The good news for the Dolphins in free agency came from their ability to re-sign receiver Brian Hartline and quarterback Matt Moore, and then to add receiver Mike Wallace, receiver Brandon Gibson, tight end Dustin Keller, linebacker Phillip Wheeler, and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe.
The bad news is that each of the team’s big-name free agents signed elsewhere.
Gone are left tackle Jake Long, cornerback Sean Smith, and running back Reggie Bush. Though it’s no surprise that Bush chased better money and a bigger role in Detroit, Smith and Long left for deals that hardly could be regarded as salary-cap busting -- especially since the Dolphins had plenty of spending room, and given that they managed to sign a bunch of players with minimal 2013 cap dollars.
And so while the Dolphins have gone a long way toward buying votes for a stadium renovation referendum and selling tickets to the place, losing three of the most recognizable names and faces on the roster won’t help.