Dolphins to release Vonnie Holliday [Update 2]

The Miami Dolphins will release defensive end Vonnie Holliday today, his agent Brian Levy is telling me.

"He enjoyed his time here," Levy said. "He did everything asked of him and he can leave with his head held high. This is a business. Players leave teams and teams leave players. It's an amicable split. He's happy to have left the Dolphins on a winning note."

The Dolphins are taking this step because they were due to pay Holliday a $1.5 million roster bonus Tuesday and another $500,000 workout bonus later this offseason.

The team offered Holliday, 33, an opportunity to renegotiate his contract but it was obviously at a pay cut and not one the player or his agent wanted to accept.

Holliday would have cost the Dolphins $5.75 million against the cap had he collected the bonus and his base salary in 2009. The team saves $3.25 million by cutting Holliday but he still will be on the books as a $2.5 million cap hit.

Holliday was a team captain for the defense and one of its leaders. He led all defensive linemen with 46 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

The Dolphins are obviously expecting second-year player Phillip Merling or 2008 acquisition Randy Starks to step into the starting job, with Kendall Langford handling the starting job at the other defensive end spot. The club also has second-year player Lionel Dotson on the roster.

The defensive end spot does not immediately become a need with the termination of Holliday's contract, but it is diminished by the loss of experience and leadership. The Dolphins will likely add another defensive lineman sometime this offseason.

[UPDATE: The Dolphins have confirmed my report and released the following statement from general manager Jeff Ireland: "These types of decisions are always difficult ones, especially with someone like Vonnie, who has been a role model both on the field and off it. He was one of our captains last year and was a proven leader, not just in his tenure with the Dolphins, bit throughout his 11-year career. We are grateful for all his contributions to the Miami Dolphins organization and we want to wish him and his family the best of luck in the future."]

[UPDATE 2: The Dolphins had no unrestricted free agents visit on Monday.]

Comments

[Blaze]

Vonnie was a solid player for us that because of age and cost needed to be released. I expect a body or 2 to be brought in via the draft and undrafted FAs. His presence in the locker room will be missed but his on the field reps are needed to develop the younger DLmen.

I expect with the first 4 of our draft picks will go to CB, dl/olb, c, and wr or nt depending on who is available.

The wr position doesn't concern me as much as it seems to many others. Ginn has improved and Tony likes him and he would know more then any of us on that subject. Penne doesn't have the arm to take advantage of his speed and for now the guys Cam. Bess, ginn, london will do NOW if a player tuna loves drops to the 2nd pick of ours in second round or 3rd I expect he'll take the best avalable player in the first 4 rounds.

Blaze

[Alienman]

NJ fin fan- You're 100% correct about Starks. When we were without Ferguson that game in the regular season, we got jacked. Starks did not fill that role very nicely, and is good at giving a starter a break. From what I remember reading, Holliday was instrumental in grooming Soliai after he got suspended a game. Hopefully he planted enough seeds to grow a NT out of Soliai. He showed some signs toward the end of the season last year... but Starks is definitely not the answer there. Hopefully we get our future guy in the draft, or Soliai breaks out.

[souljahbeats]

Eric,

Hey genius, in a 3-4 the DE is not a dedicated pass rusher, they are there mostly for run defense

[Fake GM]

Not a lot of people are talking about Lionel Dotson. The Dolphins really like him. So with Langford, Merling, R. Starks, and Dotson, the Dolphins are 4 deep at defensive end.
I thought it was interesting that the Dolphins refused to put Dotson on the practice squad last year (and thus exposing him to the rest of the league) despite the fact that he only played in the 2 games that Soliai was suspended for.

[cardoza]

fins fans are dictators they don't like any different point of view .They love to dream and they blame poor cardoza on their failures for last few years before tuna cameand they blame cardoza again cause they got their kicked in playoff.

[RexRyanSucks]

How bout this?...Say after me: the dolphins punked the sorry Cheatriots and the pathetic Yets in a rebuilding year. While we were actually playing against ed reed, those two sorry teams were working on their golf games. Peg leg Brady will go down in a heap again, while the aging shitriots continue their slide. As for the wets, they continue to overpay for mediocraty and will do what they always do, SUCK!!!!

[phinfan1323]

Does anyone else see this Matt Cassel trade to be a little off? I have a theory, why would they not take a first round for him from Tampa or Denver?
I think Pioli said give Cassel to me or I will tell all the dirt I have on you about spygate. I mean Belicheat traded Vrabel for a second rounder and then
like three days later said, Hey by the way I decided to throw in Matt Cassel.

[keithmiller]

NOW GO GET COLES!!! WE NEED OFFENSIVE FIRE POWER TOO!!! GO FINS 2009!!!

[Fins sucks]

say after me;3-13 next year
Rex Ryan kicked our ass
ed reed
worst record in NFL history 1-15
BERGER THIS

[souljahbeats]

Jets 1-15 in 1996, Pats 1-15 in 1990

[souljahbeats]

Redskins just released Jason Taylor

[cRUZ]

SIGN Jason TAyloR he just got released. lol

[Fins sucks]

souljahbeat ,SO your saying that dolphins of 2009 are the jets of 1996 and that is fine with me that you are the swear of 21 century

[Blaze]

Players I would like to see avalable in draft.

1) English, Cushing, Maualuga, Laurinaitis, Maybin, Brown, Peria, or Mathews
2) D.J. Moore, Mack, Unger, Hicks, Brace, or Smith
3) Any of the above mentioned that slip[ some.

Blaze

[souljahbeats]

No I'm saying that 1-15 isn't the worst record in NFL history, I realize that you are a 12 year old Jets fan and are just trying to get me mad, but I just thought I'd point that out....The Jets and Pats were also 1-15 before the Tuna showed up...Oh and 17-0, best record ever.

[RexRyanSucks]

You are correct, the shmets will be 3-13 next year with 2 of those losses to the Dolphins, while their pathetic coach will continue the legacy of his 1/2 pint, overstuffed father: a good coordinator and a blow hard/incompetent head coach. BTW, Ed Reed doesnt play for the paper airplanes, so good luck and start making reservations at a golf resort for January 2010 with your sorry team. LOL

[Luis]

Hey Armando! The Skins just releasesd Taylor!!! Would the Dolphins, at the very least talk to him??? That would be so great to get him back in Miami! What do you think?

[monkey]

one person just told me that JT will sign with fins in 2 weeks .that person who told me that he works for redskins.he told once a trade RE a player and it happened.

[souljahbeats]

Sorry no nostalgia trips for JT...

[Manuel]

The Tuna bringing Taylor back (if he's really been cut), i don't think so, the reason he traded Taylor was because taylor was more interested in showbizz than football

[Kelvin]

You complain about free speech, Armando, but then you delete my comment - one which didn't include any profanity or anything inappropriate.

Care to explain this one?

[Kelvin]

You complain about free speech, Armando, but then you delete my comment - one which didn't include any profanity or anything inappropriate.

Care to explain this one?

[Mark in Toronto]

Thanks Vonnie, you truly earned your money in Miami. Best of luck to you, wherever you go.

A few corrections to bloggers,

Cameron Wake is too small to play DE in a 3-4
3-4 DEs are hybrid DTs, they don't get many sacks. A guy like Aaron Smith in Pittsburgh might get 7 in a year - that's pretty high.
The Dolphins have plenty of DEs - they're good there. Langford was very good for a rookie and Merling came on late.

[souljahbeats]

Jason Taylor is reported to have been cut because he would not agree to a workout clause that involved attending the offseason program...I don't think that will make Parcells and company want him back

[RexRyanSucks]

To Fins Suck: maybe the bi-planes can play Vernon "Ghost"-on @ QB. He sure can't play LB or DE. Also, I heard Joe Namath and Richard Todd are available to take the place of the old/washed up/has been Favre. Good luck scoring 10 points a game this year. LOL

[hank Journigan]

Jason Taylor was just released! Any chance of him back to the dolphins as a linebacker?

[cardoza]

Kelvin,
in this blog a lot of people here they just want to hear themselves and dream almost like castro of cuba

[Eric]

our pass rush sucked for the most part last year and they haven't improved it. Vonnie Holiday was the only consistent pass rusher other than Porter who folded like a cheap tent at the end of the year.

[Sprovo]

Lets just hope JT doesn't feel there's an ax to grind with Parcells.

He has said so much crap about the Jets over the years that I doubt he'd go there. The Pats on the other hand is a different story.

[souljahbeats]

I heard Ed the Fireman will be the Jets starting qb this year

[Trenton]

What is this kelvin fool talking about? Comment about the topic.

[Hayden Fox]

Vonnie is a good guy and should remain on the team...Pay the bonus.

The Jets and Pats are killing the Fins this offseason...

Let's see- Joe Berger on the oline, Jason Allen starting at corner, same WR's, a CFL pass rusher and two SS in the deep patrol.

Awesome...why were we worried about Bill leaving?

[pancanfinfan]

Wow, this one hurts. A great guy with a great atttitude. Holliday will always be associated with the best turnaround in NFL history. His leadership during that year was huge in getting this team back on track. He'll always be a fan favorite. PS - wouldn't suprise me at all to see him on the commentator circuit.

[thejuandiggler]

Jason Taylor just released.....that may be why????????????

[fins sucks]

say after me,
3-13
interception park
55 chads=1 tom brady
rex+jets=fins no playoffs,
BERGER pleazze

[FinsFan]

Skins just released JT. Could Tuna possibly bring him back?

[TheJuanDiggler]

Jason Taylor just released....that maybe why????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[cRUZ]

Jason taylor is a patriot killer

[jets sux]

Eric,
It is time for you to go jump out of the tallest window you can find...you're hopeless. So glad you don't run the Fins.

[cRUZ]

if we wanted to we could bring jt and zach back. too bad they arent 10 years younger

[Ish]

**Breaking News** Jason Taylor has been cut! Now he can sign for 2 yrs. vet min. and retire a dolphin

This wasn't a surprise, although it is. Just like JT it was time, thank you and good luck.

This wasn't a surprise, although it is. Just like JT it was time, thank you and good luck.

[souljahbeats]

Hayden Fox,

The Dolphins have re-signed key players and added two young, strong players to the mix in Wake and Wilson...They are no over-paying for big name free agents, just like they said they wouldn't...Look for them to sign a few players at a bargain price and build through the draft...that is the plan, thats what it has been...If you don't like it go route for the Jets...they spent $140 million in Free Agency last year and look where it got them...

[souljahbeats]

Hayden Fox,

The Dolphins have re-signed key players and added two young, strong players to the mix in Wake and Wilson...They are no over-paying for big name free agents, just like they said they wouldn't...Look for them to sign a few players at a bargain price and build through the draft...that is the plan, thats what it has been...If you don't like it go route for the Jets...they spent $140 million in Free Agency last year and look where it got them...

[RexRyanSucks]

Soulja: If that little pipsqueak fireman is their QB instead of the cast of incompetents they currently have, they might be able to sneak in a win against Hofstra.

Note: this just in, the paper airplanes have signed Ken O'Brien to a 10 year $100 million contract, with $90 mill. guaranteed. Owner Woody Woodpecker anounced: "This is the type of move that I hired GM Mike Tanenboner to make. This guarantees us another pathetic season. I'm very excited."

[eddie from new england]

JASON TAYLOR!!
IF he is CHEAP

[trey]

Jason Taylor was just cut. We should bring him back to miami

[trey]

Jason Taylor was just cut. We should bring him back to miami

[Dmon]

Bring back JT. He clearly wants to be in Miami, hence not wanting to commit to all the Redskin workouts.
He can end his career as a Dolphin.

[fins sucks]

when fins sucked for a 10 years before tuna i never heard any of these fans saying any thing but talk dreams and wishing impossible things and now they think they reached the stars with the signing the like of BERGER,After all they are the home of the disney mouse.

[Sprovo]

Jason Taylor has decided to stop playing football and become the first male member of the Pussycat Dolls.

[monkey]

IT'S nice to see Sprovo writes like the soap man Nathaniel

[souljahbeats]

haha lmfao sprovo...old "twinkle toes" taylor...Yall are crazy wishing for Taylor to come back...Not only does he not fit the 3-4, but you really think Parcells wants to bring someone in that got cut for refusing to attend the offseason program? Thats what their beef last year was about...Jason Taylor wanted to prance around and curtsy and do the splitz on tv instead of coming to training camp

[RexRyanSucks]

1 Chad P. = 100 1-legged Tom Bradys

1 Rex Ryan = 1/100 Tony Sparano

AND VERNON "GHOSTON" IS STILL INVISIBLE.

[ryan]

jason taylor just got cut from washington. get him at a minimum?

[AlienzFin]

Hey "fins sucks"... 1-15 is the worst record in NFL history? You just showed your football IQ. The Detroit Lions were 0-16 fool. Typical Jets fan.

[FINS SUKS butler]

My brother left and told me if a fin fan loser called tell him i will be back next monday meanwhile He has a question for you,who is BERGER?

[Racerx]

Guess what defensive end just came on the free agent market with big ties to this city? May seem like a backwards move...but what the hell?

JASON TAYLOR

Just sayin' is all

[Sprovo]

How are the New York Jets defense and yo mama alike?

You give them a quarter and they'll let you score!