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Dolphins News: Corey Harris Signed
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Dolphins News: Corey Harris Signed
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*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Mar 12, 1997: -- Corey Harris Signed --

** Corey Harris Agrees to Terms

ESPN is reporting this evening that the Dolphins have agreed to terms with free agent cornerback Corey Harris to a 3 year deal for about $3 million with a signing bonus of around $1.5 million. The Dolphins have been talking with Harris for several weeks and the Miami Herald was predicting this morning that Harris would sign by the end of the week.

Harris, who played his college ball at Vanderbilt, has had a very interesting career. In college, he play wide receiver for his first two years and then switched to running back for his final two years. He set a school record rushing for 1,103 yards on 229 attempts.

In 1992, Harris was selected in the 3rd round by the Houston Oilers as a possible wide receiver. He played in 5 games for the Oilers before being waived. Following his departure from Houston, he was claimed off waivers by the Green Bay Packers, who kept him from 1992 to 1993 as a wide receiver, but then converted him to cornerback for the 1994 season.

After the 1994 season, Harris became a free agent and signed with the Seattle Seahawks, where he started at cornerback for the 1995 and 1996 seasons.

Harris, at 5'11" and 200 lbs, is bigger than most of the Dolphins' defensive backs and current rumor has it that JJ will start him at safety instead of at cornerback.

** Other Free Agent News

The Dolphins had visits from free agent wide Eric Metcalf, wide receiver Lawrence Dawsey and defensive end Ernie Logan from the Jaguars. All three worked out for the team.

Metcalf has been a very exciting receiver for the Atlanta Falcons in the past, but the signing of Dan Reeves as their head coach spelled an end to the run-and-shoot offense and Metcalf is looking for a new team. Last year, Metcalf caught 54 passes for 599 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Originally drafted as a running back by the Browns in 1989, Metcalf went to the Pro-Bowl twice while with Cleveland as a running back and return man. However, he expects to command a salary in the range of $2 million per year, which is way out of the Dolphins' range.

Dawsey played for the Giants last year and caught 18 passes for 233 yards. He was originally drafted in 1991 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and that year he caught 55 passes for 818 yards and was named Sports Illustrated rookie of the year. However, he suffered a very severe knee injury in 1993 and was let go by the Bucs after 1994.

Ernie Logan is another journeyman defensive end, having been in the league since 1991 with 3 different teams. During his 5 year career, he has started a total of 7 games and gotten 5.5 sacks.

** Cross Ownership Approved by NFL

The NFL has worked out a set of rules to allow team owners to own teams in other sports, as well as football. Previously, it was against NFL rules to allow owners to own more than one sports franchise, but the NFL has voted to allow it. This ensures that Wayne Huizenga can continue to own the Dolphins.

My Comments:

On ESPN's report this evening, they stated that Corey Harris would be playing strong safety for the Dolphins. If this is true, then Shawn Wooden will probably be back at free safety, where he played last year for most of the year.

However, I expect that this is a mistake by ESPN. My guess would be that Harris will be asked to play free safety, leaving Wooden in the strong safety position - assuming that JJ wishes to make Harris a strong safety. Harris may also get to compete for a starting cornerback job.

Eric Metcalf is clearly out of the Dolphins' reach, unless he wants to take a serious paycut.

Related Info:

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Curt Fennell, curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New England
     
   

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Curt Fennell
curt@phins.com
DOLFAN in New England