Dolphins claim inside linebacker, kicker
The Miami Dolphins were awarded two players off waivers on Sunday, adding inside linebacker Justin March-Lillard and kicker Cody Parkey.
March-Lillard was among the 37 players waived by the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.
The former Akron standout started five games for the Chiefs, contributing 22 tackles before suffering a hand injury last season, and subsequently getting placed on injured reserve.
March-Lillard, who is 24, record eight tackles in the four preseason games he played last month. In college, March-Lillard, who is 6-foot, 222 pounds, contributed 245 tackles, 3.5 sacks and four interceptions.
His presence should fortify Miami’s thinned-out linebacker unit.
Parkey, who was released by Cleveland on Saturday, has played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Browns the past three seasons. He’s made 55-of-65 field goals he’s attempted and made 81-of-82 extra point attempts.
Coincidentally, Parkey’s struggles against the Dolphins helped Miami beat the Browns 30-24 last season in an overtime game. In that game Parkey missed three field goals, including what would have been a game-winner from 46 yards on the final play of regulation.
Parkey also missed from 41 yards in the first quarter and 42 yards in the third, clanking it off the left upright. He had signed with the Browns that week to Patrick Murray, who suffered a knee injury that got him placed on injured reserve.
Parkey rebounded from that game, making 20-of-25 field goals in 2016.
Only 19 of his 57 kickoffs were returned last season.
Parkey, who played at Jupiter High before going on to kick for Auburn, made both of his field goal attempts and all three of his extra point attempts during Cleveland’s preseason games.
Meanwhile, Andrew Franks, the Dolphins’ kicker the past two seasons, announced his release on Twitter. Franks made 29-of-37 field goals with Miami.
Released Friday by Denver, safety T.J. Ward is expected to sign a one-year contract for $5 million with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who would add a threetime Pro Bowl player and Super Bowl champion to their secondary one week before the regular-season opener at Miami.
The 30-year-old is as tough and competitive as any player in the NFL and was a key member of the Broncos’ “No Fly Zone.”
A knee injury suffered early in his senior year at high school powerhouse De La Salle in Concord, Calif., forced him to walk on at Oregon. After being drafted in the second round by Cleveland in 2010, the Browns didn't think he was worth retaining when he became a free agent after the 2013 season despite earning a spot in the Pro Bowl in his fourth year.
All he did with the Broncos was go to two more Pro Bowls and play an integral part in their Super Bowl 50 win over the Carolina Panthers by recording seven tackles, a pass defended, a fumble recovery and an interception.
“I don't think he should be going,” Broncos defensive end Von Miller said last week. “That's a cornerstone of the No Fly Zone."
Linebacker Brandon Marshall said on Twitter last week, “Letting go of TJ would be a mistake. With all the plays he's made and leadership he's brought."
Ward is coming off what he has said was his best season, with 87 tackles, one sack, one interception and three forced fumbles.
Due to a hamstring injury, Ward did not play in any of the Broncos' four preseason games this year, and he also missed a good portion of practice time during training camp.
But he was preparing to be ready for the Sept. 10 opener.
He was due to earn $4.5 million, and the Broncos decided to go with the two safeties they drafted in 2016.
If Ward passes a physical when he arrives in Tampa Bay, he almost certainly will beat out either Chris Conte or Keith Tandy for one of the starting spots.
With Ward’s arrival expected, the Bucs traded safety J.J. Wilcox and a 2019 seventh-round draft pick to the Steelers on Sunday for a 2018 sixth-round pick.