Miami quickly adds 8 College Free Agents
by:  Robert Henderson  on April 28, 2008, 3:28 pm
[ Category: Transaction ]

Sun-Sentinel - After not drafting a receiver with any of their nine picks, Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland said he expected to add 8-10 college free agents Sunday night, including a couple of receivers.

He wasted no time in signing junior receiver Davone Bess of Hawaii and Georgia Southern quarterback Jayson Foster, who will be converted to a receiver.

They also added Portland State tackle Daren Heerspink, Delaware tackle Mike Byrne, Boise State tackle Dan Gore and Montana kicker Dan Carpenter.

According to The Associated Press, the Dolphins also signed Maine senior tight end Matt Mulligan to a two-year deal.

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The QB Competition adds one more as Dolphins make Chad Henne 57th pick
by:  Robert Henderson  on April 27, 2008, 1:09 am
[ Category: Draft ]

Sun-Sentinel - The Dolphins went to the familiar well, picking Michigan quarterback Chad Henne with it's second of two second-round picks.

Henne becomes the second player from Michigan the Dolphins have selected in the 2008 draft, which opened with the Dolphins taking Wolvernines offensive lineman Jake Long.

Henne was initially thought to be a strong possibility for the Dolphins to use the No. 32 selection on. But when Clemson defense end Phillip Merling, a first round prospect, fellow to them the organization pounced.

The Dolphins were surprised to see Henne still on the board when pick No. 57 rolled around. Henne was taken one spot after Louisville's Brian Brohm, who was drafted by Green Bay.

"It was definitely a rollercoaster, kind of going up and down," Henne said of his draft day. "It was a great opportunity to wait this long and get with a good organization."

He was the fourth quarterback taken in the first day of the 2008 draft, following Boston College's Matt Ryan, who Atlanta selected with the third pick o the draft, and Delaware's Joe Flacco, whom Baltimore used the No. 18 to nab.

Henne, a four-year starter who threw for 1,938 yards and 17 touchdowns in his injury-shortened senior season, will likely compete with veteran Josh McCown, a free agent addition, and John Beck, last year's second round pick, for the starting spot in training camp.

Henne, who is 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, possesses one of the strongest arms in this draft, and has run a pro-style offense since taking over as a freshman starter.

Henne, who most analysts felt was the second best quarterback in this year's draft, said he's excited to continue playing with Long. Long spent his entire career blocking for Henne, who has started 47 games at Michigan.

"It's a wonderful feeling to play with Jake. He's a good friend and great person," said Henne, who threw nine interceptions last season. "I'll be glad to spend a couple more years with him."

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Eagles Acquire RB Booker for 4th round pick from Miami
by:  Robert Henderson  on April 27, 2008, 1:05 am
[ Category: Draft ]

The Sports Network - The Philadelphia Eagles acquired running back Lorenzo Booker from the Miami Dolphins in a draft-day trade, the team announced Saturday.

Philadelphia acquired the 5-foot-11, 191-pound Booker in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick (115th overall).

Booker, a third-round pick out of Florida State in 2007, played in seven games for the Dolphins last season, rushing for 125 yards on 28 carries and catching 28 passes for 127 yards.

"I was definitely shocked," Booker said. " It is kind of weird, because everything has been going so well (in Miami). It's not to say that what just happened was a bad thing, but the question was, was I shocked."

Over his four-year career in Tallahassee, Booker racked up 497 carries for 2,389 yards and 15 touchdowns, while snaring 114 passes for 995 yards and a pair of scores. He joins a crowded Eagles backfield that already includes Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter, Tony Hunt and Ryan Moats.

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Phillip Merling becomes first pick of second round for the Dolphins
by:  Robert Henderson  on April 27, 2008, 1:03 am
[ Category: Draft ]

The State - The Miami Dolphins took Clemson defensive end Philip Merling with their second round pick in today's NFL Draft.

Merling is a quick junior who had sports hernia surgery in March to remedy a problem he said bothered him during the 2007 season.

That might have been why Merling dropped to the Dolphins with the 32nd pick, technically a second-round pick but in what's normally the last first round slot because New England lost a first round pick in the Spygate punishment. Still, Merling didn't miss a start his sophomore and junior seasons, picking up 10 sacks and 31 total tackles for loss in 26 games.

At 6-4, 276 pounds and able to do the 40 in 4.63, Merling has the kind of size and speed Dolphins football czar Bill Parcells often likes to see at outside linebacker.

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Miami Dolphins cut 8 players including safety Worrell
by:  Robert Henderson  on April 27, 2008, 1:00 am
[ Category: Transaction ]

Sun-Sentinel - The Dolphins did more housecleaning before this weekend's draft by waiving seven players and also releasing safety Cameron Worrell for failing his physical.

The Dolphins waived veteran quarterback Casey Bramlet, who was the third quarterback in the final two games but did not play. They still have three quarterbacks on the roster in John Beck, Josh McCown and Matt Baker, and they're expected to add another one during the draft.

Also cut were linebacker Marcello Church, safety Tuff Harris, cornerback Jereme Perry, linebacker Mark Washington and receivers Kerry Reed and Chandler Williams.

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Phins Acquire Tight End and Linebacker for 4th round pick from Dallas
by:  Robert Henderson  on April 27, 2008, 12:58 am
[ Category: Draft ]

ESPN.com - The Dallas Cowboys traded linebacker Akin Ayodele and tight end Anthony Fasano to the Miami Dolphins for a fourth-round draft pick, a person familiar with the deal said Friday.

The person didn't want to be identified because the Dolphins and Cowboys hadn't confirmed the trade. The Dolphins have repeatedly tapped the Dallas pipeline since the arrival of former Cowboys coach Bill Parcells in December to run Miami's football operations.

The draft pick is No. 100 overall Saturday. The Dolphins have eight other picks and will use the No. 1 overall choice to take tackle Jake Long, who has already signed a five-year contract worth $57.75 million, $30 million of it guaranteed.

Ayodele has been a starter for the past five seasons and made 55 tackles last year. His spot with the Cowboys may be filled by Zach Thomas, acquired after the Dolphins released him in February.

Fasano, a second-round pick in 2006, has made 14 receptions in each of his first two NFL seasons and is expected to contend for a starting job with the Dolphins.

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Michigan Tackle Jake Long Signs with Miami; Becomes First Overall Pick
by:  Robert Henderson  on April 22, 2008, 7:07 pm
[ Category: Draft ]

MDBW - The Miami Dolphins have signed their number one pick. Jake Long becomes the first offensive tackle taken number one overall in the NFL Draft since the St. Louis Rams selected Orlando Pace out of Ohio State in 1997. Pace went on to make seven Pro Bowls.

Long, who played his college career with the Michigan Wolverines, signed a contract worth reportedly $57.75 million deal that guarantees him $30 million. The Miami Dolphins and Long’s agent Tom Condon started contract negotiations about a week ago and came to an agreement last night. Long signed the contract this morning after flying to Miami from Detroit.

Continue.

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