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The NFL is in the middle of their free agency period, with teams signing available veteran players. At the same time, NCAA basketball is in the middle of their tournament, with March Madness narrowing down to the Final Four this weekend. Combine the two ideas, and we come up with today's bracket for the Miami Dolphins' all-time best free agent signings:
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Over the next few days, we will work out way through the bracket, with the results based on your vote.
Our second showdown feature two big names in the NFL: wide receiver Wes Welker and defensive end Jason Taylor.
Welker spent three years with the Dolphins, originally joining the league as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers. During his time with Miami, he caught 96 passes for 1,121 yards and a touchdown in 48 games, with three starts. He also returned punts and kicks for the team, averaging 9.7 yards per punt return and 22.6 yards per kick return over that time. The Dolphins originally put a qualifying tender on Welker as a restricted free agent before the 2007 season, only to have the New England Patriots threaten to use a "poison pill" in their offer sheet, and the two clubs deciding to agree to a trade to prevent the use of the tactic. Since leaving Miami, Welker has been selected to five Pro Bowls and is a two-time First-Team All-Pro selection.
Taylor was Miami's third round pick in 1997, but he actually signed twice with the Dolphins as a free agent. In this case, we are using the first of those two signings, when Taylor re-joined Miami after a year with the Washington Redskins. The 2009 season saw Taylor serve as the team's starting outside linebacker, playing in all 16 games, with 15 starts. He recorded one interception, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery (scoring a touchdown), seven sacks, and 42 tackles that season. He played the next season for the New York Jets before returning to the Dolphins for his final season in 2011.
Which of the two big names, who maybe did not have their best years as a free-agent signing for the Dolphins, moving on to the second round of our bracket?