National Football League

AP Source: Douglas agrees to terms with Dolphins

Published Jul. 24, 2010 1:37 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Miami Dolphins moved quickly to find a replacement for injured defensive end Phillip Merling.

Free agent Marques Douglas agreed to terms on a $2.5 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations said Friday. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Dolphins had not announced the deal.

Douglas shores up a position depleted when Merling recently suffered an Achilles' tendon injury that will force him to miss the entire season.

Douglas started 12 games for the New York Jets' top-ranked defense last year, and he had 36 tackles and 28 assists. The Dolphins will be his fifth team in an 11-year career, and he'll compete for playing time with the Dolphins' No. 1 draft pick, Jared Odrick.

The 33-year-old Douglas will rejoin Mike Nolan, the Dolphins' new defensive coordinator. They were together in San Francisco and Baltimore.

Merling, who played mostly as a reserve in 2008 and 2009, was hurt preparing for the start of training camp next Friday. His status was already in question after he was arrested in May and charged with felony battery against his pregnant girlfriend.