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Title: Miami Dolphins scour waiver wire Post by: DolFan619 on August 27, 2008, 12:40:34 am http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/659574.html
Miami Dolphins scour waiver wire BY SARAH ROTHSCHILD Miami Herald The Dolphins are working to upgrade their roster, and as the past several months have shown, the new regime is methodical and aggressive in making moves. As Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline passed for teams to pare their rosters to 75 players, the Dolphins were scouring the waiver wire. The Dolphins have the first right of refusal on waived players with less than four years of experience because they finished a league-worst 1-15 last season. Miami is treating this like another draft and could be looking to add players at wide receiver, offensive line and linebacker. ''We need to look at every possibility now,'' coach Tony Sparano said. ``We need to be active. It's an important time. We're very aware of that. ``We knew when the draft ended there was only a couple of other opportunities to look at different players, and this is obviously one of them.'' The Dolphins' roster stood at 72 players before the cutdown deadline because the front office wanted room to sign players without being forced to create spots. Bill Parcells, the executive vice president of football operations, and general manager Jeff Ireland were active on their cellphones inside the Dolphins' indoor practice bubble Tuesday morning and likely will be spending considerable time on the phone the next several days. The Dolphins also are preparing for Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline, when teams must cut their roster to the regular-season maximum 53 players. Sparano repeatedly has emphasized to his players that they are competing for jobs against each other and potentially against players on other teams the Dolphins might add. LOOKING FOR DEPTH The Dolphins sent scouts to ''a lot of games,'' according to Sparano, so the front office was well-versed once teams began waiving players en masse. The Dolphins are unlikely to find big-name players on the waiver wire because players with four years of experience or more can become unrestricted free agents. ''The bottom part of the roster is going to be critical for us,'' Sparano said. ``That's really what we're getting when we're taking people that are going to get waived. If there's somebody that we're interested in bringing to the team right now, you're getting some of those players. We just want to make sure maybe that it was Player 54 for another team that we're trying to get.'' If that's the case, the Dolphins' options figure to feature higher-caliber players this weekend. As the team weighs its options, and perhaps takes a wait-and-see approach until the biggest roster cuts come Saturday, Dolphins players are primed for one final chance to make an impression. ''This is the final stage,'' wide receiver Greg Camarillo said referring to Thursday's preseason finale in New Orleans. ``They told us in the meeting this final game is so coaches can confirm what you've been doing or confirm what they think you can do. ``Unless you have a starting spot, you need to know you could be cut.'' Fullback Boomer Grigsby said players are under no illusions about the Dolphins' direction. ''Since I've got here it's very obvious they have a plan and they've been executing that plan,'' Grigsby said. ``There's been no gray area.'' • Linebacker Joey Porter (back) will not play Thursday, but Sparano said Porter should be ready for the Sept. 7 season opener. Porter said he visited a specialist Monday and he has no damage to disks in his back. INJURY UPDATES ''He should be fine when we're ready to take the field Monday [for practice],'' Sparano said. ``We have to be concerned a little bit, but I've seen this guy play through some pretty good pain ever since I've been here and that's been his history. When it comes time for the games I know Joey will be ready to play.'' • Running back Ronnie Brown (thumb) is expected to be a game-time decision against the Saints. • Cornerback Joey Thomas (headache) did not practice for a second consecutive day. Title: Re: Miami Dolphins scour waiver wire Post by: landlocked on August 27, 2008, 02:32:54 am Headache?That should go over good with Parcells.....
Title: Re: Miami Dolphins scour waiver wire Post by: fyo on August 27, 2008, 03:12:23 am Headache?That should go over good with Parcells..... He apparently has a concussion. |