Dolphins release veteran linebacker Van Noy
In the first surprising move of the Dolphins’ offseason, the team released linebacker Kyle Van Noy on Tuesday, parting ways with one of the key pieces of a defense that allowed the sixth-fewest points in the league last season.
A league source confirmed the move, which has not been announced by the team.
The move saves Miami $9.8 million in cap space, raising the Dolphins’ available cap space to about $36 million. But the Dolphins take a $4.1 dead money hit in cutting him.
Van Noy, 29, was set to enter the second season of a four-year, $51 million contract. He was due to make $13.9 million, $13.6 million and $12.5 million the next three seasons. About $12.5 million of his 2021 salary was due to become fully guaranteed on March 19.
According to a source, the Dolphins never broached the possibility of a restructured deal, which could have saved $7.6 million in 2021 cap space. They simply wanted to move on from him and have substantial cash savings, while clearing out additional cap space.
Van Noy, in a statement, said: “I am surprised and disappointed in their decision [to release him]. As a captain, I gave my all to the team. I fought through a painful hip injury during the season, including spending a night in the hospital after a game. I was brought there to be a leader and I know my teammates looked up to and respected me. I am looking forward to making an impact on my next team, on and off the field.”
Last season, Van Noy was second among all
NFL linebackers in pressures (29, one behind Demario Davis) and had 69 tackles and six sacks, six passes defended and two forced fumbles.
Pro Football Focus rated him 26th of 83 qualifying linebackers and he was 24th against the run.
One negative: He allowed 20 of 22 passes in his coverage area to be caught for 233 yards, which equates to a 110.8 passer rating.
A source said there is some support inside the Dolphins to clearing out cap space to be aggressive in free agency. This move would help accomplish that.
Miami has 2021 starters
with Jerome Baker and potentially Andrew Van Ginkel and Shaq Lawson but needs at least one, if not two additional starting caliber players.
ETC.
College basketball:
● Andre Curbelo scored 11 of his 17 points in the first half, and No. 4 Illinois dismantled No. 2 Michigan with a smothering defensive performance,
routing the Wolverines 76-53 at Ann Arbor. Playing again without injured star Ayo Dosunmu, the Illini (19-6, 15-4) kept Michigan from clinching the Big Ten title and boosted their own chances at a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Trent Frazier led Illinois with 22 points, and Kofi Cockburn added 12 . ... Jared Butler scored 25 points before fouling out, Davion Mitchell hit the
go-ahead basket in overtime and thirdranked Baylor (19-1, 11-1 Big 12) beat No. 6 West Virginia 94-89 for the Bears’ first Big 12 regularseason title . ... Isaiah Adams had 19 points as Central Florida narrowly defeated Tulsa 73-69 at home. Darius Perry and Darin Green Jr. each added 14 points for Central Florida (9-11, 7-10 American Athletic Conference).
Soccer: Alvaro Morata
●
made a scoring return to set Juventus on its way to a 3-0 win over Spezia and boost its faltering title defense. Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the match late on with his 20th goal of the season . ... Manchester City extended its winning run to 21 games by scoring three goals from the 80th minute to beat Wolverhampton 4-1 and move 15 points clear in the Premier League. Gabriel Jesus scored in the 80th minute and again from close range with virtually the last kick of the game after
Riyad Mahrez had made it 3-1 . ... Ian St. John ,a Liverpool great who scored the winning goal to give the club its first FA Cup title and was a key player in the rebuild under Bill Shankly in the 1960s, has died. He was 82.
Auto racing: Mercedes
● has unveiled the car
Lewis Hamilton will drive this season while trying to win an unprecedented eighth Formula One title. The W12 car retains the black introduced last year as part of the team’s campaign against racism and discrimination, and adds a touch of its more traditional silver.
Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and an assist, Igor Shesterkin stopped 22 shots and the host New York Rangers beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 Tuesday night.
Chris Kreider and Alex- is Lafreniere also scored for the Rangers.
Sam Reinhart and Tobias Rieder scored for Buffalo, which has lost four straight (0-3-1) and nine of 11 (2-8-1). Carter Hutton finished with 16 saves and fell to 1-6-1 this year.
Penguins 5, Flyers 2:
●
Sidney Crosby was placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list and did not play as host Pittsburgh topped Philadelphia in its first home game with fans in about a year.
There is no timeline for Crosby’s return. It is not known if he has contracted the coronavirus.
Kasperi Kapanen scored twice as the Penguins ended the Flyers’ threegame winning streak.
Islanders 2, Devils 1:
●
Semyon Varlamov made 28 saves and came within 14 seconds of his fourth shutout. It was New Jersey’s first home game with fans in almost a year.
Oliver Wahlstrom broke a scoreless tie with a wicked wrist shot early in the third period. Anders Lee knocked in his own rebound just under seven minutes later for New York, 9-2-2 in its last 13.
Varlamov lost his shutout bid with 13.2 seconds to play when Miles Wood scored with the Devils’ net empty.
Aaron Dell made 18 saves for New Jersey.
Blue Jackets 4, Red ●
Wings 1: Joonas Korpisalo made 19 saves and the Blue Jackets won their first game played in front of home fans in more than a year.
Cam Atkinson had a short-handed goal and an assist, and Riley Nash, Jack Roslovic and Boone Jenner also scored for the Blue Jackets.
Anthony Mantha scored and Jonathan Bernier stopped 23 shots for Detroit. Thomas Greiss had nine saves in relief.
Canadiens 3, Senators
● 1: Brendan Gallagher and Jeff Petry scored as host Montreal got its first win under new coach Dominique Ducharme. Artem Zub scored for Ottawa. Ottawa forward Derek Stepan is out for the season. He will have surgery to repair a dislocated left shoulder.
ELSEWHERE
Oilers: Edmonton
●
forward Alex Chiasson was suspended one game by the NHL for crosschecking Toronto forward Jimmy Vesey on Monday.
Predators: Nashville
●
placed defenseman Ryan Ellis and forward Luke Kunin on injured reserve.