The reason I’m asking is if you put the moves of the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins next to each other, that “balance” of the scales would thud over on the Miami side like it’s filled with gold while the Panthers’ side is almost empty.

That’s because the Dolphins have been handing out the Krugerands like there’s no tomorrow…probably because their GM, Jeff Ireland, is feeling the heat and likely fears for his job if he doesn’t do his part to help the team improve. He’s put WR Mike Wallace among the top-3 highest-paid receivers in the NFL at age 24. I’m sure they’re paying him on “future production” that they HOPE will be filled with 1,000+ yard seasons and double-digit TDs since he’s the fastest WR in the NFL.

They had a top-ten scoring defense last season and hacked it up a bit too, signing not one but two linebackers to start. Dannell Ellerbe replaces an already very good MLB in Karlos Dansby, himself a free agent acquisition from the Arizona Cardinals a few years ago. Because of Dansby’s productive presence, that move certainly made me wonder. I don’t know all the dynamics, but rising second-year Head Coach Joe Philbin had the team improve last season, and that bought him some credibility.

Dec 2, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland prior to a game against the New England Patriots at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY

Ireland came into the free agent pool diving head first as a result, adding TE Dustin Keller of the New York Jets and WR Brandon Gibson from the St. Louis Rams while keeping Brian Hartline in-house. They lost TE Anthony Fasano but Keller’s a better overall player and reciver. Second-year QB Ryan Tannehill now has about every weapon he could dream of in the passing game when you consider they’ve had a top-ten slot WR in Davone Bess for his entire NFL career.

On the other end – that side of the “balance” that’s swinging empty on the other side of the Dolphins’ largess resides the Carolina Panthers.

New GM David Gettleman’s hands are tied from former GM Marty Hurney’s own largess. It’s one thing to take care of your best players, but he caught the same sickness that it would appear Jeff Ireland succumbed to. Gettleman’s feeling the results of such moves – center Ryan Kalil was made the NFL’s highest-paid center by Hurney. Fine…he’s deserving of it.

However, Hurney seemed to fall in love with certain players…especially running backs. He had signed not one, not two, but THREE (?!!??!??) backs to big multi-year contracts. He signed both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to huge deals and that raised eyebrows around the NFL. Then, after he signed Mike Tolbert to another big contract before last season, some questioned his sanity despite Tolbert’s “hometown discount.”

Gettleman is quiet this free agency period as a result. He’s there, no doubt working hard, doing his due diligence with the upcoming rookies for the draft, but he has also been re-working contracts in order to get the Panthers beneath the $123 million salary cap figure for 2013. They were over the cap before he worked some magic, and the players, for their part, were receptive to it.

They’re professionals and aren’t stupid; they want to win, and if it means “restructuring” their contracts and/or taking a small pay cut, they’ve generally been on board. They know what’s going on. They read the internet and see the headlines on Sportscenter, etc.

As a result, Gettleman has let a few higher-priced veterans go to make room for the rookies, perhaps a couple of cheap free agents with some upsdie to them like DT Colin Cole, and is maneuvering the team’s salary situation for the future so that when a key free agent becomes available, they’ll be able to DO something about it.

Jan 5, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings (85) during the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. The Packers won 24-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Can you imagine if the Panthers were able to afford Greg Jennings? Fans would be ecstatic.

No…David’s taking a hard-line, prudent, and disciplined approach to the situation this season. Gone are veteran CB Chris Gamble, LB James Anderson, and DT Ron Edwards.

So far, nobody has been signed to replace them and it looks like they’ll have to do so via the 2013 NFL Draft….where Gettleman faces another, albeit smaller, hurdle.

The Panthers do not have a third-round pick because of the trade-up last year to grab DE Frank Alexander out of Oklahoma. It appears he was worth the trade, but unlike the Miami Dolphins and their 5 draft choices in the first 3 rounds, the Panthers have but two…their “organic” first and second-rounders.

Gettleman knows he’s gotta get both of those right. If he can nab two quality starters in the top two picks the team has and find a gem in the latter rounds, he’ll have helped solidify the cracking foundation of the organization’s financial picture while improving the product on the field without spending a king’s ransom to do so…again, unlike the Dolphins.

If he can pull it off, he’ll actually have “shown up” fellow Miami GM Jeff Ireland while doing so with a lot more fiscal restraint.

And that would be exactly what the Carolina Panthers accounting department ordered.

If you’ll recall – or go READ them – the point was that while Hurney rarely missed on a first-round pick, he got very little value in later rounds. Geoff Hangartner was a 5th rounder. James Anderson developed into a very solid OLB after 4 or 5 years, drafted in the 3rd or 4th round. Ryan Kalil was a 3rd-rounder. And that’s really about it.

I thought I’d take a look at Jeff Ireland’s last five drafts, since he has been under fire in Miami for a couple of years now, although “Hard Knocks” helped his image somewhat and it looks like he’s finally drafted a franchise QB in Ryan Tannehill. Let’s see how Ireland and Hurney compare:

2012:

RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 8 Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M
2 42 Jonathan Martin T Stanford
3 72 Olivier Vernon DE Miami (Fla.)
3 78 Michael Egnew TE Missouri
4 97 Lamar Miller RB Miami (Fla.)
5 155 Josh Kaddu LB Oregon
6 183 B.J. Cunningham WR Michigan State
7 215 Kheeston Randall DT Texas
7 227 Rishard Matthews WR Nevada-Reno

Tannehill does look like a franchise QB, although it’s early. Martin is a very bright guy but somewhat physically limited and he’s improving as their RT so far. The others? Too soon to tell but no stars yet.

Grade: B. This grade is subject to change, as all 2012 ones are but they got a handful of players that contribute in some fashion, and a possible franchise QB.

2011:

RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 15 Mike Pouncey C Florida
2 62 Daniel Thomas RB Kansas State
4 111 Edmond Gates WR Abilene Christian
6 174 Charles Clay RB Tulsa
7 231 Frank Kearse DT Alabama A&M
7 235 Jimmy Wilson DB Montana

Pouncey went a bit too high at 15 overall for a center, but he has played well and started from day one. Daniel Thomas is a good power back if he can stay healthy. Gates is now a Jet. Clay is surprisingly capable as a fullback/H-back type and has pretty good hands and has shown a bit of a nose for the end zone down close. Frank Kearse is a reserve for the Panthers now. Wilson has appeared in all but 1 game since he was drafted – as a reserve.

Grade: B. Pouncey is a very good starter and so is Clay. Thomas is a situational runner with power. Gates so far is a bust, but Kearse and Wilson stuck as backups and Wilson especially can improve possibly into a nickelback or starter one day. Nice draft, considering no 3rd-rounder.

2010:

RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 28 Jared Odrick DE Penn State
2 40 Koa Misi OLB Utah
3 73 John Jerry G Mississippi
4 119 A.J. Edds LB Iowa
5 145 Nolan Carroll CB Maryland
5 163 Reshad Jones FS Georgia
7 212 Chris McCoy LB Middle Tennessee State
7 252 Austin Spitler LB Ohio State

Odrick had been injured as a rookie and first-year player, but is developing into a solid starter. Misi is a starter at times, but they expected more from him. Jerry is a huge strong guard who seems to be improving with more put on his shoulders and handling it well overall. Carroll I believe is recovering from an Achilles’ tear so give him time to heal and learn.

Grade: C. Jerry is coming along. Carroll and Jones see the field as backups and Spitler – I think – is a special teams guy.

2009:

RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 25 Vontae Davis DB Illinois
2 44 Pat White QB West Virginia
2 61 Sean Smith DB Utah
3 87 Patrick Turner WR USC
4 108 Brian Hartline WR Ohio State
5 161 John Nalbone TE Monmouth (N.J.)
5 165 Chris Clemons DB Clemson
6 181 Andrew Gardner T Georgia Tech
7 214 J.D. Folsom LB Weber State

Davis was a good value at 25, has all the physical tools, but lacks focus and was traded to the Colts where he starts. White is out of the NFL. Smith starts. Hartline was the NFL leader in receiving yards a couple of weeks ago with over 500 and should have a thousand-yard season when all is said and done – that’s a big-time steal. Clemons starts as a safety.

Grade: A. Two starting corners, their best WR on the roster, and a starting safety is a very nice haul with a couple of late-round gems.

2008:

RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 1 Jake Long T Michigan
2 32 Phillip Merling DE Clemson
2 57 Chad Henne QB Michigan
3 66 Kendall Langford DE Hampton
4 110 Shawn Murphy G Utah State
6 176 Jalen Parmele RB Toledo
6 195 Donald Thomas G Connecticut
6 204 Lex Hilliard RB Montana
7 245 Lionel Dotson DE Arizona

Long is an All-Pro. Merling is a career backup. Henne started for 4 years but never did develop into a franchise QB. Langford has been a starting DT since entering the league, now with the Rams. Hilliard is a 3rd-string type.

Grade: C-minus. 2 starters, Long and Langford, plus a reserve DL…fair but not great.

2007:

RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 9 Ted Ginn Jr. WR Ohio State
2 40 John Beck QB Brigham Young
2 60 Samson Satele C Hawaii
3 71 Lorenzo Booker RB Florida State
4 108 Paul Soliai DT Utah
6 181 Reagan Mauia FB Hawaii
6 199 Drew Mormino C Central Michigan
7 219 Kelvin Smith LB Syracuse
7 225 Brandon Fields P Michigan State
7 238 Abraham Wright LB Colorado

Ginn was a bust as a WR but still a very dangerous kick returner. Beck was a massive bust – but so was Brady Quinn, who went in the first round. Soliai was a gem of a nose tackle in the 4th round. Satele and Booker are reserves.

Grade: D. Soliai keeps them from an F here, but you can see here the trap: They’ve tried to get a franchise QB “on the cheap” twice – first Beck then Henne, and missed on both. They tried to get the deep threat WR first, then the QB. Neither worked out, although Ginn has value as a returner.

Conclusion: Jeff Ireland is better at finding mid to late-round talent at times but can be too much of a gambler with this top choices. Still, he more than makes up for a couple of mistakes with gems later in the draft. Ireland’s better at personnel matters and seems to be improving overall. And no, the Panthers should not go after hiring him!

Follow me on Twitter @Ken_Dye

April 28, 2012; Davie, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins first round draft pick quarterback Ryan Tannehill (Texas A

Looking back, I should have seen this one coming.

HBO has found a home for their series “School of Hard Knocks” in Miami, Florida.

1-15. New Head Coach Tony Sparano. One playoff trip, a bad loss at home to the Ravens. Ugly football. Botched reach for Jim Harbaugh by owner Stephen Ross and General Manager Jeff Ireland. Hmf. “Ire” land.

Former players publicly beating him down. Couldn’t get Peyton Manning, who lives in South Beach, to seriously consider them. New HC and new rookie QB with extremely hot wife. GM, owner, and entire franchise in need of a PR makeover.

Add one dastardly beautiful young couple from small town Texas to big-city culture shock Miami and HBO’s viewership is bound to rise. All the execs really had to do was take one look at Lauren Tannehill and know to pack the panama hats – if the Dolphins were interested in them.

Therein lies the metaphorical marriage’s beauty. The Dolphins need HBO as much as HBO needs the Dolphins.

All the ingredients are there for a storybook setup: The handsome rookie quarterback with the wife direct from Hollywood casting. The rookie head coach in Joe Philbin looking to build his proven system from Green Bay. The General Manager with a nice family whom is thought to be an out of touch jerk by much of the public. The owner that demonstrates all the competence and media savvy of Jed Clampett.

Will all this scrutiny hinder or help them? Nobody knows for sure right now because there are many facets to look at. In the short term, it could hinder things because of the team’s overall inexperience in key areas…namely QB and Head Coach.

Granted, Joe Philbin never was going to be the man orchestrating relations and interactions between HBO’s producers and the Dolphins’ players and staff – that’ll be the aforementioned Dolphins owner Mr. Magoo. What he doesn’t handle will be Ireland’s to deal with. It’ll be extra pressure on them to juggle with their regular duties.

The hope is that the media microscope will help the public image specifically of Jeff Ireland and Stephen Ross and the entire organization in general. In the long run, it could help as NFL players see the actual people behind the legends. Miami wasn’t able to attract any free agent help to speak of anywhere on the roster with the thirty-something David Garrard leading the list with a back injury that kept him out of football last year.

They got rid of ill-fitting Brandon Marshall for the two third round draft picks but they have no talent left at the WR position aside from slot man Davone Bess. Rookie Jonathan Martin should be an upgrade for the team at the right tackle position and fellow rookie Lamar Miller should see time as a sub at RB.

Will their development be hampered?

There’s the added dynamic of Ryan Tannehill and his offensive coordinator, Mike Sherman, having been his college coach. That familiarity should give the rookie a boost to start out his winning over of the locker room.

It’s a unique situation with a lot of moving parts that other teams don’t have. All said, there IS a clear winner here.

That would be the viewer.