Dolphins release Matt Baker, Steve Fifita, Derreck Robinson and Abraham Wright

One thing I failed to mention in any of my six videos from today was the release of four players by the Dolphins in recent weeks. The Dolphins parted ways with quarterback Matt Baker and nose tackle Steve Fifita on April 29, while defensive end Derreck Robinson and linebacker Abraham Wright were let go on May 5.

I'm not sure these transactions are really video-worthy (though that hasn't stopped me before!) so I'm just going to provide a little analysis on each one in good ol' text form. 56k users rejoice!

Matt Baker

Baker was the fourth and final quarterback on the roster after Casey Bramlet was let go and Chad Henne was picked up on Day 1 of the draft. Because the other three - Beck, McCown and Henne - are essentially all locks to make the team, there was really no point in keeping the guy around. On a side note, he was later picked up by the Buffalo Bills, where he'll compete for the No. 3 job with former Dolphin Gibran Hamdan and undrafted free agent Luke Drone.

Steve Fifita

Easily the most surprising of these four cuts, given our lack of depth at nose tackle and the fact that he out-played 2007 fourth-rounder Paul Soliai, who remains with the team, last season. Hopefully, this is a vote of confidence for Soliai and our undrafted rookies (Kory Robertson and Anthony Toribio). Fifita was later picked up by the Patriots (surprise, surprise) and he could have a shot at securing a backup nose tackle job behind Vince Wilfork.

Derreck Robinson

A prototypical 3-4 end, but one from the previous regime in a now very crowed position. After we took three defensive ends on the draft, there was simply no way Robinson was going to make the club even if he did fit the scheme. It wouldn't be surprising if he landed in Baltimore, another 3-4 team that also features Cam Cameron as it's offensive coordinator.

Abraham Wright

Wright is another guy that fit the scheme, but he too had quite a few guys ahead of him on the depth chart. Our seventh-round pick from 2007 was a prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker, but he struggled with injuries as a rookie and wasn't going to beat out the likes of Reggie Torbor, Junior Glymph and Quentin Moses.

The first of six new videos today!

Well I've finally gotten caught up and I have six new videos covering trades, draft picks and undrafted free agents involving the Dolphins in recent weeks. This is the first video, so it's where you should start if you reaaaaally want to get the full effect of the six-video run. It is on the acquisition of tight end Anthony Fasano and linebacker Akin Ayodele from the Dallas Cowboys.

Updated depth chart and new jersey numbers

The Dolphins signed two more players today - safety Keith Davis and placekicker Dave Rayner. While I won't get to an analysis video of them until tomorrow, I've updated my projected depth chart to included them. It is now completely up-to-date. It can be viewed here.

Also, the Dolphins' official site has updated the team's roster and has added jersey numbers for all of the team's free agent additions. Here is a list of all the new/changed numbers:

#2 - Brandon Fields (changes from #4 to accommodate Josh McCown)
#4 - Josh McCown (takes Brandon Fields' old number)
#16 - Dave Rayner (most recently worn by practice squad wide receiver Marvin Allen)
#11 - Chandler Williams (changed from #18 to accommodate Ernest Wilford)
#18 - Ernest Wilford (takes Chandler Williams' old number)
#28 - Keith Davis (most recently worn by running back Jes se Chatman)
#56 - Charlie Anderson (most recently worn by linebacker Derrick Pope)
#59 - Reggie Torbor (most recently worn by linebacker Donnie Spragan)
#65 - Justin Smiley (most recently worn by offensive tackle Julius Wilson, who has switched to #78)
#84 - Ernest Wilford (most recently worn by wide receiver Chris Chambers)
#85 - David Kircus (most recently worn by tight end Jason Rader)
#89 - Sean Ryan (most recently worn by tight end Tim Massaquoi)
#94 - Randy Starks (most recently worn by defensive tackle Keith Traylor)
#95 - Jason Ferguson (most recently worn by defensive lineman Chase Page)

Phins Spotlight returns from spring break with a bang!

Sorry for the lack of content of late - I was on spring break and kind of busy with some stuff. When I last published, I was still lacking analysis on a handful of free agent signings from the Dolphins' early spending spree. But fear not my dear readers, because I've caught up and have four new analysis videos on all the players I hadn't done. So here there are, and enjoy!

Josh McCown


Boomer Grigsby


Randy Starks


Reggie Torbor

One-line analysis and update on team's free agents

Since it's going to take a few hours to get some videos done and uploaded, I've decided to provide a little one-sentence analysis on each of Miami's additions. I should have at least three videos up tonight.

• OG Justin Smiley (49ers) - Great addition of a talented young blocker that fills a huge need on the offensive line.
  
• TE Sean Ryan (Jets) - Solid blocker to compete for a backup job.
  
• LB Reggie Torbor (Giants) - Good third linebacker that can start if necessary.
• DT Jason Ferguson (Cowboys) - Not a long-term fix, but came at a good price and fills an immediate need.
  
• DE Randy Starks (Titans) - talented, young player that should fit well at end in the 3-4.
  
• WR Ernest Wilford (Jaguars) - Underrated player that adds experience, reliability and provides a good complement to Ginn.
  
• QB Josh McCown (Raiders) - Sufficient short-term fix at quarterback until a long-term guy emerges or is found.
  
• LB Charlie Anderson (Texans) - Excellent special teams guy that will provide depth at inside linebacker.

Also, here is an update on Miami's own free agents this offseason:

Unrestricted Free Agents

• SS Yeremiah Bell
• RB Jesse Chatman
• OG Rex Hadnot
• CB Michael Lehan (re-signed)
• QB Cleo Lemon (Jaguars)
• OG Chris Liwienski
• OG Gene Mruczkowski
• LB Derrick Pope
• OT Mike Rosenthal
• FS Lance Schulters
• LB Donnie Spragan
• SS Travares Tillman

Restricted Free Agents

• RB Samkon Gado (not tendered)
• OL Cory Lekkerkerker (not tendered)

Exclusive-Rights Free Agents

• WR Greg Camarillo (tendered)
• RB Patrick Cobbs (tendered)
• OG Ike Ndukwe (tendered)
• DL Chase Page (not tendered)

Because they were not tendered contracts, Gado, Lekkerkerker, and Page are now unrestricted free agents and can sign with any team.

Dolphins add Wilford, Starks

I am proud to say that the Dolphins have signed two players I discussed in my offseason preview videos - Jaguars wide receiver Ernest Wilford and Titans defensive tackle Randy Starks.

Miami has certainly been the hottest team early in free agency, signing Wilford, Starks, Justin Smiley, Sean Ryan, Reggie Torbor and acquiring Jason Ferguson via trade. Quarterback Josh McCown and linebacker Calvin Pace could soon be on the way.

Because Miami's actions have been so rapid thus far, it would be tough for me to dish out videos on every signing today. So what I'm going to do is pace myself over the next 2-3 days and release videos on each signing in the basic order they were first reported. I figure Miami can't keep adding players at this pace, so it should be easy to catch up over the weekend.

In the meantime, I'll still be posting here whenever there is news. Personally, I'm loving what Miami is doing and I think we're heading in the right direction. Go Dolphins!

Dolphins sign Ryan, Torbor; acquire Ferguson

The roster revamp of the Dolphins is continuing at a rapid pace, as the Dolphins have now added four new players since free agency began today. In addition to Justin Smiley, the Dolphins have signed tight end Matt Ryan and linebacker Reggie Torbor. The team has also acquired nose tackle Jason Ferguson from the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2009 sixth-round pick and a swap of sixth-round picks in 2008.

Furthermore, the Dolphins are hosting quarterback Josh McCown (Raiders), linebacker Calvin Pace (Cardinals) and defensive lineman Randy Starks (Titans). Video analysis on every signing will be up today, so keep checking back!

2008 Offseason Preview: Outside Linebackers

As promised, here is my second video of the day - this one on the Dolphins' current situation at outside linebacker. The defensive line videos should be out in 2-3 days, but for now enjoy this video, the inside linebackers one below or any of the others in case you've missed them! Enjoy.