Crowder Shocks Everyone and Re-Ups with Dolphins

Dolphins LB Channing Crowder spent last week preparing for free agency, saying he wanted to see what his market value was, apperently the only market he was interested was in Miami.

Crowder decided, after receiving advice from former teammate Zach Thomas, to stay with the city that drafted him and signed a 3 year contract to remain a Dolphin.

''I love Miami,'' Crowder said. ``So I basically told [agent] Joel [Segal] that if we could get to some numbers where everybody is happy, let's pull the trigger.''

Segal and Crowder had hoped initially for a longer deal but were to stay in Miami, because that means that Crowder can continue playing for coach Tony Sparano and linebackers coach George Edwards.

Crowder, who calls Edwards ''the best assistant in the NFL, period,'' said he began hearing from more and more of the former Dolphins players that he respects that he should consider working toward a way to remain with Miami.

Recently, he had long discussions with former Dolphins nose tackle and close friend Keith Traylor, who played for six different teams during his NFL career. Traylor, like Thomas, told Crowder not to get caught up in the hype of free agency simply for the money.

''As good as we did last year, I've had three head coaches in four years,'' Crowder said. ``But now, I know the system. I know the defensive scheme. I know who my linebacker coach and my defensive coordinator will be. Now, I can just build on that. Now, I can maximize my talent. It's time for me to become a Pro Bowler.''