The Dolphins are so desperate, after losing out on Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn, that they're now willing to significantly overpay a borderline NFL starter at near the level of franchise quarterback money. Flynn only got $6.33M annually from the Seahawks. Smith isn't as physically talented as incumbent Dolphins starter Matt Moore, and he's certainly not worth more than Flynn. At this point, it's almost as if the Fins are trying to sign a quarterback, just to sign a quarterback.

The team is currently concerned about a separation of Henne's non-throwing shoulder, and the Dolphins are awaiting word of a second opinion Tuesday that could dictate Henne's availability for the rest of the season, a Dolphins source said.

Dolphins claimed RB Steve Slaton off waivers from the Texans.

Week Zero power rankings
Posted by Mike Florio on September 6, 2011, 10:51 PM EDT

29. Dolphins: The owner wanted Jim Harbaugh, but settled for Tony Sparano. Sparano wanted Kyle Orton, but settled for Chad Henne. The fans want the Heat, but may have to settle for the Dolphins.

Won't it be fun to laugh at all the naysayers when the Fins show how good they can really be this season? -LCFF

Veteran running back Larry Johnson, who was surprisingly cut by the Miami Dolphins last week, has rejoined the team, according to NFL Network.

Johnson, once one of the best backs in the NFL during his years with the Kansas City Chiefs, was one of the Dolphins' final cuts made as the team trimmed the roster to 53 players on Saturday. The Dolphins wanted his veteran presence to bolster a thin running back corps, but opted to keep just three tailbacks for the first week of the regular season.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was shown a copy of the Sanchez GQ during an interview with ESPN Milwaukee, and he didn’t try to conceal his contempt.

"Look at this," Rodgers said. "That’s embarrassing. Page 94 of the GQ thing here. That’s terrible."

As a Miami fan, you gotta love it anytime someone slams a Jets QB. -LCFF

Free agent ILB Channing Crowder reportedly announced his retirement on a Miami radio station Tuesday.

Sparano lists Reggie Bush as the starting running back over Daniel Thomas, even though Bush has averaged 8.73 carries per game in his five-year career. And Bush is not listed as a punt returner, either, even though he has five career punt return touchdowns.

Longtime Giants center Shaun O’Hara visited the Miami Dolphins Sunday, according to the Miami Herald.

Adding O’Hara would give Miami options with rookie Mike Pouncey, not to mention a great mentor for Pouncey to learn from. Both O’Hara and Pouncey can play guard and center, so the Dolphins would have options for how they would want to use the pair. Pouncey played center at practice Sunday and looks likely to stay there.

UPDATE: via Jeff Darlington Twitter: "Don't be alarmed if/when you hear O'Hara leaves town without a contract in place. He doesn't want to make decision over the phone with wife."

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said on Sunday that Pro-Bowl left tackle Jake Long has been placed on the physically unable to perform list while he attempts to recover from a knee injury.

ESPN's John Clayton mentions the Dolphins as a possibility for free agent Zach Miller.

The Dolphins retained a key part of last year’s defensive line rotation when they agreed to terms on a two-year deal with Tony McDaniel and added a piece to their linebacking corps as well on Wednesday.

NFL Network's Michelle Beisner reports trade talks between the Broncos and Dolphins are getting "serious," and a deal could be reached within six hours.

According to NFL Network's Jason La Canfora, the Dolphins have emerged as the favorites to land free agent Ahmad Bradshaw.

Hat tip to bbickley

Thigpen is reunited with Chan Gailey, who coached him to a career season back in 2008 with the Chiefs.

I have a feeling that this will come back to bite us in the @ss.

National Football League (NFL) players took a cautious stance on a collective bargaining agreement approved Thursday by team owners, holding off a vote to sign off until they had more time to read the fine print.

Team owners thought they had found the right formula to end the four-month lockout with their proposal for a 10-year deal, but representatives of the players said they would have to wait at least another day, because the players had not seen the full document yet.

NFL owners voted overwhelmingly in favor of a tentative 10-year agreement to end the lockout Thursday, pending player approval.

The vote was 31-0 with the Oakland Raiders abstaining from the ratification, which came after a full day of meetings at an Atlanta-area hotel.

Players still had to sign off on the deal — and they must re-establish their union, the NFL said.

The running back has said he wants to remain a Giant and it would be somewhat surprising if the team doesn't re-sign its top running back. However, like a good agent, Drew Rosenhaus is going to promote his client and try to drive up Bradshaw’s value.

Hat tips to NawlinsPhinFan and TCP

Brandon Marshall told Broward state attorney investigators late last month that his wife did not stab him in a late April domestic violence incident.

Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports that an agreement in principle on a new NFL Collective Bargaining deal is "likely to be completed" between this Friday and next Tuesday.

The Dolphins reportedly have "zero" chance of re-signing NT Paul Soliai before the onset of free agency in March.

Soliai wants to cash in on his breakout second half, which makes it nearly impossible for an extension with the "30 percent" rule in effect. Soliai's camp is expecting a "free-for-all" once he hits the open market. As a run-plugging 350-pounder, he'll be in high demand among teams running 3-4 schemes.

Do you think the Dolphins should pony up big money to keep him?

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the 49ers are not willing to compete financially with the Dolphins' contract offer to Jim Harbaugh.

Schefter cautions that San Francisco is not totally out of the hunt, but the Fins' offer is believed to be in the $7-8 million range. SI's Peter King calls that number "insane," and it would make Harbaugh the richest head coach in the NFL. The Niners are reportedly "ready to move on" if Harbaugh follows the cash. As of late Wednesday, Stephen Ross' Dolphins appeared to have emerged as the favorites to land the soon-to-be-former Stanford coach.