Vontae Davis officially cleared

Just tying up some loose ends with this one.

The Champaigne, Illinois police who originally charged Davis with driving with an invalid license and pulling a Bubb Rubb have dismissed those charges.

It had become obvious that Davis was a victim of identity theft and that the person pulled over was not him.

J.D. Folsom signs

Shortly after Patrick Turner signed his rookie contract, seventh-round LB J.D. Folsom followed suit.

Scout.com is reporting that he signed a four-year deal worth $1.812 million, including a $62,000 signing bonus.

Folsom becomes the team's fourth draft pick to sign. For a complete list of all the team's draft picks, showing which are signed and which are not, see the post below this one.

Patrick Turner signs

[Update:] J.D. Folsom has also signed his contract[/End Update]

The Dolphins signed a third pick from this year's draft, inking WR Patrick Turner to a four-year deal worth about $2.46 million, including a $714,000 signing bonus.

Turner was taken in the third round.

He is the third 2009 Miami draft pick to sign after TE John Nalbone and T Andrew Gardner.

Here is a full list of Miami's draft choices, with those who have signed in bold along with their contract numbers:

Round 1 (25th overall) CB Vontae Davis, Illinois
Round 2 (44, from Washington) QB Pat White, West Virginia
Round 2 (61, from Indianapolis) CB Sean Smith, Utah
Round 3 (87) WR Patrick Turner, USC: 4 years, $2.46 million, $714,000 bonus
Round 4 (108, from Oakland) WR Brian Hartline, Ohio State
Round 5 (161) TE John Nalbone, Monmouth: 4 years, $1.92 million, $173,000 bonus
Round 5 (165, from Indianapolis) FS Chris Clemons, Clemson
Round 6 (181) T Andrew Gardner, Georgia Tech: 4 years, $1.86 million, $109,000 bonus
Round 7 (214, from Cleveland) OLB J.D. Folsom, Weber State: 4 years, $1.81 million, $62,000 bonus

It has been reported that FS Chris Clemons is close to signing his deal.

2009 Training Camp schedule released

The Dolphins have released their 2009 training camp schedule.

To see the whole list, click here.

Players begin reporting on August 1, and the first practice will take place on August 2. 21 of the practices will be open to the public, with the last open practice happening on August 20.

Double session days will have practices at 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, while single session days will begin at 2:00 PM.

Vontae Davis - the new Bubb Rubb?

[Update 2: It's looking increasingly likely that this has all been just an unfortunate mix-up for Vontae. The Illinois paper that originally reported the story has now changed its report, essentially in what looks like an effort to cover its tracks (and its ass). Apparently, it appears that someone stole Vontae's wallet and was using his license and ID when he got pulled over. Kudos go to the Dolphins brass for immediately sticking up for Vontae in the press.]

[Update: According to PFT, the Dolphins are now disputing the reports that Davis was arrested. Stay tuned to find out what's really going on here.]

The offseason is always the danger zone when it comes to NFL players getting arrested. Miami has already had to deal with Randy Starks' laughable transgression from a month ago.

And now their newest first round draft pick is in trouble with the law.

On June 9, at 6:47 PM, Vontae Davis was arrested in Champaign, Illinois and charged with unnecessary vehicular noise and driving without a valid license. He will likely only have to pay a fine of up to $255.

Look, I'm sure a lot of people are going to angrily point fingers and shout that the team should have known better when drafting Davis since he had character concerns coming out of college.

Those people are overblowing the situation.

Please look again at what got him arrested. It wasn't late at night; there was no alcohol or drugs involved. Either he was playing his music too loud in the car or he knows Bubb Rubb:



Yeah, Davis should have been a little more careful, but this isn't anything to worry about.

Culver signs extension

Way back in February, I compiled a list of the five players I deemed to be Miami's best prospects.

Number 5 on that list was S Tyrone Culver.

Here is what I wrote:

It's clear that the coaching staff likes Culver since he basically assumed the role of the extra defender in most dime packages and some nickel packages by the end of the year, passing guys like Joey Thomas and Jason Allen on the depth chart. He made the most of his limited playing time as well, recording 35 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 1 interception. Even though he was released once during the season, he was brought back the very next week. He played a big role on special teams too, with 9 tackles.

Given the paucity of quality safeties currently on the team and the fact that one or both of last year's starters (Bell and Hill) may not be brought back, Culver is looking at a significant increase in playing time. That increased opportunity may be all he needs.

Clearly, the front office agrees with me, since they signed Culver to a two-year contract extension yesterday. He is now under contract with Miami for the next three seasons.

His yearly base salaries are as follows:
2009 - $875,000
2010 - $1.1 million
2011 - $1.25 million

Gardner signed

Miami signed its second 2009 draft pick on Thursday, inking T Andrew Gardner to a four-year deal worth about $1.65 million with a $75,000 signing bonus.

His contract includes escalator clauses that would bump up his pay should he become a starter at some point.

Gardner was selected in the sixth round and has stepped right into the left tackle backup role behind Jake Long.