*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Feb 19, 1997: -- JJ Looks for Defensive Backs --
Dolphins Sign Cedric Davis
The Dolphins announced that they have signed free agent
cornerback Cedric Davis to the team for a minimum salary. Davis was
originally drafted in the 5th round by the Arizona Cardinals in 1995,
but tore the Anterior Cruciate Ligament in his knee that year and then
was cut by the Cards in August of 1996.
Although small (5'9", 170 lbs), Davis is fast, having run a
4.39 in the 40 before he was drafted. However, that was also before
he injured his knee. The Dolphins gave him a workout last week before
signing him to a 2 year deal.
According to the Miami Herald, Davis has been told that he
will get a chance to compete for the starting right cornerback spot
with Calvin Jackson. Davis played his college ball at Tennessee State.
Dolphins Talk to Other Free Agents
The Miami Herald is reporting that the Dolphins are talking
with several other defensive free agents, all formerly with the
Cowboys, including CB Clayton Holmes, S George Teague, LB Godfrey
Myles and LB Darrin Smith.
Safety George Teague will reportedly visit the team today for
a meeting with the Dolphins. Teague is reportedly still interested in
the Cowboys, but other than the Dolphins, has no plans to visit any
other teams.
Teague was drafted in the first round by the Packers in 1993,
where he started until last season, when the Packers traded him to the
Falcons. The Falcons, proving once again that they have a pretty poor
grasp of football, waived Teague in the beginning of the year and he
was then picked up by the Cowboys. He started 8 games for Dallas in
1996 after Brock Marion went down with an injury and wound up the year
with 4 interceptions.
The book on Teague is that he is big (6'1" and 195 lbs) and
fast and that he is a playmaker. During a 1994 playoff game against
Detroit, Teague intercepted a Scott Mitchell pass in the endzone and
returned it 101 yards for a touchdown.
The agent for linebacker Darrin Smith has been in contact with
the Dolphins several times last week and this week, but doesn't
currently have a visit to the team scheduled. His agent says that a
visit to Miami is "a possibility", but with Smith's current asking
price being about $2.5 million, it doesn't look as if Smith would fit
into the Dolphins' plans.
According to the Miami Herald, Smith is currently on a 4 team
road trip, selling himself, but the Dolphins are not currently on his
itinerary.
Darrin Smith is from Miami, where he attended Norland High and
the University of Miami. JJ drafted him for the Cowboys in 1993 and
he's been there ever since and has started most of the games he's
played.
Cornerback Clayton Holmes also worked out with the Dolphins
last week and is visiting the Atlanta Falcons this week. The Cowboys
also want him back, now that he is off a one year drug suspension.
Holmes is a speedster, once having run a 4.23 in the 40, but is
another small defensive back at 5'10" and 181 lbs.
Holmes was originally drafted by Jimmy Johnson and the Cowboys
in 1992 and has been with Dallas ever since, although he hasn't played
much football in the past year because of his drug suspension. He was
never a starter, but was effective as a nickel back.
And last, but not least, the Dolphins have been in contact
with free agent linebacker Godfrey Myles, who was drafted by the
Cowboys in 1991 out of Florida. He also comes from Miami, having
attended Carol City High school.
Myles has only started 11 games in his 6 year career, but is
supposedly fast and would be a bargain at his asking price of $700,000
per year.
My Comments:
Even though JJ says that Davis will get to compete against
Calvin Jackson for a starting position, I expect that that's just a
motivational phrase. I mean, it's probably true in the most general
sense that all defensive backs on the team will compete for starting
positions, but Davis is almost certainly not a permanent answer.
Still, he's the right price and if he's fast enough, he could
be an asset as a nickel back or special teamer.
George Teague is a very interesting prospect from a number of
standpoints and hopefully the Dolphins will be able to sign him. Most
interesting was the assertion in the Herald that Teague is only
visiting the Dolphins. If it comes down to just the Dolphins and the
Cowboys for Teague, the Dolphins stand a good chance to sign him and
he could come right in and start opposite Wooden.
Teague's 4 interceptions last year in 13 total games would
have put him second on the team in picks behind Buckley, if he had
played for the Dolphins.
It's a shame that Darrin Smith isn't visiting Miami.
Apparently, he doesn't want to come to Miami that badly, or they'd be
on his tour. The Dolphins won't pay him $2.5 million next year, so it
isn't likely he'll wind up back home.
Godfrey Myles is not nearly as exciting, but he might make a
decent replacement for Hollier if Hollier isn't here next year and he
might be able to take Harris's place as a starter on the other side if
Hollier is re-signed.
On an administrative note, I'm going to start including web links
to player profiles for players discussed here, if I can find them.
They'll be listed below in the "Related Links" section.
Related Info:
[Return to Dolphins News]
Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New England
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