The Dolphins would have bid farewell to their star cornerback, Xavier Howard, at the start of the upcoming championship season. This would mark the end of an impressive career in Miami, highlighted by four Pro Bowl selections and a third place finish as the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Peter Schrager reported the news 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 an impressive 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 chose to retain 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 an injury to his left foot. This gave the team and the player an opportunity to observe how the franchise would progress without him.
Howard appeared to be aware that the situation was dire. It was implied that Miami would need to pay the $50 million from their salary cap by March 13 in order to adhere to 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, the amount could potentially be even greater.
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 last 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 will 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 was made on Friday. Interestingly, neither Howard nor Ogbah were mentioned during new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s introductory news conference earlier this month.
