PHILLIP MERLING TO MISS 2010 SEASON

This has been a very bad summer for Dolphins' defensive end Phillip Merling. He was arrested back in May for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend and was formally charged last week. Merling, if convicted, could face up to as much as 15 years in prision. The problems don't end there for the 25 year old as it was announced today that he will miss the entire 2010 season after suffering a serious Achilles' tendon injury.

Merling was projected to start training camp as the team's starting right defensive end with last year's starter Randy Starks shifting to nose tackle. Now that he will miss the entire season, 1st round draft pick Jared Odrick, who remains unsigned, will be expected to start from day one.

Depth now becomes an issue at the defensive end position as backups to Kendall Langford and Jared Odrick are currently Tony McDaniel, Lionel Dotson, and Ikaika Alama-Francis. The Dolphins will likely add someone before or even during camp to help bolster the defensive end position. Speculation is already running that Miami may target free agent Marques Douglas as a potential backup and part time player. Douglas played for current Dolphins' defensive coordinator Mike Nolan in both Baltimore and San Francisco.

The Miami Herald is reporting that the Dolphins are considering making a trade with the Dallas Cowboys for Marcus Spears, who Bill Parcells drafted back in 2005. While Spears has not panned out for the Cowboys as they had hoped, a potential change in scenery could be for the best. It has been rumored that Spears could be had for minimum trade compensation and it is a situation worth monitoring.

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