Davie, FL (Sportsbooks) - Tight end Justin Peelle and sixth-round Draft choice Lex Hilliard were among the players released Saturday by the
Miami Dolphins, who reduced their roster to the 53-player maximum in accordance with NFL rules.
Peelle played in 31 games for the Dolphins over the past two years, starting 20, but fell behind Anthony Fasano, David Martin, and Sean Ryan on the depth chart. Peelle has 85 career catches, including seven touchdowns.
Hilliard, who starred at the University of Montana before joining the Dolphins, failed to crack a crowded depth chart at running back. Hilliard is the only member of Miami's nine-man 2008 Draft class who failed to make the active roster.
Also excised on Saturday were cornerback Will Billingsley, linebacker Titus Brown, safety Courtney Bryan, center Mike Byrne, wide receiver Jayson Foster, linebacker Maurice Fountain, linebacker Junior Glymph, tackle Daren Heerspink, fullback Reagan Mauia, linebacker Edmond Miles, tight end Matthew Mulligan, linebacker Kelly Poppinga, offensive lineman Pedro Sosa, center Matt Spanos, and defensive tackle Anthony Toribio.
Notables among that group include Bryan, Mauia, and Miles, all of whom were on the Dolphins' active roster in 2007, and Foster, a collegiate quarterback at Georgia Southern who won the 2007 Walter Payton Award as the top player in FCS.
On Friday, the Dolphins dealt quarterback Josh McCown to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a seventh-round Draft choice.
Miami opens its regular season on Sept. 7, when it hosts Brett Favre and the New York Jets.
