*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***

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Jul 10, 1996: -- Eric Green Waived; Other News... --

The Dolphins announced yesterday that they have released tight end Eric Green. Green, a free agent signee last year, was released because of his high salary, poor work habits (he missed 39 practices last season) and inability to keep his weight down.

Green was signed last year to a 5 year deal to give the Dolphins a boost in the running and receiving departments. The signing of Green allowed the Dolphins to let Keith Jackson go, but the deal was not very sweet for the Dolphins. Green ended up playing in 14 games, but caught only 43 passes for 499 yards and just 3 touchdowns.

In contrast, during Keith Jacksons' last year with the Dolphins (1994), Jackson caught 59 passes for 673 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Green will file a grievance with the NFL claiming that the Dolphins cut him while he was suffering from a football related injury. Green now claims that he injured his knee during the last day of mini-camp in May.

The Dolphins maintain that Green's first story - that he injured his knee while running at home after mini-camp - is correct. This is important, because the NFL Players' collective bargaining agreement says that a player can't be cut while recuperating from a football related injury.

After he injured his knee, he had surgery without consulting with the team that would have kept him out of the lineup until the middle of the season, at least.

If Green wins his complaint, he could receive his entire salary of $1.5 million, which would then count against the salary cap. However, if the Dolphins win, they will save approximately $750,000 of that salary this year. Next year, however, the Dolphins will have to count approximately $2.33 million against the salary cap for the remainder of Green's signing bonus.

In other news, the Miami Herald is reporting that the Dolphins have agreed to a contract with 4th round draft pick LaCurtis Jones. Jones is expected to sign a 3 year deal today for a base salary of $131,000, $164,000, and $196,000. He will also get a $207,000 bonus.

The Dolphins have also come to terms with CB KirK Pointer and Safety Shawn Wooden. Pointer has reportedly agreed to a three-year deal; Wooden a two-year deal.

With these deals, the Dolphins have 4 draft picks left without contract agreements: CB Dorian Brew, RB Karim Abdul-Jabbar, RB/FB Stanley Pritchett and RB Jerris McPhail. The Dolphins have announced that they expect to have them all signed by the middle of next week.

And last, but not least, the Dolphins are negotiating with JB Brown to extend his contract through 1999. In return for the extension, he would forgo some of his guaranteed money and reduce his $1.3 million hit against the salary cap this year. His contract would reportedly contain enough incentives to bring him back to his current salary if he met all of them.

My Comments:

The cutting of Green may be the most important off-season move that the Dolphins have made for one simple reason - it demonstrates who is in control of the team. By cutting Green, Jimmy Johnson asserts his position as the leader of the team and sends the message to all the players that the salary cap will not prevent him from building the kind of team that he wants.

In other words - it's JJ's way or the highway.

Green is perhaps the saddest legacy of the Shula years. His signing was supposed to provide both a tough blocker and a great receiver. He was supposed to help rejuvenate the running game and provide a threat in the passing game.

Unfortunately, the running game actually deteriorated last season and Green was a poor receiver. During his last game as a Dolphin, against the Bills in the playoffs, Green dropped 4 passes and didn't have a single reception. He was worse than bad.

Now that Green is gone, the question of who will replace him is open. As of today, the starter is Ronnie Williams, who has always been lost in the shadows of Jackson and Green. Other tight ends on the roster are Andy Fuller, Craig Keith, Frank Wainwright and Joe Planansky.

It is unlikely that the Dolphins will be able to re-sign Keith Jackson, who wants over $1 million to play and is reported to be near a deal with Green Bay. However, the possibility is good that the Dolphins might sign former Jet Johnny Mitchell, who lives in Boca Raton and has emphatically stated that he wants to play for the Dolphins, even if it means less money for him.

And, of course, Keith Byars can play tight end and has done so when he was with Philadelphia. He prefers to play fullback, but has also worked out at tight end for the Dolphins.

The signing of draft choices before training camp is always a good thing, but two of the most important rookies - Karim Abdul-Jabbar and Stanley Pritchett - are still unsigned and that troubles me just a little.

Related Info:

Official Dolphins Website:

Green's Contract Terminated

Miami Herald:

LaCurtis Jones Signs

Miami Herald:

It's official: J.J. waives Green

Miami Herald:

Who'll be the new TE?

Sportsline USA:

Dolphins Terminate Contact Of Te Eric Green