Considering it's not exactly a ladies' choice situation where the Dolphins' free safeties are concerned, most onlookers assumed the team would pursue Rams free safety O.J. Atogwe if he became an unrestricted free agent.
But the pricey Atogwe was set free by a rebuilding St. Louis at midnight, and already the Dolphins have told a source they don't intend to sign the six-year NFL vet and 2008 team MVP.
"We like what we've seen from our safeties so far," a source told reporter Jeff Darlington while claiming Atogwe is "officially" a long-shot to sign in Miami.
In other words, the only way Atogwe heads south is if his market value declines considerably -- and that would take passes from other needy teams as well.
The news will surely make Dolphins fans, whether spoiled by the offseason aquisitions of Karlos Dansby and Brandon Marshall or just generally opposed to being scored upon, cringe a little.
After all, Davie boasts only Chris Clemons, who started twice last season after being drafted in the fifth round; rookie Reshad Jones, fresh out of UGA; Tyrone Culver, who's been practicing at strong safety; and Will Allen, a cornerback not exactly ready to switch positions.
Not that we think Clemons is bad, mind you, it's just that no one knows if he's good -- and nothing induces panic in an NFL fan like a tinge of mystery. Plus, it was just a few months ago that the Dolphins themselves took a look at these same options and tried to sign the Steeler's Ryan Clark.
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Now it's Clemons or bust or both, but at least Tony Sparano seems to feel okay about it.
"I was just talking about it to the team this morning,'' Tony Sparano said yesterday. "Chris has 256 scrimmage plays right now in practice. That's the most on the team by any player. Those are live scrimmage repetitions. And he has minimal, minimal mental mistakes."
Of course, those reps happened in the shorts Jason Taylor (sniff!) always liked calling "pajamas," so here's hoping if the Dolphins find it's not so rosy when the team puts on pads that it's not too late for a little outside pursuit.
