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MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN TUAAU TO RESERVE/FUTURE CONTRACT   Download PDF version

January 14, 2016

MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN TUAAU TO RESERVE/FUTURE CONTRACT

MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced that the team has signed defensive tackle Charles Tuaau to a reserve/future contract.

Tuaau (pronounced TWO-au) spent the 2015 training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Chiefs on May 15, 2015.

Tuaau played collegiately at Texas A&M-Commerce where he recorded 86 tackles and 34 tackles for loss in his two-year career and helped the Lions win the 2014 Lone Star Conference Championship.

In 2014, Tuaau was named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, given annually to the best defensive small college player in the country after he accounted for 27 total tackles, including nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. As a junior in 2013, Tuaau earned American Football Coaches Association All-America first team honors and was named the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year with 59 total tackles (31 solo), 25.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks.

 

MIAMI DOLPHINS ANNOUNCE UPDATES TO COACHING AND PERSONNEL DEPARTMENTS   Download PDF version

January 12, 2016

MIAMI DOLPHINS ANNOUNCE UPDATES TO COACHING AND PERSONNEL DEPARTMENTS

MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins announced that Vance Joseph has been named defensive coordinator, Matt Burke linebackers coach, Shane Day tight ends coach, Chris Foerster offensive line coach and Shawn Jefferson wide receivers coach. In addition, Eric Stokes will now serve as senior personnel executive.

A former NFL cornerback, Vance Joseph brings 11 years of experience coaching defensive backs at the NFL level. He spent the past two seasons (2014-15) as the defensive backs coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, where he helped the team lead the league with 41 interceptions and limit opposing passers to the lowest passer rating (77.4) in the NFL during those two seasons. During Joseph’s tenure in Cincinnati, the Bengals were the only team to have more interceptions (41) than passing touchdowns allowed (36). Cincinnati also led the league in interception percentage (3.3 percent) and touchdown percentage (2.9) and ranked fifth in fewest yards allowed per attempt (6.60) during that span. In 2015, the Bengals ranked second in the league in fewest points allowed, surrendering just 17.4 points per contest. The defense intercepted 21 passes, the third-best mark in the league.

As the defensive backs coach for the Houston Texans from 2011-13, Joseph helped make major improvement to Houston’s secondary. He inherited the NFL’s worst pass defense (267.5 yards allowed per game) and, in one season, improved the unit to No. 3 (189.7 yards allowed per game) in the NFL. The Texans led the league in opponent completion percentage (51.9) by nearly two points and were second in opponent passer rating (69.0). Prior to Houston, Joseph spent six seasons (2005-10) on the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff, including five years as the team’s defensive backs coach. He also coached defensive backs at Wyoming, Colorado and Bowling Green. Joseph was a three-year letterman at Colorado where he played quarterback and running back for the Buffaloes. He signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 1995 and played defensive back for two years with the Jets (1995) and Indianapolis Colts (1996), starting six games and recording two interceptions.

Matt Burke spent the past seven years as an NFL linebackers coach, working with the position group in Cincinnati (2014-15) and Detroit (2009-13). He also spent five years with the Tennessee Titans where he served as an administrative assistant (2004-05) and defensive assistant/quality control coach (2006-08). Burke came to Cincinnati from the Lions, where he spent five seasons as the linebackers coach. In 2013, he helped lead a Lions defense that ranked sixth in the NFL against the run. Burke spent five years with the Tennessee Titans as an administrative assistant and defensive assistant. He was working primarily with linebackers in 2008 when the Titans posted a 13-3 mark, the best record in the NFL and tied for the winningest season in franchise history. Burke also spent time coaching at Harvard, Boston College and Bridgton Academy in Maine.

Shane Day arrives in Miami after two seasons (2014-15) as the assistant offensive line coach with the Washington Redskins where he worked with Dolphins offensive line coach Chris Foerster in 2014. Prior to Washington, Day was the quarterbacks coach at Connecticut for two seasons and coached quarterbacks for the Chicago Bears from 2010-11. Day also spent three seasons on the offensive staff with the San Francisco 49ers (2007-09) as an offensive quality control coach. He worked with the team’s quarterbacks in 2007, running backs in 2008 and offensive line in 2009. Previous coaching stops for Day include the University of Michigan and Auburn Riverside High School in Auburn, Wash. A wide receiver at Rhode College in Memphis, Tenn., Day was a two-sport athlete, also playing baseball. He graduated from Kansas State in 1999 with a degree in English.

Chris Foerster (pronounced FURR-stir) brings 23 years of NFL experience to Miami, including 20 years as an NFL offensive line coach. He spent one season as the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator in 2004 and returns to Miami from San Francisco, where he was the 49ers’ offensive line coach in 2015.  Throughout his lengthy coaching career, Foerster has mentored six players that were selected to 15 Pro Bowls – center Jeff Christy (2000), center Tony Mayberry (1996-99), guard Randall McDaniel (1993, 1995, 2000), tackle Jonathan Ogden (2005-07), tackle Joe Staley (2015) and tackle Trent Williams (2012-14). Foerster came to San Francisco after spending five seasons (2010-14) as the offensive line coach for the Washington Redskins. Foerster worked for the 49ers (2008-09) and the Baltimore Ravens (2005-07) where he oversaw the offensive line for each team. In Baltimore, he also held assistant head coach responsibilities. Foerster was the Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator in 2004. He has also held coaching positions with the Indianapolis Colts (2002-03), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1996-2001), Minnesota Vikings (1993-95), University of Minnesota (1992), Stanford (1988-91) and his alma mater, Colorado State (1982-87). Foerster played center at Colorado State, beginning his career as a walk-on before earning a scholarship as a sophomore.

Shawn Jefferson played wide receiver for 13 seasons in the NFL and spent the past 11 years coaching for the Detroit Lions (2005-12) and the Tennessee Titans (2013-15). As the wide receivers coach for the Titans the past three seasons, Jefferson mentored wide receiver Kendall Wright, who ranked 12th among AFC wide receivers in receptions (187) and receiving yards (2,202) from 2013-15. Prior to Tennessee, Jefferson spent eight seasons on the Detroit Lions’ coaching staff. As wide receiver Calvin Johnson’s position coach, Johnson led the NFL in receiving yards (7,080), receiving touchdowns (5) and receptions of 25 yards or more (70). A Jacksonville, Fla. native, Jefferson played at Central Florida from 1988-90.

Eric Stokes served as the team’s assistant general manager for the past two seasons (2014-15). He originally joined the Dolphins on May 15, 2014 after spending two seasons (2012-13) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the director of college scouting. He was responsible for coordinating and compiling the evaluations of all draft-eligible players, while overseeing the entire college scouting staff.  Stokes came to the Buccaneers after 14 seasons of playing and scouting experience in the NFL. He worked 12 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks as assistant director of college scouting (2010-11), area scout (2000-01, 2005-09) and as an assistant in the pro personnel department (2002-04).  Stokes played two seasons as a safety for the Seahawks after being selected in the fifth round (121st overall) of the 1997 NFL draft. He also was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 1999 expansion draft. Stokes graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in sociology.

MIAMI DOLPHINS WAIVE FOX   Download PDF version

January 12, 2016

MIAMI DOLPHINS WAIVE FOX

MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced tackle Jason Fox has been waived.

Fox played in 24 games over the past two seasons for Miami. He started 13 total games, 11 at right tackle and two at left tackle after originally signing with the Dolphins on April 2, 2014 as an unrestricted free agent.

During his six-year NFL career, Fox played 37 career games and made 16 starts. He entered the league as a fourth-round selection (128th overall) by the Detroit Lions in the 2010 NFL draft after completing his collegiate career at the University of Miami.

MIAMI DOLPHINS NAME ADAM GASE HEAD COACH   Download PDF version

January 9, 2016

MIAMI DOLPHINS NAME ADAM GASE HEAD COACH

MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced Adam Gase has been named the 12th head coach in franchise history.

“We did exhaustive research on all of the candidates ahead of time and conducted thorough and detailed interviews with each person,” Dolphins Owner and Managing General Partner Stephen Ross said. “In the end, I was convinced and the search committee was unanimous Adam was the right leader for our football team who best met all of our priorities. He has high-energy is competitive and driven to win with a mindset of teaching and developing players.  ”

Gase comes to Miami from the Chicago Bears, where he served as offensive coordinator the 2015 season. The Bears implemented more of a balanced offensive attack that improved the team’s rushing totals from No. 27 to No. 11 as the unit averaged 25.6 more rushing yards per game under Gase. Quarterback Jay Cutler’s yards per attempt increased by 0.8, the second largest one-year increase in Cutler’s career. He also threw seven fewer interceptions than the previous season.

In addition, Gase brings a wealth of knowledge and success to Miami as the offensive coordinator for the greatest offense in NFL history. While Gase was the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator in 2013 and 2014, the Broncos led the NFL in scoring offense (34.0 points per game), total offense (430.1 yards per game) and passing offense (315.8 yards per game).

In 2013, the Broncos set 14 total NFL records for offense in scoring, including total points (606) and touchdowns (76). The explosive offense helped Denver finish the regular season 13-3, winning the AFC West and earning the top seed in the AFC playoffs, where the Broncos won the conference title and played in Super Bowl XLVIII.

In addition to setting NFL team records, Gase also helped quarterback Peyton Manning have the most prolific season of any quarterback in NFL history. Manning’s 5,477 passing yards and 55 passing touchdowns were both NFL records that still stand today. Manning earned his fifth NFL MVP award and also was honored as the Maxwell Club Player of the Year and AP Offensive Player of the Year.

During his two seasons as offensive coordinator, seven players from the Broncos offense were named to the Pro Bowl: RB C.J. Anderson (2014), T Ryan Clady (2014), Manning (2013-14), WR Emmanuel Sanders (2014), WR Demaryius Thomas (2013-14), TE Julius Thomas (2013-14) and G Louis Vasquez (2013).

Gase spent six years on the Broncos staff, serving as wide receivers coach (2009-10), quarterbacks coach (2011-12) and offensive coordinator (2013-14). During those six years, the Broncos compiled a 58-38 (.604) regular-season record, won four AFC West titles, three playoff games and an AFC Championship, including a trip to Super Bowl XLVIII.

An Ypsilanti, Mich. native, Gase also spent time with the San Francisco 49ers (2008) and Detroit Lions (2003-07), where he began his NFL career in scouting. He also worked as a recruiting assistant (2001-02) and graduate assistant (2000) at LSU under Head Coach Nick Saban.

 

MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN AULTMAN TO RESERVE/FUTURE CONTRACT   Download PDF version

January 8, 2016

MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN AULTMAN TO RESERVE/FUTURE CONTRACT

MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins announced today that the team has signed defensive back Damarr Aultman to a reserve/future contract.

Aultman spent the 2015 training camp as a wide receiver with the Miami Dolphins before being waived in the final round of roster cuts on Sept. 5. He was signed to Miami’s practice squad in Week 3 and remained there for three weeks.

A second-team all-conference selection at Maine, Aultman played wide receiver for the Black Bears and scored 18 touchdowns in his 45-game career. He was a second-team All-Colonial Athletic Association performer as a kickoff returner and tied the school record with 28 kickoff returns for a total of 645 yards (23.0 avg.) in 2014. He also caught 48 passes for 498 yards (10.4 avg.) and two touchdowns during his senior season.

Aultman finished his career ranked fifth in school history in receptions (162) and seventh in receiving yards (2,061).

 

MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN DAVIS TO RESERVE/FUTURE CONTRACT   Download PDF version

January 7, 2016

MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN DAVIS TO RESERVE/FUTURE CONTRACT

MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins announced today that the team has signed wide receiver Tyler Davis to a reserve/future contract.

Davis joins the Dolphins from the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes of the German Football League, where he starred as a two-way player, earning the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2015. He recorded 94 receptions for 1,733 yards (18.4 avg.) and 24 touchdowns as a wide receiver and totaled six interceptions as a defensive back in 2015.

He began his professional football career in 2014 with the Munich Cowboys, where he also played both sides of the ball. Davis recorded 28 receptions for 686 yards (24.5 avg.) and seven touchdowns on offense and also had six interceptions.

Davis played collegiately at Missouri Valley, an NAIA school in Marshall, Mo., where he was a first-team all-conference selection all four years. In 2012, he earned the Heart of America Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and was named an American Football Coaches’ Association All-American.

Throughout his college career, Davis accumulated 138 tackles, 19 interceptions and 21 pass breakups. He also returned kickoffs and punts, totaling four kickoff returns for touchdowns. Davis was also an All-American as a long jumper on the indoor track and field team.

MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN EIGHT PLAYERS TO RESERVE/FUTURE CONTRACTS   Download PDF version

January 6, 2016

MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN EIGHT PLAYERS TO RESERVE/FUTURE CONTRACTS

MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins announced today that the team has signed running back Jahwan Edwards, wide receiver Robert Herron, linebacker Terrell Manning, guard Vinston Painter, guard Anthony Steen, cornerback Dax Swanson, defensive end Julius Warmsley and defensive end Jordan Williams to reserve/future contracts.

Edwards originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with the San Diego Chargers in 2015. He spent time on Atlanta and Jacksonville’s practice squad before the Dolphins added him to their practice squad in Week 16. Edwards finished his collegiate career as Ball State’s all-time leading rusher with 4,558 yards and set the school’s career total touchdown mark with 51 scores. He was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference selection and a team captain his senior season.

A sixth-round pick (185th overall) by Tampa Bay in 2014, Herron played eight games for the Buccaneers that season and caught six passes for 58 yards (9.7 avg.) and one touchdown. He spent the final 12 weeks of 2015 on Miami’s practice squad. At Wyoming, Herron played in 42 career games and recorded 152 receptions for 2,030 yards (13.4 avg.) and 20 touchdowns.

Manning was a fifth-round draft choice (163rd overall) by Green Bay in 2012 and played five games for the Packers during the regular season and two postseason contests. He appeared in one game for the San Diego Chargers in 2013 and played for the New York Giants and Chicago Bears in 2014. Manning had two stints on Miami’s practice squad in 2015 and also spent time on the Dolphins’ practice squad in 2014.

Painter was selected by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round (173rd overall) of the 2013 NFL draft and made his professional debut in Cleveland in 2014, where he played three games for the Browns. The Dolphins signed him to their practice squad on Oct. 6, 2015. Painter started all 13 games of his senior season at Virginia Tech and earned honorable mention All-ACC honors from the league’s coaches.

An undrafted college free agent, Steen signed with Arizona in 2014. After multiple stints on the Cardinals’ practice squad, Miami signed him to its practice squad on Nov. 24, 2015. Steen won three national championships at Alabama and started all 14 games of the Crimson Tide’s national title run in 2012. He earned first-team All-SEC honors as a senior in 2013.

Swanson entered the league as an undrafted college free agent with Indianapolis in 2013. He spent time with five different teams before the Dolphins signed him to their practice squad in Week 14 of the 2015 season. Swanson finished his collegiate career as Sam Houston State’s all-time leader with 14 interceptions. He was a third team All-American in 2011 and two-time All-Southland Conference selection.

Warmsley was originally signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted college free agent in 2014. He spent parts of the 2014 and 2015 seasons on the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad before the Dolphins signed him to their practice squad on Dec. 17, 2015. Warmsley was a four-year letterwinner at Tulane where he totaled 102 tackles (61 solo), 30.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, five pass breakups, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a pair of blocked kicks. He started all 13 games in 2013 as a senior and earned first-team All-Conference USA honors.

Williams first joined the Dolphins practice squad on Oct. 6, 2015 and was signed to the active roster on Dec. 5, 2015. He made his NFL debut with Miami the following day against Baltimore before returning to the practice squad to close the season. Williams entered the league with the New York Jets as an undrafted college free agent in 2015. He started all 13 games at the University of Tennessee in 2014 and made 27 tackles (15 solo) with four tackles for loss, two sacks and four pass breakups.

MIAMI DOLPHINS NAME CHRIS GRIER GENERAL MANAGER   Download PDF version

January 4, 2016

MIAMI DOLPHINS NAME CHRIS GRIER GENERAL MANAGER

Miami, FL – The Miami Dolphins named Chris Grier as the team’s General Manager today. In his role, Grier will oversee the draft and personnel departments, reporting directly to Executive Vice President, Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum.

“I want to thank Stephen Ross and Mike Tannenbaum for this tremendous opportunity,” said Grier. “I love this organization and feel I am the right man for this job. South Florida is very important to me and my family and I look forward to working with our personnel and coaching staff to add talent to the roster.”

“I am really proud that Chris will lead our player personnel at both the college and pro level,” added Tannenbaum. “Chris is a passionate personnel executive that is highly respected throughout the NFL. His experience within the organization, background and approach to building a team made him the unquestioned choice to be our next General Manager.”

Grier recently finished his 16th season with the Dolphins and ninth as the team’s Director of College Scouting. He served as an area scout with the club from 2000-02 before being promoted to National Scout/Assistant Director of College Scouting in 2003. He joined the club after spending the previous five years in the personnel department with the New England Patriots.

Grier started his NFL career with the Patriots as an intern in 1994. He joined the club on a full-time basis the following year, and served as a regional scout until joining the Dolphins in 2000. He attended the University of Massachusetts-Amherst where he majored in journalism and played football for two years. Grier spent his final two years there as an undergraduate assistant.

Grier is the son of Bobby Grier, the former Vice President-Player Personnel with the New England Patriots who currently is the Associate Director of Pro Scouting with the Houston Texans. Chris’ brother, Michael, played for the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. He is currently a personnel scout with the Chicago Blackhawks.