The Dolphins "charged through the start of free agency with force" yesterday, spending tens of millions of dollars in a "rare blast of good news" for local sports fans, according to Beasley & Jackson of the MIAMI HERALD. The team agreed to sign CB Byron Jones, perhaps the "biggest non-quarterback prize in free agency," to a record deal at that position. The club also came to agreements with LB Kyle Van Noy, DE Shaq Lawson, G Ereck Flowers and S Clayton Fejedelem (MIAMI HERALD, 3/17). In West Palm Beach, Hal Habib notes the impending signings are a "clear sign that after a year of shedding talent and not replacing it, the Dolphins are back in the business of trying to beef up their roster" (PALM BEACH POST, 3/17).
PLAYER |
CONTRACT TERMS |
Byron Jones (CB) |
Five years, $82.5M |
Kyle Van Noy (LB) |
Four years, $51M |
Shaq Lawson (DE) |
Three years, $30M |
Ereck Flowers (G) |
Three years, $30M |
Clayton Fejedelem (S) |
Three years, amount unknown |
SO FAR, SO GOOD? In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde writes, "The Miami Dolphins spent big in free agency. Wheeeee! Have you heard that one before?" However, this year "seems different," as the acquisitions involve "more logic" and "less risk." It "rained money from Davie in the way it once did" in years that brought in high-profile free agents like WR Mike Wallace and DT Ndamukong Suh. Hyde: "Did they choose smarter this time? Well, they're not done, so let's see how it all comes together" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 3/17). In Miami, Armando Salguero writes his "hard-nosed, dispassionate, unsympathetic view of what the team did" yesterday is that it is "all good." Salguero: "Nothing wrong. ... No obvious mistakes." There is not a "negative word to say" about agreeing to sign "five good players, with four of those already penciled in as starters and significant upgrades for the coming season." All five players can "make the Dolphins better" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/17).
