Reunion Tours Highlight Dophins' Offseason Moves

Former Jets teammates Mike White and Braxton Berrios are two such players who have conectins to South Florida

Familiarity was a driving force behind a lot of the off-season moves the Miami Dolphins made this spring.

Whether it was a connection to the South Florida community, a reunion with a college or former NFL teammate, a defensive coordinator the newcomer once thrived playing under, or teaming up with a couple of buddies, it seems as if the Dolphins spent the offseason facilitating reunions.

Quarterback Mike White, who signed a two-year deal that could be worth $8 million to serve as Tua Tagovailoa’s backup, joined the franchise he grew up rooting for as a child.

"Whenever they practiced with crowd noise we could hear it in class," said White, who attended Nova Southern University School, which neighbored the Dolphins' practice facility when it was housed in Davie. "It never really crossed my mind that this could be an opportunity. It's pretty funny now that you look at it."

Former University of Miami receiver Braxton Berrios returned to the city that made him a college standout and will be coached by Wes Welker, a slot receiver he grew up idolizing.

"You know how this league is, you don't know anything. To run yourself through hypotheticals is a never-ending hamster wheel," said Berrios, who a week after being released by the Jets signed a one-year deal with Miami that could be worth $3.5 million if all bonuses are triggered. "When this became a reality, or an option to be a reality, the more I thought about it the more attractive it got."

It doesn’t hurt that he’ll continue to be teammates with White and offensive linemen Dan Feeney, who were his golfing buddies during their time together with the New York Jets.

When all three signed with the Dolphins, White posted a funny video of their faces overlaid on a Hangover scene in a car on its way to HardRock Stadium with Feeney’s character, singing a song about being “the three best friends that anyone could have," over and over again.

“I definitely thought it was a little shade at the beginning,” Feeney said when asked about being cast as Alan, the unbalanced character played by Zach Galifianakis.

“We were a package deal at that point, soon as Mike White signed,” Feeney said in a joking manner. “The stars aligned.”

By signing with the Dolphins, Deshon Elliott reunited with his closest college friend, fellow safety Brandon Jones, whom he played with at the University of Texas.

As soon as the deal was done Elliott got on a three-way video with Jones and Jevon Holland, the players he'll be competing with for playing time and roles.

Linebacker Malik Reed had his best NFL seasons playing in Vic Fangio’s defense in Denver, and playing with fellow pass rusher Bradley Chubb, so when the opportunity to reunite with those two presented itself he jumped at the opportunity.

"I'm excited to get back to work with him," said Reed who tallied 15 of his 16 career sacks playing in Fangio’s system with the Broncos. "He's been around the game so long and been around so many great players. He's a great defensive coordinator. He helps get us in the right position to be successful, make plays, and be playmakers. 

"He does a great job with the scheme and how he coaches the position so we can do what we do best."

David Long and punter Jake Bailey were the only players who joined the Dolphins as a straight business move.

Bailey, who spent his first four seasons with the New England Patriots, liked the fact he was staying in the AFC East.

Long hopes to use Miami as an opportunity to prove he’s one of the premiere inside linebackers in the NFL, and is confident Fangio’s defense will provide him an opportunity to do so.

"He plays the same style I like, fast and aggressive,” said Long, who signed a two-year deal worth $10 million. “He likes to have a linebacker on the field all three downs.

"As the time goes I'll learn more about his way and how I fit."