Miami Dolphins Cut CB Will Allen - The Phinsider
SB Nation - Login for mobile commenting
The Phinsider
Story Archives
FanPosts
FanShots
Full site version
Miami Dolphins Cut CB [Will Allen]e|/nfl/players/5469
by Mosul_DolFan on Sep 4, 2011 9:29 AM EDT in 2012 Miami Dolphins News
Mike Ehrmann - Getty Images
6 months ago: MIAMI GARDENS, FL - SEPTEMBER 01: Terence Newman #41 of the Dallas Cowboys misses a pass defended by [Will Allen]e|/nfl/players/5469 #25 of the Miami Dolphins during a Pre-Season NFL game at Sun Life Stadium on September 1, 2011 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
As we all know by now, yesterday the Miami Dolphins made 27 roster moves to meet the NFL's 53-man roster deadline, including veteran cornerback [Will Allen]e|/nfl/players/5469 . Allen, who has been with the Dolphins since 2006, tore his ACL in a 2009 game, and hasn't been able to get back on the field since.
Allen was signed by the Dolphins in the 2006 offseason, following five years with the New York Giant - who were replacing Allen with former Dolphin Sam Madison . Allen had been the Giants ' first round draft choice in 2001 and had earned a reputation as a cover corner who struggled to make the interception. During his Giants tenure, Allen has 295 tackles, 61 passes defensed, 8 interceptions, and 22 forced fumbles, in 72 games (starting 71).
After joining the Dolphins, Allen solidified his role as a cover corner. Matched up with Jason Allen , Vontae Davis , and Sean Smith throughout his time in Miami, as the Dolphins continued to get younger in the secondary, Allen continued to prove he was worthy of the Dolphins first string slot, starting all 39 of his games with the Dolphins.
In the Dolphins' Week 6 game against the New Orleans Saints in 2009, Allen went down with a knee injury. Following the game, Miami announced that Allen had torn his ACL and would be placed on injured reserve, ending his 2009 season. Week 7 would mark the first game for the Dolphins without Allen on the field since Week 12 of the 2006 season.
It would also mark the last time Allen would appear in a regular season game for the Dolphins.
As the 2010 season approached, there was hope for Allen's return. However, when he did not respond during training camp, Allen was again placed on injured reserve, spending the entire 2010 season on the sidelines.
This preseason, things again looked up for Allen, who was finally able to get back on a game field, appearing in the Dolphins' Week 3 and Week 4 preseason games. Allen, who had been scheduled to make $5.5 million in 2011 restructured his contract prior to the season, taking less money to come back to the Dolphins. With the emergence of Davis and Smith as one of the top cornerback tandems in the league, Allen was expected to battle for a role as the team's nickelback.
Allen provided one of the highlights of the preseason when, on September 1, against the Dallas Cowboys , he made a play on a Stephen McGee pass to the endzone. Allen, who had been covering two receivers on the play, broke for the ball while it was in the air, jumping and tipping it away from the waiting arms of Cowboys tight end Martin Rucker . As the ball fell away from Rucker, Miami safety Tyrone Culver was there to snag the interception.
Throughout the game, Allen seemed to be everywhere, leading the team in tackles (5), along with the pass defensed. Allen seemed to have once again fought his way toward a roster spot.
But it wasn't meant to be. Allen was released, along with 25 other Dolphins players, yesterday. He finished his Dolphins career with 189 tackles, 4 sacks, 45 passes defensed, 7 interceptions, and the only touchdown of his career.
Allen's career isn't over yet, as he will be picked up somewhere to provide veteran leadership and experience to a secondary. But, his time as a Dolphin is complete. During that time, he confirmed his reputation from back with the Giants - he was never going to get a ton of interceptions, but he was always there, in the right place, stopping the play and preventing the big gain. Now, he's be in the right place for someone else.
0 recs | 21 comments
Comments
Don't understand
I don’t understand why we cut him. If the last “preseason game” was supposed to be his chance to show he still can play- didn’t he do that? $1.5 million doesn’t seem like too much money to pay for a player of his caliber. This FO has made some good moves but also lots of head-scratching moves as well.
miamimike71 - September 4, 2011 reply
I knew he was a long shot to make the team !
He he and always has been a “cover corner” who struggled to make interceptions. Plus he is old and still strugglimg wih injury.
mohammer - September 4, 2011 reply
gonna miss him on the field for us. good luck where ever you land.
smokinjoe699 - September 4, 2011 reply
jets or pats might pick him up pick his brain then release him. polite aswell. just a thaught
THE SHIZ - September 4, 2011 reply
doubt that will happen
Those teams won’t waste the time. Allen will land with the Giants.
rintintinsoldier - September 4, 2011 via mobile reply
Good luck Will!
I was kinda surprised, but not really. He’ll catch on with another team and I wish him the best of luck.
P.S. Keep your eyes on Jimmy Wilson…..he’s gonna make some plays this year.
dohboy24 - September 4, 2011 reply
I think a combination of Wilsons play and Nolan Carrols upside and contributions on special teams was just enough to allow the FO to feel comfortable with this move.
Adding youth to our starting lineup,Sapp may start at nickel CB,but I dont think it will take too long to see Wilson surpass him on the depth chart.
Before his stint in jail,he was projected to be a 2nd round pick. We got good value,and while 1.5 mil isnt much,if we can get same value from Wilson,his salary looks to be another 1.1 mil in cap space.
dolphinfan4lyfe - September 4, 2011 via mobile reply
At least we kept him for the 2 seasons he was injured.
Now that he’s finally healthy time to return him into the wild??
I don’t get it
Laces out - September 4, 2011 reply
Keeping Sapp over Allen is just fking nuts
MainePhinFan - September 4, 2011 reply
Uhm
That’s not Terence Newman in the photo, it’s Dwayne Harris.
Blue or CONKZILLA - September 4, 2011 reply
that made me laugh Lol
Carl Johnson a.k.a CJ - September 4, 2011 reply
Any chance we end up resigning him under a restructured contract?
BSerious72 - September 4, 2011 reply
maybe
But I doubt it
AnishB15 - September 4, 2011 via mobile reply
Thats what I'm hoping for
Tell him we are giving him a 1 year un-guaranteed “Prove It” contract so he can show he can stay healthy and produce. We have already sunk millions into him for him to just sit on the sidelines.
This situation kinda reminds me of Grant Hill. The magic wasted millions on him but he was never healthy and then after his contract is done he bails to play for pennies for another team. I’m not saying we’ve offered Will a contract though
Souwantmyname - September 4, 2011 reply
[Will Allen]e|/nfl/players/5469 should of been a Dolphin this season.
If either Smith or Davis should get hurt, it is him whom I believe bring the best chance for us to play effective pass defense. Not understanding this staff’s decisions.
fin4three5yrs - September 4, 2011 reply
Hed been hurt two years
He played lights out the last game,but we dont know too much about what was goin on in the locker room after. Truth is,i think we tried to trade him,no one bit,and we cut our loss to go with the younger,healthier 4 corners.
You also have to remember,we kept 6 DE’s,and 4 DL,and a total of 10 LB’s for a reason. We have never kept so many. I think were probably in the proccess of working on a trade for a qualtity vet to lead these young guys,or perhaps keeping specific OL until we can find a viable trade partner for some upgrades.
dolphinfan4lyfe - September 4, 2011 via mobile reply
Smart FO
SAMUEL coming to miami for Merling and edds 5th round pick
ROZAY - September 4, 2011 reply
Mosul I see you must've really liked Allen
You wrote an entire post on us cutting him. I didn’t think he’d make the roster.He’s missed the last season and a half and isn’t getting any younger. As good as he was as a cover corner he struggled at the 1 thing this defense needed more then anything else last season INT’s.
This regime also didn’t draft him. He’s a leftover from the Saban era. They drafted Davis and Smith in 09, Caroll in10 and made a trade for Sapp(who I think is underratted by most of this fan base). They also drafted Wilson in this years draft. I wrote a post on how this regime is getting rid of players not drafted or picked up by this regime. http://www.thephinsider.com/2011/4/13/2109745/why-not-finish-the-exodus-and-get-younger-in-the-process Carey.Soliai,Bell,Denney and Fields(I didn’t add JT because we signed him as a FA this off season) are the only player left from previous regimes.Two are probowlers(Bell and Denney), 1 has been franchised( Soliai), 1 top 5 at his position(Fields) and Carey is just plain awful. Don’t be surprised to see Carey and Bell go next.
NawlinsPhinFan - September 4, 2011 reply
It's funny...
Elsewhere on the blog, people posted that they would expect to see a post about Allen being cut, since he was with the team for so long.
Now it’s up here, and people complain that I must “really like” Allen.
And then Flip-Her uses it as a reason why I am ruining the blog.
Good case of not being able to make everyone like everything.
Mosul_DolFan - September 4, 2011 reply
Didn't mean any harm
I didn’t know you was asked about writing a post on Allen. I thought you might’ve had a man crush on him. Like Matty I had with Sean Smith. Keep up the good work.
NawlinsPhinFan - September 4, 2011 reply
when you havent played a down in a couple of years its a no brainer
Patssuck456 - September 5, 2011 reply
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of The Phinsider to post a comment.
Top of page - The Phinsider - About SB Nation
© 2012 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use - Privacy Policy

