[Update: The PBP is reporting that the Dolphins have signed Jake Grove to a 5 year deal.]
The Miami Herald is reporting that the Dolphins and former Raiders center Jake Grove are close to a contract.
According to this report, Grove was in town today for a free agency visit and an NFL source claims he is close to signing a deal with the Dolphins.
Grove, 29, has spent his first five NFL seasons in Oakland - where he's started 46 games for the Raiders. And Raiders' head coach Tom Cable was publicly vocal about the importance of re-signing their starting center. Said Cable on February 19:
"We want him to be back, obviously. So if he’s not there or until it’s resolved I’m not very comfortable at all."
Armando Salguero believes that if Grove is signed, and he expects Jake will, that he will unseat Samson Satele as the team's starting center. Says Salguero:
That will signal the Dolphins successfully finding the starting center they've been searching for since the end of the 2008 season. Although Grove and Samson Satele would be competing for the starting job, once you see the numbers on the Grove contract, you will understand Miami expects him to be the starter.
The Dolphins, I am told, were quite impressed by Grove's film but they really were impressed with his work during Miami's 17-15 victory over Oakland last season.
Not to hate on Armando, but Grove actually didn't play against the Dolphins - he was injured. (And they call him a real journalist)
While Grove isn't much bigger than Samson (6'4, 300), he's believed to be much more stout at the point of attack - which is what this regime has been searching for in a center.
(Hat tip to