*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Apr 30, 1997: -- New Punter Signed --
** Dolphins Sign Punter
According to a report on ESPN today, the Dolphins have signed
punter Rob Deignan to a contract for undisclosed terms. Deignan
graduated from Purdue in 1995, where he had a career average of 39.2
yards per punt, but he spent last season out of football.
He is the 4th leading punter in Purdue's history and was an
honorable mention All-Big 10 selection in his senior year.
** Daryl Frazier Has Surgery
Wide receiver Daryl Frazier, who was signed as a free agent
from the CFL in the off-season, had arthoscopic surgery to remove
loose cartilege from his left knee. Barring unforseen complications,
Frazier should be healthy enough to participate in training camp in
July.
** Lamar Thomas Gets Furlough Extension
The lawyers for Lamar Thomas apparently forgot that he was
supposed to report to the Quarterback school this week when they asked
the judge for permission to release Thomas so he could practice in
mini-camp this past weekend. As a result, Thomas was back in jail
Monday while the Dolphins' veterans were out practicing.
It took a special letter from Jimmy Johnson to get the judge
to release Thomas so that he could attend the rest of the quarterback
school this week. Once that is over, Thomas will remain in jail until
there is a disposition of his case.
** Mark Higgs sues Irving Spikes
Mark Higgs filed suit against Irving Spikes for $26,000 in
unpaid rent and property damage to Higgs' Pembroke Pines home
saturday, after Spikes lived there for a year and a half.
Spikes had agreed with Higgs that he would buy the home, but
after living there for a year and a half, didn't complete the agreed
arrangements to buy the house and had stopped paying rent on the
property.
In addition, Mark Higgs says that the house was completely
torn up and in need of extensive renovation by the time he threw
Spikes out in December of 1996.
My Comments:
The Dolphins signed a punter just so they would have a little
competition in training camp, but unless John Kidd breaks his leg or
is run over by a steamroller, his job is secure. Last season, he set
a Dolphins' record with a 46.3 yard per punt gross average. That was
also good enough to lead the NFL in yards per punt. His net average
of 38.8 yards per punt was 3rd in the NFL and only .4 yards less than
the NFL-best net average of 39.2 yards per punt.
Daryl Frazier was a long shot to make the team, and this
certainly won't help. However, given the nature of the injury, he
should be back at 100% by training camp.
I've been thinking about the Lamar Thomas and I think that JJ
is doing a good job handling the situation. To dump Thomas now would
not help anyone, least of all Thomas. It wouldn't give him a chance
to get his life together and get the counseling he so desparately
needs.
And perhaps a few weeks in jail will help him realize how
precarious a position he's in.
On the other hand, JJ needs to make sure that Thomas
understands that this is his last chance. If Thomas steps out of line
one more time, he should be fired faster than a Dan Marino pass.
And speaking of bad apples, it's beginning to look as if
Irving Spikes is in need of a personality transplant himself. First
he had a problem beating up women and then he takes advantage of Mark
Higgs by not living up to his deal with him. Sounds like a guy the
Dolphins could live without.
Related Info:
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Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New England
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