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AROUND THE SHIELD — BYU's longest tenured NFL player will be looking for a new team this season.
John Denney, the 40-year-old long snapper who has become a fan favorite in 14 seasons with the Miami Dolphins, was released Monday morning.
The BYU and Rick's College alumnus originally survived the cut to make the Dolphins' 53-man roster. But after head coach Brian Flores made a few waiver acquisitions, Denney, who is three years older than Flores, was deemed expendable.
"Today, unfortunately, marks the end of my time with the Miami Dolphins," Denney said in a statement released through his agent. "I want to thank the Dolphins for giving me a chance back in 2005. Over the last 14 years I have had many wonderful, hard working teammates, all of whom I would like to thank.
"I also want to thank all of the coaches I have worked with in Miami."
Denney had been with the team longer than any current player with 224-straight games played, and had an outside shot at passing Dan Marino for most games played in Dolphins franchise history. Now he'll enter free agency for the first time since 2005 as Miami added left tackle Laremy Tunsil, receiver Kenny Stills and linebacker Kiko Alonso over the weekend.
The Dolphins also added defensive tackle John Jenkins and long snapper Taybor Pepper, a second-year NFL pro, in corresponding transactions.
Denney's release brings the number of former Cougars in the NFL to 10.
Also over the weekend, several former high school and college football standouts who were released signed with an array of practice squads around the league.
Highlighting the list is former Brighton High and Utah offensive tackle Jackson Barton, who was waived by the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday and added to the team's practice squad a day later. The seventh-round draft pick played in every game of the preseason for the Colts.
Former Logan High quarterback Luke Falk was added to the New York Jets' practice squad, his third NFL team in two seasons after impressing in the preseason with the Jets.
Another former high school standout, Stansbury product Sua Opeta, who played offensive tackle for Weber State, was added to the Eagles' practice squad.
See an updating list of practice squad signings in the complete list below.
