MIAMI (AP) As part of an attempted upgrade on offense, the Miami Dolphins even decided to switch snappers.
Three-time Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey was released Thursday as part of an offensive line makeover. Miami also acquired center Daniel Kilgore in a trade with San Francisco, and four-time Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton agreed to terms on a two-year deal that could be worth nearly $18 million including incentives, said his agent, Jack Reale.
Pouncey, 28, has been plagued by serious problems with both hips, and at one time said he feared the issue might be career-ending. But last season he played in all 16 games for the first time since 2012.
The Dolphins also sealed their deals with former New England Patriots receiver Danny Amendola and former Kansas City Chiefs wideout Albert Wilson. They re-signed defensive back Walt Aikens, a standout on special teams, and re-signed long snapper John Denney, who has been with Miami since 2005 and turns 40 in December.
Quarterback David Fales agreed to terms on a one-year deal and could win the backup job behind Ryan Tannehill. Fales threw for 265 yards in last season’s finale against Buffalo and won praise from coach Adam Gase.
Pouncey became the fifth starter jettisoned by Gase after a 6-10 season. Five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was released, as were linebacker Lawrence Timmons and tight end Julius Thomas, and three-time Pro Bowl receiver Jarvis Landry was traded.
Changes on offense were expected after Miami ranked 28th in points last season.
Pouncey, a first-round draft pick by the Dolphins in 2011, made the Pro Bowl in 2013-15. But he never played in a playoff game and was at the center of team’s bullying scandal in 2013.
Kilgore is a seven-year veteran who started all 16 games for the 49ers in 2017. Last month they signed him to an $11.78 million, three-year contract extension, but he became expendable when San Francisco signed free agent center Weston Richburg to a $47.5 million, five-year deal this week.
As part of Miami’s trade with the 49ers, the teams swapped seventh-round draft picks.
Sitton, 31, spent the past two seasons with the Chicago Bears and made the Pro Bowl most recently in 2016. He played for the Green Bay Packers from 2008 to 2015 and has 137 career starts.
Amendola signed a $12 million, two-year contract, and Wilson received a $24 million, three-year deal. They’ll combine to replace Landry, who has a $16 million franchise tag for this year.
Amendola, 32, is a nine-year veteran with 426 receptions, including 61 last season. Since 2013, he has played in 13 postseason games with Tom Brady. Wilson is a four-year veteran with 124 career catches – a dozen more than NFL leader Landry made last season.
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