MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN LAING
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February 29, 2016
MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN LAING
MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced that the team has signed defensive lineman Cleyon Laing to a free agent contract.
Laing comes to the Dolphins from the Canadian Football League where he played for the Toronto Argonauts. He spent three seasons with the Argos, totaling 71 tackles and 15 sacks in 35 career games. He entered the CFL as the ninth overall pick in the 2012 CFL Draft.
An Edmonton, Alberta native, Laing lettered four seasons at Iowa State and played 39 games. He totaled 71 tackles and six tackles for loss during his career. Laing posted his best collegiate season as a senior in 2012 when he started all 13 games and tallied 42 tackles and a team-leading three sacks.
MIAMI DOLPHINS MAKE ROSTER MOVE
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February 23, 2016
MIAMI DOLPHINS MAKE ROSTER MOVE
MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced that the team has waived cornerback Dax Swanson.
Swanson entered the league as an undrafted college free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 2013 and spent time with five different teams before the Dolphins signed him to their practice squad on Dec. 9, 2015. Miami signed him to a reserve/futures contract on Jan. 5, 2016.
A native of Waco, Texas, Swanson finished his collegiate career as Sam Houston State’s all-time career leader with 14 interceptions. He earned third team All-American honors in 2011 and was a two-time All-Southland Conference selection.
Dolphins Cancer Challenge VI Caps Successful Event To Raise Funds for Cancer Research
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Feb. 20, 2016
Dolphins Cancer Challenge VI Caps Successful Event To Raise Funds for Cancer Research
Miami, FL – The Miami Dolphins capped another successful Dolphins Cancer Challenge (DCC) today. The sixth edition of this annual community endeavor boasted more than 3,300 cancer fighters who biked, ran, walked, volunteered and donated throughout all of South Florida with a goal to tackle cancer. The event culminated with a Concert Celebration presented by Pepsi at the stadium on the Hard Rock Stage by Grammy Award winners Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge.
“The Dolphins Cancer Challenge is about everyone working together to fight cancer,” Miami Dolphins President & CEO and DCC VI Chair Tom Garfinkel said. “100 percent of participant fundraising goes directly to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center for essential cancer research that changes lives.”
Participants in 2016 had the option of six bike routes, the 5k run/walk and attending the Concert Celebration presented by Pepsi. The DCC continues to solidify its position as the largest event fundraiser in the NFL. Participants included Grand Marshals and Dolphins Executive Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum and Head Coach Adam Gase, as well as Dolphins players and alumni such as Dan Marino, Nat Moore, Dick Anderson, A.J. Duhe, Kim Bokamper, Chris Conlin, John Offerdahl, Mark Duper, Michael Thomas and Ndamukong Suh.
“We are tremendously grateful to everyone who participated in the Dolphins Cancer Challenge today,” Sylvester Director Stephen D. Nimer, M.D. said. “We are so excited the community has embraced and supported this remarkable event to raise critical funds for cancer research at Sylvester. Finding new treatments and cures for cancer is a challenging task and every dollar makes a difference in helping us to develop more pinpoint diagnostic tests and targeted treatments.”
The Dolphins Cancer Challenge will donate 100 percent of the participant-raised funds to innovative cancer research at Sylvester. Funds are still being collected through March 31, 2016. As the DCC’s beneficiary, the University of Miami had a team of more than 800 participants which included Head Football Coach Mark Richt to kick off the Hurricanes Hundred loop.
For the first time, the DCC ended with a Concert Celebration presented by Pepsi at the AutoNation Finish Line with artists Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge performing in front of a crowd of more than 5,000.
“It was an honor to play in front of thousands of cancer fighters today,” Grammy-Award winner Sheryl Crow said. “The electric atmosphere at the stadium, surrounded by people all united for one cause – what an amazing day.”
The Dolphins Cancer Challenge will continue raising funds for cancer research with its inaugural DCC Celebrity Golf Tournament hosted by Turnberry Isle Resort & Golf Club on April 4, 2016. Co-Chaired by Don Soffer and James Caan, the tournament will offer cancer fighters a chance to golf and interact with athletes and other celebrity guests. One hundred percent of the funds raised from the golf tournament will benefit Sylvester.
For more information, visit www.DolphinsCancerChallenge.com.
MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN TWO TO FREE AGENT CONTRACTS
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February 19, 2016
MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN TWO TO FREE AGENT CONTRACTS
MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced that the team has signed cornerback Chimdi Chekwa and wide receiver A.J. Cruz to free agent contracts.
Chekwa played four seasons (2011-14) for the Oakland Raiders and appeared in 32 games with four starts. He totaled 32 tackles (28 solo), four passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Chekwa was signed by New England as an unrestricted free agent in 2015 and later signed with the Raiders again before training camp but did not participate in any games. He entered the league as a fourth round (113th overall) draft choice by the Raiders in 2011 out of Ohio State, where he was a first team All-American as a senior.
Cruz originally entered the NFL with the Chicago Bears when he signed a free agent contract on July 28, 2015. He was waived by the team after the final preseason game. He played the past two seasons in the Arena Football League where he led the league in kickoff return average both seasons as a member of the Arizona Rattlers in 2015 and the LA KISS in 2014. In 2015, Cruz caught 27 passes for 220 yards (8.1 avg.) and five touchdowns and rushed 11 times for 46 yards (4.2 avg.) and three scores. On defense, Cruz totaled 57 tackles (34 solo), six pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also returned 51 kickoffs for 1,221 yards (23.9 avg.) and six touchdowns. As an AFL rookie in 2014, Cruz led the league in kickoff return average (22.5) with 58 returns for 1,305 yards.
MIAMI DOLPHINS ANNOUNCE COACHING AND PERSONNEL STAFF CHANGES
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February 12, 2016
MIAMI DOLPHINS ANNOUNCE COACHING AND PERSONNEL STAFF CHANGES
MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced Daronte Jones has been named assistant defensive backs coach and that the organization and Eric Stokes have mutually agreed to part ways. Stokes served as the team’s senior personnel executive and assistant general manager for the past two seasons.
Jones arrives in Miami after serving the 2015 season as the defensive backs coach at Wisconsin. In his lone season, Jones helped the Badgers lead the nation with just seven passing touchdowns allowed. Additionally, Wisconsin’s defense ranked second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally in passing defense, allowing just 173.2 passing yards per game. Safety Michael Caputo earned All-Big Ten honors with 65 tackles (36 solo) and two interceptions.
Prior to Wisconsin, Jones spent three seasons (2012-14) as the secondary coach at Hawaii and added assistant head coach responsibilities in 2014. Jones helped improve Hawaii’s pass defense by 62.1 yards per game as the Rainbow Warriors went from 85th nationally in 2011 to the 11th-best passing defense in 2012. Cornerback Mike Edwards was an All-Mountain West selection with 43 total tackles (38 solo), 15 passes broken up, five tackles for loss and two interceptions in 2012. Jones spent the 2011 season as the defensive backs coach for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League and was a graduate assistant for UCLA in 2010. Jones was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Bowie State for five seasons (2005-09) and previously served as the defensive coordinator at two Louisiana high schools – Franklin High School (2004) and Jeanerette High School (2003). He also spent one season coaching safeties at Nicholls State (2002) and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Lenoir-Rhyme (2001). Jones played four seasons at Morgan State before graduating in 2001. He is a native of Capital Heights, Maryland.
Stokes 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. With the Buccaneers, 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 MAKE ROSTER MOVES
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February 12, 2016
MIAMI DOLPHINS MAKE ROSTER MOVES
MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have terminated the contracts of defensive end Quinton Coples and cornerback Brice McCain.
Coples was acquired by the Dolphins off waivers from the New York Jets on Nov. 24, 2015 and played in six games for Miami during the 2015 season. He tallied one quarterback hurry in his Dolphins debut at the Jets on Nov. 29.
A first-round draft pick (No. 16 overall) by the Jets in 2012, Coples has played 62 games and made 32 career starts. He has made 114 total tackles (77 solo) and 16.5 sacks during his four-year NFL career and was a two-time first team All-ACC selection at North Carolina.
A seven-year NFL veteran, McCain played one season for the Dolphins, participating in 14 games and starting 11 for Miami in 2015. He totaled 39 tackles (31 solo) and had one interception and 10 passes defensed.
McCain joined the Dolphins from Pittsburgh as an unrestricted free agent on March 11, 2015. He entered the league as a sixth-round draft pick (188th overall) by the Houston Texans in the 2009 NFL draft and played five seasons for the Texans. McCain has played 100 career games, totaling 169 tackles (135 solo) and nine interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.
Dolphins Cancer Challenge Announces Inaugural DCC Celebrity Golf Tournament hosted by Turnberry Isle Resort & Golf Club
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February 12, 2016
Dolphins Cancer Challenge Announces Inaugural DCC Celebrity Golf Tournament hosted by Turnberry Isle Resort & Golf Club
Miami – The Dolphins Cancer Challenge (DCC) today announced an additional exclusive opportunity for the South Florida community to be cancer fighters. On April 4, 2016, the DCC will hold its inaugural DCC Celebrity Golf Tournament hosted by Turnberry Isle Resort & Golf Club. Co-Chaired by Don Soffer and James Caan, the tournament will offer cancer fighters a chance to golf and interact with athletes and other celebrity guests. One hundred percent of the funds raised from the golf tournament will benefit Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami.
The golf tournament will follow DCC VI, scheduled for Feb. 20, 2016. Participants can choose from a bike ride 13-100 miles and a 5k run/walk, with all routes leading to the stadium. DCC VI will culminate with a concert celebration featuring Grammy-Award winners Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge.
“The participants, donors and partners of the Dolphins Cancer Challenge are dedicated to improving people’s lives through the financial support of innovative cancer research,” Miami Dolphins President & CEO and DCC VI Chair Tom Garfinkel said. “We wanted to expand the scope of ways for anyone to be a cancer fighter. This golf tournament provides an additional opportunity – along with our bike ride, 5k run/walk, Fall Family Fest and concert to help in this fight.”
Players will enjoy a complimentary, VIP shopping experience at the Pro Shop onsite exclusively for the DCC Celebrity Golf Tournament. Signature food and drinks will be served on the course with a cocktail reception and awards ceremony to end the day. Golfers will tee off for a round of scramble-golf on the world-famous Soffer Course, home to a number of LPGA and PGA events. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available. To register for a foursome, please visit DolphinsCancerChallenge.com.
About Dolphins Cancer Challenge
The Dolphins Cancer Challenge (DCC) was founded in 2010 by the Miami Dolphins organization as the signature initiative of the Foundation’s health pillar. In part inspired by Dolphins alumnus and long-time radio voice Jim “Mad Dog” Mandich’s courageous battle with cancer, the DCC’s mission is to improve people’s lives through financial support for innovative cancer research at South Florida’s only academic-based cancer center – Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami. Since its inception, the DCC has raised more than $11.55 million, donating 100 percent of participant-raised funds to Sylvester. For additional information, call (305) 943-6799 or visit www. DolphinsCancerChallenge.com. DCC can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/RideDCC and on Twitter at @TackleCancer.
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