Kaddu was drafted with the 155th overall pick out of the University of Oregon. Kaddu has prototypical size for a 4-3 linebacker at 6’3”, 240 pounds.

He was a two-year starter as a member of the Ducks and pulled down 108 tackles, 10 sacks, and 20 tackles for loss over his career.

Kaddu will likely be fighting for backup playing time at linebacker as the starting linebackers for the Fins look set with Kevin Burnett, Karlos Dansby, Koa Misi, and Cameron Wake.

If Miami stay in a three linebacker formation, Wake will shift down to defensive end.

Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin said Wednesday that fans hoping for a quick decision on a starter will have to be patient.

“Hopefully, as we move through the OTAs and a portion of training camp and the preseason, we can get a good feel as to who has the best leadership quality and who’s the best fit for the team moving forward,” Philbin told ESPN, via profootballtalk.com.

So when will Philbin have a good idea of the starter?

“You’d love to have it done by after the second preseason game. Your third preseason game is when your first unit is going to get the vast majority of the snaps in terms of their preseason allocation. If it’s clear earlier, we’ll make a decision at that point in time, but I’d say by the third preseason game we’d like to have a unit established,” Philbin said.

The competition will be between Garrard, Tannehill, and last year’s starter Matt Moore. Garrard has the most starts and is a veteran presence the team could use, but he was completely out of football last year and has been injury prone.

Tannehill is the quarterback of the future and has a gun for an arm and great mobility, which is key in a West Coast offense. He knows nearly the entire playbook, but he’s having to adjust to the speed of the NFL, which can take even the best quarterbacks several months to learn.

Moore finished last season strong, leading the Dolphins to six wins along the way. He’s a journeyman quarterback who rallied a Dolphins team last year that was on the verge of completely collapsing when he became the starter.

Tannehill’s biggest adjustment will not only be to the speed of the NFL, but also the complexity of the NFL defenses. Tannehill played in the wide open Big XII throughout his college career, but now he will have to read complex coverages and go completely through his progressions.

Most believe Tannehill will not start, at least at the beginning of the season. If the Fins struggle, Tannehill will likely get the call at some point during the season to get his feet wet in preparation for being the full-time starter next season.

According to Yahoo, the stunning blonde was the subject of 800 tweets in the first few minutes after Tannehill was drafted by the Dolphins.

CBS4’s Shannon Hori met with Lauren at the Setai on South Beach to talk about all the unexpected attention.

“It was crazy, it was nice to have people be complimentary of you and I’m very used to that being all about Ryan and I’m used to that. It’s good. I’m good with that. I was surprised, I was like ‘oh my gosh.’ It was fun,” Lauren said.

Lauren and her husband are now in South Florida for good.  They are looking for a house to share with their two dogs.

Lauren says she was hoping the Dolphins would come calling because she loves Florida.  In fact, it seems the Sunshine State might have been their destiny.

While they both attended school at Texas A & M, they met in Panama City while on spring break.

And then after their wedding in Mexico in January of 2012, they spent the first three months of their married life living in Bradenton while Ryan was in training.

“I was secretly crossing my fingers. I love Florida. I love the weather, and it gives me the opportunity here with modeling, too.”

Lauren is now looking to sign with a modeling agency in South Florida and plans to attend every home game.

She said when she met Ryan she didn’t even know that he played football for their college.

“I didn’t know for a good couple of days until they were all playing football in the yard and I was like ‘you’re really good,’” Lauren said.  “And that’s when I kind of put that together.”

Lauren says she is looking forward to meeting many of the people in South Florida.

“I am really down-to-earth. And I love to laugh and have a good time. I love my friends. I’m super social,” said Lauren.

Lauren says she was first attracted to Ryan for his looks.  At Ryan’s first Dolphins press conference, a reporter asked him about getting married so young.

His response?

“Can you blame me?” said Tannehill. “I found person I want to spend life with. Why wait?”

Besides the weather and the people, Lauren says she can’t wait to eat lots of Cuban food.  She’s a fan of Cuban sandwiches and platanos.  Hopefully there will be plenty of time to taste more of the variety South Florida has to offer.

Martin is expected to man the right tackle position for the Dolphins going forward. Martin had spent the last several seasons as the blind side protector of Andrew Luck at Stanford. His switch to the right side will mean he will have to get stronger.

Martin’s main competition for the right tackle position will be Lydon Murtha, but given that Martin was a second-round pick, he has the inside track on the job.

The Dolphins have signed the following draft picks: Martin, receiver B.J. Cunningham, receiver Rishard Matthews, and defensive tackle Kheeston Randall. The Fins still have to sign: quarterback Ryan Tannehill, defensive end Olivier Vernon, tight end Michael Egnew, running back Lamar Miller, and linebacker Josh Kaddu.

The Fins have plenty to work on and plenty of questions to answer as the team looks to put last year’s disastrous season behind them and begin anew with head coach Joe Philbin.

At the top of the list, the Dolphins will begin to look at who will be the team’s starting quarterback come Week 1 of the regular season. The Fins have three candidates for the starting quarterback job: Matt Moore, David Garrard, and rookie Ryan Tannehill.

Moore played well down the stretch last season as he led the Fins out of a winless record to finish the season with 6 victories. Fins owner Stephen Ross has said he believes Moore will be the starter in week 1, but no one has guaranteed the job to Moore.

Garrard is a cagey veteran who spent last season out of football. He’s a former starter with the Jacksonville Jaguars who was the last Jags quarterback to lead the team to the playoffs. But he has also been out of football for more than a year while recovering from injuries.

Fans are focused on rookie Ryan Tannehill. He played for offensive coordinator Mike Sherman at Texas A&M and rocketed up draft boards leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft. He’s got a great arm, but needs to improve his accuracy.

Most draftniks said Tannehill would need a full season before he’s ready to play in the NFL. But, Tannehill has one leg up on his fellow rookies; he already knows roughly 75-80 percent of the playbook. Even Moore said Tannehill is far ahead of him in his knowledge of the playbook.

Still, knowing the playbook and being able to execute the plays while facing exotic NFL defenses is a completely different monster. But, Fins fans know that Tannehill will eventually take over a franchise devoid of a franchise quarterback since the days of Dan Marino.

Another question mark on the Dolphins roster is at the safety position. The Fins have several players including: Chris Clemons, Reshad Jones, and Jimmy Wilson; who can play either position. Coaches haven’t given any indication about who will play either of the two safety positions.

Speaking of defense, the team will finally start to put into place the new hybrid 4-3 defense of new defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle. The defense had been a 3-4 defense under former coach Tony Sparano, but Coyle will instead typically employ a four man front.

The defensive line could have a starting lineup as follows: left defensive end Jared Odrick, nose tackle Paul Soliai, defensive tackle Randy Starks, and right defensive end Cameron Wake. Odrick will be expected to put together a semblance of a pass rush to keep the double-teams away from Wake.

If Odrick, Soliai, and Starks can get a good push; Wake should be able to go one-on-one towards the quarterback, at least that’s the plan.

The Fins also have questions at wide receiver and on the right side of the offensive line to figure out as OTA’s go forward.

Today is only day 1, but for the Fins and Fins fans, it’s the beginning of a new journey they hope will end in playoff glory.

Ross first tried to attract celebrities by building a nightclub at Sun Life Stadium and actively seeking out celebrities to buy a small portion of the team from him.

When that didn’t work, he finally started to focus on the on-field product that had been in decay since the days of Dan Marino and Don Shula.

Part of Ross’ problem was that of his own creation. Being a new owner, Ross was to a degree tone-deaf to the ways of the NFL and displayed some poor decision-making with regards to his head coach. He tried to apply the lessons he learned as a powerful real estate magnate to football.

“I’m a developer,” said Ross. “So I”m looking at property and I have to have a vision. In football, it’s a lot harder to do.”

Ross originally went all-in to try and lure then-Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh to Miami to take over the team, while he still had Tony Sparano under contract as his head coach.

The move undermined Sparano and created a rift in the organization that carried over to last year as the Dolphins struggled to win any games. As the season went on, Ross became vilified and in a rare sight, protesters picketed the Dolphins’ facility. Yet, Ross decided to remain dedicated to his plan.

“You’ve got to believe in yourself… anything in life. However, the criticism does sting,” he admitted Ross.

As the offseason began, Ross started a complete makeover of the franchise. Gone were the days of being rude and standoffish with the press and the team decided to start revamping a roster in need of help.

Ross’ first move was to bring in head coach Joe Philbin, who had previously been a coach with the Green Bay Packers. Philbin also made a quick move to get Kevin Coyle to be his defensive coordinator.

Still, fans were still stinging from the high profile swings and misses of trying to hire coach Jeff Fisher and trying to lure quarterback Peyton Manning.

But then, one draft class started to give fans a glimmer of hope. The Fins finally spent a first-round pick on a quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, and then picked up a solid offensive lineman, solid running back and a potentially steal of a defensive end.

Most of the optimism centered around Tannehill and his potential in a West Coast offense. Ross, who has longed for a franchise quarterback, is trying to temper fans’ expectations in Tannehill’s first season.

“This is a guy that might take some time as one would expect,” he told CBS4′s Kim Bokamper.

Ross also said on NFL.com earlier Monday that he expects Matt Moore to be the starting quarterback in Week 1, but that he doesn’t know that for sure.

The 2012 season is the start of an era for the Dolphins Ross hopes will finally give Dolphins fans something to cheer about and be proud to be a part of.

“You know, you go through life once, and if you can afford to do something you have great passion to do, you go for it,” Ross said.

Ross has gone all-in with the Dolphins. Now it’s time to see if his bet was a winner, or if he will come up with aces and eights.

The former Texas Longhorns defensive tackle was taken with the 215th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. While seventh round picks are often longshots to make the team, Randall could sneak into the roster.

Randall played in a 4-3 defensive front with the Longhorns, which is what the Dolphins are transitioning to this year. The Fins currently only have four defensive tackles listed on the active roster, including Randall.

But, players like Jared Odrick and Randy Starks who are listed as defensive ends could easily shift inside to defensive tackle if the situation warrants.

The Fins signed sixth round draft pick wide receiver B.J. Cunningham to a contract last week.

Winslow signed a 6-year, $36.1 million contract in 2009 that had paid him $20.1 million guaranteed. Winslow is due $3.3 million, $4.5 million, and $5.5 million, with no guarantees, according to Andrew Brandt of the National Football Post.

By cutting Winslow, the Bucs would save $4.8 million in salary cap space. The Bucs don’t need the cap space, but head coach Greg Schiano doesn’t believe that Winslow is the difference maker the team originally thought.

Winslow’s career was derailed in Cleveland, but he’s been a solid pass catching tight end in Tampa Bay and is just 29-years-old. Winslow averaged 73 catches and nearly 800 yards receiving per season with the Bucs.

With his ties to Miami, he could be an attractive option for the Dolphins if rookie Michael Egnew doesn’t develop quickly enough as a seam threat. But, given Miami’s tight cap space, Winslow is likely too expensive for the Dolphins to seriously consider.

“I don’t know,” Tannehill told ESPN Radio, via profootballtalk.com. “They haven’t told me anything. I’m just going to go in and compete. That’s what I want to do every day, go in and compete. I want to play, but I don’t think they’ve really spelled out their plans for me.”

Most have long expected Tannehill to eventually become the team’s starting quarterback, but possibly not this season. Tannehill will have to overtake Matt Moore, who played well down the stretch for the Dolphins and overcome presumed backup David Garrard.

If Tannehill has one advantage over the rest of the quarterbacks on the roster it’s that he already knows more than 75-80 percent of the Dolphins’ playbook. Tannehill ran the Dolphins’ offense at Texas A&M while being coached by Mike Sherman, the current Dolphins offensive coordinator.

Still, Tannehill is coming from the pass happy Big XII where he was able to exploit some porous defenses and the overall speed of the game was a bit slower. In the NFL, he’ll have much tighter windows and much more exotic coverages to deal with each week.

The Fins are bringing in fullback Ovie Mughelli in Wednesday night for a visit and workout with the team, according to NFL.com’s Jason LaCanfora.

Mughelli is a true blocking fullback who can occasionally sneak out into the flat and catch a pass or two.

He’s spent the last few years blasting open hole for Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner. With Mughelli in front of him, Turner ran for 1,699 yards in 2008, 871 yards in 2009 and 1,371 in 2010.

Mughelli only played in seven games in 2011 until he tore his medial collateral ligament in his knee. He’ll be 32 this year, but if he’s fully recovered could answer the call to open up the running game for Daniel Thomas and Reggie Bush.

According to the Palm Beach Post and profootballtalk.com, the deal was actually for $17 million guaranteed upon signing and has a base value of $33.865 million. The numbers work out as follows.

Wake gets a signing bonus of $7 million, fully-guaranteed base salary of $615,000 in 2012, $3.565 million in 2013, and $5.82 million in 2014.

His base salary in 2015 is $8.2 million, $3 million is guaranteed for injury only as of now. The Dolphins will then either pick up the option, decline to pick it up and make him a free agent, or ask him to renegotiate his contract. In 2016, Wake’s base salary isn’t guaranteed and jumps to $8.275 million.

Wake receives workout bonuses of $50,000 in 2012 and 2013, $65,000 in 2014, $100,000 in 2015, and $125,000 in 2016. He also has up to $5 million in escalator clauses based on the number of sacks he gets.

With high cap numbers coming when Wake is approaching his mid-30’s, the deal may not make it past 2014. If it doesn’t, the deal is essentially three-years with a base value of around $17 million.

Bush has taken to Twitter to express his feelings on how NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has handled the New Orleans Saints bounty program and also about how the game can damage a player’s body.

While it’s hard to fully grasp a person’s feelings through social media, Bush has revealed how he has been thinking about the issues.

When the suspensions for the New Orleans Saints was handed down last week, Bush took to Twitter to defend how football is a physical game and if people can’t handle it, tough.

“You want something less physical go watch basketball or baseball! This is what we do! Period,” Bush tweeted. “Next thing you know we’ll be playing two hand touch football! #Lame”

Then just a few hours later, the professional football world was shaken to its very core when former San Diego Chargers great Junior Seau committed suicide in his Oceanside, California home. Bush was shocked and saddened by Seau’s loss, especially to his home town of San Diego.

Bush tweeted his feelings and later said a story from Deadspin.com showing how many of the key players from the 1994 San Diego Chargers Super Bowl team were already dead was “very scary.”

Bush tweeted the following day to “tell someone close to you today that you love them. You never know when it could be your last opportunity.”

Then Tuesday morning, Bush rhetorically asked, “Which would you prefer, to be a millionaire or billionaire and dead before the age of 45, or work middle class and live to be 90 years old?”

Later Tuesday, Bush said that he would let his children decide what sport to play, but if they chose another sport he’d be, “HAPPY!”

Bush’s struggle with both sides of the coin is defining football right now.

Most current players want the game to be hard-hitting and just as physical as it has always been. Countless former players are suing the NFL for the game being so physical and taking a toll on their mental health, which they claim the NFL knew about for decades.

The players want it both ways, which owners and fans would like as well, but technology hasn’t advanced enough to produce helmets that can cut the concussion risk down to nearly zero. And as anyone who has had multiple concussions can tell you, they do have a harmful effect on your mental health.

The former players continue to warn current players of the physicality. But when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hits a player with a suspension for hitting a defenseless player or other vicious hits, the current players say he’s taking the physicality out of the game they play.

It’s a debate the league and the players have to have and have to come to an understanding the need to keep the game as physical as possible, while also keeping the player’s health, both physical and mental, as good as possible.

The new contract for Wake is reportedly worth up to $49 million and considering how big of a role Wake has and will play in the team’s defense; it should turn out to be a great deal for both sides.

“It feels really good. Really good. It’s kind of like taking things to another level — kind of like when I came down here from the CFL,” Wake said. “You always try to get better. You always want to reach the next level and I’ve been trying to do that since the moment I stepped on the football field at Penn State. Having a situation like this…it’s going through the journey.”

Wake’s story is well-known. He played at Penn State and after being cut by most NFL teams he went to the CFL and dominated as a pass rushing specialist. The Dolphins signed him and he quickly emerged into a full-time starter.

He’s established himself as one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL and has improved each season in his pass coverage. Wake will most likely be playing his college position of defensive end in defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle’s hybrid defense.

“What he [Coyle] has already brought to the table is huge in the meetings that we have had,” Wake said. “It (the defense) looks very polished and a lot of guys are excited about it. We’ve always have been as a defense at the top of the list in making sure we do our job on the field.”

But don’t expect Wake to go out and spend a lot of his newly found cash.

“I want to stay humble with it. I have never been one of those guys. I am not looking at a helicopter or diamonds or big tiger (laughing) or nothing like that,” Wake said. “Like they said, “wine money with beer tastes. I keep it pretty simple and hopefully (save money) for a rainy day in the future and hopefully for generations to come.”

The questions that Wake will have to answer surround the fact that he is now 30-years-old and how much longer can he perform at a high level.

Wake’s sack numbers dropped significantly from 2010 when he had 14 sacks to 2011 when he had just 8.5 sacks.

So, Wake will get $20 million in guaranteed money from the Fins, but he’ll have to really earn the rest of that money past the age of 30.

The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Wake has played three seasons with the Dolphins, and led the team in sacks last year with 8½. He has started 31 of 46 games.

Wake has 28 sacks and four forced fumbles with Miami after coming to the Dolphins from the Canadian Football League, where he was a two-time defensive player of the year.

Terms of the deal were not announced Sunday. Wake had one year and $650,000 left on his previous deal. ESPN is reporting the extension is worth $49 million, with $20 million guaranteed.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Rookies including quarterback Ryan Tannehill, offensive tackle Jonathan Martin and a cavalcade of other players will all be on the Dolphins practice field to get acquainted with the NFL and the Dolphins coaches.

Most eyes will be on Tannehill who Fins management and fans hope will finally solve the quarterback situation in Miami that has been in flux since Dan Marino walked off the field more than a decade ago.

Tannehill already knows roughly 60-70 percent of the Dolphins’ new playbook as he played under Fins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman while both were at Texas A&M. His primary competition this year will be Matt Moore, who led the Dolphins to a .500 record in the last 12 games and veteran David Garrard.

Given that Tannehill only has 19 starts as a quarterback under his belt, most believe he will spend most of the 2012 season on the bench. But, as Fins general manager Jeff Ireland said, he didn’t pick him to sit on the bench.

The player who has the potential to make the most impact as a rookie is offensive tackle Jonathan Martin. He played left tackle for three years protecting Andrew Luck’s blind side. He’ll kick over to right tackle with the Fins.

Some have worried about his strength, after he put up 20 reps of 225 pounds at the NFL Combine, but the Dolphins will not rely as much on strength as it will athletic ability in a zone-blocking scheme.

Past Tannehill and Martin, all eyes will be on a pair of former Miami Hurricanes, Lamar Miller and Olivier Vernon. Miller is expected to challenge Daniel Thomas for carries when Reggie Bush is out of the game and possibly help in the kicking game.

Vernon, a classic 4-3 defensive end, is expected to contribute on third downs to help teams keep from double-teaming Cameron Wake on most plays. Vernon could work his way into a starter if Jared Odrick doesn’t play at a high level and Vernon improves each week.

Seau was found dead inside his home Wednesday morning from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

The medical examiner’s office says it will determine what to do with the body once a decision is made by the family. It is not known whether or not Seau’s brain will be turned over to unidentified outside researchers for study.

Oceanside Police responded to a report of a shooting at his beachfront home Wednesday. A 911 call reporting a possible suicide was made to police at just after 9:30 a.m. local time.

When police and first responders arrived at the home, they tried to resuscitate Seau to no avail.  A handgun was found near the body.

“Our hearts and prayers as a city go out to the Seau family,” said Frank McCoy, Oceanside Police Chief.

Seau shot himself in the chest, which is similar to the way former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson committed suicide.

(Source: CNN) – People gather outside of the ocenside home of Junior Seau after learning of his death

Duerson shot himself in the chest in Miami-Dade County in 2011. He wrote in his suicide note that he wanted his brain donated to a research center because he thought the hits he took to the head during his career caused him to end his life.

Many football fans want to know whether Seau’s football career played any role in his apparent suicide.  The former football star’s death was the topic of discussion on WINZ 940’s “The Amigo and Dizz” show.

One caller raised the point, ” I’m just thinking something about the concussions and the impact it does to the brain.”

Host Larry “The Amigo” Milian weighed in, “This is not a coincidence;  this is something that’s directly related to the punishment you take in that game… 15 years in the case of Seau, and how that relates to your state of mind after the game is over.”

NFLPA Legends director Nolan Harrison came out with a forceful call to former players.

“I am PLEADING with all my brothers and NFL family; if you need help, someone to talk to, if you know someone who does, PLEASE REACH OUT!” Harrison said in a Tweet.

Seau’s mother spoke briefly to the media before collapsing saying, “I’m shocked but I appreciate everybody’s over here to show your love show your love to my son.  Junior never do nothing for you guys but I say today thank you, I appreciate you guys show your love to my son.”

According to the San Diego Union Tribune, Chargers chaplain Shawn Mitchell said he was notified of the death and was on his way to be with family members.

Current Miami Dolphin running back Reggie Bush said on Twitter he was in disbelief.

“RIP Jr. Seau, one of the greatest players to play the game! Damn this one hurts San Diego! One of the greatest to come from the city,” Bush tweeted. “You will be missed bro.”

“Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now,” the Chargers said in a statement. “We ask everyone to stop what they’re doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family.”

Chargers president Dean Spanos said late Wednesday afternoon, “I’m shocked and devastated. Junior was my friend. We all lost a friend today….This is just such a tragic loss. One of the worst things I could ever imagine. My prayers go out to Junior’s family. It’s heartbreaking.”

“I was fortunate enough to coach with him in Miami for a year,” said Chargers head coach Norv Turner, who was an offensive coordinator for the Dolphins. “He went in there and had a great impact on a lot of veteran players there in terms of his work ethic and how much being a pro meant to him.”

“All I can say is this one’s hard, and it will take a long time to get over. He had such a great impact on so many people, and he will be missed.”

Former Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall tweeted, “Just heard about Junior Seau. My heart hurts for him and his family. Brothers & Sisters, it’s so important we talk to someone when things get overwhelming or to [sic] heavy for us to carry.”

Seau played from 1990 to 2009 and played for the San Diego Chargers, the Dolphins, and New England Patriots.

He had more than 100 tackles in the three years he played for the Dolphins and also had five sacks.

(Source: CNN) Family and friends share tears outside of Junior Seau’s home after learning of his death.

“We are stunned and saddened at the passing of Junior Seau,” said Dolphins CEO Mike Dee. “During his time with the Dolphins he made a unique contribution to the team and the South Florida community. Junior was a fierce competitor whose passion and work ethic lifted his teammates to greater heights. His enthusiasm for the game was infectious and he passed that on to everyone who was around him. He loved the game so much, and no one player with more sheer joy.”

Dee continued, “Beyond his accomplishments on the field, though, he was as well known for his charitable accomplishments to help those less fortunate than himself, especially kids. Whether it was in San Diego, South Florida, New England or everywhere else in between, Junior loved putting a smile on a child’s face during his “Shop with a Jock” program or during one of his countless school visits. He made a difference to so many people in so many places.”

Dee finished saying, “Junior was one-of-a-kind. The league will never see anyone like him again. He will be missed, and on behalf of the Miami Dolphins, we want to extend our condolences to his family.”

Seau was a key cog in the defense for the Chargers and later provided key veteran leadership for the New England Patriots from 2006 until the end of his career.

Junior made the Pro Bowl from 1991-2002, was a first-team All-Pro six times, and was named the 1994 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year.

But he was a star long before he ever reached the NFL.

While at USC, Seau collected 107 tackles in 1988 and 1989, including 33 for loss. In 1989, Seau had 19 sacks and 27 tackles for loss and was named an All-American and the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.

Seau was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 and in 2008 was placed into the USC Ring of Honor at the L.A. Coliseum.

Seau’s success at USC started the “55 Club” at USC. Jack del Rio wore the number first and it’s also been worn by Willie McGinest, Keith Rivers, and Chris Claiborne.

“So saddened by the news of Junior Seau’s passing,” said former USC head coach Pete Carroll. “The hearts of the Trojan family go out to his relatives and friends.”

The 43-year-old Seau leaves behind three children and an ex-wife.

The Dolphins will have their draft picks in camp including: quarterback Ryan Tannehill, defensive end Olivier Vernon, running back Lamar Miller, tight end Michael Egnew and other picks at the facility to hear from head coach Joe Philbin.

Also coming to the rookie mini-camp will be former University of Miami quarterback Jacory Harris. Jacory will probably not make the Fins roster with Tannehill, David Garrard, Matt Moore and Pat Devlin already in house.

One of Tannehill’s favorite targets at Texas A&M, wide receiver Jeff Fuller will also get look by the Dolphins. Fuller caught 63 passes for 709 yards and five touchdowns last season with the Aggies.

The Dolphins have yet to release a list of undrafted rookie free agents the team has signed, but CBS4 news partner put together a list of players who will be at camp this week.

Other undrafted rookies expected to attend next week’s minicamp: Notre Dame running back Jonas Gray; Pittsburgh defensive tackle Chas Alecxih; Arizona State linebacker Shelly Lyons; Portland State offensive lineman Dustin Waldron; Missouri defensive end Jacquies Smith; Hampton cornerback Micah Pellerin; Boise State defensive end Jarrell Root; University of Massachusetts offensive lineman Josh Samuda; BYU center Terence Brown; Washington inside linebacker Cort Dennison; and Rhode Island guard Kyle Bogomil, Arkansas State safety Kelcie Gray and Purdue linebacker Albert Evans.

The Dolphins first round pick will be the deciding factor in the team’s 2012 draft class. The Fins selected quarterback Ryan Tannehill number eight overall out of Texas A&M. Tannehill was projected to the Dolphins for months and is expected to be the team’s franchise quarterback.

Tannehill had only 19 starts at quarterback for Texas A&M. He also spent the first two years of his college football career playing wide receiver, where he was a solid receiver for the Aggies in the Big XII.

In the second round, the Dolphins did what most teams who take a quarterback in the first round do, get him some protection. The Fins selected Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin who spent the last several years protecting the blind side for quarterback Andrew Luck.

Martin projects to be a right tackle for the Dolphins after playing his collegiate career as a left tackle. Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said Martin was “athletic, a good kid, high character guy.”

“I really like the guy,” Fins head coach Joe Philbin said of Martin. “When I first watched him, right before the combine, what got my attention was his hand usage. He’s got good length in his arm. I’m excited about him.”

If Martin can translate his athletic ability and skills to the right side of the line, he and current Dolphins left tackle Jake Long could form the bookends of a vastly improved offensive line from last year.

The third round saw the Dolphins fill both the need for a pass rusher opposite Cameron Wake and a tight end to stretch the field. The Dolphins reached out just 30 miles down the road for the first third-round pick and drafted Olivier Vernon out of the University of Miami.

“He’s got big hand; he’s 21-years-old and I like his strength,” Coach Philbin said of Vernon. “I like the way he worked and I think he’s got great potential.”

Vernon could end up being one of the steals of the draft if he can put what happened to him at the beginning of his senior season behind him and put all of his skills towards becoming a bookend defensive end for the Fins for years to come.

The second third round pick saw the Dolphins grab University of Missouri tight end Michael Egnew. The former Tiger stands 6’5” and weighs around 250 pounds. He’s a pass-catching tight end that was used almost exclusively as a receiver in college.

Egnew is looking to break the tradition of Missouri tight ends that excelled at Mizzou and then bombed in the NFL including Chase Coffman and Martin Rucker. Philbin said Egnew could be a good blocker and that he creates a lot of mismatches.

“He’s certainly been comfortable playing outside the box,” Philbin said. “In a slot, and even as a wide receiver like throwing screens through him…He’s a willing blocker. He can bend. If you can bend and you’re willing, then you got a chance.”

The Dolphins were hanging back as the fourth round started, but as University of Miami running back Lamar Miller continued to plummet down the draft, the Fins pounced. Miller, who was one of the fastest players in the draft, will fight to become a backup to Reggie Bush for the Fins.

Miller’s stock took a hit because of the perception that he couldn’t catch the ball out of the backfield. But, with the Fins looking for speed and difference makers across the field; Miller was the best player available in the fourth round.

Later in the draft, the Dolphins selected wide receiver B.J. Cunningham out of Michigan State in the sixth round. NFL Networks’ Bucky Brooks called Cunningham an underrated pass catcher and a good route runner.

The Dolphins also rolled the dice on University of Texas defensive tackle Kheeston Randall. Coming into the 2011 season, he was touted as an early-round prospect. He struggled during his senior season, but if the Dolphins can get him back to his old game, he could turn out to be a late round steal.

Overall, the Dolphins had several needs and filled most of them in the 2012 NFL Draft. Martin, Vernon, and Egnew have the potential to be immediate impact players, as does Miller. But the true value of the class will be determined by Tannehill’s play.

Michael Davis was arrested in Washington for allegedly hitting a woman in the head with a hammer, according to the Associated Press. Police in Washington said Davis was caught on Thursday night after a teenage girl was attacked in the same area as three other attacks.

DC Police wouldn’t confirm that Davis’ alleged attack was related to the other attacks, but admitted they were similar in nature, according to WJLA.com.

Police said after officers found Davis he started to run and threw away a bag that had a claw hammer inside, WJLA reported.

One of the three attacks in a span of 27 hours Tuesday and Wednesday led to the death of tourist Gary Dederichs, 66, according to WJLA.

Vernon Davis tweeted out that he got a “disturbing call” from Washington.

“Just got a disturbing call from back home in Washington, DC,” Davis wrote in his tweet. “A good day gone bad! Hopefully he wasn’t involved!”

“[We're} very,very excited to have Ryan," Fins general manager Jeff Ireland said Thursday night. "This is a kid we've been following quite a while. Great size, strong arm."

Miami will likely sit Tannehill on the bench for his first season in the NFL to give him time to adjust his game and learn the speed of the NFL.

When asked if Tannehill would start, Ireland answered, “I didn’t take him with the eighth pick to be a backup.”

Dolphins fans can mark down the date, April 26, 2012, exactly 29 years to the day the team last took a quarterback in the first round, a guy named Dan Marino.

It worked out pretty well for the first time when they too Marino. Tannehill isn’t Marino, but Fins fans have hope that a quarterback of the future is now on the roster.

“It’s humbling,” Tannehill said about being a Fins QB like Marino. “I look forward to reach out to him and learn from him.”

Tannehill was highly regarded as an athlete after starting his first two seasons as a wide receiver at Texas A&M.

While the athleticism was one of the big draws, many poked holes in Tannehill’s game as far as making throws on inside slants and to the middle of the field.

“I have him rated as the 19th best player in the draft, which tells you I don’t think he’s ready to be a heavy contributor this year,” said NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock. “I watched every throw he made on tape this year. All the out-breaking routes are phenomenal. Where he gets in trouble are the in-breaking routes where he stares the receiver down, pats the ball and throws interceptions.”

Still, Tannehill had a big arm and was a key cog in the Aggies offense the last two years.

The Dolphins had what former NFL great Marshall Faulk called an unfair advantage because Tannehill’s coach in college was Mike Sherman, the Fins’ current offensive coordinator.

Last season, Tannehill threw for 3,744 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. For his career, Tannehill threw for more than 5,300 yards in two seasons as a quarterback.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay both have said for the last few weeks that Tannehill was bound for Miami with the eighth overall pick. While the Dolphins spent the earlier part of the week denying that owner Stephen Ross was not influencing the decision, they have never denied interest in Tannehill.

“No surprises here, I’ve said before I think Tannehill has been a little overhyped by the draft process, but I agree with colleague Todd McShay that the upside is undeniable,” Kiper said on ESPN.com. “This really is the best setting for Tannehill too.”

But Fins fans will have to be willing to wait with Tannehill. He will likely need a full season in a backup role adjusting to the speed of the NFL before he can ever step under center for the Dolphins. Philbin was responsible for tutoring Aaron Rodgers for three seasons before he took over, and that’s worked out pretty well for the Green Bay Packers.

Of course the Dolphins could go in a completely different direction and draft a pass rusher who could make an immediate impact. Pass rushers including North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples, South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram, or they could go completely in a different direction.

McShay posted his final seven round mock draft late Thursday morning and it looked promising for the Dolphins. McShay said the Dolphins draft would go like this:

1. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
2. Alshon Jeffrey, WR, South Carolina
3. Zebrie Sanders, T, Florida State
   Ronnell Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma
4. Jonathan Massaquoi, DE, Troy
5. Kelcie McCray, S, Arkansas State
6. Pat Edwards, WR, Houston
7. Jacquies Smith, DE, Missouri

If that came to fruition, the Dolphins would solve the quarterback, wide receiver, and right tackle position with their first three picks. That would be enough to make any Dolphins fan jump for joy. Massaquoi would add defensive end depth along with Smith, while McCray would do the same at safety.

The catch could be the second round pick. There were two Alshon Jeffrey’s during his playing time in South Carolina. There was the Alshon Jeffrey as a freshman and sophomore who looked like a dominant number one receiver, and then there was the overweight Jeffrey as a junior whose numbers diminished as South Carolina moved to a power running attack due to bad quarterback play.

If the Dolphins could recapture the Jeffrey of his sophomore year as a second-round pick, Fins fans would soon be saying Brandon Marshall-who?

Schefter appeared on ESPN Radio Wednesday morning and said he had heard the same thing other reporters have about Ross wanting Tannehill.

“It will be interesting to see how that plays out,” Schefter said. “If Stephen Ross does, in fact, get what he wants and exerts his will and says ‘we want this guy.’”

The Dolphins have gone to great lengths to deny interest in Tannehill. Fins general manager Jeff Ireland has gone on national shows to deny interest and Ross himself sent out emails saying he was not influencing the decision making process of Ireland.

Tuesday evening, even new head coach Joe Philbin deflected while talking about the prospect of bringing Tannehill into the team.

“We’ve talked obviously a lot,” Philbin said of talking Tannehill with coach Mike Sherman. “We’ve had draft meetings. We’ve discussed him as an individual. We watched his film. Obviously, Mike has been around Ryan for a long, long time, but it’s not like we’ve sat around and said, ‘ok, what about him at eight.’”

Philbin continued, “And again, you have to remember a coach doesn’t have the same perspective on a draft that a general manager has…We wathc guys sometimes as coaches, we are guilty of falling in love with guys a little bit too fast, so we haven’t had any discussions about where he should go. But certainly, he’s a resource when you’re due diligence on prospects, you want as much information as you can get and so we’ve asked him [Sherman] some questions about him [Tannehill].”

Reading between the lines of what Ross and Ireland have been so vociferously denying isn’t that they want to draft Tannehill. It’s only been a denial that Ross is influencing Ireland to draft Tannehill. Even Philbin’s quotes don’t deny the team has been doing plenty of digging on Tannehill.

What it could come down to is whether or not Coach Mike Sherman is willing to go to bat for Tannehill and say the Dolphins should draft him at number eight. Philbin said they haven’t discussed it, but that’s a smoke screen as team officials discuss a lot of picks in the last few days leading up to the draft.

Schefter did say in his report that the other player the Dolphins could be interested in is North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples. The former Tar Heel drew criticism for his statistical decline last season, but he was also playing out of position at defensive tackle.

Coples would join Cameron Wake and form arguably one of the better pass rushing tandems in the AFC East if Coples is properly motivated at defensive end. Coples stands 6’6” and weighs roughly 285 pounds and ran a 4.7 40-yard-dash.

Star outside linebacker Cameron Wake was not in attendance for the Fins’ first minicamp. It’s not a surprise because Wake, who has turned into one of the most dominating outside linebackers in the game is unhappy with his current contract.

Wake will make $615,000 in 2012, but he wants a long-term contract with the team that is in line with how he has vastly outplayed his first contract. He’s pulled down 28 sacks in his first three seasons and wants a pay raise.

Still, he took part in conditioning workouts last week, though he missed the first week of those as well, according to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald.

From the Dolphins point of view, they may be waiting to see how Wake adjusts to his new position as a defensive end. If Wake continues to be dominant with his hand down, his contract could cost even more.

On the flip side, if Wake struggles as a defensive end in a 4-3 defense, his contract cost will go down. But, given that Wake had huge success as a 4-3 end in the CFL; the Fins are pretty confident he’ll be a star player at end as well.

That’s why on Monday, the team brought in a familiar face to Florida State Seminoles fans for a workout. Former top 10 pick Ernie Sims, Jr. was worked out by the Dolphins along with fellow free agent linebacker Omar Gaither.

Sims was a standout linebacker at Florida State who ended up being overdrafted by former Detroit Lions general manager Matt Millen. Sims, 27, has freakish athletic ability, but has never been able to translate all of the skills onto the field.

Sims has also battled problems with concussions during his time in Detroit.

If the Dolphins are ready to move full-time to a 4-3 defense, Sims could be a candidate to start if the team wants to keep Koa Misi on the bench. Currently, the Fins have Karlos Dansby, Kevin Burnett, and Misi penciled in as starters.

Misi has been a disappointment since being drafted in the second round. He flashed moments as a rookie, but was never able to put it altogether as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

The Fins have previously added Gary Guyton to the linebacking corps who could slide in and be a starter if the team utilizes more of a 3-4 look.

CBSMiami.com is joining in the mix of mocks with its 2012 NFL Mock Draft. The top of the draft was easy to figure out, but after the top two picks, things go haywire in a hurry. So without further adieu, here’s the CBSMiami Mock Draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
   The Colts ditched Peyton Manning and take their next franchise QB in Luck.
2. Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin, III, QB, Baylor
   Washington traded the farm for the phenomenal Griffin who may be what people hoped Michael Vick would become.
3. Minnesota Vikings – Ryan Kalil, LT, USC
   They have their quarterback in place, now they fill the void left last year when they cut Bryant McKinnie
4. Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
   The Browns are willing to give QB Colt McCoy another year. Giving him Richardson will open up the play action fake and finally give the Browns a solid running back to pound the ball in December.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
   With Aqib Talib’s status uknown, Claiborne fits a need and is the top cornerback in the draft.
6. St. Louis Rams – Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
   For months it’s looked like St. Louis had Justin Blackmon in its sights, but a day 1 starter at defensive tackle would help St. Louis’ defensive ills.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
   Jacksonville has a decent offensive line, quality running back, good tight end and will add a talented receiver. Now it’s all up to Blaine Gabbert to develop into a quarterback this season.
8. MIAMI DOLPHINS – Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
   The Fins roll the dice on Tannehill who could develop into a franchise quarterback in a West Coast Offense, or set the franchise back another decade. No pressure there Ryan.
9. Carolina Panthers – Luke Kuechly, MLB, Boston College
   Carolina coach Ron Rivera needs to rebuild a defense and having a three-down linebacker in the mold of Zach Thomas and Ray Lewis will only fortify an improving squad.
10. Buffalo Bills – Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
    Corner is a need when you play the Patriots. He helps lock up a secondary on a vastly improved defense from last season.
11. Kansas City Chiefs – Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama
    The Chiefs run a 3-4 defense and a thumper of an inside linebacker with great versatility only makes the young defense that much better.
12. Seattle Seahawks – Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
    Hawks coach Pete Carroll isn’t afraid of taking a chance on a player. If Coples is motivated, he could be the steal of the draft at number 12.
13. New England Patriots (via trade with Arizona Cardinals) – Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
    The backend of the Pats defense has needed work since Rodney Harrison left the team. Barron is as good as they get and will plug into the Pats lineup immediately.
14. Dallas Cowboys – Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina
    Missing out on Barron hurts, but a pass rushing defensive end/linebacker is always a good medicine for a team playing the Giants and Redskins with RGIII in the backfield.
15. Philadelphia Eagles – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
    Philly is perpetually searching for quality interior line play. Brockers is very raw, and could have used another year in school, but the Eagles gamble and may hit paydirt with the athletic Brockers.
16. New York Jets – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
    The Jets have Santonio Holmes and some stiffs at wide receiver. With Holmes a headcase, Floyd will be the true safety net for Mark Sanchez, and possibly Tim Tebow.
17. Cincinnati Bengals – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
    Cincy lost Jonathan Joseph before last season and need a replacement. Kirkpatrick is similar to the Fins’ Sean Smith in height, but is much more developed than Smith as a rookie.
18. San Diego Chargers – David DeCastro, G, Stanford
    The Chargers lost a starting guard to retirement, so they draft his replacement who will start from day 1 protecting Phillip Rivers.
19. Chicago Bears – Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
    What a great name for a defensive end. Mercilus will start opposite Julius Peppers which means if he takes well to coaching and developing technique, he could be a monster of the midway.
20. Tennessee Titans – Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia
    You can never have enough lineman who can start multiple positions. Glenn is a beast who will help open up massive holes for Chris Johnson to pursue 2,000 yards rushing again.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama
    Versatility, plus experience in a pro-style defense will allow Upshaw to challenge for a starting job in year one.
22. Cleveland Browns – Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
    If Cleveland gets Richardson and Wright in the first round, no one will be able to wipe the smile off quarterback Colt McCoy’s face.
23. Detroit Lions – Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
    The Lions have to replace Jeff Backus eventually. Give him Adams as an understudy for a year and then Matt Stafford has his blind side protected for years.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers – Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
    If Poe can ever match his skills up with his massive athleticism, he’ll be a beast in the NFL in the vein of Ravens defensive lineman Haloti Ngata.
25. Denver Broncos – Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
    Denver fixed its offense for the most part in the offseason, now, John Elway looks to fortify his run defense to really take the team to the next level. Worthy is rising on boards and is a perfect fit for John Fox and the Broncos.
26. Houston Texans – Stephen Hill, WR, Ga. Tech
    Andre Johnson has faced double coverage for years, now the Texans bring in a complimentary receiver to hopefully free up Johnson more throughout the game.
27. Arizona Cardinals (via trade with New England Patriots) – Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
    The Cardinals need offensive line help and nothing can help a line more than a solid anchor in the middle making the calls. Konz may start from day 1.
28. Green Bay Packers – Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State
    Versatility will be McClellin’s selling point. Giving Clay Matthews some help as a pass rusher will make the Packers defense that much more stout, especially with Jay Cutler getting Brandon Marshall to throw to in Chicago.
29. Baltimore Ravens – Amini Silatolu, OG, Midwestern State
    He’s a mauler at offensive guard and will add the wealth of riches along the offensive line in Baltimore including Bryant McKinnie and Michael Oher.
30. San Francisco 49ers – Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
    The pick makes too much sense. Fleener knows Harbaugh’s offense and is a capable blocker. Still, don’t be surprised if Reuben Randle of LSU is the pick.
31. New England Patriots – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
    The Pats always need offensive line help to keep Tom Brady upright. Plus, if Solder doesn’t fit at left tackle, Martin could plug into the left tackle spot for the rest of Brady’s career.
32. New York Giants – Reuben Randle, WR, LSU
    Jerry Reese is a draft whiz and he takes the best player available here to hopefully give quarterback Eli Manning another big target on the outside to go against the Eagles, Cowboys, and Redskins

That’s CBSMiami.com’s Mock Draft. If you want another perspective, take a look at what our partners in New York came up with on their own mock draft by clicking here.

The Dolphins released Merling Monday with general manager Jeff Ireland telling profootballtalk.com, “Wwe’re just going in a different direction.”

Merling was taken with the 32nd pick in 2008, which essentially made Merling the Dolphins’ second first-round pick that year. Unfortunately, he’s performed nothing like a first-round pick.

For his career, Merling has started a total of five games for the Fins and pulled own a total of 50 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 8 passes defused. Merling has also been in trouble with the law in South Florida.

According to Darlington, Merling had a lack of discipline with the Dolphins and he hasn’t been attending workouts with the team.

With the loss of Merling and Kendall Langford this offseason, the Dolphins are left with Jared Odrick, Paul Soliai, Randy Starks, Tony McDaniel, and Ryan Baker along the defensive line.

If the Fins are intent on putting in a 4-3 defensive front most of the time, the team may have tipped its hand which way it’s leaning with the number eight pick in the draft. But, the draft is also loaded along the defensive line, so the Fins may wait until the later round to add defensive linemen.

The Miami Dolphins appear set on a few players they can pick with the number eight overall pick. Now, it’s all a guessing game as to who the pick will be.

According to profootballtalk.com, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is “pushing” for quarterback Ryan Tannehill to be the first round pick of the team. The report could be true given that Ross has been pushing for a franchise quarterback since he’s been here.

But, CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald reported the Ross story is not true and that Ross has not told anyone who the team should draft. Then again, SI.com’s Peter King reported Monday morning that a highly placed Dolphins source said the original profootballtalk.com was “right on.”

King also reported that Miami offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, who coached Tannehill while at Texas A&M, “isn’t standing on the table for him.” If the last part of King’s report is accurate, the Fins may not be inclined to take Tannehill if his former head coach isn’t gung ho for him.

It’s wise for the Dolphins not to send clear signals as to whether they intend to draft Tannehill, because it keeps the trade market open for a team to move ahead of the Fins and take Tannehill, if the Fins aren’t sold on taking him at eight.

But the very trade market the Dolphins, Jaguars, and Rams hope to generate may be obsolete based on part of the collective bargaining agreement.

Both profootballtalk and SI.com reported that each first round pick this year will be signed to a four-year contract with a team option for the fifth year. Teams have to tell players by May of the fourth season if they plan to exercise the option.

Here’s where it gets tricky. For picks 1-10 of the first round, the fifth year salary will be the average of the top 10 salaries at the position that season. For the other picks in the first round, the fifth year salary will be the average of the third through 25th salaries at that position that year, according to SI.com.

The difference between salaries can be several million dollars and with a hard salary cap in the NFL, every dollar counts.

So while the original theory was the new CBA would make it more beneficial to jump up to take a player may not be entirely true. It ends up making the Kansas City Chiefs, who hold the 11th overall pick, as being in the driver’s seat for the first round.

As for the Dolphins, they could be trying to sandbag on Tannehill and also make it sound like they love Tannehill to keep teams guessing as to who they really like. Given the release of another defensive lineman Monday, the Fins may choose to target a rush defensive end/linebacker in the first round.

All of it leads to Thursday night’s NFL Draft and proves once again why the NFL is the big dog of professional sports among fans.

Miami will release defensive end Phillip Merling Monday sealing up a forgettable span of second round picks for Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland.

In 2008, Ireland’s first with the team, he had two picks in the second round and the number one overall pick in the draft. He passed on a franchise quarterback to pick left tackle Jake Long at the top of the draft and then swung and missed hard in the second round.

Ireland’s first second round pick was used on Merling, who was a complete bust in Miami that couldn’t secure a backup role on the team in 2012. The other second round pick in 2008 was used on quarterback Chad Henne who was not re-signed by the team after two unspectacular seasons as the starter.

In 2009, Ireland and Parcells decided to try to fortify the Wildcat formation by drafting quarterback Pat White out of West Virginia University. The former Mountaineer never completed a pass with the Dolphins and was released.

Ireland and Parcells did better with their other second round pick which they used on cornerback Sean Smith. The former Ute has been a solid cornerback on the edge for the Fins and helped put together a good tandem of quarterbacks along with first round pick Vontae Davis.

The 2010 NFL Draft saw the Fins use their second round pick on converted defensive end Koa Misi. Another former Utah Ute, Misi was expected to slide into a starting outside linebacker job opposite Cameron Wake and wreak havoc on quarterbacks.

He flashed some promise in 2010, but more than likely lost his starting job as the Fins alter their defense in 2012.

Finally, in 2011, the Fins traded up into the second round to select former Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas. The former Wildcat was brought in to be a bruising back to go alongside feature back Reggie Bush.

Thomas battled injuries in 2011, but still rushed for 581 yards on the season. His presence on the roster will likely mean the Fins won’t be looking at running backs as long as Bush is healthy as well.

Overall, the Fins have selected 11 players in the second round of the last 10 NFL Drafts. Those picks have yielded just 14.7 starts per player, according to NFL.com.

Those are the picks the Fins have made in the second round. Here are some of the players they have passed on: Matt Forte, Desean Jackson, Ray Rice, Calais Campbell, Mike Wallace, LeSean McCoy, Rob Gronkowski, and DeMarco Murray.

The NFL Draft’s first round will be held Thursday night with the second and third rounds being held Friday night.

According to the Santa Barbara Independent, Misi pleaded not guilty on Friday to battery with serious injury, residential burglary, and dissuading a witness. All are felonies.

Misi was arrested on an outstanding warrant at his home in Weston by Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies on March 30, 2012. He then travelled to California to answer to the charges.

The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office, Misi is accused of breaking into an apartment in Isla Vista, California by punching through the wooden front door. Once inside, the sheriff’s office said, Misi punched a 19-year-old man inside the apartment, hitting him in the eye.

Misi, who is 6’3”, 251 pounds, has played two seasons with the Dolphins after being drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft.

Misi played in 28 games over the past two seasons and started 20 of them. For his career, he has 55 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 3 passes defensed.

Depending on the defense the Dolphins run this year, Misi was slated to either play a standup outside linebacker position or with his hand on the ground as a defensive end.

The 2012 NFL Draft is just one week away so we’ve pulled together a mock draft featuring the first and second rounds for the NFC East. Do you agree with the picks? Comment below.

AFC East

Dolphins

After trading Brandon Marshall – their top, and perhaps only, playmaker – the Dolphins have an immediate and pressing need at wide receiver. Unfortunately for them, Justin Blackmon will be long gone by the time Pick 8 rolls around. Miami could draft Michael Floyd but might instead opt for Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannenhill, whose stock has risen in recent weeks.

While taking Tannenhill eighth would be a little too rich for my blood, what exactly is Miami doing at quarterback? David Garrard has never been elite, and at 34, what does he even have left in the tank? The Dolphins are still trying to replace Dan Marino, and given how desperate they’ve been to do just that, perhaps taking a chance on Tannenhill is worth it.

After finding fixes at quarterback and wide receiver, Miami should focus on bolstering the trenches on both sides of the ball. If the Dolphins pass on Tannenhill and Floyd, their best – read: safest – bet is Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff or Stanford guard David DeCastro.

But after missing out on Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn, it’d be surprising to see Miami use its first pick on any position other than quarterback.

Patriots

That the Patriots almost won a Super Bowl with the 31st ranked defense in football is almost unfair – and a sign that if this unit improves just a little bit, New England will be the team to beat.

The Patriots are one of three teams with two first-round picks (the others are Cincinnati and Cleveland) and will likely spend both upgrading their non-existent pass rush. Southern Cal linebacker Nick Perry would be a borderline steal at Pick 27, as would Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw and Penn State’s Devon Still.

New England, which also owns two second-round picks, needs serious help in the secondary. All things considered, Julian Edelman did a decent job last year, but there’s no way a wideout should be playing pass defense in the NFL.

The Patriots only have six picks in the draft, but all are in the top four rounds; in fact, they have four of the first 62 picks and five of the first 93. Don’t be surprised if they use all six picks on defense, but they might want to consider taking a running back at some point. People talk about Tom Brady no longer having a Randy Moss-type game-breaker – Brandon Lloyd will make the Pats’ pass offense virtually unguardable – but imagine this offense with a stud tailback. Bill Belichick likes to piece together a committee – and he’s had success with it – but letting go of the sure-handed BenJarvus Green-Ellis might leave a bigger void than he thinks. The Law Firm, allergic to fumbling, accounted for 11 of the team’s 18 rushing touchdowns last year.

New England’s top returning touchdown rusher? Tom Brady.

The offense will be fine even if it passes on a tailback, but if the defense becomes even mediocre, watch out.

Bills

Signing Mario Williams is big for any franchise, but for a recently lifeless one like Buffalo, it’s huge. After starting 3-0 and 5-2 last year, the Bills stumbled to a 6-10 finish, losing eight of their last nine. Williams brings instant credibility to the defense and allows Buffalo to focus on its biggest draft need, offensive line.

The Bills committed to Ryan Fitzpatrick last year, and the biggest thing they can do to show they mean it – aside from throwing tens of millions of dollars at him – is to protect him with linemen. Iowa’s Riley Reiff would be an excellent selection at tenth overall.

Re-signing Stevie Johnson was a good move, but he needs some help. David Nelson is probably better suited as No. 3 or 4 than a No. 2.

Defensively, Williams will make the back seven look a whole lot better all by himself, but attention needs to be given to linebacker and the secondary. After selecting tenth overall, Buffalo must wait 31 picks for its next selection, which could be spent on the likes of Central Florida cornerback Josh Robinson or Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith.

Five of Buffalo’s 10 picks are in the fifth round or later.

Jets

First of all, Tim Tebow will be the starting quarterback for the New York Jets. He might not be the starter in Week 1, but sooner or later, it’s going to happen.

And it should.

People say Tim Tebow can’t throw. Fair enough. But can Mark Sanchez? Sanchez finished with 207 passing yards or fewer in 10 games last season. Yes, 10 games. That’s pretty awful for your run-of-the-mill, drop-back passer. The Jets got away from ground-and-pound way too much last year; 2012 will be a different story, as Tebow – not Sanchez – is the better fit to run Rex Ryan’s offense.

Speaking of offense, the Jets should draft Virginia Tech running back David Wilson in the second round and use a late-round pick or two to give Tebow some weapons in the passing game, preferably wideouts who can block.

Defensively, signing safety LaRon Landry certainly helps, but his ability to stay healthy is a concern. Look for the Jets to use their first-round pick to improve the secondary; Alabama safety Mark Barron would be a prime candidate to do just that.

Regardless of who they choose, the Jets better make those early selections count; seven of their 10 picks are in the fifth round or later.

>> more: Mock Draft AFC North | Mock Draft AFC South | Mock Draft AFC West | Mock Draft NFC North | Mock Draft NFC South | Mock Draft NFC East | Mock Draft NFC West

Tony Meale is a freelance writer for MLB.com, cincinnati.com and ffjungle.com, among others. His fantasy football work has led to guest appearances on several radio outlets, including ESPN Radio and Sirius Radio. He has a Master’s in Journalism from Ohio University and has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists for outstanding work. A Cincinnati native, he is currently writing a book on one of the great sports stories never told. Follow Tony Meale on Twitter @tonymeale.

Dolphins fans may want to tell general manager Jeff Ireland to pick Tannehill if the team believes he can become a quality starter in the NFL. The reason is simple: historically, second round quarterbacs in the last several years in the NFL have stunk.

The list of quarterbacks selected in the second-round since 2006 includes: Pat White, 2009; Chad Henne, 2008; John Beck, 2007; Brian Brohm, 2008; Kellen Clemens, 2006. Going back further the list includes: Quincy Carter, 2001; Tony Banks, 1996; Matt Blundin, 1992; Tony Sacca, 1992.

The only second round quarterbacks selected in the second round in the last few years who has become a quality starter is Andy Dalton, who was picked by the Bengals in 2011. Dalton was also given a franchise receiver and a solid running game to help his development.

This year, the list of potential second-round quarterbacks includes: Brock Osweiler, Kirk Cousins, Nick Foles and Brandon Weeden. Of that list, Weeden may not make it to the second round. He’s been rumored to be liked by several quarterback needy teams and may require a team to trade back into the first round to get him.

It’s easy to see why NFL teams are excited about Weeden’s possibilities. Last season, Weeden played five games against Top 25 teams. In those games, he was 159-225 for 1774 yards, 10 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and most importantly, he was undefeated.

But, Weeden is 28 and that may scare some teams away. He took several years off from football to pursue a baseball career, but couldn’t get to the Majors.

So, the Dolphins can choose to either take Tannehill and hope he can grow into a quality NFL quarterback, which is very possible or; they can roll the dice and trade back into the first round to draft Weeden and roll the dice with him.

Based on history, the one thing the Dolphins shouldn’t do two things: one, draft a running back in the first round; and two, take a quarterback in the second round.

The Dolphins will play eight opponents at home this season including: the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, and Seattle Seahawks.

The toughest games among that group will likely be Patriots, Bills, Jets, and Seahawks.

The Dolphins will go on the road to play: the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, and San Francisco 49ers.

The road schedule is obviously much, much tougher for the Fins. The matchups with the Texans, Bengals, and 49ers will all be tough games for Miami, not to mention the Jets, Patriots, and possibly a much-improved Bills squad.

Looking at the schedule, assuming the Fins improve the roster in the draft, the team can likely beat the Jaguars, Raiders, Rams, Colts, and Cardinals. The Fins could possibly have a good chance at a victory over the Bills and Jets, but likely losses could include the 49ers, Bengals, Texans, and Patriots.

Miami was 6-10 last season after starting off 0-7. The Dolphins draft eighth in the first round in the 2012 NFL Draft.

See full schedule below:

Sun., Sep. 9     at Houston Texans            Reliant Stadium         CBS      1:00 p.m.

Sun., Sep. 16  OAKLAND RAIDERS       SUN LIFE STADIUM      CBS         4:15 p.m.

Sun., Sep. 23    NEW YORK JETS    SUN LIFE STADIUM    CBS    1:00 p.m.

Sun., Sep. 30     at Arizona Cardinals     University of Phoenix Stadium     CBS      1:00 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 7    at Cincinnati Bengals         Paul Brown Stadium     CBS         1:00 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 14     ST. LOUIS RAMS     SUN LIFE STADIUM          FOX        1:00 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 21       BYE WEEK

Sun., Oct. 28       at N.Y. Jets      Meadowlands Stadium       CBS      1:00 p.m.

Sun., Nov. 4       at Indianapolis Colts        Lucas Oil Stadium      CBS     1:00 p.m.

Sun., Nov. 11     TENNESSEE TITANS         SUN LIFE STADIUM       CBS         1:00 p.m.

Thurs., Nov. 15     at Buffalo Bills            Ralph Wilson Stadium          NFLN           8:20 p.m.

Sun, Nov. 25#    SEATTLE SEAHAWKS     SUN LIFE STADIUM    FOX     1:00 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 2#    NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS     SUN LIFE STADIUM     CBS     1:00 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 9#     at San Francisco 49ers       Candlestick Park    CBS      4:15 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 16#   JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS    SUN LIFE STADIUM    CBS     1:00 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 23#    BUFFALO BILLS          SUN LIFE STADIUM       CBS         1:00 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 30#     at New England Patriots      Gillette Stadium        CBS       1:00 p.m.

Guyton is in his fifth year in the NFL and spent his first four as a Patriot. He played in 60 games and started 32 for Bill Belichick. So far in his career, Guyton has 4.5 sacks, three interceptions, 14 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.

The Patriots acquired Guyton after the 2008 NFL Draft ended as an unrestricted rookie free agent.

During Guyton’s final season at Georgia Tech, he had 78 tackles and a career-high five sacks as he started all thirteen games.

The signing of Guyton leaves the Dolphins likely just short of the projected 2012 salary cap. The Dolphins must allocate approximately $5.99 million for the rookie salaries considering they have eight picks in the NFL Draft.

Subtracting the rookie salary pool from the Dolphins remaining cap space gives the team roughly $357,208 in salary cap space. In other words, several players will be cut or restructured.

The biggest savings could be from putting together a long-term contract with left tackle Jake Long. He currently counts $12.8 million against the salary cap with a base salary of $11.2 million. If the Fins could ink Long, it could free up several million in cap space.

Linebacker Karlos Dansby is the next most expensive player on the Dolphins roster at $11.325 million

Naanee is 6’2” and weighs 220 pounds and has five years experience with both the San Diego Chargers and the Carolina Panthers. Naanee spent last year with the Carolina Panthers where he caught 44 passes for 467 yards and one touchdown.

Naanee’s production in 2011 was his best season in the NFL. He’s started 20 games over his five-year career and played in 15 games in 2011. He averaged 10.6 yards per catch in 2011 and 16.1 yards per catch in 2010 as a member of the San Diego Chargers.

The Dolphins have plenty of receivers, but none that could be considered a true number one NFL receiver. Brian Hartline and Davone Bess return as the likely numbers two and three receivers which means Naanee will be competing against speedster Clyde Gates, Julius Pruitt, Roberto Wallace, Malron Moore, and Chris Hogan for roster spots.

Miami could be eyeballing a receiver in the first round or two of the draft. Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd has been flying up draft charts due to his physicality, blocking, size, and good hands. The Fins could take a flier on South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffrey if he falls in the second round as well.

The Dolphins’ quarterback struggles have been written about ad nauseum and fans have clamored for a quarterback to be drafted and help the city finally move on from faded memories of Dan Marino. The Fins can’t draft either of the top two quarterbacks this year, but Ryan Tannehill could be the Fins choice.

It’s easy to see why the Dolphins and Tannehill are being linked in most mock drafts. Tannehill is a little raw, only 19 starts in college, but he has a big arm, can move out of the pocket, and has a solid growth potential at the position.

“While Tannehill isn’t a guy I’d endorse as an immediate starter, his ceiling is so high you can take him here [eighth overall pick] with a plan in place because of his rate of growth,” said ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr. in his mock draft.

Tannehill’s athleticism has never been questioned. He’s 6’4” and weighs in the neighborhood of 222 pounds. On his pro day at Texas A&M, Tannehill wowed scouts by running the 40-yard dash in just 4.62 seconds.

In college at Texas A&M, Tannehill started his freshman season fighting for the quarterback job, but after he lost out, he switched to wide receiver. He caught 55 passes for 844 yards and five touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. As a sophomore, he caught 46 balls for 609 yards and four touchdowns while also serving as the backup quarterback.

During Tannehill’s junior year, he had 11 catches for 143 yards in the first six games. Then he was switched back to quarterback and led the Aggies to a victory over Oklahoma and wins over Baylor and Nebraska.

The biggest link between Tannehill and the Dolphins is Fins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman. The new coordinator spent the last several seasons at Texas A&M and coached Tannehill through his time as an Aggie. If anyone knows Tannehill it’s Sherman, which helps the Dolphins evaluation process.

But, other mock drafts have the Dolphins leaning towards a pass rusher to line up opposite Cameron Wake. The need for a pass rusher may have been exacerbated in the past week after it became known Wake was willing to hold out to get a new contract.

Most draft experts have North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples. He’s got the measurables at 6’6” and 284 pounds to remind some of former Dolphin Jason Taylor. What remains to be seen is what kind of motor he will have in the NFL.

Coples dominated as a junior and then struggled the next season with what some scouts said was a lack of motivation to play on his part. He did have to play in a different position as a senior, which could have limited his play at times.

Still, he pulled down 17.5 sacks in his final two seasons while playing both defensive end and tackle. In 2011 alone, he had 59 tackles, 15.5 for loss, and 10 sacks.

NFLDraftscout.com has listed Coples as the top defensive end prospect in the draft. He ran a 4.78 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and if he can maintain or better that speed in the NFL, he could become a major beast off the edge in the vein of Julius Peppers and Mario Williams.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a desperate need for pass rushers, so if Coples falls to them, he could be the eventual pick for the Jags. If the Jags pass on him, the Dolphins may pounce on his current ability and his high ceiling in the future.

The final player most linked to the Dolphins in mock drafts is Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd, who is flying up draft boards across the NFL. Floyd stands 6’3” and weighs 220 pounds and was a four-year starter at Notre Dame.

Floyd is taller, heavier, and faster than the likely first wide receiver to be taken in 2012, Justin Blackmon. Floyd was one of Notre Dame’s biggest recruits and had 48 catches for 719 yards as a true freshman. For his college career, he had 171 receptions for 2,539 yards and 28 touchdowns.

In his senior season, Floyd was almost unstoppable. He caught 95 passes for 1,102 yards and eight touchdowns.

The big question mark for the Dolphins if they are interested in Floyd is his intangibles. He was arrested three times on alcohol-related charges at Notre Dame, which is a major red flag for any player coming into the draft.

The Dolphins may not want to go down that road after the failed Brandon Marshall experiment. Floyd has said he learned from his mistakes, but it still may be enough to push the snakebitten Dolphins away from him.

There are other prospects that have been mentioned for the Dolphins including: South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram, who projects to an outside linebacker/defensive hybrid in the NFL; Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff, and possibly others.

The NFL Draft will begin on April 26 at 8:00 p.m. when the Indianapolis Colts go on the clock with the first overall pick, which will be Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

The Dolphins announced defensive lineman Phillip Merling and offensive tackle Lydon Murtha signed their restricted free agent tenders.

Merling has played for the Fins since being selected with the first pick of the second round in 2008. Merling has played in 47 career games and started five while pulling down 3.5 career sacks, eight passes defensed, one interception, and one touchdown.

Murtha is entering his third season with the Dolphins and has seen his playing time increase after Jake Long went down with an injury near the end of the season. Murtha was signed off the Lions practice squad in 2009.

Murtha could vie for a starting job at the right tackle position if the Dolphins don’t draft an offensive lineman in the first few rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft.

The former CFL star exploded into a sacking machine in the NFL is set to make roughly $650,000 and may not be happy with his pay. Wake was absent from the first day of voluntary workouts with the Fins on Tuesday, according to NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora.

Wake has been the key cog in the Dolphins’ defense over the last three years. He has pulled down 32 sacks in the past three seasons. He made the Pro Bowl in 2010 with 16 sacks.

According to ProFootballFocus.com, Wake had an aggregate of 90 sacks, quarterback hits, quarterback pressures, and holding penalties drawn of any player in the league. Julius Peppers of the Chicago Bears, was second and makes $14 million a season.

One of the richest contracts signed over the offseason was for defensive end/outside linebacker Mario Williams with the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo will pay Williams $16 million per season and guaranteed $50 million as part of the contract.

Wake will be playing a more hybrid position under new Dolphins defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle. The Dolphins had been playing a 3-4 alignment the past four years, but this year will incorporate more of a 4-3/3-4 hybrid defensive alignment.

Wake will line up as an outside linebacker during some points in the game and will also line up on the end of the line with his hand on the ground in other formations.

If Wake holds out for an extended period of the offseason, it could push the Dolphins to draft a pass rusher with the number eight overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. But, if quarterback Ryan Tannehill is available when the Dolphins are on the clock, he is likely to be the Fins’ pick.

Bell’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus said Sunday night that Bell will not rejoin the Dolphins after being released last month, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Bell was released after being told he wouldn’t be and after most teams had filled the safety position with free agents.

It left a bad impression on Bell and on many other players in the rest of the National Football League.

Rosenhaus said Bell is drawing interest from teams including the New York Giants, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles. He led the Dolphins in tackles for the past four years, which doesn’t say a lot for the linebackers and linemen in front of him.

Bell was starting to lose a step as early as last season. He was a big problem in pass coverage. ProFootballFocus.com ranked him 74th out of 87 safeties in pass coverage while giving up a 105.5 passer rating when the ball was thrown his way, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Safety Tyrell Johnson has signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins as a potential replacement for departed starter Yeremiah Bell.

Johnson, a second-round draft pick by Minnesota in 2008, started 15 games for the Vikings in 2009 but a total of only five over the past two years. He had surgery in November to repair a torn right hamstring tendon and says he’s 85-percent recovered.

Last month, the Dolphins released Yeremiah Bell, a starter at safety since 2006. They haven’t ruled out re-signing him.

The Dolphins also announced Thursday that they have re-signed reserve linebacker Austin Spitler.

(© 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)