Dolphins News Of The Day 5/14

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DAVIE · This wasn't the hot fudge or the whipped cream or even the cherry on top. This was the seemingly superfluous swizzle stick of rock candy, as if the defense wasn't already sticky sweet enough. This was Sammy Knight signing with the Dolphins defense, such an entity in itself it could secede from the rest of the team any day now.

Said the ballhawking safety upon his introduction: "This defense is a great defense already."

Yeah, we thought so too.

Or pretty close, anyway.

Now it's better, and on its own merits, there's nothing much wrong with that.

Knight, who arrives cheaply from the Saints, becomes the ninth Pro Bowler on this defense, compared to one on the offense.

MORE (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/sfl-skolnick14may14,0,1260509.column?coll=sfla%2Dsports%2Dcol)

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Free agent strong safety Sammy Knight ended his six-year association with the Saints on Tuesday, signing a two-year, $2.38 million contract with the Miami Dolphins.

Knight, 27, is scheduled to make base salaries of $530,000 and $1.25 million in 2003 and 2004, plus a $300,000 signing bonus and a $300,000 roster bonus in '04.


Knight decided to void the last year of his contract with New Orleans and test free agency when team officials declined to meet his salary demands. He had been seeking a contract in excess of $5 million per season in New Orleans.

Pittsburgh and Green Bay also showed interest in Knight, who ranks third in Saints history with 28 career interceptions. He also holds the club record with four interception returns for touchdowns, and he led the team in tackles the past two seasons.


MORE (http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-3/105289379164540.xml)

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The Dolphins' talent ledger, already tilted toward defense the past several years, went even farther in that direction when the team signed safety Sammy Knight to a two-year contract on Tuesday.

Knight becomes the ninth Pro Bowl player or former Pro Bowl player on the defense. The Dolphins now have more than twice as much salary-cap space devoted to the projected defensive starters ($33.4 million) as the offensive starters (15.5).

The defense was top-rated in the AFC in 2002, when six defenders were named to the Pro Bowl, while the offense ranked No. 15, including No. 26 passing. The Dolphins said improving the passing game was a major goal, but most of their major personnel additions have been on defense.


MORE (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-dolphins14may14,0,5052037.story?coll=sfla%2Dsports%2Dfront)