The Miami Dolphins' payroll slashing rolls on.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that the team will cut defensive tackle Randy Starks. The Miami Herald's Armando Salguero first reported the news of Starks' impending release.
The move will save the Dolphins $5 million in cap space. We continue to wait for the announcement of the team's massive deal to bring Ndamukong Suh to South Beach. The parameters for a deal were set over the weekend, but Suh has not put pen to paper yet. Perhaps this move will allow it.Â
Losing Starks takes some luster off what should still be a dominant line once Miami signs Suh. However, it's likely the team couldn't justify keeping the 31-year-old at that salary after giving Suh the largest contract ever for a defensive player.Â
Starks remains a very solid interior lineman with the ability to push the pocket and get after the quarterback. The tackle's strengths would have made him a good running mate for Suh -- assuming Starks doesn't take less money to return to Miami.
Likely becoming a rotational player at this stage of his career after struggling against the run last season, Starks should have no trouble finding work in a market perpetually in need of pocket-pushing interior linemen.
UPDATE: Suh has arrived at the Dolphins' facility.
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