NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

The Dolphins had a busy weekend to say the least, with rumors swirling everywhere on the who the Dolphins may, or may not sign. So let’s break this down, and take it nice and easy, so we can enjoy every bit of this celebratory post, on the guys that the Fins let go/signed.

Signed Free Agents:

• Karlos Dansby: This is the Dolphins guy. They went out and got who they wanted, and actually, did not even let him leave their training facility when he came down for the official visit. Dansby is 29, in his prime, and is going to be the man of the defense for years to come, and can both drop back into coverage, and stuff the run at the point of attack. Great sign!
• Chad Pennington: Even though the Dolphins only re-signed CP10, I still count this as a great sign for the Fins. Pennington will be sitting behind starter Chad Henne, and is willingly taking a backup job, so he can stay down in Miami, and not move his family, and mentor young Henne for the future. Unlike what people say, I do not think there will be much of a quarterback controversy if Henne stumbles along the way. Pennington will shoot that down too quick.

Releases:

• Joey Porter: We knew this move was coming for weeks. Porter was just not producing, and towards the end, was a major disruption to the locker room. At this point in his career, the only thing he could have provided for the Dolphins was trouble.
• Gibril Wilson: Wilson was just dead weight. The Dolphins were believed to be making a run at free agent Antrel Rolle, so they simply cut Wilson loose. Wilson’s problem was not that he was a game changer, it was just that he was making all of these game changing plays for the wrong team! The Dolphins have a gaping hole at the free safety position now, but pretty much anything is better than “Gerbil”.
• Akin Ayodele: Ayodele was serviceable for the Fins the past two years, but with the acquisition of Dansby, there really was no need for the unwanted salary. It was rumored that the Fins were looking to dump either Ayodele, or backup Reggie Torbor. They chose Ayodele.

The One Who Got Away:

• Nate Jones: Jones is the latest member of the Dolphins secondary in the last two years to sign with the Denver Broncos. This weakens the depth in the secondary sufficiently, and also in the special teams as well. The Dolphins will now have to search over the next two years solid depth for the secondary unit.

Rumors:

• Ryan Clark: The former free safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers is making a visit down to Miami as we speak, and reportedly, “does not want to leave”. Clark also said that Miami is where he wants to be, and that is why he made Miami his first visit. It’s up to the Fins on whether they want him as their starting free safety for the 2010 season or not.
• Jason Ferguson: It was reported today that Ferguson will be suspended for the first 8 games of the season, for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing drugs policy. Ferguson is a free agent, and will most likely not be coming back to Miami. Ferguson has said that he will only play for the Fins this year, so he will probably retire after this saddening escapade.

Still Left To Re-Sign:

• Jason Taylor: JT’s one year deal has expired, and it’s up to the Fins to re-sign him. JT does want to come back to Miami, it is only a matter of the Dolphins front office wanting him as well. The Dolphins badly need another pass rusher, so I fully expect Taylor to be back in Miami for one more year at least.
• Anthony Fasano: The Dolphins starting tight end is tendered for a 2nd round pick, so this should give the Dolphins all the time in the world to re-sign him. Fasano is a respectable tight end in the NFL, and suffered from a down year this past season, which I suspect is from a hip injury that he may have injured in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, when he got nailed 3 times in the game. Fasano should be back barring anything unexpected.
• Ronnie Brown: The Dolphins star running back should be back. He is a restricted free agent, and like Fasano, barring anything unforeseen, he should be back, and will probably get a new contract that will put Brown in Miami for the rest of his career.

That does it for the free agent news so far, I’ll have the updates rolling in, as the news comes in!