Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Dolphins sign RB Gore
Former ’Cane agrees to a one-year deal.
The Dolphins have signed running back Frank Gore to a one-year contract, potentially allowing the former University of Miami star to end his accomplished NFL career in South Florida.
According to a league source, the deal is contingent on Gore passing his physical. The 13-year veteran spent all of Thursday with the Dolphins, who lost veteran tailback Damien Williams to the Kansas City Chiefs earlier in the day.
Gore, 34, has rushed for 14,026 yards in 13 NFL seasons. He spent his first 10 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and the last three with the Indianapolis Colts, where he rushed for 796 yards (3.7 yards per carry) and three touchdowns last season. He also caught 29 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown with the Colts last season.
The Dolphins attempted to sign Gore three years ago when he initially signed with the Colts, and Gore was tempted
by that opportunity because he’s always dreamed about playing for the city and fans that grew up watching the former Coral Gables High standout.
Apparently, this time he couldn’t pass on the opportunity, especially since the Dolphins were looking for a proven veteran to back up Kenyan Drake.
The Dolphins hosted Tennessee running back DeMarco Murray on a freeagent visit Monday, but he left without signing a contract.
Gore, who turns 35 in May, is fifth on the NFL alltime rushing list, just 75 yards behind No. 4 Curtis Martin, a Hall of Famer. Gore trails the No. 3 tailback, former Lions standout Barry Sanders, another Hall of Famer, by 1,243 rushing yards.
When his signing becomes official, he’ll be added to a backfield that features Senorise Perry, who is entering his fourth season in the NFL. Last season, Perry gained 30 rushing yards on eight carries and caught one pass for 3 yards.
Last season, the Dolphins rushed for 1,388 yards, and had the NFL’s fewest rushing attempts (360), and tied with Pittsburgh for the fewest rushing touchdowns (four) in 2017.
DE Hayes re-signs
The Dolphins announced Thursday they’ve re-signed defensive end William Hayes, the veteran run-stopper who was a key to the improved run defense last season. Hayes, whose return was first reported about a week ago, ended last season on injured reserve due to a back ailment. Hayes’ return means the Dolphins have a defensive ends rotation that includes Cam Wake, Robert Quinn, Andre Branch, Charles Harris and Hayes, who will serve as the run-game specialist and the others passrushing specialists.
Hayes, a 32-year-old, 10-year veteran, had 19 tackles and one sack in 10 games last season before being placed on IR. He had four tackles for loss and five quarterback hits. Hayes was instrumental in Miami’s 14th-ranked run defense (110.5 yards allowed per game), a significant increase from the previous two seasons when the Dolphins finished 30th and 28th, respectively.
Hayes, however, drew his biggest headlines for doubting whether dinosaurs ever walked the earth or whether man ever landed on the moon. He also believes mermaids might exist.
Despite that, on the field Hayes has lived up to his self-given billing as a top run-stuffer.
The Dolphins recently lost a key part of their run defense with the release of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. The release of linebacker Lawrence Timmons chipped away at more talent.
Hayes rejoins fellow runstoppers such as defensive tackles Jordan Phillips, Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor, the latter two being rookies last season.
Williams signs with Chiefs
Damien Williams’ tenure with the Miami Dolphins officially came to a close on Thursday as the veteran tailback signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Williams, an unrestricted free agent, visited the Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts this week, and had a standing offer from the Dolphins, but opted to join Kansas City, where he’ll be paid $1.5 million on a one-year deal according to a league source.
The hope is that Williams, who is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery he had in February, will compete to serve as Kareem Hunt’s primary backup.
Williams, who has served as Miami’s third-down tailback and a special-teams ace for the past four seasons, contributed 477 rushing yards, nine touchdowns and caught 85 passes for 733 yards over the past four seasons.
The 25-year-old was viewed as one of Miami’s emotional leaders, but Kenyan Drake’s emergence made it unlikely that he’ll be Dolphins’ starter moving forward.