Dolphins Cut Edds, Release Berger

Miami not done tweaking roster ahead of season opener

A day after trimming their roster to 53, the Dolphins made another pair of cuts Monday. Miami waived LB AJ Edds and terminated the contract of C Joe Berger.

The release of Edds is the latest bit of evidence that Miami's recent track record in the NFL Draft has been decidedly less than stellar. Edds was a fourth-round selection in the 2010 draft.

The Dolphins are spinning his cut as a consequence of both Edds' injury history and having too many linebackers on the roster. Head coach Tony Sparano told the Miami Herald, "Obviously, A.J. missed a chunk of time and we didn't have a chance to evaluate him a year ago where Austin [Spitler, a seventh-round draft pick in 2011] had that time so he's a little bit further ahead that way."

Also working against Edds: "We had 10 linebackers on the roster at that particular time, and we weren’t going to carry 10 linebackers," said Sparano.

Edds tore his right ACL in training camp last season, missing all of 2010. Even so, it usually takes a Dolphins draft pick three seasons to totally flame out; Edds managed to do so in just over a year.

Taking Edds' and Berger's places on the roster are OL Ryan Cook, formerly of Minnesota, and TE Dante Rosario, who played for Carolina in 2010.

Cutting Berger saves the Dolphins about $1.5 million against the salary cap, and Sparano said of Cook, "He has been a pretty steady guy in his time in the league." Cook has started at guard, center, and tackle in his career, giving him an advantage over Berger.

The Dolphins also announced Monday that reserve OL Lydon Murtha underwent surgery, but Sparano was evasive as to what body part was operated on. The Herald asked Sparano if Murtha had surgery on his injured toe, but he cryptically replied, "Something like that."

Sparano called the loss of Murtha, who subbed for LT Jake Long during the preseason "a big loss," adding, "That was a really good luxury, and he was having a good training camp."

Murtha was placed on the injured reserve list Sunday.

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