Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
LB Alonso shipped to Saints for Biegel
Fan favorite the 3rd player traded in team’s recent roster purge
The Miami Dolphins have traded Kiko Alonso to the New Orleans Saints, continuing their roster purge just a week before the 2019 season.
Alonso — the quirky, Dolphins fan favorite of Cuban, Colombian and Puerto Rican upbringing — never fell into favor with new Dolphins coach Brian Flores and requested a trade in recent weeks.
Alonso was dealt to the Saints in exchange for third-year linebacker Vince Biegel, the team announced on Sunday.
Alonso also becomes the third former Dolphins player traded this weekend, as Miami sent offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills to the Houston Texans in a deal Saturday that became finalized on Sunday.
The Dolphins acquired a firstround pick in 2020 and 2021, a second-round pick in 2021, and two players: cornerback Johnson Bademosi and tackle Julien Davenport from the Texans.
Since Flores turned secondyear linebacker Jerome Baker into the new play-caller for his defense, the writing has been on the wall for Alonso’s departure.
Alonso, despite being Miami’s best defender not named Xavien Howard last season, became expendable thanks to the emergence of Baker and former Canadian Football League product Sam Eguavoen.
Alonso started all 46 games he has played for the Dolphins, tallying 354 tackles with five interceptions, five fumble recoveries and 14 tackles for loss in three seasons.
His career began with the Buffalo Bills in 2013-14, then the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015 before being acquired by Miami in 2016.
Biegel, a fourth-round pick out of Wisconsin in 2017, played for the Green Bay Packers in 2017 and Saints last season.
He has 19 tackles in 23 games
appearances.
Dolphins announced Sunday they were awarded linebacker Trent Harris, linebacker Deon Lacey, defensive end Avery Moss, safety Steven Parker and cornerback Ken Webster off waivers.
One day after making Miami’s initial 53-man roster, the Dolphins waived rookie linebacker Terrill Hanks, rookie safety Montre Hartage, rookie tight end Chris Myarick, veteran backup offensive tackle Zach Sterup and veteran defensive tackle Adolphus Washington.