Dolphins' Randy Starks signs franchise tender

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Randy Starks signed his franchise tender on Tuesday, the team announced.

Starks, 29, will make $8.45 million in 2013 a significant raise from the $3.72 million he earned last season.

Starks was selected as an alternate for the Pro Bowl in 2012 having one of the better seasons of a defensive lineman, registering 4.5 sacks and an interception. Starks n has recorded 307 tackles, 32.5 sacks, 18 passes defensed and four interceptions in his 10-year career.

"Randy’s certainly one of the guys that the other guys look up to on the football team," Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said. "He’s tough. He’s strong. He’s physical. He’s tough. He plays hard. He’s been a productive player in the league for a long time now. Again, you get good, tough, hard-nosed football players, you want to keep them around as long as you can.”