*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Feb 25, 1997: -- More Free Agents to Visit --
CB Corey Harris, S Brock Marion and LB Jim Schwantz to Visit
The Dolphins are having three more free agents visit the team
this week in hopes of finding some new talent to sign for the upcoming
season. The three players that will be visiting include cornerback
Corey Harris of the Seahawks, safety Brock Marion from Dallas and
linebacker Jim Schwantz, also from Dallas.
Harris is a5 year veteran who started the last two seasons for
the Seattle Seahawks. He was originally drafted in 1992 by the Oilers
and played in 5 games before being waived. The Packers then claimed
him and he stayed in Green Bay until 1995, when he was signed as a
restricted free agent by the Seahawks.
Harris has spent the last 2 years as the starting right
cornerback in Seattle, recording 70 tackles, 1 interception, 1 sack
and 11 passes defensed in 1996. He is a bit bigger than the average
Dolphins' defensive back at 5'11" and 199 lbs.
The Packers had Harris playing both ways when he was with
them, and he actually caught 2 passes for them in 1995. Harris is
another one of those defensive backs who has experience as a kick and
punt returner, and he averaged 30 yards per kickoff return for the
Packers in 1993.
Brock Marion is another JJ find, being selected in the 7th
round of the 1993 draft by the Cowboys, but working his way into the
starting lineup in 1995. During that season, he had 6 interceptions,
13 passes defensed and 114 tackles.
In 1996, Marion (5'11" and 197 lbs) started the first 10 games
of the season for the Cowboys before being sidelined with an injury
that kept him out of the rest of the year. An interesting fact about
Marion is that he had his first career interception in the 1993
"ice-bowl" game against the Dolphins.
Jim Schwantz was signed by the Chicago Bears as a rookie free
agent in 1992 out of Purdue and spent his first two years on their
practice squad. He was then traded by the Bears to the Cowboys in 1994
and has been with the Cowboys ever since. Schwantz has never started
an NFL game as a linebacker, but made the Pro Bowl last year as a
special teams player.
Both Harris and Marion are unrestricted free agents, but
Schwantz is a restricted free agent and has been made a minimum offer
by the Cowboys.
Hill and Stubbs Out Looking
Randal Hill is in Tampa Bay today for a workout, competing
with Buffalo's Russell Copeland and Pittsburgh's Andre Hasting for a
possible deal with the Bucs.
And Daniel Stubbs, who is looking for about $1 million a year,
is in negotiations with Atlanta, Philadelphia and Jacksonville for his
services.
Lamar Thomas Goes to Jail and Gardener goes home
Daryl Gardener was released from Presbyterian Hospital in
Dallas on Saturday and has returned home to recuperate from his
injuries. He may have to have another operation to help his jaw heal
properly, but he stated on Monday that he'll do everything he can to
be ready for training camp in July.
And Lamar Thomas pleaded no contest on two counts of
aggravated battery against his girlfriend. In response, the judge has
sentenced him to 8 days in jail - along with 13 weeks of domestic
violence counseling and 18 months of probation.
My Comments:
Harris looks like another one of JJ's bargains. It remains to
be seen how the rest of the league view him, but JJ has a chance to
watch him first hand last fall and that may have something to do with
the Dolphins' interest.
Brock Marion is a definite starter, but it's difficult to
believe that he'd be in the Dolphins' price range. However, perhaps
he'd be willing to play for a little less than market value to come to
South Florida.
To get Schwantz, the Dolphins might have to get into a bidding
war with the Cowboys and I'm sure that JJ doesn't want to do that.
Still, Schwantz would look good chasing down opposing kick returners
alongside Barney Rubble - I mean, Larry Izzo.
Losing Randal Hill would not be a loss, but losing Stubbs
would leave the right side of the defensive line open with no one to
really step in and take his place.
Related Info:
PLAYER PROFILES:
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Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New England
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