Bell agrees to 4-year deal with Dolphins

Yeremiah Bell not only will remain with the Dolphins in 2009. He's remaining as their starting strong safety.

Bell just agreed to terms on a 4-year deal worth $20 million. Of that $20 million, a whopping $10 million is guaranteed.

Bell, Miami's leading tackler in 2009, is the second major signing in the deep secondary for the Dolphins today. Earlier today the team signed Gibril Wilson to a deal worth up to $27.5 million.

Do the math: Miami's deep secondary is now a $47.5 million expenditure with $18 million of that guaranteed money.

The Dolphins have told Bell he will continue to play strong safety while Wilson, who played free safety during his years with the Giants, will take over at free safety.

That, of course, means Renaldo Hill is going to be looking for work come the start of free agency. Hill was the starting free safety in 14 games last season.

As I made the point in a previous post, Wilson played free safety for the Giants during his stint there. But ultimately they deemed him expendable. The Raiders wanted him as a strong safety and didn't think he could make the move to free safety, so that and the salary cap situation got him cut there.

The 49'ers were interested in Wilson when he was cut but they need a free safety and decided Wilson is not suited for that position. So while Wilson will play free safety in Miami and Bill Parcells and Tuna Helper Jeff Ireland believe Wilson will be successful with the move, there are doubters around the NFL that think that's not going to work.

We'll see.

[Continue to check back as I will have more news for you as it happens. It's been a great day for this blog so far!]

Comments

[Bean]

Fantastic, now go for McFadden and get a corner in the draft to groom for Allen's spot.

[FLPD]

Excellent reporting Salguero. I read somewhere, and won't mention the Sunsentinel, that wrote today we would not be spending any money in free agency. Yet we spent $47 million in one day on two safeties.

I think the sentinel needs new sources they're terrible.

[Ricky's Dimebag]

"The Dolphins should have one of the league's better safety tandems with the re-signing of Yeremiah Bell and signing of ex-Giant Gibril Wilson in the past 24 hours. Miami will need help at cornerback if Andre Goodman leaves via free agency, as expected."

Well huh.

[nathan giles]

I think getting bell back is great remember fin fans tom Brady comes back this coming season and the Pats are gonna want the division back but our powerful secondary wont let that happen.. man remember what happen when jason allen was put to cover Moss? dude looked puzzled at times. so Wilson and Bell? i love that against moss

[Mino]

HVK It's not true will lose only 800.000 if he's cut so we can get into the big prize which is MATT casell who is going to be traded by new england.i know things and i hear things.

[Ricky's Dimebag]

That was a CNNSI.com post, btw

[finfan2009]

what a great day to be a Finfan! I really hope Wilson is suited to play FS. If Tuna thinks he is than in Tuna I trust. Already creating a big buzz for next year. Did not think we would see this much spending this offseason. I'm very impressed with our front office.

LETS GO FINS!

[monkey]

breaking news from monkey; all this money spend so far most of it will provide a WAY for tuna to make better trades and move up on draft board,so every one should calm down cause this is what happened around free agents and draft time .

[HVK]

Mino......what's the point. I think we should trade all dolphin players for matt casell. I hear he can play every position. He should even be the GM.

[Grande Tonno]

It seems strange to me that so many people nationally are suddenly questioning these moves. Especially when the people who cover this team every day in South Florida are applauding the exact same ones.

Gibril Wilson can't play FS? Carey so-so? Really? I don't buy either of those. Gibril Wilson has played free safety in college and the pros. How does he suddenly not have the skills? Sure he's a more natural fit at SS because he can unload on people, but Yeremiah Bell can do that just fine. Carey's a quality, versatile player at a premium position. They got him for right around what his value is, and they paid him less than he would have gotten on the open market.

You have to look at it two ways 1) What are your options and 2) How much will it cost?

Wilson was better than the option the Dolphins had at home (Renaldo Hill), and certainly came at great cost. Carey was the best option when compared to any other option on the open market or anything that would slide to them in the draft. And he absolutely came cheaper than anyone else they could have signed for the same money.

Not to mention the fact that these signings offer the team unbelievable flexibility heading into the draft. They don't make these signings, they HAVE to take a tackle early, and maybe they have to reach for one. They also HAVE to take a safety.

Now they can fill any NUMBER of needs depending on what falls to them. Their hands aren't tied.

Look at the big picture people. These players are being signed to play roles they're more than capable of playing, while also filling major needs.

And saying that Gibril Wilson can't play FS, when that's exactly what he did for a team that knocked off arguably one of the best teams in history in the biggest game of the year ... that's just crazy to me. The man has a Super Bowl ring on his finger for playing FS.

Take a broader look at this stuff folks. And don't get caught up in the narrow minded thinking of so called "pundits." Odds are they're spending their days looking at all 32 teams in the NFL. If they were JUST looking at the picture in Miami... they'd be able to see the nuances a bit more clearly.

[Bill]

Way too much money, the NFL needs to cut ticket prices in half. I will never pay for an NFL ticket to support this kind of pay. Who do they think they are, hedge fund managers?

[AK FinFan]

Mino, do you think Belicheat is going to trade Cassel to someone in the division?

[njrich]

The money on these deals points to us passing on Brown... he wants guard money and we won't be able to do that. This means to me that we are looking Center come draft day, but probably not with #1.

[Mino]

HVK, the only way for fins to go deep in play off is to get matt casell as QB other wise the fins will never go any where w/ chad interception boy and henne who when he starts will a big DISPOINTMENT'

[Mino]

RODREGEz,you have the wrong guy. please ready the sunsentinel blog posted this morning at 7:59 am and last week. Why sould I like? For Bolg purpouse come on man.

[souljahbeats]

Matt Cassel is the next Scott Mitchell he wont be anything special on a new team

[Curious george]

HEY menace ( aka monkey , rodriguez ) , i thought you had to go and will come back at 11 tonight,

[monkey]

the only reason fins signed these in my opinion is make better trades and move up comes draft day.so calm down fin fans .i know your knowlege is limited but believe you me BELL or WILSON will be gone by draft day.

[Mino]

RODREGEZ, you will see tomorrow Jason Brown is a Dolphins already on a 5years 40miland 20 garantee...$5 million bonus and a base around 1million. WE are already talking to the BOYS for 2 players. I think Barber is a possibility and look this LT TO THE BOYS.. BARBER IN MIAMI, Ronnie BROWN IN SAN DIEGO. Sound crazy but in few weeks very possible. MINO

[souljahbeats]

Monkey,

Keep wishing that in your jet fan mind...

[Chase]

I'll admit i was wrong about the dolphins resigning Bell. But as i said i would be im glad i was. Bell is my favorite player on miami's Defense! I hope G. Wilson can make the transition

[FinFan]

what is this with MAYBIN at 25!!!!! he'll likely be gone in the top 10 and if not definetly the top 20!

Great resign. NO WR WILL DARE TO COME OVER THE MIDDLE THIS YEAR!! IN free agency all we need to do is sign COLES (should be fairly easy) and if we can sign jason brown which will be much tougher. IF we get both of them and draft an LB and a coverage CB with our first and second pick we'll be set to make a deep playoff run!!!!!

GO DOLPHINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rodregez]

AK fin fan ,new england will trade matt and no question asked .they are waiting only to see brady for two games at the start of the season to make sure they are making the right D.one other reason is BOB craft is not willing to close to 30 mill a year for both of them next year.in new england they run the as a biz first

[the garden state]

jets rocks with our new coachiiiiiiiiiii
fish next year 6-10
jets next year 9-7

[Fish Boy]

STOP DRINKING RICKY'S BONG WATER!
OK enough of the confusion, G Wilson played FREE SAFETY with the G men. NOT SS, he did that with the Raiders. So Wilson plays FS Bell plays SS. There is no transitioning, they are each playing their normal positions.

RUN RICKY RUN

[the garden state]

wilson or bell will be gone by draft day

[Billy P]

It certainly doesn't take much to impress you guys does it?

I guess after Spielman/Wanny/Saban and Cam it's to be expected but THIS is just the way I roll kids!

The funny thing is..IF you're impressed now,just wait for the next move I'm going to drop on you guys.

[Brian in NJ]

Mando how much cap room do the dolphins have left for the draft and any other free agents they may be interested in?

[oaktree]

How much cap space have we got left? Unless guys restructure things are getting tight. We have to sign our draft picks too. These 3 guys are costing around 15 mill. That leaves us around 5 mill or more. It may be time to hunker down go with what we got.

[EdM]

I am a little concerned about the amount of money that was spent on safeties. Also, the length of both contracts is a concern. When it comes to free agency, the great trio has not proved infallible. Ernest Wilford is definitely in top 3 worst FA signings for last season. To commit that much time and that much money to one player you better be pretty da*n sure about him. If you look up and down the NFL there is no team that commits that much money to both their starting safeties. If you look at all the great safeties in the NFL, Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, none of their coparts are worth a crap. Safeties are pretty expendable, and with the brain trio we have, I dont think it would have been difficult for them to find a steal in a later round. I hope this plan works out the way they hope....

[Marc]

HVK and ak finfan . Mino , monkey, rodriguez is none other than the cuban menace playing with you. Get a F-n Clue , Please !!!

[souljahbeats]

trust the tuna...we have two hard hitting, tackle-crazy safeties now...this is not a bad thing...we are keeping the players that got us to 11-5 last year and building on top of that by signing other guys at need positions...that is how you get better

[monkey]

fin fans are all over themselves for OK players ,get a hold of your selves >we need to hear future trades to include monster players like matt casell to get real happy meanwhile BP just playing with all of you.

[matt cassells boyfriend mino!]

matt cassell is a system QB. plus, my grandmother would look good tossing the ball to moss and welker. i would burn all of my dolphins stuff if they did any of the idiotic things you suggested. wilson will be fine at FS, does everyone really think we would be better off with hill? also, to the guy complaining about ticket prices...........don't go to the games you won't be missed, i could use the extra seat to bring grandmother. she knows more about X's and O's than some of the people here.

[isaac]

theyre gonna go corner in the 1st round either vontae davis, alphonso smith, or sean smith or any usc linebacker

[monkey]

Marc ...i am monkey and for the thousands times i am not cuban .now tell more about yourself and your incoming picnic

[matt boy friend Mino..happy now]

matt casell had 1 lousy interception whole last year and the idiot said that matt is a system QB,SOOOOO.one last thing your interception boy Penne had 4 interceptions in only one game.

[Red Dog]

I've heard that Wilford has been working his tail off this offseason. We can't let him go....It might just be he comes around?

[morphin]

Ok knuckleheads, one more time. Wilson played FS for the Giants and shut down Brady & Moss in the super bowl. That is where he will playing for the Fins.

[Ixxy13]

Alot of people are not realizing that Wilson will get some really good coaching now. I'm sure they will go over his play with a fine tooth comb more than they already have. They will teach him more than he already knows. He will get better.

[David E]

I think a caller on 790 really nailed Armando's reporting style. To paraphrase the caller he said that it could be the most beautiful day out and you invite Armando to go to the beach and he's make a statement like, "You know there's such a thing as dry lightning don't you? We're all at risk."

I think the reporting that Armando should've done is what the Sun Sentinel did when Dave Hyde attached a link to a story by the Oakland Raiders beat writer and how infuriated he was that the Raiders let him go.

Armando....if you win the lottery and you only win $99 million instead of $100 million, how upset will you be.

Also, finally, the reputation of the Dolphins front office is far superior from our local armchair quarterback writers.

[orteaga]

To all the knukleheads on here you all should go and have some ice cream on me.

[fsudolphins13]

im happy with wat we are doing. honestly i don't care if we sign 1 or 2 draft picks. we have 2 beast safeties , a good o-line( need a center though ) , a offense that set the record for least amout of turnovers , and a decent front 7

[Rienhold Niebuhr]

Nice try at starting a BS "Bell has doubters" controversy, Mando. He played FS for NYG, & quite well at that! Somehow I think Pasqualoni & co. will figure out how to use him.

[hurriphin]

Haven't been here in a while, but it's great to finally be able to hear constant Dolphin news and not frown, or cringe!!

The Trinity is locking things down for the future. Glad to see us keep Carey, Crowder and Bell, as well as add needed depth at saftey, with Wilson.

Phins will raise the trophy in 11'!!!

Damn it feels good to be a gangster!!!!!!!!!!

[Dullfun]

Now on offense we need a tall strong receiver. THis is the way to open up the occasional deeper ball from Penny. Another speedster wouldn't help much as that is not Penny's strength. An on the field player like Plaxico without the baggage and then Jason Brown added to the OL would get us to the Super Bowl. I really think so.

[Mocasin]

I think Big Tuna will not throw more big money on FA´s, maybe an OL cheaper than Brown but that´s it. He just did his FA´s moves with Carey, Crowder, Bell & Wilson. Next it is the Draft, where he will be looking for C/G (1st Round) CB/DT (2nd Round), and after that the best player available.
I think he will pass on WR´s on 1&2Rd because he likes the young core we have and wants to see who develops and who doesn´t and in 2010 address acordingly.
I also thinks Coles could be interesting at WR, but maybe his asking price will be too much.

[dol-fan HARD-KNOCK LIFE]

WILSON WAS A FREE SAFTY 4 THE GIANTS THE RAIDERS TRIED TO CHANGE HIM THE S--- DIDN'T WORK. COVER YOUR EYES THE HITS WILL BE COMING SO HARD IT'S GOING TO GIVE THE COACHS NIGHTMARES....COLES MUST OF HEARD ABOUT THE DEALS BEING DONE YESTERDAY THAT'S WHY HE WANTED OUT OF N.Y....HE SAID I'LL BE DAMN IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE BEATING ME DOWN TWICE A YEAR... IT'S OKAY THER'S MORE TICKETS FOR THE DOL-FAN EXSPRESS

[dol-fan HARD-KNOCK LIFE]

ALL ABOARD!!!!!!!

[JET NICE FAN]

ALL ABOARD ON OUR WAY TO 6-10

[jets rocks phins sucks]

4-12

[dol-fan HARD-KNOCK LIFE]

i like dolphins center and the whole line for that matter SAMSON started losing it after Smilely went down. 6'3 305 and can get bigger what's wrong with that? as long as the guards stay healthy he would do good.

[souljahbeats]

Got to love hater Jets fans...their team is so bad they have to come be trolls on dolphins blogs

[phins sux]

Phins Wll raise the Trophy on 2333
2009 phins will sux

[MJZ]

We'll see? If the Tuna thinks Wilson can play free safety, despite what the goofs in SF and Oakland think, then he can play free safety. If i were you Armondo i would stop doubting the personnel evaluation acumen of the Trifecta and just report the news.

In addition, Wilson did play free safety for the Giants for four years (and the SB team), so who would think he can't now?

[cardoza]

wilson can't play FS so why was he signed? no body knows but i think i know may be cause fish planing to trade Bell for better and higher draft pick?

[dol-fan HARD-KNOCK LIFE]

YO JET FANS SAY IT WITH ME WHO IS THE AFC EAST CHAMPIONS..... COMING FIX YOUR FACE......YOU CAN SAY IT......... I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO BUT YES IT'S TRUE..... WHEN WERE YOU ABLE TO SAY THAT..... COME ON WHO IS THE CHAMPIONS OF THE AFC EAST......P/S THERES ROOM FOR YOU LOOK COLES KNEW YOU WEREN'T GOING ANYWHERE SO HE LEFT YOU COULD TOO

[dol-fan HARD-KNOCK LIFE]

A.F.C. EAST CHAMPS CHAMPS CHAMPS

[souljahbeats]

J-E-T-S SUCK! SUCK! SUCK!!!!

worst franchise in all of sports...

[phins sux]

champ this? holder of nfl record of worst season record ever.;
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