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HOT TOPIC
Manny Wright is getting a long look at nose tackle as a potential replacement for the aging Keith Traylor. The 6-6 Wright played Miami's other interior defensive tackle position for most of his rookie season.
"I've been doing it for almost two months three months now, playing at (nose tackle) and zeroing in on that one position instead of moving me around like last year," Wright said at Miami's recent minicamp. "I'm getting real comfortable with it.
"Me and Keith's game are two different games because I'm a little faster. Keith has been here. He knows a lot. I take things from here all the time."
A 2005 supplemental fifth-round draft choice from Southern California, Wright showed tremendous potential at times as a rookie when receiving extensive playing time late in the season. But he also battled weight issues and maturity issues, with the low point coming when Wright cried on the practice field during training camp after being verbally undressed by Dolphins coach Nick Saban.
Wright weighed 343 pounds at the team's minicamp earlier this month, which is roughly 15 heavier than when the 2005 season ended,
"I feel better than I did last year," said Wright, who was forced to turn pro last year after failing to qualify academically to play for the Trojans in 2005. "I didn't work out at all last year (in the offseason). I'm in better condition and better shape. I feel I'm a step ahead. I know what's about to happen and I'm taking the proper precaution this time."
Wright, who is one of Miami's youngest players, said Miami's coaches weren't happy that he reported to off-season workouts overweight, especially considering how much that issue was emphasized during his rookie campaign. Wright, though, has tried to make amends by working out on Saturdays along with Miami's usual weekly routine.
"Anybody who is overweight is a concern, but it is what it is," Saban said. "We put him on a diet, we do what he needs to do, we run him extra ... He's made some progress. He knows he needs to lose weight. But that's a part of the maturity of a player knowing what it takes to be successful."
Said defensive lineman Kevin Carter: "(Wright) has a very good opportunity. We all want him to do well. He's part of our team. But consistency is not the easiest thing to achieve in the NFL. You've got to come in and do it every practice, every time you come out there on the field. That's a hard thing to do. Mental toughness over time is the kind of thing that we'll have to see from him."
PLAYER NOTES
--Dolphins general manager Randy Mueller reportedly attended the pre-draft workout of Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who is entered in the July 13 supplemental draft after being banished from the Cavaliers' program. Brooks could draw strong consideration as a pass-rushing outside linebacker, which is an area the Dolphins didn't strongly address in the offseason.
--The Dolphins have hired Ron Brockington as a scout focusing on the Southwest U.S. Brockington spent the last nine years in the personnel department of the New York Jets, including the seven as a scout.
Brockington replaces Johnathon Stigall, who left for a scouting position with Philadelphia.
--Former Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler had a workout last week with Tampa Bay. Fiedler, who started in Miami from 2000 to 2004, spent almost all of last season on injured reserve with the New York Jets because of a shoulder injury.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--C Alonzo Ephraim (not tendered as ERFA).
--LB Jason Glenn (not tendered June 1).
--WR Kendall Newson (not tendered as RFA).
--LB Nick Rogers (not tendered June 1).
--S Lance Schulters (not tendered June 1).
--LB Lester Towns (not tendered June 1).
--OT Mark Wilson (not tendered as ERFA).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--S Yeremiah Bell: ERFA; $350,000/1 yr.
--TE Alex Holmes: ERFA; $350,000/1 yr.
--CB Eddie Jackson: ERFA; $350,000/1 yr.
--OT Damion McIntosh: FA, had been released by Dolphins; $585,000/1 yr.
--C Seth McKinney: UFA; $5M/2 yrs, $915,000 SB; 2006 cap: $1.043M.
--RB Travis Minor: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--RB Sammy Morris: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--CB Will Allen: UFA Giants; $12M/4 yrs, SB unknown.
--OG Bennie Anderson: FA Bills; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--FB Fred Beasley: UFA 49ers; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--WR Kelly Campbell: FA; terms unknown.
--S Deke Cooper: UFA Jaguars; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--QB Daunte Culpepper: Trade Vikings.
--CB Andre Goodman: UFA Lions; $5M/3 yrs, terms unknown.
--QB Joey Harrington: Trade Lions.
--TE Keith Heinrich: UFA Browns; terms unknown.
--DB Renaldo Hill: UFA Raiders; $6M/3 yrs, $2M SB.
--LB Sedrick Hodge: UFA Saints; $2M/2 yrs, SB unknown.
--DB Michael Lehan: FA Browns; terms unknown.
--LB Keith Newman: UFA Vikings; terms unknown.
--OT Mike Pearson: UFA Jaguars; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--TE Justin Peelle: UFA Chargers; terms unknown.
--LT L.J. Shelton: UFA Browns; $15M/4 yrs, $3.5M SB/$750,000 RB; 2006 cap: $2.875M.
PLAYERS LOST
--WR David Boston: UFA Buccaneers; terms unknown.
--QB Gus Frerotte (released).
--WR Bryan Gilmore: UFA 49ers; $610,000/1 yr, $25,000 SB.
--CB Reggie Howard (released).
--S Tebucky Jones (released).
--CB Sam Madison (released).
--OT Stockar McDougle: UFA Jaguars; $1.065M/2 yrs, $100,000 SB/$100,000 WO.
--QB Sage Rosenfels: UFA Texans; $6.4M/4 yrs, $2M SB.
--LB Junior Seau (released).
--CB Kiwaukee Thomas: UFA Bills; terms unknown.
--RB Ricky Williams (suspended).
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