Ledbetter to IR - Tank returns

The Miami Dolphins on Thursday brought back defensive end Tank Carradine, one of the surprise cuts during Labor Day weekend.

A need for a defensive end arose when rookie Jonathan Ledbetter sustained an ankle injury in practice on Wednesday.

Ledbetter was placed on injured reserve but should be able to return later this season.

A former second-round pick out of Florida State, Carradine was this new regime’s first defensive signing in free agency, and he started the first three preseason games.

Dolphins coach Brian Flores said the Dolphins brought back Carradine because it was an “end for end” swap. But it’s also possible the team would have considered re-signing him after Week 1 when his salary would have no longer been guaranteed for the season.

“Tank’s fast, physical, he’s a good teammate,” Flores said. “We like a lot of things about him. We’re happy to have him back.”

To open the season, the Dolphins opted for an extremely young group of ends — Charles Harris, Ledbetter and Avery Moss, who was claimed off waivers from the Giants.

mercury22nathan wrote:to be honest i'm not sure either Ledbetter or Carradine are difference makers so this all might be a moot point.  Tank was let go for financial reasons - to avoid guaranteeing his minimal salary.  from the above cited article:

A former second-round pick out of Florida State, Carradine was this new regime’s first defensive signing in free agency, and he started the first three preseason games.

Dolphins coach Brian Flores said the Dolphins brought back Carradine because it was an “end for end” swap. But it’s also possible the team would have considered re-signing him after Week 1 when his salary would have no longer been guaranteed for the season.

“Tank’s fast, physical, he’s a good teammate,” Flores said. “We like a lot of things about him. We’re happy to have him back.”

To open the season, the Dolphins opted for an extremely young group of ends — Charles Harris, Ledbetter and Avery Moss, who was claimed off waivers from the Giants.

calling it an "end for end" swap makes it sound like Flores didn't see an difference between the two.