‘Dolphins’ star Matt Jones will get new swimwear in 2015
NEW YORK — The Dolphins are planning to add a swimwear style to their lineup in 2015, with Matt Jones joining a lineup of young players that will include fellow wideouts Ryan Tannehill and Brandin Cooks.
The move is an extension of the new partnership between the NFL and the NFL Players Association, and the new style will be named “Dolphins Swimming” in reference to the team’s current practice of wearing shorts in the water.
Jones and the Dolphins, who have been working on a new contract for several months, agreed to the move after an offseason of negotiations.
He had been on the trading block since late March, and there was speculation that he would be released by the team at the end of the season.
That hasn’t happened.
Jones said during a Thursday news conference he would “love to be part of something special with the Dolphins.”
“It’s something I’m looking forward to.
It’s a good way to get some swimmers,” he said.
“I’m excited to get into the water and hopefully help make sure our players get a little bit more enjoyment out of it.”
The Dolphins added wideout Dion Sims from the Chicago Bears in the offseason, and are planning for another year of free agency and a draft in February.
Sims is a veteran who played in 14 games for Miami in 2013.
The Dolphins have made changes to their offensive line and will likely make a change to their special teams units as well.
That includes a move to a more traditional 5-2-5 defense this season, according to coach Adam Gase.
They’ll replace a 4-3 with a 4, and Gase has talked about how the Dolphins will play more in a 4.5-3.
“I think that it’s a lot more comfortable and more familiar and a lot faster,” Gase said.
“We’ll see how that goes.
But I think it’ll be a lot different than what we did last year.”
Jones said he had been working out with his former team, the Carolina Panthers, and was looking forward for the season to start.
He said he’s looking forward “to getting back into the game.”
Jones will be in the new uniform in the coming days, and it will likely be a “full-body” uniform that includes shorts and socks.
He’s also going to have a separate, smaller pool of swimmers.