Busy, Busy, Busy

That sums up the Miami Dolphins over the last few days. Here is the good news.

The Dolphins have agreed to terms with former Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter on a five-year, $32 million contract, a source said today.

The deal is pending Porter passing a physical examination, which he is expected to take tonight or tomorrow.

The deal includes a $12 million signing bonus and another $8 million in guaranteed salary, a source said.

Porter, who was released by the Steelers last Thursday in a salary cap-related move, logged 60 sacks in his eight seasons with the Steelers while emerging as one of the AFC's top outside linebackers in Pittsburgh's 3-4 defense. The Dolphins deploy the same kind of defensive system and are in need of an outside linebacker with Donnie Spragan now an unrestricted free agent.

No question, Porter is a great addition to the team. Now for the bad Dolphin news.

The Miami Dolphins' busiest day of the free-agency period ended with the team better positioned for April's draft and picking up more space under the salary cap.

It could be just the beginning of a roster overhaul that might signal a youth movement under first-year coach Cam Cameron and General Manager Randy Mueller.

Miami traded popular wide receiver Wes Welker on Monday for second- and seventh-round draft picks, giving the Dolphins nine picks - and possibly more to come.

Tight end Randy McMichael and his $4 million salary and quarterback Joey Harrington, who was due a $1 million roster bonus this week, were released.

Harrington was no great loss. Welker is an overacheiver who gets little respect because of his size but his stats were good last year his first season playing mostly full-time. Welker also livened up Miami's kick returns that have been pathetic for years.

Then the team dumps McMichael. Couldn't the team find room for his bonus? They've got enough over priced overrated players dump them. So what will Miami do at tight end now? Here is one possible answer.

The Dolphins have made their first free-agent acquisition of 2007 by signing Green Bay tight end David Martin to a contract, a source said Sunday.

*****

Martin played in 11 games for the Packers in 2006 with four starts, catching 21 passes for 198 yards with two touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Martin is regarded as a quality receiver who has battled injuries throughout his first six NFL seasons in Green Bay.

Here are the stats on the piece of junk player Miami will replace Randy McMichael with. I'm so overwhelmed by those 87 career pass receptions. NOT!

Oh and if anyone cares, The Dolphins's 3rd string QB at the end of last season, Shane Matthews, has retired.

Quarterback Shane Matthews, a 14-year NFL veteran, said Friday he plans to retire permanently.

Matthews, a former Florida Gators star, came out of retirement in December to sign with Miami after the team placed Daunte Culpepper on injured reserve to rehabilitate his knee. He did not appear in any games.

In his NFL career, Matthews played for six teams and threw for 4,756 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Here are Matthews career stats. Note that he threw 31 career touchdowns not 24. Back to remedial sportswriting school with you Palm Beach Post reporter Edgar Thompson.

Shane Matthews won't be missed by Dolphin fans, I wish the same could be said for the rest of the team's transactions.

Linked to- Basil, Bright & Early, StikNstein,