*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Sep 01, 1998: -- Players Added to Practice Squad --
** 3 Players Signed to Practice Squad
The team announced yesterday that they have signed running
back Ray Nealy, wide receiver Nate Jacquet and fullback Jamie Reader
to the practice squad. All three players were cut by the Dolphins on
Sunday to bring the roster down to 53 players.
Nealy spent most of last year on the practice squad for the
Dolphins and had a pretty good training camp this summer, but the
addition of John Avery to the roster left the team without an extra
spot.
Jamie Reader is a rookie who joined the team last month after
being cut by the Cardinals. Nate Jacquet was on the practice squad of
the Indianapolis Colts part of last year, but also played in 5 regular
season games as a punt and kickoff returner for them.
A player can be named to a team's practice squad twice in
their career, if he has less than one full year of free agency credit
or if he has been on a team's regular roster for less than 9 games.
The Dolphins still have 2 practice squad vacancies to fill.
They will probably be filled in the next day or two.
** Rumor - Wide Receivers to Work Out
There are a number of reports indicating that the Dolphins
will have some wide receivers in for workouts today and tomorrow in
the hope of fleshing out their receiving corps. Most prominent among
the names mentioned as possibilities are Horace Copeland, who was cut
by the Bucs on Sunday; Willie Jackson, who was cut by the Jaguars and
Alvin Harper, who was cut by the Saints earlier this year.
Horace Copeland is a product of the University of Miami and
was expected to move up and possibly start this year for the Bucs, but
the addition of Bert Emmanuel and the drafting of Reidel Anthony last
year, along with a knee injury, have moved Copeland off of Tampa
Bay's roster.
Willie Jackson had some good stats in his first years at
Jacksonville, but Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell have taken over the
starting jobs there and made Jackson expendable. However, it's
important to note that Jackson's agent has made a public statement
that the Dolphins have not talked to him.
Alvin Harper had terrific success with Dallas, but since
leaving Texas has been a terrific bust. He has not had success with
any of the teams he's been with since then and he's been with the
Bucs, the Redskins and the Saints.
** Other News
Linebacker Anthony Harris returned to work out yesterday
for the first time since injuring his knee three weeks ago in training
camp. He is working with a knee brace and hopes to be ready for
Sunday's game against the Colts.
And Jason Taylor is walking without a limp and without any
pain after the injury on Friday night. While it's way too soon to
predict what will happen, he may be available for the game on Sunday
against the Colts.
My Comments:
I was surprised that the Dolphins didn't add an offensive
lineman to the practice squad, but Scott Shaw had signed with the
Bengals and Jim Bundren was picked up off waivers by the Jets. That
leaves only Nathan Strikwerda available of the players the Dolphins
drafted and they may sign him today.
Also, as far as I know, Brad Jackson is still available and he
may be signed today by the Dolphins.
While the names of the players who will work out today are
unknown, it is pretty certain that the Dolphins will have some
receivers work out today for them and may sign one by the end of the
day. If that happens, the Dolphins will have to cut someone on the
current roster, with Raphael Ball and Henry (Hendrick?) Lusk being the
two guys on the bottom of the totem poll, so to speak.
As to Alvin Harper, I have only this thought - just say no.
Another intriguing possibility, although it's not any more
than conjecture on my part at this point, is the idea that the
Dolphins may want to sign cornerback Larry Brown. Brown, you may
remember, was the SuperBowl MVP the last time Dallas won the game and
was signed to a big free agent contract by Raiders - and was a bust
there.
He went from the Raiders to the Vikings, where he didn't fit
in and they cut him. He seems to be more of a zone defense player
than a man-to-man defender, but that would fit in with the Dolphins'
nickel and dime defensive packages.
Brown is clearly a reasonably talented player and does fit
well in JJ's system of defense. And if he could be had for a minimum
salary (plus incentives, of course) he would probably be a better
backup cornerback for the team than Raphael Ball - no offense,
Raphael.
However, as I said, this is just speculation. I have no
information, either from the team or from any other source, that would
make me think this is even a possibility. Of course, JJ did draft
Larry Brown initially, so it is a possibility.
Related Info:
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Curt Fennell,
[email protected], DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
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