BY NICK ST. DENIS
Somewhere in the middle of the Miami Dolphins' free agency spree was the signing of former Atlanta Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes.
And entering the final stretch of the 2013 season, Grimes may prove to be the most valuable acquisition of them all. Minus the one-year contract he's on.
The veteran cornerback has guarded top receivers all season long and has yet to surrender a touchdown. He's tied for the team-lead in interceptions and has also been serviceable against the run.
"He’s a phenomenal athlete, and he has incredible eye-hand coordination, athleticism, and I think he sleeps with the football," Dolphins defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said Monday, via The Miami Herald. "Really, as soon as he walks out on the practice field, you see him every day, he’s got a ball in his hands during stretch. He’s flipping it around. He’s catching it. He’s kicking it. He’s a ball of energy.
"He’s got great ball skills. He makes some catches he makes look so easy in practice at times. He’s a terrific athlete."
That athleticism has been on display all season, most notably on a 94-yard interception return against the Cincinnati Bengals last month. Grimes' most-recent interception was last week against the New York Jets.
Coming off a season-ending Achilles injury last year that saw him play in just one game, Grimes signed a one-year, $5.5 million prove-it deal with the Dolphins. His status this coming offseason will be one to watch, as the Dolphins have the option of giving him a multi-year deal, franchise-tagging him or letting him find his way elsewhere.
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