release not only Howard, but also another star player, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah. The announcement of Ogbah’s release was made on Friday. Interestingly, neither Howard nor Ogbah were mentioned during the introductory news conference of new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver earlier this month.
