Feb 11, 2008 3:37 pm US/Eastern
Dolphins Release 9, Including Green
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Trent Green Released
NFL/AP
The Dolphins on Monday released nine players including veterans Trent Green, defensive tackle Keith Traylor, offensive lineman L.J. Shelton, and wide receiver Marty Booker.
Green was brought in to try and shore up a quarterback position that has been unstable since Dan Marino left the team in the 1990's and also to groom young quarterback John Beck. Green never was able to reach his potential in Miami, eventually being put on injured reserve after suffering a severe concussion against the Houston Texans. The 37-year-old Green will probably retire after being cut.
The release of the often-injured Green means the Dolphins have only Cleo Lemon and Beck left with starting experience. Beck displayed shaky play during his rookie season after being selected as a second-round in 2007. His selection came after the much talked about snubbing of former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. For the year, Beck threw two more interceptions than touchdowns and finished with a 56.1 completion percentage.
Marty Booker's numbers have declined every year since a breakout year in 2002 when he played for the Chicago Bears. Last year, he caught only 50 passes for fewer than 600 yards. Booker was sent to the Dolphins in 2004 for defensive end Adewale Ogunleye.
Defensive tackle Keith Traylor's release could mean the Dolphins are preparing to move to a 3-4 defensive scheme. Every team Parcells has been with in the past few years has switched from the typical 4-3 base defense to a 3-4 base defense. The 3-4 is predicated on having large defensive linemen, like former Hurricanes and current Patriots star Vince Wilfork, to take up as many blockers as possible and allow linebackers to make plays. Traylor is 38 years old and managed to make 33 tackles on a much-maligned Dolphins defense in 2007.
Also released on Monday were offensive tackle Anthony Alabi, defensive tackles Anthony Bryant and Marquay Love, and tackles Marion Dukes and Joe Toledo.
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