Though no impending free agents can sign until there’s a new labor deal (which could take a long time), the NFL said players released between Feb. 7 (the first day permitted) and March 3 can sign before a possible work stoppage begins March 4. That group could include Vince Young, Donovan McNabb and others, with Will Allen and Benny Sapp among Dolphins at risk. — Miami Herald

It’s possible that one of Miami’s free-agent running backs, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, will return. “There’s a chance we’d bring one of those guys back, for sure,” GM Jeff Ireland said. — Palm Beach Post

Although our panel didn’t endorse Vince Young, there are NFL personnel people who like him and the Dolphins will consider him. Young and his friends discussed speculation about him coming to the Dolphins while snacking on Lil Big Macs at STK Miami last week.  — Miami Herald

Former NFL coaching great Dan Reeves took a shot at Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross for pursuing former Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh while he already had a coach in place. Continue reading to see what Reeves had to say about the Dolphins move

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross told impending free agent Chad Pennington he wants to find a role for him with the team when he retires. “He said, `We value your capabilities and leadership,’ ” Pennington said. “I’m on the fence about playing” in 2011. Here’s what a good teammate Pennington is

If the Dolphins want a total change on offense in 2011, they may have found the right candidate in former Vikings head coach Brad Childress

The Dolphins brought in Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, 35, for an interview Wednesday, according to ESPN, although it was unclear whether he was being considered to succeed offensive coordinator Dan Henning or quarterbacks coach David Lee. Chris Palmer, who had a 5-27 (.156) record as coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1999, 2000, is up for the gig

Now that coach Tony Sparano has been given an extension through 2013, look for the Dolphins to give an extension to GM Jeff Ireland this offseason. Ireland’s deal expires after 2011, and owner Stephen Ross likes him. — Miami Herald

Dolphins running back Ricky Williams indicated Monday on his weekly radio show on WQAM 560 AM it probably is time for him to leave the Dolphins for another team as a free agent and had some criticisms for teammates, head coach Tony Sparano and himself. As for his immediate future, Continue reading →

As the Dolphins continued exploring coaching possibilities (Bill Cowher, Jim Harbaugh, potentially Jon Gruden, etc.) while keeping Tony Sparano as a fallback, a friend of Cowher reiterated that he would have interest in the Continue reading →

The day after Channing Crowder’s team got booed viciously for it’s fourth-quarter collapse that led to Detroit’s 34-27 win, and it created a Molotov cocktail directed at the boo birds. “Fair weather fans,” Crowder said Continue reading →

Ronnie Brown, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2005, is the likeliest Dolphin not to return. He turned 29 this month, an age where running backs begin to decline, and he has rushed for 1,000 yards just once in six injury-plagued seasons. He has played in 16 games just once in his career, as well. But Brown, now a year-round South Florida resident, has grown attached to the area. If he has to move to another team, he said he and his charity will continue to operate in and give back to South Florida. Continue reading →

Quarterback is expected to be an offseason priority for the Dolphins whether through the draft, free agency or trade. But apparently coach Tony Sparano feels giving Chad Henne snaps in these final two games is more important than taking a closer look at Tyler Thigpen. “If there’s a point in these football games where maybe you might be able to [get Thigpen in the game] you think about it,” Sparano said, “but right now I think you want to continue to develop Chad (Henne) as we go forward.” — South Florida Sun-Sentinel

According to NFLPA records, the Dolphins will pay wide receiver Kevin Curtis the pro-rated veteran minimum ($755,000) on a one-year deal. That comes to a little over $133,000 for the final three games for the eight-year pro. Curtis, by the way, confirmed he scored a 48 out of 50 on the NFL’s Wonderlic exam in 2003, when he was drafted in the third round out of Utah State. He answered one question incorrectly and ran out of time on the other. – South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The already infamous play during the Dolphins-Jets game Sunday – when a member of New York’s staff intentionally tripped Dolphins rookie Nolan Carroll as he sped down the sideline – was more than the random act of a rogue coach, former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas said Tuesday. It was part of the Jets’ strategy, he said. “There’s more to this story,” Thomas, who experienced the Dolphins-Jets rivalry for 11 seasons, said Tuesday on WQAM-560. He believes that Jets strength coach Sal Alosi, who stuck out his left knee to trip Carroll, was under orders to stand as close to the sideline as possible to impede the progress of any player flying down the field. Thomas didn’t say he thinks Alosi was ordered to trip Carroll. But the fact that six members of the organization lined up toe-to-toe on the edge of the sideline led Thomas to believe that they stood in those positions intentionally. “They had to be ordered to stand there because they’re foot-to-foot,” Thomas said. “They’re only out there to restrict the space of the gunner.” “Gunners” like Carroll on punt coverage often get blocked out of bounds. If they get tangled up with the opposition, it can slow their return to the field. No NFL rule prevents coaches or players from standing tight against the sideline. — Palm Beach Post

The Dolphins were smart to sign Cameron Wake to a four-year deal in 2009, because they will have him at bargain rates the next two seasons at $480,000 and $565,000. Asked if he will seek a re-negotiated deal, agent Paul Sheehy said, “I’m very confident things will take care of themselves if he continues to perform at this level. We’ve made no demands or statements or threats that the deal should be negotiated because we know these things have a way of working themselves out if both parties are motivated to do so.” — Miami Herald