DOLPHINS BREAK GROUND
Tom Garfinkel, vice chairman, president and chief executive for the Miami Dolphins at the groundbreaking for the new training facility next to the Hard Rock Stadium. The $135 million state-of-the-art training complex and sports performance clinic is in partnership with Baptist Health,
The Miami Dolphins signed wide receiver Jakeem Grant to a four-year deal on Wednesday that ensures that the return specialist remains with the team for the foreseeable future.
Terms of the new deal were not disclosed, but it is worth $24 million, according to NFL Network. Both sides have been working on the deal for the former Texas Tech standout for months.
Grant, who suffered a season-ending left calf injury last season and has been nursing a muscle strain this exhibition season for all but one week of training camp, was slated to earn $720,000 in the final year of his rookie deal.
During his three seasons with the Dolphins, he has 34 receptions for 471 yards and has scored four receiving touchdowns.
He’s also contributed 1,453 yards on 58 kickoff returns (25.1 yards per return), 583 yards on 59 punt returns (9.9 yards per return), and has scored three touchdowns as a returner.
The Dolphins have struggled fielding punt returns the past two preseason games without Grant, exposing how important he is in that role.
Miami had hoped to incorporate Grant into the new offense the team is installing, but that hasn’t happened because of how little he’s been allowed to practice.
Offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea is intrigued with Grant’s speed and ability to make defenders miss.
The Dolphins have held discussions about having him work as a slot receiver, closing but that hasn’t implemented.
When the deal is finalized, Grant will become the fifth receiver under contract beyond this season, joining Preston Williams, an undrafted rookie who will earn a base salary of $1.755 million over the next three seasons, DeVante Parker ($5 million in 2020), Kenny Stills ($7 million in 2020) and Albert Wilson ($9.5 million in 2020).
However, the Dolphins can escape all of those contracts, considering none of them features guaranteed money in 2020. been fully