Acquired in 2008 as free agent from 49ers, lineman battled injuries
By Omar Kelly, Sun Sentinel
4:52 p.m. EDT, May 24, 2010
Justin Smiley is on the verge of finding work for 2010 after nearly three months of dwelling in employment limbo.
The
Dolphins traded Smiley, the team's starting left guard the past two seasons, to the
Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday for a late-round conditional draft pick. But the deal is contingent on Smiley passing a physical.
Smiley, who lives in Alabama, is in transit to Jacksonville to take the physical. If his left shoulder, which has been surgically repaired twice, checks out, he'll be property of the Jaguars.
A source close the situation said the Dolphins gave Smiley's new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, permission to broker a trade, and he quickly found something suitable for both parties.
Smiley had been banished by the team since March and told not to attend the Dolphins' organized team activities because they had intended to trade him. The source said a few teams, most notably the
Colts and Seahawks, expressed interest during the draft, but the Dolphins balked at the late-round offers.
What Miami gets back from Jacksonville for Smiley likely depends on the role he plays this upcoming season.
Unless Smiley's contract is re-negotiated, he's set to earn $3 million in 2010, but $100,000 of that comes from a workout bonus. His salary jumped up to $4.9 million in 2011, with another $100,000 workout bonus. And in 2012, the final year of the deal he signed as a free agent with the Dolphins in 2008, he's slated to earn $5 million ($500,000 of which is a roster bonus, and $100,000 is a workout bonus).
As for who replaces Smiley at guard, the Dolphins now have five players vying for both starting spots.
Nate Garner, who is nursing an undisclosed injury, and Donald Thomas each started half the season at right guard last year, and the team viewed Smiley expendable because of their progress.
The Dolphins added free agent Richie Incognito as an upgrade at right guard this offseason, and Ole Miss offensive guard John Jerry was drafted in the third round last month. Jerry is working primarily at left guard, Smiley's old spot.
Dolphins on Monday also signed offensive lineman Cory Procter, the team announced. Proctor, 27, is entering his sixth
NFL season, having spent his first five with the
Dallas Cowboys, after being signed off the
Detroit Lions' practice squad in 2005.
The 6-foot-4, 311-pound Procter has played in 44 games, including 13 starts. A versatile contributor, Procter has the ability to play and provide depth at multiple positions along the offensive line. In 2008, Proctor started a career-high 11 games at left guard.
