Fins shopping Beck; rookie linemen impress

[DolFan619]

http://www.miamiherald.com/588/story/648874.html

Fins shopping Beck; rookie linemen impress

By BARRY JACKSON
Miami Herald

Dolphins camp chatter:

• The Dolphins continue to shop John Beck and indicated they would like a fourth-round pick in return but are unlikely to get that, an NFC executive said this week.

''I could see them getting a late-round pick, maybe conditional,'' a second NFC executive said. ''Last year was a disaster and he [turns] 27'' on Thursday. As perspective, one official noted Cleveland received a sixth-rounder last September from Seattle for former starter Charlie Frye, the 67th pick of the 2005 draft. Beck was drafted 40th in 2007.

ESPN's John Clayton said that although Miami has called teams to gauge interest in Beck, they have not done so with Josh McCown, who has no idea if he will be here this season. NFL Network's Adam Schefter has mentioned Dallas has an interest in Beck.

• Miami's impressive rookie linemen are generating buzz around the league. One NFC personnel director watched the Dolphins and asserted they will be a lot better than people think. ''I like Phillip Merling and Kendall Langford a lot -- big, physical, strong guys who play with a lot of energy,'' he said. `` Jake Long will be fine. Donald Thomas has limitations in the passing game, but I like his toughness. He's a mauler.''

Coach Tony Sparano said Tuesday that Thomas has done enough to be deemed the solution at right guard. That ends speculation about former All-Pro LeCharles Bentley, who asked Miami and other teams for an incentive-laden deal after missing two years with injury. (Miami declined.)

Langford -- who ''might be'' Miami's starting left end ''for a long time,'' according to Sparano -- ''is ahead in the run game but his pass [rush] is coming on,'' defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers said. Rodgers also said he is ''really pleased'' with Merling and ''very encouraged'' by second-year defensive tackle Paul Soliai's improvement.

• Ricky Williams, atop the depth chart at running back, said he would be content coming off the bench this season, but Ronnie Brown admitted he would be disappointed if he does not start. ''It might be a flaw I have,'' Williams said, ''but I have no desire to compete with Ronnie.'' . . . Williams, who ran for 1,853 yards in 2002, asserted this is ''definitely'' the best offensive line he has run behind with the Dolphins. ''And the intangible is Tony Sparano,'' he said of the former Cowboys offensive line coach.

• Former Falcons' starting safety Chris Crocker got first-team work ahead of Jason Allen in practice this week. "I think Crocker probably has some of the best cover skills that we have back there at the safety position," Sparano said.

• Former starting safety Renaldo Hill, fighting for a roster spot, ''grows on me a little more every week,'' Sparano said.

• Former Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn, 36, released at his request by the Falcons on Tuesday, said he has an interest in the Dolphins, but his agent said Miami did not immediately return his call.

Miami rejected overtures from Eric Moulds and Koren Robinson but hasn't ruled out Terry Glenn if his knee improves. ''We would hope sometime in the future, when the time is right, that [joining the Dolphins] would be a possibility,'' said Glenn's agent, James Gould.

[EDGECRUSHER]

I will take that for John Beck at this point. He is obviously not in Miami's plans.

[DZA]

good luck getting a fourth for BECK...  ask for a seventh the ya talking business