National Football League

Ex-Dolphin Roth eager to beat former team

Published Dec. 1, 2010 11:15 p.m. ET

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Linebacker Matt Roth figures he fell out of favor with the Miami Dolphins because he had trouble staying healthy.

''As far as I know, the trainer let me go,'' Roth said Wednesday.

Roth was released in November 2009 and claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns. He'll be back in Miami on Sunday when Cleveland plays the Dolphins.

''Obviously I want to beat them,'' Roth told reporters at the Browns' complex in Ohio. ''I'm not going to sit here and lie to you. But as far as emotions letting it get the better of me, I've got to treat it like a normal game week.''

Roth missed training camp and Miami's first six games last year. The Dolphins at first blamed an undiagnosed illness, while Roth's agent said the problem was a groin injury.

''The reality of it was I had two groin surgeries in two years,'' Roth said Wednesday. ''I just wasn't ready when I went to camp. I can't tell you management's side of things. Unfortunately I was let go. The best thing that happened to me was come here and be a Brown.''

A sixth-year pro, Roth has started all 11 games this season. He has 53 tackles, matching his career high, and 3 1/2 sacks.

For Miami, Roth had his best season in 2008, when he moved from end to outside linebacker and started 14 games. He made only four tackles in four games last season before Miami released him.

''The decision at the time was based on performance,'' Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. ''That guy is a good football player, and he was a good football player for me. I appreciate everything the guy did for me, but sometimes you just feel like you got to go in a different direction, and that's what we did.''

Roth's prolonged absence last season hastened the emergence of Miami's Cameron Wake, who leads the AFC this year with 10 1/2 sacks.

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