*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***

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Jan 31, 1996: -- Free Agents --

The NFL Players Association released a list of 456 NFL players yesterday who are going to be free agents this spring. The Dolphins have 13 players on the team who will be free agents - 10 unrestricted and 3 restricted free agents.

Dolphins players who will be unrestricted free agents this spring are:

	Bryan Cox, LB 
	Troy Vincent, CB ***  Transition Player
	Marco Coleman, DE ***  Transition Player
	Keith Sims, OG 
	Irving Fryar, WR 
	Randal Hill, WR 
	Bernie Kosar, QB 
	Eric Moore, OT 
	Frank Wainwright, TE 
	Mike Williams, WR

Troy Vincent and Marco Coleman are designated as "transition players". This means that they must be paid at least the average of the pay of the top 10 paid players at their positions in the league. If any other team makes them an offer, the Dolphins may match the offer or they may elect to take compensation in form of draft picks and/or money if the player signs with the other team.

Restricted free agents on the Dolphins are:

	Terry Kirby, RB 
	Robert Wilson, FB
	Gene McGuire, OL

The Dolphins retain the right of first refusal on any restricted free agents that they have.

Some prominent free agents available around the league include Hardy Nickerson (LB) of Tampa Bay, Cornelius Bennett (LB) of Buffalo, Leslie O'Neal (DE) of San Diego, Eric Davis (DB) of San Francisco and Chris Warren (RB) of Seattle.

My Comments:

The Dolphins are not in particularly good shape as far as the salary cap is concerned and Jimmy Johnson is said to be unhappy about some of the choices he's being forced to make. He reportedly believes that the Dolphins have paid too much for some of their players and I agree with this assessment.

Of the players listed above, Bryan Cox is reportedly asking for around $3.5 million and Keith Sims is asking for $2.8 million. However, the best information I have says that the Dolphins won't be willing to pay that much for either player.

Here is my best guess about who will stay and who will go. Remember that it is only a guess. However, it is no worse than any other guess:

	Player:			Will Sign with Miami:

        Bryan Cox, LB			No
	Troy Vincent, CB ***		Yes
	Marco Coleman, DE ***		No
	Keith Sims, OG			No
	Irving Fryar, WR		No
	Randal Hill, WR			Yes
	Bernie Kosar, QB		Yes
	Eric Moore, OT			Yes
	Frank Wainwright, TE		Yes	
	Mike Williams, WR		No

	Restricted Free Agents:
	Terry Kirby, RB			Yes			
	Gene McGuire, OL		No
	Robert Wilson, FB		Yes