With Will Allen signed, who else should receive an extension?

The Dolphins under Bill Parcells have locked up a number players before their contracts become an issue. During the 2008 season, the team extended two of the team’s hardest workers and coaching staff favorites, running back Patrick Cobbs and wide receiver Greg Camarillo. In the past month, the team gave two-year extensions to fullback Lousaka Polite, a short-yardage demon, and cornerback Will Allen, who not only is the team’s top cover corner but an eight-year veteran who can mentor rookie corners Vontae Davis and Sean Smith. Allen, who turns 31 Aug. 5, is heading into the final years of his career. Meanwhile, Cobbs, Camarillo and Polite are each 27 or younger, presumably with their best years ahead of them and reasonably priced. A number of key players in the final year of their contract could be in line for a new deal in the coming months. (This would change if a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached because players then would need six years of experience to become free agents.) Based on a salary, wide receiver Davone Bess and tight end Anthony Fasano seem to deserve better deals. Bess, who caught 54 passes as a free-agent rookie, is the Dolphins’ best

bargain, with a base salary of $385,000. While Fasano, coming off a 7-TD season, is the most underpaid ($535,000). But a number of high-profile players are looking for extensions, including QB Chad Pennington, RB Ronnie Brown, RB Ricky Williams, TE David Martin, NT Jason Ferguson and LB Matt Roth. Age is a factor with Pennington (33 next month), Williams (32), Martin (30) and Ferguson (34), so it seems to make sense to see how they perform in 2009. Brown, 27 and scheduled to make a base salary of $3.6 million, could be in line a major deal. Given Brown has missed 13 games in four years and the Dolphins tried to trade him, it seems like he’ll either hit free agency or have to wait until the 11th hour for a contract, like Vernon Carey, Yeremiah Bell and Channing Crowder did last winter. Heading into the final year of his rookie contract, Roth is a pretty good value ($700,000) for a starting linebacker. But the question if whether he can remain a starting linebacker for an improved defense. If you were in charge, what would you do?

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With Will Allen signed, who else should receive an extension?

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