Miami Dolphins Rumors: Austin Collie an option?
The Miami Dolphins are looking for help at the wide receiver position, as they were hit hard by the injury bug due to the worst of luck to start training camp. No. 5 receiver Rishard Matthews is going to be out “several weeks” with an injury that has not been disclosed, while promising No. 4 receiver Armon Binns tore his ACL and is out for the season in a heartbreaker for Dolphins fans (a few ‘Fins fans who visit Musket Fire said Binns is a legit breakout candidate).
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Austin Collie (17) warms up on the field before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Although the Dolphins could have stuck with what they have and waited for Matthews to be healthy, they prefer to go after a free agent wide receiver to restore depth and add insurance. As we saw this offseason, the Dolphins main priority is surrounding Ryan Tannehill with weapons, and they did whatever it took financially to re-sign his favorite target in Brian Hartline and add a bona fide deep threat and playmaker that this team craved in Mike Wallace. Brandon Gibson was an underrated signing and Dustin Keller gives Tannehill a safety valve at tight end, so the Dolphins are set with their starting TE and are top heavy at receiver with a dead set 1-3 on the depth chart. But if the Dolphins stand pat at receiver, then Matthews is their No. 4 and it looks like either Jeff Fuller or Marvin McNutt would fill out the roster as the No. 5 receiver.
It looks like the Dolphins don’t want that to happen, and they would rather go for an older player and take a risk on an injured player instead of a more established veteran like Brandon Lloyd (but he has no place in the ‘Fins offense either). The Dolphins are set to work out Laurent Robinson, who has immense upside that he showed in 2011 with the Dallas Cowboys. However, he is very injury prone and suffered from four concussions with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011, but there is definite reward to be had if he is as healthy going forward as he says he is. Robinson looks like their best option, and it sounds like he is the top guy on the list.
But the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson adds that fellow concussion-prone wide receiver Austin Collie “believed to be a possibility”, so put him on the Dolphins radar. Collie is 27 and could be an excellent slot receiver if he can make an almost miraculous and very heart-warming comeback, and his status as a slot receiver either helps him or hurts him depending on what the Dolphins desire. Both Robinson and Collie are picking up steam with more workouts, and it will be interesting to see if the Dolphins also choose to work Collie out.
Both Laurent Robinson and Austin Collie have worked out with the New England Patriots and New York Jets this offseason.