The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

OK guys, the last preseason game is over, and the "bubble" players have had their final chance to make a good impression.  That being said, several guys will be paid a visit by The Turk between now and 4:00 pm Saturday. 

Who is The Turk?

The Turk is an assistant coach who is assigned to track down players who have been released and give them the bad news.  He will either call a player or visit his dorm with the dreaded message, "Coach Sparano wants to see you immediately.  Bring your playbook with you."  At that point, the player knows he is done. 

About 18 players will be given the same message from Coach Sparano, "Thanks but no thanks."  Who will they be?  Who will barely squeak by?  Who will appear to have made it, but then get some heartbreaking news a day or two later as other teams let their guys go? 

Discuss. 

David Martin is done, Beck is done, Hagan SHOULD be done, Cobbs is done, Maui is done, Peele is done...that's all I have...I'm not sure for the rest...anyone care to take over?

I dunno about Cobbs.

Hagan has been solid all pre-season. He's not going anywhere, in fact he's going to be starting. As much as I don't like Martin, he's not going anywhere either. Apparently the coaching staff likes him.

Cobbs will probably stick because of special teams play.

I know Hagan isn't going anywhere...he has been solid all training camp...yet to show up in any games though...I just personally don't like him and think he should be cut...You're prob. right on Martin because of his blocking but I agree...I don't like him either...as far as cobbs...well they have to get rid of at least one RB...cobbs was from the last regime and the two rookies played just as good as him tonight...I think Parmele will be forgiven for the fumble...so IMO that means Cobbs is gone...so does anyone want to take over on who else might now make the team?

Of the players who maybe had a chance, the following are on my "gone" list:

Reagan Mauia, Lex Hilliard (psquad), Armstrong (psquad), Foster (psuad), Mulligan, Heerspink, Byrne, Toribio, Glymph, Titus Brown, Poppinga and Billingsley.

The following are at serious risk of losing their job. Even those who make it past the Saturday deadline shouldn't feel safe:

Beck, McCown, Justin Peele, Sean Ryan, Lionel Dotson, Ninkovitch. Quentin Moses, Edmond Miles, Matt Spanos and Ndukwe.

You've only got twelve people on your gone list.  Gotta add at least six more.  The big question is, do you get rid of Beck or McCown or keep both?  McCown has barely played all preseason, but Beck has clearly shown that he does not belong in the NFL. 

That's why I included the qualifier "of the players that maybe had a chance". In other words, I wasn't listing the players that never had a chance.

In practice, what I did was not include anyone who wasn't in my little spreadsheet of players. Because it's a personal project and because I'm lazy, I haven't spent any time in trying to flesh out the spreadsheet with random joes who never had a chance to make the team. Everytime a guy popped on my radar, I would add him.

The roster on nfl.com has 74 players listed right now. One of those is Kelvin Smith, who doesn't count because he's on IR. That's 73 players. Omar at the SunSentinel claimed the phins were at 71, but I'm not sure who has been released. Anyway, going by the 73, you can add the following to my list above (these were guys who never had a chance in my book):

Courtney Bryan
Maurice Fountain
Aaron Halterman
Tab Perry
Pedro Sosa

I had 12 on my GONE list. Add these 5 and we're at 17. Some of the 5 might be gone already (2 probably are), but if we go by the 73 count, that still gets us the right answer, so 3 more players need to go to reach 53. I listed 10 in my "serious risk" category. Let me clarify that a bit.

1: Either Beck and McCown. At this point I just don't know who stays.
0: At most one of Peele and Ryan, although both could stick until Monday.
0: Spanos and Ndukwe probably survive a little longer. One likely gone before the Jets game, though.
1: Either Ninkovitch, Moses or Miles. I don't know enough about either one of them to speculate.
1: Dotson probably loses out in the pure numbers game.

Ninkovich and Dotson have probably impressed enough in the last two games to earn spots on the practice squad.  Armstrong and Foster should end up there as well as either Jalen Parmele, Lex Hilliard, or both. 

Quentin Moses needs to make the active roster as he played in too many games last year to be eligible for the practice squad.  He has shown some flashes of brilliance but needs more consistency. 

Keep in mind that teams can keep 8 players on the practice squad this year, as opposed to the usual 5. 

How does the practice squad work? I mean, what do guys on the squad do?

They practice with the regular players..... and help run the scout team, imitating the oppositions plays week in and week out.  They don't get to suit up for games.  They make half of the league minimum. 

They can only be in the NFL for I believe 2-3 years, and they can't have been active for more than a certain number of games, otherwise they are not eligible.  A team can sign a player off another team's practice squad, but they must promote that player to the active roster for a minimum of three games. 

I don't think Beck will be cut.  I think we'll keep 3 QBs and McCown is the odd-man out.

The practice Squad is under 4 years of exp.,and can't be on the practice squad for more than 3 years...I can'rt remember the number of games they could be active before they can't bgo back to the practice squad...I want to say it wass 6...It was in some article I saw recently...

I'm thinking that Moses has a descent chance of sticking...We need all the LB/DE's we can get...

The TE -FB postition intrigues me....(I used to be one,but it's not the main reason....)

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/08/29/let_the_cutting_begin.html

Let the cutting begin

By Ben Volin | Friday, August 29, 2008, 05:07 PM

Five weeks of training camp are in the books. The four preseason games have been played. Two-a-days are done until next July.

If you’re an NFL player trying to make a roster, your fate is sealed. There is nothing you can do between now and Saturday at 4 p.m. to change your coach’s mind. Either you’re part of the 53-man roster (61 if you count practice squad), or you’re cut.

Smiles and laughter in the Dolphins locker room Thursday night quickly faded when the subject of Saturday’s roster cuts came up.

Running back Jalen Parmele was visibly shaking when we spoke about it after the Dolphins’ 14-10 win, but he also exhibited a refreshing sense of maturity and perspective.

“Obviously you want to make the team, ‘cause you’ve been here and you’re working hard. It’s your dream,” said Parmele, a rookie sixth-round pick out of Toledo. “But you know it’s a business, and they’re going to do what they’re going to do, and that’s the way it goes.”

Roster cuts aren’t due until Saturday at 4 p.m., but several NFL teams are getting a head start. Friday, the Rams cut 10 players to get down to 66 in camp. The Bears, Eagles and Saints each chopped eight from their rosters, and the Pats released four players (including former Dolphin DT Steve Fifita).

The Dolphins have gotten somewhat of a head start on the process. Though they were allowed to have as many as 80 players in camp through Aug. 26, and 75 through tomorrow, they have been around the 70-72 area for the past two weeks.

And it’s not just roster filler like OT Reuben Riley getting waived. Safety Keith Davis, supposedly one of “Bill Parcells’ guys” from Dallas, who was a special teams captain there, got cut on Wednesday. K Jay Feely got the heave-ho a couple weeks ago. Either John Beck or Josh McCown likely won’t be here much longer.

Some players who likely will be cut Saturday are fairly obvious — TE Matthew Mulligan, OLB Maurice Fountain, ILB Kelly Poppinga and WR Jayson Foster come to mind.

But Parcells and Jeff Ireland have instilled The Fear in these players. Very few players are safe. And there are probably some members of the final 53-man roster that went through training camp with another team.

“They have a certain standard of what they want,” receiver Greg Camarillo said earlier this week, “and if you don’t meet that standard they will cut you. That’s pretty much understood.”

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/08/30/armstrong.html

Armstrong knows he could be odd man out

By Edgar Thompson | Saturday, August 30, 2008, 11:00 AM

Dolphins wide receiver Anthony Armstrong planned to to cut off his cell phone today and try to relax.

It won’t be easy, but waiting for a dream to come true isn’t supposed to be.

Like many Dolphins, Armstrong will find out by 4 p.m. if he’s finally made to the NFL.

In a way, he’s afraid to find out whether he’s one of the 53 Dolphins who make it or one of the 17 who do not.

“I’m going to get away,” Armstrong said this week. “I want it to be as stress free a day as possible.”

But the emotions of cut day are hard to avoid for just about everyone on every team. Friendships and player-coach relationships forged during a long month of training camp are not taken lightly.

“When all of the sudden, you have to release them, there is something in that, to me that is pretty sensitive,” coach Tony Sparano said.

But on the opening day of training camp, Sparano made a point of telling his players this day was coming.

“I said, ‘Look around you, there’s 80 of you but there’s not going to be 80 of you, there’s going to be 53 when this things ends,’” Sparano recalled this week. “Some people have to go and that’s just the way it goes. It’s part of the business.”

Sitting in the audience, a 25-year-old rookie picked up from the Arena Football League, Armstrong must have wondered if Sparano was speaking about him.

But Armstrong has gone out and shown he belongs, outperforming NFL veterans and rookies fresh out of Division I programs.

While Armstrong has stuck around, three-year veteran David Kircus and two rookies BCS programs - Selwyn Lymon (Purdue) and John Dunlap (N.C. State) - have been cut.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Armstrong, who went to West Texas A&M, might be the Dolphins’ best remaining deep threat, along with Ted Ginn Jr.

A couple of weeks ago, Sparano spoke glowingly about a practice when Armstrong caught three passes longer than 50 yards. The team cut Kircus a few days later.

Armstrong is likely vying for three spots with veterans Ernest Wilford and Greg Camarillo and rookie Davone Bess.

Wilford, who signed a four-year deal with $6 million guaranteed, struggled with drops much of training camp. But he made two catches Thursday night, including a leaping, 24-yarder.

Camarillo and Bess are more sure handed and better route runners than Armstrong.

Armstrong might be the odd man out, but he’s made the Dolphins think hard about it.

A spot on the eight-man practice squad is a lock, but another team might be impressed enough to give Armstrong a shot.

Anybody can be let go at any time, we’ve been under 75 for awhile. If you don’t perform, there’s a possibility you’ll be leaving.

Even if make 53, any relief: Temporarily, but you have to understand there’s guy being let go on other teams too. As much as it is an audition for all teams in the league, you still want to stick where you started out.

What do Saturday: I’m going to get away. I might cut my phone off because I don’t want to have it ring or anything. I want it to be as stress free as possible.

“I think you start to feel and develop a little bit of a relationship with these players right now. It’s part of the business and we knew that when we started here. One of the things we did when we started here is we sat in a room and It doesn’t make it any less of a strain one way or another. You feel for the guys. This is their livelihood too.”

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/08/30/s_bryan_let_go.html

S Bryan let go

By Edgar Thompson | Saturday, August 30, 2008, 02:27 PM

Last season, Courtney Bryan was one of the surprise members of the 53-man roster.

This time around, Bryan wasn’t so lucky.

He said a bit ago through a text message that he’d been let go earlier today as the Dolphins trim down to the NFL limit.

The move leaves the Dolphins with four safeties: Yeremiah Bell, Jason Allen, Chris Crocker and Renaldo Hill.

The team also cut Keith Davis this week.

Bryan, 23, was an undrafted free agent out of New Mexico State. He was one of six undrafted free agents to appear on the Dolphins’ 53-man roster last season and played in 12 games - second-most among the group.

Since Bryan played so much last season, he isn’t eligible for the team’s eight-man practice squad.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/08/30/dolphins_cut_mauia.html

Dolphins cut Mauia

By Edgar Thompson | Saturday, August 30, 2008, 03:33 PM

Fullback Reagan Mauia, who entered Dolphins camp last summer as a YouTube folk hero, won’t be back for a second season.

Mauia was released earlier today, according to a source close to the situation.

The team has decided to keep Boomer Grigsby as the Dolphins lone fullback. Grigsby, who the team signed as a free agent in March, has shown better ball skills than Mauia - who has dropped a lot of passes - and is a member of the team’s kickoff coverage unit.

Mauia, a sixth-round pick last season, started nine games in 2007. He finished with 10 yards from scrimmage on six touches.

But Mauia, a.k.a. The Juggernaut, was probably best know for a YouTube video where he ran through a wall while training in Arizona.

If you’re feeling nostalgic, go check it out.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-0830dolphincuts,0,859305.story

Dolphins' Mauia, Peelle among 17 cuts; rookie receivers Bess, Armstrong survive

Harvey Fialkov
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

8:06 PM EDT, August 30, 2008

The, 'Juggernaut,' or better known as fullback Reagan Mauia, was one of 17 players asked to return their playbooks Saturday as the Dolphins got down to the league mandated 53-man roster.

However, because of the Dolphins' league-worst 1-15 record last season they have first dibs on all released players who have less than four years of accrued experience until Sept. 23.

So General Manager Jeff Ireland and vice president of football operations Bill Parcells are far from done shaping the roster that will open up against the New York Jets next week in the season opener. They are no doubt poring over the waiver wire tonight and will put in several claims by the Sunday's noon deadline.

Perhaps the most significant cut was veteran tight end Justin Peelle, whose contract was terminated. It appears that his hefty $1.3 million salary might've played into the decision that cost him a roster spot. Peelle's exodus paves the way for Sean Ryan to stick as the third tight end behind Anthony Fasano and David Martin, although Peelle is clearly the more complete receiver.

The only victim of the new regime's nine draft picks was running back Lex Hilliard. However, it's likely the sixth-rounder out of Montana will end up on the eight-man practice squad, which can begin forming after noon today.

Arguably the most surprising cut was linebacker Edmond Miles, who led the Dolphins with 15 special teams tackles last season. Also, veteran safety Courtney Bryan, who played 12 games last year, was waived. Another solid special teams player, linebacker Junior Glymph was released.

In the no-surprise category, 11 of the 17 players cut were undrafted rookies, including: receiver Jayson Foster, linebackers Kelly Poppinga, Maurice Fountain and Titus Brown, tight end Matt Mulligan, defensive tackle Anthony Toribio of Miami, cornerback Will Billingsley, centers Mike Byrne and Matt Spanos, tackles Daren Heerspink and Pedro Sosa, who was signed earlier this week.

Along with Hilliard, several of today's released players will probably wind up on the practice squad, with Foster, Billingsley, Miles, Brown and Sosa all strong candidates.

The Dolphins kept six receivers, including undrafted rookies Davone Bess and Anthony Armstrong.

Mauia, a sixth round pick out of Hawaii last year, became a YouTube legend last summer when he was taped running through a dri-wall and claiming he was the Juggernaut.

The powerfully built 6-foot, 260-pound Mauia, was beaten out by a more versatile Boomer Grigsby for the fullback role. Grigsby, a free-agent pickup from the Chiefs last March, excels on special teams and is a more dependable receiver.

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_seasonticket/2008/08/fins-down-to-53.html

Fins: Down to 53

No huge surprises here, especially if you've seen my comments over the past few weeks about Justin Peelle and his salary, and about the team's fascination with Anthony Armstrong's potential.

Peelle's contract was terminated.

Armstrong sticks, for now.

The other cuts:

CB Will Billingsley

LB Titus Brown

S Courtney Bryan

C Mike Byrne

WR Jayson Foster

LB Maurice Fountain

LB Junior Glymph

OT Darren Heerspink

RB Lex Hilliard (only draft pick cut)

FB Reagan Mauia

LB Edmond Miles

TE Matthew Mulligan

LB Kelly Poppinga

C Matt Spanos

OL Pedro Sosa

DT Anthony Toribio

Making it: WR Davone Bess, WR Ernest Wilford, TE Sean Ryan, S Renaldo Hill.

But no one should feel comfortable.

The back end of the roster should turn over significantly.

> Posted by Ethan J. Skolnick at 6:54:19 PM

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/08/30/0830dolphins.html

Dolphins cut 17 players, but roster isn't set yet

By EDGAR THOMPSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, August 30, 2008

DAVIE — The Miami Dolphins are down to the NFL limit of 53 players, but work likely remains to be done.

The Dolphins, who cut 17 players by Saturday's 6 p.m. deadline, have until noon Sunday to finalize their roster for Week 1 of the regular season.

Head of football operations Bill Parcells and GM Jeff Ireland will use the time to examine the waiver wire to see if any of the cast-offs from the other 31 teams would be a better fit than the team's current players.

Given the Dolphins have six wide receivers and seven defensive ends - a high number at each position - the sense of relief might be fleeting for players who had received good news a day earlier.

If the Dolphins decide to pick up any players off the waiver wire, an extra wide receiver, such as 25-year-old rookie Anthony Armstrong, or a defensive end, such as seventh-round pick Lionel Dotson, might become expendable.

Armstrong might be a former Arena Football League player, but he knows how the NFL works.

"You have to understand there's guys being let go on other teams, too," he said this week. "Anybody can be let go at any time. If you don't perform, there's a possibility you'll be leaving."

Fullback Reagan Mauia, who started nine games as a rookie last season, headlines the group the Dolphins sent packing on Saturday.

Mauia, a sixth-round pick in 2007, was beaten out by Boomer Grigsby, who signed as a free agent in March.

Among the players who didn't make the team, tight end Justin Peelle had the most NFL experience. The Dolphins terminated the contract of Peelle, a six-year veteran with 39 starts, including 20 the past two seasons for Miami.

But he was the odd man out. Starter Anthony Fasano, 2007 starter David Martin and Sean Ryan, a former draft pick by Parcells in Dallas, made the team. Ryan's leaping 8-yard catch in the back of the end zone in the final exhibition game might have been the difference.

Linebacker Edmond Miles, who led the Dolphins with 16 special-teams tackles as a rookie last season, and safety Courtney Bryan, who played in 12 games as a rookie in 2007, are the only other players with NFL experience who were cut.

Miles and Bryan played too much last season to be eligible for the eight-man practice squad. A player who plays 10 games or more on the active roster is ineligible.

Besides Armstrong and Dotson, there weren't too many surprises among those who made the 53-man roster.

Linebacker Rob Ninkovich, who was inactive for 12 of 16 games as a member of the 53-man roster a season ago, is either the fourth or fifth outside linebacker, along with second-year pro Quentin Moses. Guard Ikechuku Ndukwe, who wasn't activated the entire 2007 season, is only one of the Dolphins' eight offensive linemen who weren't selected in the NFL draft.

Running back Lex Hilliard, a sixth-round pick out of Montana, is the only member of the Dolphins' 2008 rookie class not to make the 53-man roster. He's a prime candidate for the team's practice squad.

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/08/ta-ta-peelle-an.html

Ta-ta Peelle and Juggernaut

The Dolphins lopped off 17 players to get down to 53, including stone-hands FB Reagan Mauia and dependable, but highly paid TE Justin Peelle.

They're far from done.

Eleven cuts were undrafted rookies. The only draft pick cut was RB Lex Hilliard, but he'll end up on  the practice squad tomorrow.

The good news is that undrafted rookie WRs Davone Bess and Anthony Armstrong survived. Bess was a lock. Armstrong not as much but has done everything that's been asked of him and brings a ton of speed. However, he could end up on the practice squad, too, when the Fins bring in a veteran receiver like Ashley Lelie.

They cut five linebackers, with the big surprise Edmond Miles, who led them in special teams tackles last year. Three linemen got slashed. They're in bad need of OL depth. Old pal Todd Wade is out there as is gimpy Willie Anderson.

You know they'll add a couple of released Cowboys who played for them, such as LB Remi Ayodele, Akin's kid bro.

> Posted by hfialkov at 7:19:56 PM

Just for the record, I vote "no" on Ashley Lelie

Seconded.

Third...The Nays have it.... :D

Ashley Lelie is one of the softest and most whiny players I've ever seen.  He would not fit in this systsem.

  I think Lelie is pretty much done in the NFL.

Lelie got cut from the Broncos, Falcons, and 49ers - three teams pretty desperate for WR help, in the span of 2 years.

Its called "work-ethic," look it up.

Buh-bye

Sounds like combining him with Sparano and Parcells would make for non-stop entertainment.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/08/31/armstrongs_dream_ends_in_less.html

Armstrong’s dream ends in less than 24 hours

By Edgar Thompson | Sunday, August 31, 2008, 01:06 PM

Wide receiver Anthony Armstrong, one of the feel-good stories of training camp, has been placed on waivers, said a source familiar with the situation.

Armstrong, a 25-year-old rookie who used to play in the Arena League, was one of six wide receivers to make the Dolphins’ 53-man roster on Saturday, joining Ted Ginn Jr., Derek Hagan, Ernest Wilford, Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess.

Armstrong’s happiness was short-lived as the team replaced him with one of the cast-offs from one of the other 31 teams.

If another team does not pick up Armstrong from waivers, the Dolphins then could add him to their eight-man practice squad.

Armstrong, who played at West Texas A&M, was one of the surprises of training camp, outlasting a three-year NFL veteran (David Kircus) and three fellow rookies (Selwyn Lymon, John Dunlap and Jayson Foster).

Blessed with some of the best speed on the team, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Armstrong was the Dolphins’ best deep threat along with Ginn, the team’s first-round pick in 2007.

I wonder who he was replaced with.  And will they sign him to the practice squad?

Guard Any Alleman, who was cut by the Saints. He was a thrid round pick of theirs in 2007, and didn't play as a rookie.

http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2008/08/wr_brandon_london_claimed_by_m.html


http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2008/08/giants_wide_receiver_london_ho.html

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolmoves083108,0,4569452.story

Dolphins add two lineman; waive WR Anthony Armstrong

By Harvey Fialkov
Sun-Sentinel.com

2:30 PM EDT, August 31, 2008

The Dolphins have begun the bolstering of the offensive line depth by claiming two young linemen, according to a source.

The Dolphins have claimed 6-foot-7, 318-pound guard/center Nate Garner and 6-4, 310-pound guard/center Andy Alleman. By doing so, that put the Dolphins at 55 players, or two over the mandated 53-man roster, so they waived AFL standout receiver Anthony Armstrong. One more player needs to be cut today.

Armstrong will most likely be placed on the eight-man practice squad, which the Dolphins are putting together today and are expected to announce at a 2:30 p.m. press conference with General Manager Jeff Ireland.

Alleman was drafted out of Akron by the Saints in the third round last year, while Garner, who played for Arkansas, was taken by the Jets in the seventh round of last year's draft. Neither played in a game last season and both are eligible for the practice squad.

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/08/dolphins-rost-1.html

Dolphins roster churning underway

The Dolphins have begun filling into the numerous holes on this paper thin roster, adding depth to the bottom portion of the team.

The offensive line was the first unit to receive an influx of waiver wire additions, as the Dolphins claimed linemen Nate Garner and Andy Allenman.

To make room for those two receiver Anthony Armstrong was waived, and another cut is coming. I suspect Lionel Dotson, Paul Soliai, Rob Ninkovich, Ikechuku Ndukwe, Rodrique Wright, Quentin Moses and Joey Thomas are the players most at risk.

This team still needs help at offensive tackle, receiver and nose tackle. It would also be wise to identify a young inside linebacker to invest in.

Once I hear from General Manager Jeff Ireland today I'll be giving you an update.

I'd like to give you a heads up that I'm hosting my first radio show, as a guest, today on 790 AM. I'll be on with the Sports Brothers from 7-9 p.m. on Sunday and would love to hear from The Mob. Give me a call at 888-790-3776. Or you can text your comments and questions to 74965.

Please help make my first radio showing a success....Pretty please.

Deuces.

> Posted by Omar Kelly at 1:22:31 PM

Been watching London all preseason (he's from my alma mater, Umass).  He did a good job from the Giants camp, I am surprised they cut him (though they are deep at WR).  Hope he continues to impress for the 'fins.

If the new regime's talent evaluators think that London would improve our WR corps, then I am all for it. We definitely need WR help, and we won't be able to draft Michael Crabtree until next April.  ;D

Some Links about London from training camp.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01272008/sports/giants/hes_mini_moss_727112.htm

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08012008/sports/giants/a_giant_in_london_122491.htm

Something from Peter King http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/08/17/august/2.html

Good links, thanks!

I do think it was an overcrowding issue that got London cut from the Giants, but I think his injured left shoulder (sprained AC joint) keeping him from being out there making catches in preseason games to showcase his skills was the real issue. I hope his shoulder recovers fully and he can make the roster...again, we can use all the receiving help we can get.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2008/08/dolphins-add-th.html#comments

Dolphins add three, trim three to finalize roster

The Dolphins have claimed center Andy Alleman from New Orleans, offensive tackle Nate Garner from the Jets and receiver Brandon London from the Giants.

But as they say in baseball, three up and three down. (Yeah, I covered the Marlins Saturday).

So receiver Anthony Armstrong, linebacker Rob Ninkovich and offensive lineman Trey Darilek have been waived.

By the way, the headline above is misleading. To say the Dolphins have "finalized" their roster is to assume they will not continue to try to upgrade the bottom of their roster. Bad assumption. That work will continue well into the season.

The Dolphins have added five players to their practice squad. They are: CB Will Billingsley, WR Jayson Foster, OT Darren Heerspink, RB Lex Hilliard, and TE Matthew Mulligan.

General Manager Jeff Ireland talked to the media today for the first time since the April draft. I will post his entire interview when the transcript is available, so check back later.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/08/31/fins_extend_ricky_add_three_na.html

Fins extend Ricky, add three, name practice squad

By Edgar Thompson | Sunday, August 31, 2008, 04:00 PM

The day after the Dolphins’ trimmed their roster to 53 players, the team continued to make roster moves.

The team waived wide receiver Anthony Armstrong, offensive lineman Trey Darilek and linebacker Rob Ninkovich, adding center Andy Alleman (from Saints), tackle Nate Garner (from Jets) and wide receiver Brandon London (from Giants).

“There’s a need there,” GM Jeff Ireland said earlier. “We felt like their ability fit what we needed.”

Ireland also confirmed an ESPN report that the team had decided to extend RB Ricky Williams’ contract through 2009 so he didn’t become a free agent after the season.

Williams, 31, enters Week 1 of the regular season No. 1 on the depth chart, ahead of 2007 starter Ronnie Brown.

“He’s done an excellent job in the weight room, in the meeting rooms,” Ireland said “He’s jumped out at us on tape. He’s looked good the pre-season.”

Ireland said the new regime has been impressed with Williams from Day 1 and didn’t hold his checkered past against him.

“It was 0-0 when we got here,” Ireland said. ” He’s done everything he’s asked us to do.”

The Dolphins also announced the team’s practice squad: CB Will Billingsley, WR Jayson Foster, OT Daren Heerspink, TE Matthew Mulligan and RB Lex Hilliard - the only draft pick who didn’t make the 53-man roster.

The team can carry eight players on the practice squad, so if Armstrong clears waivers he could end up back with the Dolphins.

“He’s a player we still have an interest in,” Ireland said of Armstrong.

No doubt WR was a need we needed to fill. I would feel better with just a little bit of depth now on defense.

Andy Alleman...........

http://www.nfl.com/players/andyalleman/profile?id=ALL044677

Ireland: Beck “had more upside"

By Edgar Thompson | Sunday, August 31, 2008, 05:21 PM

GM Jeff Ireland said John Beck’s play of late helped the team decide to trade Josh McCown on Friday.

Ireland said the powers-that-be believe Beck, the No. 40 pick in the 2007 draft, has more potential than McCown, a six-year veteran with 31 NFL starts.

“We felt like John was still a young player,” Ireland said earlier today, speaking to the South Florida media for the first time since the NFL draft. “He’s done a great job the last week and a half. That’s the player we felt like had more upside and more future to him and more developmental possibilities.”

Ireland said he’s happy with the team’s three quarterbacks - Chad Pennington, Chad Henne and Beck - doesn’t expect the Dolphins to bring in a veteran QB.

“We feel good where Chad Henne and John Beck are,” Ireland said “Chad Henne is obviously someone we feel very good about. He’s our No. 2 right now.”

Ireland also touched on several other topics.

Here’s some of the highlights:

On if there was as much talent on the waiver wire as he would have hoped for: “It’s never as good as you want it to be, it’s never as good as you want it to be. Teams are smart, they are not just going to let go because they have a certain number of receivers. If that is a strength of their team they are going to hold on to the strength of their team.

“As much as you project and try to analyze, the ones that you want to come free never come free. I feel very good about the three players that we were able to get. They fit a need and we all feel very good about where they can go on this team.”

On if the team will continue to be active in adjusting the roster: “We have been here for six or seven months now and it’s never stopped, so I don’t think that it’s going to stop now. That is the one thing that has been constant is change around here.

“I can see ourselves being active, there are several more waves of player availability, and so I would say that we’d be active in just about all of them if the player and the need fit.”

On if anyone exceeded his expectations during training camp: “I think pretty much everybody was about what we thought they would be. I’ll give kudos to Donald Thomas, he came in and really played well. All the rookies exceeded a little bit of my expectations, but I will say that Donald Thomas did a nice job. For the most part they kind of were what they were; I mean they are what they are.”

On his overall impression of the 53-man roster going into Week One: “I feel pretty good about the 53-man roster. As a matter of fact I feel very good about the 53. I think we’ve made some improvements in pretty much every area.”

On if there is a position where he thinks they lack depth and need to shore up: “We got to see these guys play a little bit more before we can go into where we have a weakness right now. We’re not where we want to be, that’s for sure, in a lot of different areas, but to come out and say that this position is weak; I don’t want to get into that.”

On if Ricky Williams is more dedicated now than he has been in the past: “I wasn’t here in the past so I don’t really know how he had a lack of dedication in the past. I know what I read and what circulates in NFL circles. When we sat down coming here, we said that we’re going to give this guy every benefit of the doubt and he’s got to show us that he is dedicated. He’s done everything that we’ve asked him to do.”

On the release of Keith Davis: “We did not know much about Yeremiah Bell when we first got here. We knew he was coming off an Achilles injury, and coming off three seasons where he hadn’t finished the season on the active roster. We knew Renaldo (Hill) was coming off a knee injury and we didn’t have (Chris) Crocker at the time and we knew a little about Jason (Allen) but it hadn’t all been positive at the time when we found out. We learned that those are four players that we felt pretty strongly about as we are going through this process. So Keith really just didn’t fit in the long term plans as some of these other guys did.”

These five guys are breathing normally again, and I'll be surprised if Armstrong isn't on this list tomorrow.... that is if another team doesn't snatch him up first.

In regards to Alleman, Garner and London, that's some more lineman beef for the rebuilding BBQ, and a slight upgrade at the #5 receiver spot. 

  Here you go, Tommy.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/09/01/armstrong_added_to_practice_sq.html

Armstrong added to practice sqaud

By Edgar Thompson | Monday, September 1, 2008, 07:45 PM

Wide receiver Anthony Armstrong, one of the surprises of training camp, has been added to the practice squad, said a source familiar with the situation.

Armstrong, a 25-year-old rookie who used to play in the Arena League, was one of six wide receivers to make the Dolphins’ 53-man roster on Saturday, joining Ted Ginn Jr., Derek Hagan, Ernest Wilford, Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess. But the team released him Sunday and picked up 6-foot-4, 210-pound Brandon London from the Giants.

No one picked up Armstrong from waivers, so the Dolphins could add him to their practice squad. The Dolphins seemed to anticipate the move because Armstrong’s name was still over one of the lockers Monday at the team’s training facility.

Asked if Armstrong was on the team’s practice squad, coach Tony Sparano said, “We waived him.”

He joins six players: CB Will Billingsley, WR Jayson Foster, OT Daren Heerspink, RB Lex Hilliard, TE Matthew Mulligan and LB Tyson Smith, whom the Dolphins signed Monday.

During training camp, Armstrong, who played at West Texas A&M, outlasted a three-year NFL veteran (David Kircus) and three fellow rookies (Selwyn Lymon, John Dunlap and Foster) to make the 53-man roster.

Blessed with some of the best speed on the team, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Armstrong was the Dolphins’ best deep threat along with Ginn, the team’s first-round pick in 2007.

^^^^

Thanks a lot 619.  I appreciate the news info.  I'll bet Armstrong's happy right now that he has a job in the NFL again.... even if it's for half the league minimum. 

The Dolphins have one slot left open on their practice squad.  Who will it go to, if anyone?

  I'm thinking OT/OG Pedro Sosa.  Heerspnik is the only other O Lineman on the PS.  Gotta have one more, you would think.

Sosa would've been added already at this point.  He's been cut for more than 24 hours, so he's obviously cleared waivers.  I wonder if someone else snatched him up. 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolmoves090208,0,4307307.story

Dolphins waive Joey Thomas; sign former Packers safety

By Omar Kelly
Sun-Sentinel.com

5:53 PM EDT, September 2, 2008

As promised, the Dolphins' front office continues to churn the team's roster, waiving two players and signing another two on Tuesday.

One of the newcomers, safety Tyrone Culver, is a completely new face. Culver, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2006 draft by Green Bay, was added to the Dolphins 53-man roster, replacing cornerback Joey Thomas, who was waived.

Culver played in 14 games with the Packers in 2006, contributing six tackles on defense and three more on special teams. He spent all of last season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury before being waived on Saturday.

Also waived was former Georgia Southern receiver Jayson Foster, who was added to the practice squad on Sunday. Replacing Foster on the practice squad is defensive tackle Anthony Toribio, an undrafted rookie free agent who was in camp with the Dolphins before being waived this past Saturday.

The addition of Culver, a two-year starter at Fresno State, gives the Dolphins five safeties on the 53-man roster. Thomas' release means there are only four cornerbacks, but free safety Jason Allen has been playing both positions for the past two weeks and provides some roster flexibility.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/09/02/dolphins_waive_cb_joey_thomas.html

Dolphins waive CB Joey Thomas, WR Jayson Foster

By Edgar Thompson | Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 05:27 PM

The Miami Dolphins signed safety Tyrone Culver to their 53-man roster and waived cornerback Joey Thomas.

Culver, 25, was a sixth-round draft choice of Green Bay in 2006. He played in 14 games with the Packers that year, finishing with six tackles on defense and three more on special teams.

He spent last season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and was waived on Aug. 31.

Thomas, 28, made the team as the No. 5 cornerback. The Dolphins now have five safeties and four cornerbacks.

The Dolphins also released 5-foot-7 wide receiver Jayson Foster from the practice squad and signed defensive tackle Anthony Toribio. Toribio, 23, was in camp with the Dolphins but the team waived his this past weekend.

Foster, 23, became a fan favorite during training camp because of his speed and electrifying open-field running style. The 175-pound rookie out of Georgia Southern was named the Division I-AA national player of the year in 2007 whose highlight reel became must-see TV on YouTube.

But Foster’s playmaking ability didn’t show up during pre-season games. He had two yards on six punt returns, one kickoff return for 25 yards and no catches.

  This means Jason Allen is yet again being moved to Cornerback & why Crocker is starting.

Damn, just damn.

How to F up a high draft pick by the Miami Dolphins should be a book on how not to handle your most talented young players.

Maybe the "Dummies" people can write a book for them.

This is pissing me off...IMO Allen was doing good at FS...wtf we all know he isn't a good corner

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dol090308,0,5435121.story

WR Greg Camarillo working as starter; two added to practice squad

By Omar Kelly
Sun-Sentinel.com

12:12 PM EDT, September 3, 2008

DAVIE - It appears Greg Camarillo has gone from hero of the 2007 season to possible starter for the 2008 season opener against the Jets.

Camarillo worked with the first-team offense during Wednesday's practice, replacing Derek Hagan, who dropped two passes in the Dolphins' final exhibition game against New Orleans.

Last season Camarillo caught eight passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns, the first of which was a 62-yard reception against Baltimore that provided the Dolphins its lone win of the season in overtime.

During the exhibition season, Camarillo caught six passes for 58 yards while Hagan caught four passes for 40 yards as a starter. Hagan, who contributed 29 receptions for 373 yards and two touchdowns last season, practiced with the second unit on Wednesday.

Along with Camarillo's possible promotion the Dolphins also added two training camp participants to the practice squad.

Former AFL receiver Anthony Armstrong, who initially made the 53-man roster but was waived a day later, participated in Wednesday's session. Armstrong's addition to the practice squad will likely be announced later today.

Also in attendance was outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich, who initially made the 53-man roster but got waived a day later to make room for Dolphins waiver wire claims.

Ninkovich, who contributed eight tackles and two sacks during the exhibition season, is eligible for the practice squad because he hasn't been active in nine NFL games during his two seasons.

Armstrong and Ninkovich complete the Dolphins eight-man practice squad.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/09/03/dolphins_finalize_practice_squ.html

Dolphins finalize practice squad

By Ben Volin | Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 01:55 PM

The Dolphins now have a full eight-man practice squad after adding WR Anthony Armstrong and LB Rob Ninkovich today.

Seven of the eight players went through training camp with the Dolphins. The eighth, LB Tyson Smith, came over from Dallas.

Here is the practice squad. Any of these gentlemen can be snapped up by the other 31 teams, but they must be added to the 53-man roster:

WR Anthony Armstrong
CB Will Billingsley
OT Daren Heerspink
RB Lex Hilliard
TE Matthew Mulligan
LB Rob Ninkovich
LB Tyson Smith
DT Anthony Toribio