Dolphins' offensive line possibilities to get a look

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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-flspdolphins10sbmar10,0,7093214.story

Dolphins' offensive line possibilities to get a look

By Omar Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

March 10, 2008

The Dolphins were one of the NFL's most active teams the first week of free agency, adding or re-signing 10 players, but a few areas of need still have to be addressed.

The Dolphins have added one potential starting offensive lineman in right guard Justin Smiley to go along with the two returning starters, tackle Vernon Carey and center Samson Satele.

The only other offensive linemen on the roster are Drew Mormino, the 2007 sixth-round pick who missed all of last season because of a shoulder injury, and Julius Wilson, Ikechuku Ndukwe and Trey Darilek, who all failed to make a 53-man roster exiting training camp last season.

Despite the need to add an offensive tackle and guard with starter pedigree, the Dolphins have expressed little to no interest in re-signing Rex Hadnot, a four-year starter, and haven't hosted many offensive linemen on visits. But this could be the week they look to address that need.

Jason Fabini, who has played guard and tackle throughout his career, could be an option. Fabini, who was drafted by Bill Parcells in 1998, and started 16 games for the Jets as a rookie, also played one season (2006) for Parcells and new head coach Tony Sparano in Dallas. Last season Fabini, 33, started 13 games for the Redskins.

Chris Naeole, a run-blocking guard who was recently released by the Jaguars, Barry Sims, a 33-year-old who has started 119 NFL games, Floyd Womack, an eight-year veteran who last played for the Seahawks, and Milford Brown, who has started 43 of the 47 games in his seven seasons, are among more than two dozen veteran linemen on the open market.

The Dolphins could be patient, addressing the offensive line with their first few picks in next month's draft, but that could be risky unless the No. 1 overall pick is used on Michigan's Jake Long, considered one of this draft's handful of elite players.