Dolphins sign McKinney and three more draft picks have inked deals

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Posted: 16 hours 39 minutes ago

McKinney expected to compete for time at guard once healthy

Associated Press

MIAMI -- Offensive lineman Steve McKinney, coming back from a knee injury that forced him to miss most of the 2007 season, signed a contract on Monday to join the Miami Dolphins.

Steve McKinney, OL

Miami Dolphins

Height:6-4

Weight: 305

College: Texas A&M

Experience: 10

The Dolphins also signed three late-round draft choices -- running backs Jalen Parmele and Lex Hilliard, and defensive end Lionel Dotson -- along with center Matt Spanos, an undrafted free agent from Southern Cal.

The 6-foot-4, 302-pound McKinney started three games last season before he tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in the Texans' third game and missed the rest of the season. He joined the Texans in 2002 and started all 16 games for four consecutive seasons while playing both guard and center. A full-time starter throughout his career, McKinney was relegated to a part-time role in 2006, starting six games, after struggling in 2005. He spent his first four NFL seasons in Indianapolis, starting all 60 games he played at left guard.

McKinney, who is still rehabilitating his knee, was released by the Texans on March 25. Once healthy, the 32-year-old is expected to compete for playing time at guard or as a backup to starting center Samson Satele.

The Dolphins waived guard Drew Mormino last week after he failed a physical. Following a 1-15 season in 2007, the Dolphins are revamping their offensive line under new head coach Tony Sparano, who was offensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys.

The Dolphins said they were not yet ready to confirm McKinney's deal. He's the older brother of Seth McKinney, was played center and guard for the Dolphins in 2002-05.

Parmele, who played at Toledo, and Hilliard, who played at Montana, were taken in the sixth round of last month's draft. Dotson was a seventh-round choice from Arizona.

Miami has four of its nine draft choices under contract, including top overall pick Jake Long, a tackle from Michigan.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press