Lawrence Timmons signs with Miami Dolphins
By John Buhler
After 10 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, linebacker Lawrence Timmons will leave Western Pennsylvania to sign a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without a key member of their defense going forward. Long-time inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons will be leaving Western Pennsylvania to sign a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Timmons inked a two-year deal with the Dolphins worth $12 million, $11 million of that is guaranteed. Miami needs help at linebacker, but how much tread is left on Timmons’ tires?
Dolphins signing Lawrence Timmons to a 2-year, $12 millions deal including $11 million guaranteed, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2017
Timmons is a tackling machine that can wreak havoc in run stopping on any defense. He won a Super Bowl with the 2008 Steelers and made a trip to the Pro Bowl back in 2014. Pittsburgh used its No. 15 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft on Timmons out of Florida State. He will now play football full-time in the state of his alma mater.
This is a favorable deal for the Dolphins, who have made mostly sound moves this offseason. Miami made the AFC Playoffs for the first time in eight seasons this past year. The Dolphins were eliminated by Timmons’ Steelers in the AFC Wild Card round.
After playing against him twice, it seems that the Dolphins front office likes his leadership style and on-field productivity. Given that head coach Adam Gase specializes on the offensive side of the ball, signing Timmons may make things easier for new defensive coordinator Matt Burke.
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Burke had been former Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s linebackers coach in 2016. Usually a new coordinator will want to sign/draft a player he thinks can make a difference at the position group he knows best. Timmons will be 31 in 2017. This could be a good bang-for-the-buck move for the Dolphins.