NFL - Sports Rumors - Miami Dolphins

Getty Images

The Miami Dolphins are seeking draft picks in exchange for the NFL's 2006 defensive player of the year, Jason Taylor, but the Washington Redskins, who are actively trying to trade out of the 21st pick in the two-day draft that starts today, are not interested in Taylor, 33, according to the Washington Post.

Although Taylor, an 11-year veteran, had a typically productive performance in 2007 (56 tackles, 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception), the Redskins do not see him as a good long-term fit with what they are trying to accomplish, sources said, and their stance is not expected to change.

Source: Washington Post

• 48 Comments
• Permanent Link
• Email this Entry

Getty Images

The Miami Dolphins on Friday acquired tight end Anthony Fasano and inside linebacker Akin Ayodele from the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round draft pick, the 100th pick overall, in this weekend's draft. The deal had been confirmed by multiple sources, though neither team had confirmed it late Friday night according to the Palm Beach Post.

Fasano was drafted 53rd overall out of Notre Dame in 2006 when Dolphins football operations executive Bill Parcells and General Manager Jeff Ireland were with the Cowboys. Fasano had 14 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown last season. He is coming off reconstructive shoulder surgery.

Ayodele spent four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, then joined Cowboys as a free agent in 2006. The Cowboys were loaded at linebacker, especially after signing Zach Thomas, who was released by the Dolphins after 12 seasons. Ayodele started all except two games in his two seasons with Dallas. He had 95 tackles last season.

Source: Palm Beach Post

• 39 Comments
• Permanent Link
• Email this Entry

Getty Images

As the first round wears on, the new regime led by Bill Parcells might display the same aggressiveness it showed in locking up Long. Miami Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland said he sees major advantages in being able to focus on pick No. 32. One of them might be more time to work on a deal to move up into the first round.

The Dolphins have needs almost everywhere, so they won't be eager to deal away any of their eight remaining draft choices. Moving into the first round would be easier if the Dolphins chose to gauge other teams' interest in trading for 33-year-old defensive end Jason Taylor, who might prefer to finish his career with a playoff contender.

For example, Jacksonville — a 2007 playoff team desperate for a pass rusher — has the No. 26 choice and could be interested in talking trade. If the Dolphins moved up, they would have two first-round picks for the first time since 1992, when they selected cornerback Troy Vincent at No. 7 and linebacker Marco Coleman at No. 12. Either way, with Long under contract, the Dolphins can make their next draft decision without distraction.

Source: Palm Beach Post

• 45 Comments
• Permanent Link
• Email this Entry

Getty Images

Be honest. If Cam Cameron were the one announcing that Jake Long is the Miami Dolphins' No. 1 draft pick, frazzled South Florida fans would be screaming bloody murder today.

Instead, it's Bill Parcells spending the top overall pick on an offensive tackle from Michigan and doing it four days before the draft is conducted, which virtually eliminates the possibility of another team making a late trade offer.

This, of course, is more than acceptable. It's commendable. It's Big Tuna commencing what promises to be an impressive haul. Such is the power of Parcells, and I have no argument with it. Between him and head coach Tony Sparano, a former offensive line coach, Long's potential will be stretched to the limit.

Source: Palm Beach Post

• 16 Comments
• Permanent Link
• Email this Entry

Getty Images

Financial sanity just might have been restored to the NFL draft according to Nancy Gay, NFL columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Just as Wall Street and the international-credit market sustained a long-overdue correction, the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday bucked the NFL's longtime trend of committing more guaranteed money to the No. 1 overall draft pick than the top pick received the previous year. Did rookie inflation just stop here?

After weeks of talks and a solid week of negotiating, the Dolphins cut the suspense — and the bull — by signing Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long to a five-year, $56.5 million contract. The deal includes $30 million in guarantees.

Contrast that with what Al Davis and the Raiders paid to JaMarcus Russell in 2007: six years, $61 million with as much as $32 million guaranteed, if the former LSU quarterback achieves certain performance and playing-time triggers.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

• 21 Comments
• Permanent Link
• Email this Entry

Getty Images

The Miami Dolphins are close enough in pre-draft negotiations with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long that a finalized contract could be announced any day, an NFL source told The Palm Beach Post today.

The source said "there's a very good chance" Long already will be under contract as the No. 1 pick before the NFL Draft begins at 3 p.m. Saturday at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
The source dismissed prior reports that the Dolphins had issued a deadline for Long to sign so that they could move on to negotiate with other possible candidates if necessary. The source also said the Dolphins have not negotiated with any other players.

The Dolphins declined to comment. A call to Long's agent, Tom Condon, was not immediately returned.

Source: Palm Beach Post

• 89 Comments
• Permanent Link
• Email this Entry

Since January, the Cleveland Browns' scouting department has been on a mission to find the next Adalius Thomas or Shaun Phillips. Or, if the Browns wanted to dream about getting back into the third round of the draft, the next Mike Vrabel or Joey Porter. Among the NFL's top pass rushers, all four were college defensive linemen who made the transition to linebacker in the pros. All came into the league in the third round or later.

Thomas of the Baltimore Ravens (a Southern Mississippi product) was a sixth-round pick of the Ravens in 2000. Phillips (out of Purdue) was a fourth-round choice in 2004 of the San Diego Chargers. Vrabel (from Ohio State and Walsh Jesuit) of the New England Patriots was a third-round choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997. Porter of the Miami Dolphins (out of Colorado State) went to the Steelers in the same round in 1999.

Going into the NFL Draft this weekend, the Browns don't have a pick until the 23rd choice in the fourth round, 122nd overall. But they'll still search for an outside linebacker to pair opposite Kamerion Wimbley, the 13th overall pick in 2006 who played defensive end at Florida State.

Source: Akron Beacon Journal

• 58 Comments
• Permanent Link
• Email this Entry

Getty Images

The Miami Dolphins flirtations with Michigan tackle Jake Long over the past few weeks have been well-publicized but this morning, with six days to go before the draft, a league source is indicating that a contract agreement is nearly in place according to NBCsports.com.

Word that Miami initiated talks with Long's agent, Tom Condon, surfaced almost two weeks ago. Condon actually was in South Florida to meet with Dolphins officials. Miami's also made overtures toward Vernon Gholston but little other progress has been mentioned.

Meanwhile, with Jake Long off the board, the St. Louis Rams are a lock to go with defense at No. 2 and, according to the same league source, the camp of Virginia defensive end Chris Long is very confident that's where he'll be headed

Source: NBCsports.com

• 132 Comments
• Permanent Link
• Email this Entry

Getty Images

A week from now, Jason Taylor's future with the Dolphins should come into focus according to the Palm Beach Post. The report that Taylor wants to be traded won't go away. But Taylor recently told someone close to him that he plans to return to the Miami Dolphins.

He also knows where he plays next season will hinge on who the Dolphins select with the No. 1 pick in next weekend's NFL draft. If Miami picks Michigan left tackle Jake Long, Taylor remains a Dolphin. If Miami choses Ohio State defensive end/linebacker Vernon Gholston, the Dolphins will be looking to unload Taylor, a source said. (The Dolphins apparently haven't even reached out to Virginia DE Chris Long, though a lot can change in the coming week.)

The Dolphins would jump on a second-round pick, and hopefully something more, and Taylor would end up on a team built to win now, like Jacksonville, Green Bay or Cleveland, among others. The Dolphins don't expect to be able to get a first-rounder from anyone for Taylor, the source said. Taylor turns 34 in September and has two, maybe three, good seasons ahead, coupled with an itch to get to Hollywood.

Source: Palm Beach Post

• 20 Comments
• Permanent Link
• Email this Entry