Miami Dolphins offseason thread

[Dr. Jack]

It didn't take long for the Dolphins to strike in free agency as they've agreed to a deal with 49ers guard Justin Smiley early Friday morning, making him the first piece of what's expected to be a rebuilt offensive line.

Smiley, 26, will replace Dolphins free-agent right guard Rex Hadnot, who the Dolphins have not offered a contract to. The 6-foot-3, 311-pound Smiley reportedly agreed to a five-year contract worth $25 million with a $9 million signing bonus.

According to his agent Patrick Dye, the deal is contingent on Smiley, who was placed on San Francisco's injured reserve in November because of a torn labrum, passing his physical today.

[BigFratDaddy]

basement please mods. this is absurd

[alby]

FINS TO BREAK BANK FOR PACE?

A year after the Dolphins paid (wasted) $20 million in guaranteed money on linebacker Joey Porter, they might be getting ready to write a big check to another linebacker.

According to Alex Marvex of FOXSports.com, the Fins could be signing Cardinals linebacker Calvin Pace to "the same kind of mega-deal" that was received a year ago by Porter and by Adalius Thomas of the Patriots.

Such a move would immediately call into question Porter's future with the team. He's due to earn a base salary of $4.8 million in 2008.

It also might prompt 2006 NFL defensive player of the year Jason Taylor to blow his stack. There were rumblings a year ago that Taylor was not pleased that he didn't get an adjustment after Porter received his windfall. If the Fins do it again, that might be the last straw for Taylor.

[rjb1816]

nice work jack...the thread looks promising. they should have like 10 signings or something

[Dr. Jack]

Rjb – I have been sitting here since midnight just staring at the Dolphins wire waiting for the big splash. lol

[westcoastO]

lol dolphins get their own off-season thread. jack becoming a dictator. it's no wonder there's $15k out there for his head

[Dr. Jack]

South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Dolphins acquire Ferguson from Dallas, reach deal with Torbor
By Harvey Fialkov and Omar Kelly

Sun-Sentinel.com

1:54 PM EST, February 29, 2008

After starting to rebuild the offensive line Friday morning by reaching an agreement with 49ers guard Justin Smiley, the Dolphins began work on the defense by acquiring veteran defensive tackle Jason Ferguson from the Cowboys and Giants linebacker Reggie Torbor, according to a source.

The Dolphins and Cowboys swapped sixth-round picks in the upcoming draft for Ferguson, 33, with Miami kicking in another sixth-round pick in the 2009 draft. They also reached an agreement for Torbor, a 6-foot-2, 250-pounder who had 39 tackles in parts of 16 games for the Super Bowl champions last season.

The 6-3, 312-pound Ferguson missed 15 games last year after tearing his biceps tendon in the season opener against the Giants. He is expected to anchor the 3-4 defensive alignment and fill the void left by the release of nose tackle Keith Traylor.

Ferguson was originally drafted in the seventh round in 1997 by Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells when he was coaching the Jets. Ferguson also played for Parcells and Dolphins coach Tony Sparano in Dallas in 2005 and '06.

Ferguson became expendable because of the emergence of rookie defensive tackle Jay Ratliff last year.

The Dolphins are also trying to iron out deals with Cardinals 6-5, 270-pound linebacker Calvin Pace, who is in town, along with Jaguars free-agent receiver Ernest Wilford and Titans defensive tackle Randy Starks, according to sources.

Starks, who's 6-3, 312 pounds and just 24, had his best season in 2005 when he had 47 tackles and three sacks.

They're also moving quickly to bring in a veteran quarterback to back up John Beck and are talking to former Raiders quarterback Josh McCown, 28, who started nine games last season. He had 10 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.

A backup quarterback is more pressing now that Cleo Lemon signed with the Jaguars today. Last year's opening-game starter, Trent Green, who said earlier this week that he wants to play this year despite sustaining two serious concussions in the past two seasons, is shopping his services.

The Dolphins are also meeting with the Jets' 6-5, 265-pound tight end Sean Ryan, 27, who had three catches for 46 yards last season.

Staff writers Ethan J. Skolnick and Dave Hyde contributed to this report.

[Dr. Jack]

The Dolphins have agreed to terms with free agent wide receiver Ernest Wilford, who started 14 games for the Jaguars last season, sources told The Miami Herald. He has played in Jacksonville for all four years of his NFL career

[Luckyluciano]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jack

The Dolphins have agreed to terms with free agent wide receiver Ernest Wilford, who started 14 games for the Jaguars last season, sources told The Miami Herald. He has played in Jacksonville for all four years of his NFL career

Always thought he was a good reciever... Good Luck Jack

[Dr. Jack]

Originally Posted by Luckyluciano

Always thought he was a good reciever... Good Luck Jack

Anything is better than what we had! Good to see you LL, hope all is well

[rjb1816]

obv not better than chambers or welker lol...jk jakc

[Back Country]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jack

Rjb – I have been sitting here since midnight just staring at the Dolphins wire waiting for the big splash. lol

Dont worry Jack

Maybe those fat boy cheerleaders will wander over when there isnt a baseball game

[Da Fanatic]

The Fins are gonna take Howie's kid with the first pick right?

[huscroft6]

Dolphins also signed Luke McCown to a deal that seems like backup money, 2 yrs 6 mill or close to that.

They made a nice signing in DT Randy Starks from Tennesee.

[Dr. Jack]

Originally Posted by huscroft6

Dolphins also signed Luke McCown to a deal that seems like backup money, 2 yrs 6 mill or close to that.

They made a nice signing in DT Randy Starks from Tennesee.

It looks like they will give Beck a chance to win the job

Fanatic - I think it's a good possibility that they draft one of the Long's unless they trade down