Feb 29, 2008 11:14 am US/Eastern
Dolphins Strike Early in Free Agency
MIAMI (CBS4.com) ―
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G Justin Smiley signs with Miami Dolphins
NFL
Free agency is in full swing, and the Dolphins are making splashes and could be ready to be a major player in the free agent market. The team are expected to give former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Calvin Pace a deal similar to the one current Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter received last year, according to FoxSports.com. Pace will visit the team's facilities on Friday.
Pace was a first-round pick in 2003, but struggled to find a place along the defensive line early in his career. In 2007, he spent time at both defensive end and outside linebacker and had a breakout season. He will most likely play outside linebacker when the Dolphins switch to the 3-4 defense.
The Dolphins wasted no time on the free agency market, which opened at 12:01a.m. Former San Francisco 49ers guard Justin Smiley agreed to terms with the Dolphins on a five-year contract, according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
The contract is worth $25 million and includes a $9 million signing bonus. Smiley is expected to fly into Miami on Friday and sign the new contract.
Smiley said he is going to play right guard for the Dolphins. He is originally from Georgia and attended college at the University of Alabama. He was a second-round pick of the 49ers in the 2004 NFL Draft.
Smiley started all 32 games in 2005 and 2006, playing much of the '06 season with a torn left labrum. He spent half of 2007 on injured reserved after sustaining a dislocated right shoulder. A physical must be passed before everything is finalized.
Meantime, the Dolphins quarterback shuffle continues as free-agent quarterback Josh McCown is scheduled to visit Miami on Friday, according to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald.
McCown is a 6'4, 215-pound quarterback who has started 31 games during his career. He played for three teams, the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders. If he is signed, he will battle with 2006 second-round draft pick, John Beck. Both quarterbacks lost their starting jobs last year after poor performance on the field.
Finally, the Dolphins singed wide receiver David Kircus who is best known for making headlines last year after he was charged with felony assault for punching a man at a party while playing for the Broncos. Kircus has 15 career receptions for 308 yards.
(© MMIX CBS Television Stations. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)
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