Dolphins kicking problems worsen

[wilheim]

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>Why should this surprise us? Two days before they get ready to face the Arizona Cardinals, the Dolphins added a player on the injury report. And, of course, it would have to be kicker Matt Bryant, who was expected to once again replace Olindo Mare this Sunday.
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Bryant was listed as questionable with a right quad injury. He and Mare were the only players not to practice on Friday.

So where does that leave the Dolphins? Of course, they could always ask kick returner Wes Welker to do some kicking again after he handled the job solidly against New England.

But the Dolphins also have a roster spot available and they could just sign somebody else -- how's that, three kickers on the roster -- to kick against the Cardinals. The Welker idea was more in jest than anything else because, as well as he did, expecting him to kick anything longer than a 35-yard field goal might be unrealistic. Stay tuned.

Dolphin Digest online
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[wilheim]

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - Bill Gramatica signed with Miami on Saturday, making the Dolphins the first NFL team in 11 years with three kickers on the active roster.

Olindo Mare missed Miami's last three games with a right calf injury, and his replacement for the past two, Matt Bryant, has a right quadricep injury.
Mare was officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Arizona. The team announced Saturday that Bryant would not play.

Gramatica, 26, converted 34 of 45 field-goal attempts in three seasons with the Cardinals. He was sidelined for Arizona's last 12 games in 2003 with a back injury.

He may be best known for injuring his knee as a rookie in 2001. After kicking a 42-yard field goal against the New York Giants, he celebrated by jumping in the air but landed awkwardly and knocked himself out for the rest of the season.

Gramatica and Bryant were both with the Giants in training camp this summer.