[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]The Miami Dolphins signed a pair of unrestricted free agents in tight end Keith Heinrich (pictured from Cleveland) and linebacker Keith Newman (from Minnesota). Both players signed one-year contracts. Also on Monday, the team announced that it signed cornerback Michael Lehan as a free agent and wide receiver/quarterback/specialist Marcus Vick as an undrafted college free agent.
The 27-year-old Heinrich originally was a sixth-round draft choice of Carolina in 2002. He played his rookie season with the Panthers before spending the next two years (2003-04) with the Browns. He was on Cleveland’s injured reserve list with a knee injury for all of 2005. In his NFL career, he has played in 18 games, including three starts, and has caught nine passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-5, 250-pound Heinrich was a four-year letterman at Sam Houston State (1998-2001) where he was a first-team Division I-AA All-America selection as a senior. Born March 19, 1979, he attended Tomball (Texas) High School.
Newman, 29, was a fourth-round draft choice of Buffalo in 1999, who has played with the Bills (1999-2002), Atlanta (2003) and Minnesota (2004-05) in his seven NFL seasons. During that time he has appeared in 92 regular season games, including 76 starts, and recorded 407 tackles, 23 sacks, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and seven forced fumbles. He had his most productive season in 2000 when he tallied career-high figures of 96 tackles and eight sacks with Buffalo, to go along with a fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. Last year with the Vikings, he started 10 of the 13 games in which he played and registered 46 tackles, three sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. The 6-2, 250-pounder was a four-year letterman at North Carolina (1995-98) who started his final two seasons. Born January 19, 1977, Newman attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Tampa, Fla.
Lehan, 26, attended the Dolphins rookie minicamp from May 5-7 on a tryout basis. He played with Cleveland the last three years after the Browns made him a fifth-round draft choice in 2003. He was released by the team on February 23, 2006. In his three NFL seasons, the 6-0, 190-pound Lehan has started four of the 32 games in which he has appeared. He has totaled 40 tackles on defense and 20 more on special teams during that time. He was a four-year letterman at Minnesota (1999-2002) who started his final three seasons. Born November 25, 1979, Lehan is a Minnesota native where he attended Hopkins (Minn.) High School.
Like Lehan, Vick attended the Dolphins’ rookie mincamp from May 5-7 on a tryout basis. He played two seasons at Virginia Tech (2003, 2005) as a quarterback. Last year with the Hokies, he completed 177 of 289 passes for 2,393 yards with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, as he led the team to an 11-2 record. Overall in his career, he connected on 207 of 346 passes for 2,868 yards with 19 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. The younger brother of former Virginia Tech and current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, Marcus attended Warwick High School in Newport News, Va. He was born on March 20, 1984.
“I want to make it very clear that we will not condone any behavior issues in the future relative to Marcus Vick,†said Dolphins Head Coach Nick Saban. “Marcus acknowledges that he has made some mistakes, all of which has resulted in severe consequences for him. They have helped him learn that he will need to make much better choices and decisions in the future or risk similar consequences that could jeopardize his career as a professional player.
“As an organization, we did an enormous amount of research, including consulting with professionals in detailed, in-depth analysis to feel comfortable that giving Marcus an opportunity as a free agent is a risk worth taking. Marcus has made a commitment to this organization and our fans to represent the Miami Dolphins in a first-class manner.¢â‚¬Â
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The 27-year-old Heinrich originally was a sixth-round draft choice of Carolina in 2002. He played his rookie season with the Panthers before spending the next two years (2003-04) with the Browns. He was on Cleveland’s injured reserve list with a knee injury for all of 2005. In his NFL career, he has played in 18 games, including three starts, and has caught nine passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-5, 250-pound Heinrich was a four-year letterman at Sam Houston State (1998-2001) where he was a first-team Division I-AA All-America selection as a senior. Born March 19, 1979, he attended Tomball (Texas) High School.
Newman, 29, was a fourth-round draft choice of Buffalo in 1999, who has played with the Bills (1999-2002), Atlanta (2003) and Minnesota (2004-05) in his seven NFL seasons. During that time he has appeared in 92 regular season games, including 76 starts, and recorded 407 tackles, 23 sacks, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and seven forced fumbles. He had his most productive season in 2000 when he tallied career-high figures of 96 tackles and eight sacks with Buffalo, to go along with a fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. Last year with the Vikings, he started 10 of the 13 games in which he played and registered 46 tackles, three sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. The 6-2, 250-pounder was a four-year letterman at North Carolina (1995-98) who started his final two seasons. Born January 19, 1977, Newman attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Tampa, Fla.
Lehan, 26, attended the Dolphins rookie minicamp from May 5-7 on a tryout basis. He played with Cleveland the last three years after the Browns made him a fifth-round draft choice in 2003. He was released by the team on February 23, 2006. In his three NFL seasons, the 6-0, 190-pound Lehan has started four of the 32 games in which he has appeared. He has totaled 40 tackles on defense and 20 more on special teams during that time. He was a four-year letterman at Minnesota (1999-2002) who started his final three seasons. Born November 25, 1979, Lehan is a Minnesota native where he attended Hopkins (Minn.) High School.
Like Lehan, Vick attended the Dolphins’ rookie mincamp from May 5-7 on a tryout basis. He played two seasons at Virginia Tech (2003, 2005) as a quarterback. Last year with the Hokies, he completed 177 of 289 passes for 2,393 yards with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, as he led the team to an 11-2 record. Overall in his career, he connected on 207 of 346 passes for 2,868 yards with 19 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. The younger brother of former Virginia Tech and current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, Marcus attended Warwick High School in Newport News, Va. He was born on March 20, 1984.
“I want to make it very clear that we will not condone any behavior issues in the future relative to Marcus Vick,†said Dolphins Head Coach Nick Saban. “Marcus acknowledges that he has made some mistakes, all of which has resulted in severe consequences for him. They have helped him learn that he will need to make much better choices and decisions in the future or risk similar consequences that could jeopardize his career as a professional player.
“As an organization, we did an enormous amount of research, including consulting with professionals in detailed, in-depth analysis to feel comfortable that giving Marcus an opportunity as a free agent is a risk worth taking. Marcus has made a commitment to this organization and our fans to represent the Miami Dolphins in a first-class manner.¢â‚¬Â
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