SI.com is falsely reporting the Dolphins have reached an agreement with pass-rush specialist Calvin Pace of the Cardinals.)Turns out this is just another example of premature ejaculation by the media big dogs. Trying to be first to report a story often backfires.
The Dolphins clearly aren’t screwing around with free agency. The next phase of the rebuilding process got off to a forceful start today with precincts still reporting.
Although they still have considerable work to do, the Dolphins solidified their defense in a single day.
Two Linebackers, two defensive Tackles, Quarterback, Tight End, Guard, two Wide receiver. Build depth, inject youth
With plenty of money to spend to rebuild the NFL's worst team, Bill Parcells and the new Dolphins regime got off to a fast start Friday on the opening day of free agency. Their biggest move was signing a potential starting quarterback.
The Dolphins, who began the day with close to $40 million in salary-cap space, signed former Oakland Raiders quarterback Josh McCown to a two-year deal worth $6.25 million. He will compete with John Beck, the only returning quarterback. The Dolphins released Trent Green and did not bring back Cleo Lemon, who signed a three-year contract Friday with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Dolphins also obtained defensive tackles Jason Ferguson (formerly of the Dallas Cowboys) and Randy Starks (Tennessee Titans); right guard Justin Smiley, who started for the San Francisco 49ers; wide receiver Ernest Wilford of the Jaguars; tight end Sean Ryan, who has played for the New York Jets and the Cowboys; and veteran outside linebacker Reggie Torbor, who started in the Super Bowl for the New York Giants.
The acquisitions will help the Dolphins - who recently cast off veterans such as Zach Thomas, Keith Traylor and Marty Booker - get younger. Among the newcomers, only Ferguson, 33, is older than 29.
McCown, 28, shared time last season with Daunte Culpepper while the Raiders groomed No. 1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell. In nine games (all starts), McCown had 10 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions - numbers typical of his inconsistent, six-year career.
The Dolphins began the day by coming to terms with Smiley, 26. He told The Santa Rosa Press Democrat he agreed to a five-year, $25 million deal, with $9 million guaranteed, within 30 minutes of the 12:01 a.m. start of the free-agency period.
Smiley (6-foot-3, 311 pounds) started all 32 games in 2005 and '06. He sustained a dislocated right shoulder in the eighth game last season and had season-ending surgery Nov. 13. He will replace Rex Hadnot, who was not re-signed despite starting 16 games last season.
Like Smiley, Ferguson has strong credentials but is coming off a season-ending injury - a torn biceps suffered in the season opener. He is believed to be fully recovered, but the emergence in Dallas of Jay Ratliff and the addition of Tank Johnson made Ferguson expendable.
The Cowboys dealt Ferguson for a sixth-round pick next year; Dallas and Miami also will swap positions in the sixth round this year. Ferguson is under contract for two more seasons with a base salary of $4 million in each. The Dallas Morning News noted that he is due an $8 million roster bonus.
The trade reunites Ferguson, a 12-year veteran, with Parcells, his former coach with the Cowboys and Jets. Ferguson became the Cowboys' full-time nose tackle in 2006 and led them in tackles that season.
Starks, whose signing was reported by the NFL Network, is coming off a disappointing season. But he turned 24 just 10 weeks ago and has played in 60 games, with 36 starts, in four seasons with the Titans. In his first two seasons he had 10.5 sacks and 32 quarterback pressures. Starks signed a five-year deal reportedly worth $21 million, with $7 million guaranteed.
The Dolphins needed a receiver after trading Chris Chambers during the season and more recently letting Booker go. Wilford, 29, signed a four-year deal. He has a career-high 45 catches last season (for 518 yards and three touchdowns. Wilford, who is 6-foot-4, has his best season in 2005 with 41 receptions for 681 yards and seven TDs.
Ryan, a fifth-round choice by Dallas in 2004, agreed to a one-year deal after one season with the Jets. He has caught only nine passes in 35 NFL games, including six starts. But he is a physical player at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds. He played defensive end early in his career at Boston College.
Torbor, 27, emerged as a force during the Giants' playoff run. He became the strong-side starter when linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka suffered a broken leg in Week 11.
Torbor made 31 tackles (including one sack) in the regular season. But it was Torbor's dominant second-half performance against the Cowboys in a post-season game that likely left the biggest impression on his new bosses. Torbor sacked Tony Romo late to help send the Giants to the NFC title game and allowed Tony Sparano and much of his new coaching staff to join the Dolphins earlier than expected.
The Dolphins also are considering linebacker Charlie Anderson, who has played four seasons for the Houston Texans. He started five games last season.
My sourse for the Calvin Pace signing can be found here.
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