Dolphins still looking at free agent CBs [Update]

Contrary to a report the Dolphins were finished with free agency, the team announced Wednesday a visit by free agent cornerback Demarcus Faggins.

Although Faggins was not signed as of 6 p.m. (which was the last time I checked), you should know the Dolphins have had intentions of signing every player they've brought to town so far in free agency. So do not be surprised if Miami extends a contract offer.

The Dolphins brought Joe Berger, Jake Grove and Eric Green in for free agent visits prior to Faggins and signed all three.

Although Faggins has started 36 games in his career, he is not considered a starting caliber cornerback but rather a role player, a nickel or dime corner and specifically a slot cornerback.

This is what ESPN's Scouts Inc. says about the 29-year-old Faggins: "He has been an on again, off again, starter for the Texans in the previous six years. He is a good athlete with quick feet and fluid, supple hips that he can flip to open and run with receivers, as they get even with him. He is quick in transition and drives on the ball with a decent burst of acceleration. He can be beat by speedy receivers on fly patterns and needs to bail out early when he thinks receivers are going to try and just run by him. He is a smart corner who shows good route recognition when in off coverage and does a good job of reading the quarterback's eyes to get a jump on the ball from zone. He can struggle to make a play on the ball, when lined up on bigger receivers and seems to find his success when lined up on the inside slot receivers. While he can line up and start at corner, he is best suited as a nickel back who covers the inside routes."

Faggins is an original Texan who wanted to return to Houston but the team has decided to go another direction so he needs a new gig.

[Update: Miami's continued interest in corners, who have been no better than average, is troubling in that Jason Allen's fall from grace is almost complete. If the Dolphins had any confidence in their resident 6-1, 200-pound player, Allen would be a favorite to win the starting job vacated by Andre' Goodman's departure in free agency.

The Dolphins wouldn't need to mess with players such as Faggins.

The idea would be to allow Allen, who is 25 and entering his fourth NFL season, to finally fulfill the promise of his size and draft status. But the signing of Eric Green, the flirtation with Faggins and the probable selection of a rookie CB in the coming draft leads to the conclusion the club has zero confidence in what Allen offers.

In fact, the only time the coaches under Bill Parcells seemed to have any confidence in Allen is when they didn't really know him. Remember he was handed the starting free safety job at the start of training camp last year. Of course, this is when coaches were still learning what players could do.

Once practices and scrimmages and preseason games began, coaches saw they made a mistake and Allen got shelved. Coaches had seen what they needed to see. Then Allen was moved to cornerback. And forced into the lineup as the starting nickel or dime package corner, Allen lasted only one game before getting shelved again. He finished the season primarily as a special teams grunt. This guy was the 16th overall selection of the 2006 draft!

Now, with a glaring need at cornerback, the Dolphins are seeking answers among mediocre free agent vets. Allen may still get an opportunity to compete in training camp -- but that feels like it will be more like a battle for a roster spot than an attempt to become a starter.]