Dolphins Address Free Agent Will Allen…Signs 2 Year Deal
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins and CB Will Allen faced an impending free agent market after the 2009 season. Allen, the Dolphins starting CB of the past 3 years was set to become a free agent. Many believed that the Phins found their replacement for Allen after this past April’s draft when they selected Vontae’ Davis in round 1 and later selected Chris Clemons. That is not the case as today the Phins signed their veteran CB to a 2 year extension.
Allen will hold down one CB spot while Davis, Eric Green, and Jason Allen compete for the starting spot opposite field. The signing means that there is one less FA that the Phins have to worry about next off-season and it also will allow the Phins to bring along their rookie crop for a season longer. Allen will compete for his job next year and the year after, his final year of his new deal.
The signing also could be an indication that the future of Jason Allen, the 16th overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft may be on the chopping block. J. Allen has never quite produced and for all intent and purposes has been labled a draft bust. With the Phins draft picks centering primarily around the defensive secondary this past April, Allen may be the odd man out if he is unable to win a job in this years training camp.
The Dolphins may also try and trade Jason Allen but it is unlikely to find a suitor for a guy that many believe was drafted way too high. The news is good however for a defensive unit that lacked serious depth. In one off-season the Dolphins went from a pourous secondary to a team that is on the brink of possibly becoming one of the best units in the NFL.
The Dolphins not only have the toughest schedule on paper in the NFL, they will also face Terrell Owens twice a year when they play Buffalo, Randy Moss twice a year against New England, and persistent rumors continue that the NY Jets are still interested in trading for Clevelands’ Braylon Edwards.
In other news Randy Starks, the teams DE/DT arrested over the weekend for aggravated assault of a police officer will likely have the charges dismissed or reduced when the lawyers finally become involved. Many of the local media, and readers of our site who share the name of the arresting location…’wink’…believe that the charges will be reduced due to a lack of intention on the part of Sparks and the fact that no injuries were incurred. I tend to agree with that as well.