Tin Bits - Practice Squad Day - UPDATED

Happy Practice Squad Day, everyone!  Today, every NFL team will 'squad up' so to speak with waiver wire prospects.  While Miami is no. 25 on the priority list, there were so many solid prospects released yesterday that I wouldn't be surprised if we were to land one or two players we made ourselves acquainted with during the 2009 draft preparations.  But even though this is a busy transaction day for rookies, so much more is going on today of note:

• The biggest news is that the New England Patriots have traded Richard seymour to the Raiders for a first round draft choice in 2011.  This is shocking news as Seymour has been a star player for the Pats and one of the most respected defenders in the entire NFL for a while now.  He's a 5-time Pro-Bowler for crying out loud.  The fact that the Pats would trade the 29 year old for a 1st round pick, which to be realistic, they'll end up trading down during the draft anyway, and the fact that the Raiders, a team that runs a 4-3, will now take Seymour and put him in the middle of the line, AND that they're willing to give up a future pick that could've been used on whoever the fastest person in the 20011 draft is, sounds inconceivable from both sides of the transaction.  The only good thing that comes out of this trade is actually the AFC East will no longer have to face Seymour twice a year.  In fact, this move by Belichick may turn out to be a huge boone for Miami.  I also suspect this last minute trade will cause issues in the New England locker room.
  

• San Diego may once again be without linebacker, Shawne Merriman, to start the season.  Last year he was kept out due to injury.  This year it's much more serious.  He has been arrested for 'suspicion of choking and restraining Tila Tequila'.  This is just about the weirdest thing a ball club could have to deal with during opening week, and if the allegations are true, Merriman's only hope for redemption would be that everyone actually wants Tila Tequila to be 'restrained and strangled'.

• By now everyone knows that the Denver Broncos have signed former Dolphins defensive end, Vonnie Holliday.  As it stands right now, the Broncos have 3 defensive starters (Holliday, Renaldo Hill, Andre Goodman) that were starters for the Dolphins in 2008.  I always wish former Dolphins the best of luck as they move on to another team, and let's face it, they're going to need it with Josh McDaniels at the helm.

• At last count, 27 players that I scouted during pre-draft days and a good 15 of which were on my final draft board, have been waived.  At this point, I would expect Miami to go after an offensive tackle as priority number one.  Alex Boone is available, as is Jason Watkins, Jaimie Thomas, Phil Trautwein, as is Dolfan favorites Lydon Murtha and Jamon Meredith.  Those are just some of the bigger name rookies.  There are several vets available too including former Dolphins Anthony Alabi and Cory Lekkerker.
  

• And speaking of former Dolphins, Thursday night's game vs the Saints included a visibly shaken Joey Harrington getting beat up on by the Dolphins defense.  The Saints noticed, and released Harrington as part of their roster cuts.  A.J. Feeley has been released by the Eagles.  Cleo Lemon was released by Baltimore last week.  Brian Griese is also a free agent.  Sage Rosenfels is barely clinging on to a third string role in Favre-ota, and his trade to the Vikings actually caused another former Dolphin QB to lose his job, i.e. Gus Frerotte, who is now a free agent.  In fact, of all the active former Dolphin QBs, only one has a starting job and that is Daunte Culpepper.

• Per reports, Miami has waived injured TE David Martin and has claimed another TE, Davon Drew off of waivers. Drew is a rookie out of Eastern Carolina and was impressive during spring OTAs but failed his training camp physical and was placed on the PUP.  He was taken off the reserve list 3 days later.
  

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• Miami currently has 7 players on the PS, maybe Nalbone gets waived now?