Earlier this month, word emerged that Dolphins nose tackle Jason Ferguson has been suspended eight games, presumably for violating the league’s policy regarding performance-enhancing substances.
And then, not long thereafter, the Dolphins re-signed him.
Why? Coach Tony Sparano explained it on Tuesday morning at the AFC coaches’ breakfast.
“When Jason got hurt [in November 2009], our tongue would’ve been hanging out to find a player like Jason Ferguson sitting out there at that time,” Sparano said, per Tim Graham of ESPN.com. “We couldn’t find a player like that. To have the ability to have a player like that when he comes back off a suspension, I think is a positive thing for us.”
There’s another good reason for the decision. He’ll be even more valuable than a stranger to the organization would be come November; since he’s under contract, he’ll be able to participate in the full offseason program, along with training camp and the preseason. So even though he’ll be sent away for eight weeks once the regular season commences, he’ll be fully up to speed when he returns.