Dolphins sign two more draft picks
By Harvey Fialkov
Staff Writer
Posted July 25 2005
DAVIE -- While first-round running back Ronnie Brown didn't show up for Sunday's reporting day, the Dolphins did sign their other remaining draft picks, defensive end Matt Roth and defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson.
Brown, the Dolphins' overall No. 2 pick, isn't expected to be in training camp until the 49ers sign quarterback Alex Smith, the overall No. 1 selection. That's not anticipated until Friday at best, when the 49ers are scheduled to report.
Vickerson, who signed a two-year deal, was placed on the active/non-football injury list, meaning he will not be allowed to participate in any practice sessions until he passes his physical.
Vickerson, who was originally recruited by Nick Saban to Michigan State, realized that he needed to improve his work habits to succeed at the next level.
"Kevin realized that maybe he wasn't giving 100 percent, and the light bulb went on," said Anthony Hilliard, Vickerson's recently hired Boca Raton-based agent. "He needed to become a new Kevin, a more mature, professional one on the field and as a citizen of the world so he could do everything in his power to help the Dolphins win football games."
Roth, a 6-foot-4 pass rusher from Iowa, signed a five-year deal that could earn him approximately $4 million over the length of the contract, not including 2009 escalators that could bring an additional $2 million.
Going on pup list
Safety Chris Akins (knee), defensive tackle Larry Chester (knee and conditioning), linebacker Eddie Moore (knee) and cornerback Will Poole (knee) were placed on the active/physically unable to perform list.
Poole is out for the year, but the other three have a chance to return before the season starts. If not, they would have to miss at least the first six games.
Pape a no-show
Second-year tackle Tony Pape, who had been keeping a seasonlong diary for the Dolphins' Web site while playing for Berlin in NFL Europe, has another entry to add.
Pape, a 2004 seventh-round pick who spent his rookie season on the practice squad, was an unexcused no-show and was placed on the reserve/did not report list. If the absence was unexcused, Pape could be fined up to $6,000 a day.
Pape, voted an All-NFL Europe selection in helping Berlin reach World Bowl XIII, wrote his last entry on June 13.
"The bad news is that we lost the World Bowl," Pape wrote. "The good news is that we're heading home. It has been a really memorable experience."
Farmer picked up
The Dolphins signed veteran wide receiver Danny Farmer, who was released by Tampa Bay on Sept. 5.
Farmer, originally a fourth-round draft pick out of UCLA by the Steelers in 2000, received the bulk of his playing time with the Bengals (2000-02), where he caught 43 passes for 611 yards and a touchdown. ...
The Dolphins waived undrafted college free agents Van Brown and Atari Bigby, as well as cornerback Brandon Haw, an offseason acquisition. ...
As expected, cornerback Shirdonya Mitchell, who tore up his knee during his Pro Day at Missouri, was placed on the active/non-football injury list.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl- ... orts-front