Dolphins sign McDonald…& McD says bye & thanx to Rams nation

Dolphins add safety T.J.McDonald despite eight-game suspense

James Walker
ESPN Staff Writer

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19044768/tj-mcdonald-reaches-agreement-miami-dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have agreed to terms with free-agent safety T.J. McDonald on Friday despite a recent eight-game suspension.

A source told ESPN that McDonald signed a one-year contract with the Dolphins, who welcomed him in a tweet Friday.

News of the suspension became public earlier this week during McDonald’s free-agent visit with the Dolphins. The NFL found that McDonald violated its substance abuse policy after an incident in May in which he was suspected of driving under the influence of prescription drugs. McDonald pleaded no contest to a lesser charge in January.

McDonald said he and the Dolphins were aware of the probable suspension.

“For me, definitely this is something that will never happen again,” McDonald said on a conference call Friday. “I’ve learned, I’ve owned up to it, and I definitely want to grow from it. Priorities change. Everything has changed.”

McDonald, 26, played in all 16 games for the Los Angeles Rams last season and recorded 64 tackles, two interceptions and one sack. The Rams figured that punishment from the NFL would eventually come down on McDonald but were going to move on from him anyway.

In an email to ESPN after the suspension was announced, his agent, Andrew Kessler, wrote: “It is very unfortunate that T.J. will miss the first eight games this season, but he and I are both looking forward to him returning to regular-season action when eligible.”

—

T.J. McDonald promises to learn from mistakes with Dolphins

http://www.espn.com/blog/miami-dolphins/post/_/id/24982/t-j-mcdonald-promises-to-learn-from-mistakes-with-dolphins

MIAMI — T.J. McDonald knows his first foray into NFL free agency didn’t have to be this difficult.

The 26-year-old safety is entering the prime of his career while coming off a solid season with the Los Angeles Rams where he recorded 64 tackles, two interceptions and one sack. Still, McDonald didn’t find a team until Friday, three weeks into free agency, when he signed just a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins.

McDonald’s issue hanging over him was an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. The suspension comes from an incident last May where McDonald was arrested for driving under the influence of prescription drugs. He pleaded to a lesser charge in January.

T.J. McDonald will be making plays for the Dolphins instead of against them — once he returns from an eight-game suspension. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Most teams decided to stay away. But Miami saw enough potential in McDonald to give him half the season to prove himself.

“It was just something that I’m definitely paying the price for to think that I’ve made it,” McDonald said Friday on a conference call with the Miami media. “I’m definitely going to own up to it. It was something I’ve learned from.”

McDonald added that his mistakes “will never happen again.” The move could pay dividends for the Dolphins, who need depth at safety.

Miami is coming off a 10-win season and has playoff expectations again in 2017. McDonald will come off suspension around November and could provide a boost for the Dolphins’ secondary opposite former Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones.

In the meantime, McDonald will be just a footnote for Miami until the winter. He is allowed to participate in offseason workouts, minicamp and training camp. His suspension will begin in Week 1 of the regular season.

“I’m coming back [after the suspension] against the wall,” McDonald said. “I’m just happy to go move forward with this and being able to get back to playing ball. It’s all about ball for me right now.”