Tin Bits - Thursday, 1/7/2010

I'm having some technical difficulties getting my Wide Receiver Top Ten List up the way I want it, so I thought I'd share some of the news I've found interesting today in the meantime.

• The agent for Josh Cribbs told NFL.com late Wednesday that his client will formally request a trade from the Browns.  The Browns, under Mike Holmgren even, are offering Cribbs a raise to just $1.4M a year. Another of Cribbs' player reps hinted at a trade demand earlier today. Agent J.R. Rickert confirmed it. "We’re going to formally put in a request for a trade," Rickert said. "(Cribbs) will not set foot in that facility again. If they had offered even something like $2.5 million per season we could have worked with them, but to me this offer is indefensible."

• South Florida DE Jason Pierre-Paul will forgo his final season with the Bulls and enter the NFL Draft. JPP only played one year at USF after transferring from JUCO, but paced Jim Leavitt's annually stout defense with 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss, and forced a pair of fumbles.  Despite his lack of NCAA experience, Pierre-Paul is considered by many scouts to be one of, if not the best physical specimen in the draft at 6'6", 265 lbs and has been rated as high as #12 at several Draft websites.  Personally I feel that rating is actually based on how people think he will perform at the Combine.  As a USF fan, I can tell you that JPP got better as the season went on, but I'm still wary of the one-year wonder tag.

• The Dolphins signed TE John Nalbone to a two-year futures contract.  Nalbone spent most of the season on the practice squad. With Anthony Fasano's status with the team uncertain, Nalbone could have an impact on the active roster in 2010. The Dolphins also signed S Nate Ness, WR Julius Pruitt, WR Taurus Johnson, OG Ray Feinga and RB Tristan Davis to two-year futures contracts. The signing of FB Rolly Lumbala and WR Ryan Grice-Mullen yesterday essentially adds up to all 8 practice squad spots being retained for the 2010 off-season.  The Dolphins currently have 69 players on the team with  7 on injured reserve.  TE Joey Haynos, K Dan Carpenter and WR Davone Bess are all scheduled to be ERFAs (Exclusive Rights Free Agents) this year.  QB Chad Pennington, CB Nate Jones, NT Jason Ferguson, and OLB Jason Taylor will all find their contracts coming to an end in February.  RB Ronnie Brown has an option year in his contract which will kick in if the NFL agrees to a new CBA - however, that would happen AFTER the actual 'Free Agency Sweepstakes', thus making it likely he'd miss out on a big contract anyway.  TE Anthony Fasano is also due to become an unrestricted free agent, but a lack of a new CBA will revert him to restricted status.
  

• The Dolphins added WR Ryan Grice-Mullen to their squad this week.  Grice-Mullen is the 2nd former BC Lions (CFL) player to be signed this week, and third in the span of a year.  He was also a team-mate of Davone Bess at Hawaii and also got signed into the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2008 after forgoing his senior year.  He did not stick on any rosters though and spent two seasons in the CFL, including his rookie campaign being Cameron Wake's final season there.  The same can be said about new FB Rolly Lumbala.  In late November, Grice-Mullen set the CFL record for longest playoff punt return when he returned a punt for 106 yards in the second half for a touchdown.  At 5'11", 185 lbs, Grice-Mullen comes into Miami as a return specialist and with the dreads it will be hard to tell him apart from Davone Bess at times in practice (Bess is #7, Grice Mullens #1 in photo).  He is significantly faster than Bess, however.  He was timed between 4.27 and 4.38 during his 2008  pro-day workouts after posting a more conservative 4.46 at the NFL Combine.

•  The Dolphins also signed DE/OLB Brian Johnston, a free agent most recently with the KC Chiefs.

• The South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee unveiled plans to upgrade Dolphin Stadium in order to compete for future big events, including the Super Bowl. Click HERE to see the images.  Personally, I think the image showing young waifish ladies walking down the spiral exits whilst texting is extremely irresponsible on their part!  

• It's official!  The first staff loss/change of the way is under way.  Dolphins Outside Linebacker Coach, Jim Reid has officially been announced as the Defensive Coordinator for the Virginia Cavaliers. This article explains Reid's motivation in leaving the Dolphins.

• Word just in that INSIDE linebacker coach, George Edwards, has also left the team to become the Defensive Coordinator for the University of Florida.