*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***

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Aug 25, 1996: -- Cuts to 53 --

DOLPHINS NEWS:

The Dolphins cut 7 players on Sunday to take the roster down to 53 players by the deadline of 4 PM. Cut were 3 offensive linemen, one defensive lineman, one quarterback and one linebacker. This is the list:

	C/G Gene McGuire
	G Andrew Greene
	G Garrin Patrick
	DT Mel Agee
	LB Jeff Kopp
	QB Mike Buck
	TE Kerry Cash

These cuts left the Dolphins with 10 rookies on the squad - the most since the Dolphins had 11 rookies in 1979. Rookies on this years team include RBs Karim Abdul-Jabbar, Stanley Pritchett and Jerris McPhail; OL Jeff Buckey; DTs Daryl Gardener and Shane Burton; LBs Larry Izzo, Anthony Harris and Zach Thomas and S Shane Wooden.

Out of 12 draft choices, 8 are left on the roster and the other 2 rookies to make the team (Izzo and Harris) are free agents.

My Comments:

There are two surprises on this list as far as I can see: G Andrew Greene, who was picked in the second round last year and was thought to be challenging Chris Gray for the starting spot this year and linebacker Jeff Kopp, who was listed at the second string middle linebacker.

Apparently, free agent Everett McIver and recovered center Cal Dixon are JJ's picks to back up the right guard position.

Also, the release of tight end Kerry Cash seems to indicate that JJ is satisfied with the play of Keith Byars at tight end and increases the possibility that Eric Green will return to the team.

These cuts leave the Dolphins with 7 wide receivers, including Fred Barnett, who won't return until the end of the season and 2 quarterbacks - Marino and Kosar. In an emergency, I believe that John Kidd has some past quarterbacking experience and could fill in to finish out a game.

For the practice squad, I would guess that Dorian Brew, Kirk Pointer, Brice Hunter and LaCurtis Jones are prime candidates.

Related Info:

Dolphins Endzone:

Dolphins Make Final Cuts

ESPNet:

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