*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Mar 12, 1997: -- Corey Harris Signed --
** Corey Harris Agrees to Terms
ESPN is reporting this evening that the Dolphins have agreed
to terms with free agent cornerback Corey Harris to a 3 year deal for
about $3 million with a signing bonus of around $1.5 million. The
Dolphins have been talking with Harris for several weeks and the Miami
Herald was predicting this morning that Harris would sign by the end
of the week.
Harris, who played his college ball at Vanderbilt, has had a
very interesting career. In college, he play wide receiver for his
first two years and then switched to running back for his final two
years. He set a school record rushing for 1,103 yards on 229
attempts.
In 1992, Harris was selected in the 3rd round by the Houston
Oilers as a possible wide receiver. He played in 5 games for the
Oilers before being waived. Following his departure from Houston, he
was claimed off waivers by the Green Bay Packers, who kept him from
1992 to 1993 as a wide receiver, but then converted him to cornerback
for the 1994 season.
After the 1994 season, Harris became a free agent and signed
with the Seattle Seahawks, where he started at cornerback for the 1995
and 1996 seasons.
Harris, at 5'11" and 200 lbs, is bigger than most of the
Dolphins' defensive backs and current rumor has it that JJ will start
him at safety instead of at cornerback.
** Other Free Agent News
The Dolphins had visits from free agent wide Eric Metcalf,
wide receiver Lawrence Dawsey and defensive end Ernie Logan from the
Jaguars. All three worked out for the team.
Metcalf has been a very exciting receiver for the Atlanta
Falcons in the past, but the signing of Dan Reeves as their head coach
spelled an end to the run-and-shoot offense and Metcalf is looking for
a new team. Last year, Metcalf caught 54 passes for 599 yards and 6
touchdowns.
Originally drafted as a running back by the Browns in 1989,
Metcalf went to the Pro-Bowl twice while with Cleveland as a running
back and return man. However, he expects to command a salary in the
range of $2 million per year, which is way out of the Dolphins' range.
Dawsey played for the Giants last year and caught 18 passes
for 233 yards. He was originally drafted in 1991 by the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, and that year he caught 55 passes for 818 yards and was
named Sports Illustrated rookie of the year. However, he suffered a
very severe knee injury in 1993 and was let go by the Bucs after
1994.
Ernie Logan is another journeyman defensive end, having been
in the league since 1991 with 3 different teams. During his 5 year
career, he has started a total of 7 games and gotten 5.5 sacks.
** Cross Ownership Approved by NFL
The NFL has worked out a set of rules to allow team owners to
own teams in other sports, as well as football. Previously, it was
against NFL rules to allow owners to own more than one sports
franchise, but the NFL has voted to allow it. This ensures that Wayne
Huizenga can continue to own the Dolphins.
My Comments:
On ESPN's report this evening, they stated that Corey Harris
would be playing strong safety for the Dolphins. If this is true,
then Shawn Wooden will probably be back at free safety, where he
played last year for most of the year.
However, I expect that this is a mistake by ESPN. My guess
would be that Harris will be asked to play free safety, leaving Wooden
in the strong safety position - assuming that JJ wishes to make Harris
a strong safety. Harris may also get to compete for a starting
cornerback job.
Eric Metcalf is clearly out of the Dolphins' reach, unless he
wants to take a serious paycut.
Related Info:
PLAYER PROFILES:
[Return to Dolphins News]
Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New England
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