News Now: Miami Dolphins Sign LB After Terminating His Contract….
Tim Dobbins’ contract was terminated by the Miami Dolphins, who signed undrafted rookie linebacker Mark Masterson in favour of the experienced linebacker Channing Crowder, who was released by the team three days earlier.
As a replacement for Crowder in the starting lineup in 2011, the Dolphins signed free agent Kevin Burnett to a four-year, $21 million contract last week. The organisation is clearly expecting more from 2010 fourth-round pick A.J. Edds, who missed the entire previous season due to an ACL tear, as evidenced by Dobbins’ departure.
After being acquired from the Chargers in the 2010 draft-day trade that sent Ryan Mathews to San Diego and Jared Odrick to Miami, Dobbins signed a new contract worth $7.9 million for three years, with a guarantee of $3 million upon signing. In 2011, he was expected to earn $1.7 million, and in 2012, $1.9 million.
In 2010, Dobbins was a key member of the special teams and filled in for Crowder and Karlos Dansby while they were injured. Last season, he made appearances in all 16 games, making six starts, and tallied 47 tackles and one sack.
The Dolphins’ 90-man expanded training camp roster now has 82 players with the trade of Dobbins and Masterson.
Masterson (6’2″, 240) is a native of Williamstown, New Jersey. As a freshman, he played in 11 games for Maine, mostly on special teams. During the 2007 season, he started four out of eleven games and finished with 31 tackles, three tackles for a loss, one interception, and two pass breakups.
Masterson started all 13 of the Black Bears’ games as a junior in 2008; he finished with 68 tackles (3.5 for a loss), two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and seven pass breakups.
Masterson was only able to participate in one game in 2009 due to a foot injury, and the NCAA awarded him a medical redshirt. In 2010, he made a comeback to the field as a fifth-year senior, playing in nine games and tallying 26 tackles, including one forced
