Brent Grimes Signs With Dolphins; Market Set For Aqib Talib?
BOSTON (CBS) -- If the Patriots hope to work out a deal with Aqib Talib prior to Monday afternoon's franchise tag deadline, a baseline may now be set.
The Dolphins and Brent Grimes agreed to a new deal on Monday, one that will pay the corner $32 million over four years, with $16 million guaranteed. Terms of the deal were reported by the Sun Sentinel.
Grimes, 30, has been in the league since 2007. Like Talib, he signed a one-year deal at a relatively low number ($5.5 million) last offseason in order to prove his worth after missing time in 2012.
Grimes made four interceptions and 60 tackles for the Dolphins in 2013, and he returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown while starting in all 16 Miami games.
The Grimes deal now likely serves as a talking point should the Talib camp try to work on reaching an agreement with the Patriots. Talib, 28, signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Patriots last offseason, after he had been traded to the franchise during the 2012 season. He played in 13 regular-season games, making four interceptions and 41 tackles, forcing one fumble and defending 14 passes. However, Talib's 2013 season ended the same way as his 2012 season did, as he left the AFC Championship Game due to injury.
The deadline for teams to place the franchise tag on players comes Monday at 4 p.m. ET.