The Cowboys are talking to the Miami Dolphins about trading veteran nose guard Jason Ferguson for one or two draft picks, according to multiple sources. ...

Sending Ferguson to Miami would reunite him with Bill Parcells, the Dolphins' new general manager. Ferguson played for Parcells with the Jets and the Cowboys, when he was signed as a free agent in 2005. Ferguson also would be reunited with former Cowboys defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers, who holds the same position in Miami.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity," Smiley told the Press-Democrat before flying to South Florida Friday morning. "Miami called as soon as they were able to call me and told me they'd like to have me down there. They called me right after it [free agency] started. They offered me that [contract]. I feel very blessed. It feels good to have security. I want to go down there and give them every penny's worth and play hard for them."

The Dolphins have joined a group of about five AFC teams actively talking to the Lions about trading for nose tackle Shaun Rodgers, according to a report out of Booth Newspapers in Michigan.

I have been unable to confirm this report locally so understand this could be akin to reports about Miami liking Minnesota receiver Troy Williamson, who is going to end up in Jacksonville, or reports saying Trent Green was going to come back to the Dolphins even though he only recently has been cleared to play after two concussions in two seasons.

The Miami Dolphins today signed wide receiver David Kircus. The 6-2, 192-pound Kircus is a veteran of three NFL seasons, most recently with the Denver Broncos in 2006.

The 28-year-old Kircus was a sixth-round draft choice of Detroit in 2003. He played with the Lions in 2003 and 2004 before being released prior to the 2005 regular season. He signed with Denver during the 2006 offseason and was released by the Broncos prior to the 2007 regular season. He has appeared in 28 games in his career, including two starts. He has caught 15 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown, returned six punts for a 14.3-yard average and fielded two kickoffs for a 19.0-yard average.

(Wayne Huizenga on if he is making this move for financial reasons or because he as lost some of the passion) – “My heart does not want me to do this, but my head tells me it is the right thing to do at this time. Like I said earlier, it is something we discussed many times with you, of doing a partnership a little bit at a time, knowing as I get older, it is time to bring someone else in. We don’t need some old guy limping around here trying to run this franchise. The No. 1 goal of this franchise is to be successful, to bring the championship back. I am not just talking about playoffs. We want to win the whole thing here. That is Steve’s (Ross) goal and that is my goal. I have been in this business 18 years now. Pretty soon it will be 24, 25 and it is time for someone else to take over. I love this team and I’ll miss it.”

(Stephen Ross on what this moment means to him) – “This has really been a dream of a lifetime to me. I thank Wayne (Huizenga) for the opportunity to become his partner. I grew up in South Florida and I was a great Dolphin fan and it is really a dream of a lifetime and I am very excited about the opportunity.” ...

(Stephen Ross on how envisions himself as an owner in terms of being involved in the football aspect) – “First of all, I’m a fan to start with and I’ll certainly be at the games. In terms of an owner, I’m very actively involved in my business and I think getting great football people to make football decisions is how you really build a winner, and not interfering with that. I would say that what Wayne has done, he’s been a great owner and he’s really considered the fans because he recognizes the responsibility of what it takes to own a team in this community. I think I’d like to follow that mold and hopefully we’ll really build a great football franchise.”

Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga announced today that Stephen M. Ross of New York and Palm Beach has become a 50% partner in the franchise, the stadium and the surrounding developable land. Mr. Ross is Chairman of the Related Companies, an international real estate development company.

Mr. Huizenga will remain the Managing General Partner of the franchise, while Mr. Ross will be an active partner and has the opportunity to become the Managing General Partner in the future.

Hadnot's agent, Brian Overstreet, told The Palm Beach Post this morning that the Dolphins still haven't called him to express any interest in re-signing the versatile lineman.

"He's a touch perplexed, wondering why they haven't made any contact," Overstreet said. "He's a little bit shocked. We pretty much consider Rex one of the best available guards in the league."

... the Dolphins have the most cap space of any NFL team, according to figures acquired from the NFL Players Association and other sources. The Dolphins are a whopping $44 million under the salary cap as of this writing. The salary cap is set at $116 when the new league year starts Feb. 29.

Only one other team -- Jacksonville -- is even close. The Jaguars are $41.995 million under the cap.

"Me and Bill talk all the time. We talk about football a lot. We talk about everything, except playing for the Miami Dolphins," said Johnson, who spent the past year as a broadcaster with ESPN, which included a radio show he hosted with Parcells.

"He's helping me go over the pros and cons of coming back versus staying at ESPN," Johnson said. "He's always treated me like a father figure more than anything else. But not once has he said, 'Come play for me in Miami.'"

The New England Patriots offered Zach Thomas a contract Monday on the same day the former Dolphins linebacker made Gillette Stadium his first stop in what promises to be a continuing free agency tour.

''We had a great visit in New England,'' agent Drew Rosenhaus wrote in a text message Monday evening. ``They offered him a contract and we will continue negotiations.''

One of Dolphins fans' worst fears could be on the verge of becoming reality.

Former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas' first stop on his free-agent tour was New England, where the AFC East rival Patriots hosted Thomas on Monday, according to a source.

Thomas, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and the Dolphins all-time leading tackler who was released last week, is also scheduled to meet with the Saints today. The Cowboys will talk to Thomas' agent at the NFL combine later this week.

So would he join the rival Patriots, or even the Jets?

He laughed.

"If I'm fitting a need, I can't say that I wouldn't," Thomas said. "I can't say that I would either. I've got to do what I've got to do, but yeah, I also want to go out the right way."

"I know it's time to move on and so will the Dolphins," Thomas said. "I wish they get that trophy in Miami. They deserve it. That's the truth.

"I love Miami and always will be a Miami Dolphin."

"I want to thank the entire organization, especially Mr. Huizenga, for making my 12 seasons with the Dolphins as memorable as they were," Thomas said. "I also want to thank all the coaches and teammates that I’ve had during my career for helping me to grow both on and off the field. I have a tremendous appreciation and admiration not only for the Dolphins organization, but for the fans as well, for all of the support that they have given me. I can’t thank Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland and the rest of Dolphins management enough for handling this situation in a first-class manner. I am healthy and look forward to playing in 2008, but will always consider myself a Miami Dolphin."

The Dolphins and Falcons, at 150-to-1, face the longest odds to win next year’s Super Bowl. The Dolphins are 75-to-1 longshots to win the AFC title. The numbers were posted by Las Vegas Sports Consultants, the firm that establishes the lines at about 90 percent of Nevada sports books.