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Dolphins claim Underwood off waivers

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Posted: Tuesday August 17, 1999 01:34 AM

If Dimitrius Underwood signs with the Dolphins, they have no obligation to pay him his $1.8 million signing bonus. AP

MIAMI (CNN/SI) -- Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King reports the Miami Dolphins have claimed defensive end Dimitrius Underwood off waivers and will attempt to come to terms with the former Minnesota first-round draft choice.

Last Wednesday, the day after Underwood told the Vikings that he was entering the ministry and would not play football again, Underwood called his agent Craig Domann and told him he wanted to play. But by then it was too late to mend fences with the Vikings, who on Thursday officially placed Underwood on waivers.

The Dolphins put in a claim for Underwood on Friday and were awarded him at 4 p.m. ET Monday. The Dolphins, however, have yet to speak to Underwood personally and director of football operations Bob Ackles is scheduled to speak to Underwood on Tuesday to find out if he will give football a second chance.

If Underwood does agree to terms with the Dolphins, the club would only be obligated to pay him the scheduled first-year salary that he would have received from the Vikings. The Dolphins have no obligation to pay Underwood's $1.8 million signing bonus, and one Miami club official said late Monday that there was no way that they would consider giving Underwood a bonus of any kind.

In addition if the Dolphins sign Underwood, they would not be obligated to pay him a dime other than regular training-camp per diem which all players receive. So what the Dolphins would get, if he signs with them, is a three-week free trial with Underwood because NFL players do not begin getting their salaries until Week 1 of the regular season, which is currently three and a half weeks away.

So in essence the Dolphins would be paying nothing while Johnson tested Underwood physically and mentally on a defensive line on which he would be asked to be only a member of the rotation, not a starter.

"There's very little risk for us on this deal," Johnson said late Monday.

Underwood, the 29th pick in the NFL draft out of Michigan State, left the Vikings without explanation one day after signing a five-year, $5.3 million contract.

 

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Jimmy Johnson is ready anytime to have Dimitrius Underwood join the Dolphins. (213 K) Click here for the latest audio and video
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