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Dolphins Release PK Feely

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The Associated Press

Published: August 13, 2008

DAVIE - The Miami Dolphins cut kicker Jay Feely on Tuesday, one season after he set the team's single-season record for field-goal percentage.

Feely's release clears the way for undrafted rookie Dan Carpenter to take over as the starting kicker. Carpenter made field goals of 41 and 49 yards in Miami's 17-6 preseason loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday.

"The decision was based purely on numbers, on performance and Carpenter has outperformed him right now. That's the bottom line," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. "We chart a ton of categories with the kickers and Carpenter has outperformed him."

Feely, out of Jesuit High, missed the preseason opener and practice last week because of a groin strain. He made 21 of 23 field goals last season, one of the few bright spots on the 1-15 Dolphins.

Feely, 32, was one of the only players that willingly talked to the media during Miami's most embarrassing season in franchise history. And his outspoken nature often clashed with the new Bill Parcells-led regime, which has overhauled the roster with younger players.

Feely came to Miami from the New York Giants last season with the tough task of replacing Olindo Mare, who had been one of the league's most consistent kickers the previous 10 seasons for the Dolphins. Feely not only outperformed Mare, but also he was quickly voted as a team captain by players.

Feely has been limited in practice through the first two weeks of training camp, but Sparano said it was enough time to evaluate his kickers.

"A kicker's situation is different than a quarterback situation or any other situation," Sparano said. "You get very few at-bats."

COLTS: Defensive back Michael Coe will be placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee last week.
Coach Tony Dungy had said Coe was likely to miss at least eight weeks and Indianapolis hoped to wait until the two roster cutdowns before making a decision.

The plan changed when Dungy said they couldn't wait for Coe to return because they needed a roster spot.

"We wanted to hold off as long as we could, but realistically he would be out two months, so we would have had to carry 52 instead of 53 for that time," Dungy said.

The problem for the Colts is that they've been ravaged by injuries, including a handful to prominent players. Five starters - two-time MVP Peyton Manning, 2007 defensive player of the year Bob Sanders, former league sacks champion Dwight Freeney, left guard Ryan Lilja and outside linebacker Tyjuan Hagler - still have not practiced after being placed on the physically unable to perform list.

As expected, the Colts added another linebacker Tuesday night by claiming Marcus Richardson off waivers from Houston. Richardson is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound undrafted rookie from Troy State.

Indy re-signed running back Clifton Dawson, who was released Saturday.

GIANTS: Wide receiver Plaxico Burress took the field in pads Tuesday night for the first time since New York opened training camp late last month.

Burress jogged a few pass routes during individual drills and lined up with the starters as they walked through a couple of plays in the evening workout. He did not run any patterns full speed.

Burress has been sitting out with a sore right ankle. It is the same ankle that prevented him from practicing all of last season, but this injury is different. The team is trying to fix the problem with orthotics.

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