Miami Dolphins move up to No. 25 in draft

By Harvey Fialkov and Omar Kelly | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

January 13, 2009

Upset wins by the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals last weekend have helped the Dolphins move up a spot in the first round of April's NFL Draft.

The Cardinals (9-7) and Eagles (9-6-1) would have both picked higher than the Dolphins (11-5) based on worse regular-season records.

Super Bowl participants, though, automatically pick 31st and 32nd, so either the Cardinals or Eagles will slide down to one of those spots and the Dolphins will move up from No. 26 to No. 25.

Signing news

The Dolphins have begun assembling their 2009 roster, adding outside LB Tearrius George, and signing seven of last year's practice members to contracts.

George, a former CFL defensive end, was claimed off waivers. He spent most of 2008 with the Cowboys, where his seven tackles and two sacks during the exhibition season earned him a spot on the practice squad.

The Saints claimed George off Dallas' practice squad in December, but the 6-foot-4, 260-pound hybrid linebacker never played in a game and was released before New Orleans' season finale.

George, 26, spent 2007 with the Calgary Stampeders, where he contributed 33 tackles and eight sacks.

WRs Anthony Armstrong and Todd Lowber, CBs Scorpio Babers and Will Billingsley, DT Joe Cohen, FB Chris Brown and RB Lex Hilliard were also signed to new deals that allow them to participate in the team's offseason conditioning program. Most spent all, or a portion of 2008, on the Dolphins' practice squad.