Gase expects Cam Wake will be ready for camp

The Miami Dolphins are exercising caution with defensive end Cameron Wake, who suffered an Achilles' tendon tear midway through last season.

However, coach Adam Gase told reporters Thursday there's a "really high" chance he'll be ready for training camp in late July.

“He’s been doing things that makes me think he’s right on track,” Gase said, via Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post.

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Dolphins extend Wake's contract through 2017

The Miami Dolphins gave 34-year-old defensive end Cameron Wake a contract extension through 2017.

According to ESPN, the new deal is worth $15 million with $10 million guaranteed.

Via the Palm Beach Post:

It actually saves Miami money this year. Wake was set to earn $8.3 million this season. Now it locks him in for two years at $7.5 million a season.

Wake is coming off Achilles surgery, which followed a Week 8 season-ending tear.

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Dan Campbell confident in Shelby's fill-in abilities

Losing a dynamic pass rusher like Cameron Wake is a devastating blow for any defense, especially one that's struggling to tally sacks.

But with every injury comes an opportunity for a backup to show off his abilities -- the case this week for fourth-year defensive lineman Derrick Shelby. 

Shelby has actually seen more time on the field this year for the Miami Dolphins than Wake, but he'll now be tasked with producing on passing downs and, perhaps most importantly, on third down.

Miami interim coach Dan Campbell spoke highly of the 26-year-old Wednesday, instilling confidence in the former Utah star.

"Shelby is one of those guys who, he is fundamentally sound and he’s an explosive athlete," Campbell said. "He’s not the speed rusher that Cam (Cameron Wake) is, but he’s going to go in there and do a nice job for us."

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Suh says sky's the limit for Dolphins' defensive line

The AFC East is chock full of nasty defensive lines this season. That has not been lost on the Miami Dolphins.

Miami inked defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh to a massive contract this offseason. With the Dolphins, he's now working alongside Cameron Wake, another stellar frontman.

That combination will likely cause regular trouble for opposing blockers, particularly as they try and decide which of the two will draw a defensive double-team.

“The sky is always going to be the limit for us,” Suh said Tuesday, via ESPN.com.

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Dolphins expect 'run, run and more run' from Bills

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The Buffalo Bills have boasted one of the more imposing one-two punches at tailback the past few years--when healthy--between the powerful Fred Jackson and speedy C.J. Spiller.

The Miami Dolphins expect the two to again be a focal point when the teams face off Sunday in an AFC East bout.

“Run, run and more run,” defensive end Cameron Wake said this week, via MiamiDolphins.com. “This week may be a little different type of game, but at the end of the day you’ve got two tremendous football players, guys who can definitely when they get the ball in their hands eat up a lot of yards in one play."

RPT: Dolphins dispute Jordan, Wake, Wallace rumor

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Armando Salguero is firing back -- this time, from the team's side.

CBS Sports reported earlier Friday that the Miami Dolphins were actively shopping their former No. 3 overall draft pick defensive end Dion Jordan and were also gauging trade interest regarding defensive end Cameron Wake and wide receiver Mike Wallace.

It sounded crazy, so Salguero, the team's beat writer for The Miami Herald, got on the horn with one of his internal sources.

Wake: As a Dolphin, you circle Jets on your calendar

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets have enjoyed one of the most evenly-matched rivalries in the NFL for quite some time now.

While each team has a few multi-season winning streaks over the other, it's been close to a wash throughout history, with the Jets leading the all-time series by a 49-46-1 margin.

"As a Dolphin, the minute you get here you kind of realize that’s a game that a lot of guys circle on their calendar," Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake said this week, via MiamiDolphins.com.

Vernon going about business while Dolphins admire

BY SEAN DONOVAN

Miami Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon's big game on Sunday got a little bit bigger on Wednesday, after the league adjusted a split sack and awarded it to Vernon.

That gave him a grand total of three quarterback takedowns during the team's 23-3 blasting of the rival New York Jets, which along with a team-leading 10 tackles was good enough to earn him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

The steady-as-she-goes second-year defensive end took news of the award not as a milestone of progress for a young, undersized pass-rushing prospect, but frankly, as if it was another day.

Philbin, Dolphins stress importance of finishing

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin stressed the importance of finishing plays, and ultimately finishing the game, Sunday.

Against the San Diego Chargers, his team did just that.

Defensive end Cameron Wake recorded his second sack of the evening on the Chargers' late-game comeback-attempt drive, forcing San Diego to use its last timeout. From then on, Miami gave up a couple passes but ultimately held its own on the back quarter of the field.

Wake: Good or bad diet impacts inches on field

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Some players have a desire for bad food because of habit. Cameron Wake has made a habit of not desiring bad food.

With the Miami Dolphins' news cycle dragging thanks to a bye, Dolphins.com's Andy Kent wrote a piece this week about players' eating habits, and Wake, the Dolphins' star pass rusher, emerged from the pack as the team's leader in the mess hall.

Wake, described as "ridiculous" by one teammate regarding his diet, has learned over time just how important what he puts into his body is in determining his on-field output.

Jordan sees extended action in Wake's absence

BY SEAN DONOVAN

The Miami Dolphins knew that facing a highly-talented Atlanta Falcons offense already without a pair of injured starters would be a tremendous challenge going into Sunday's game.

So when star pass rusher Cameron Wake went down with a knee injury in the first quarter, a replacement was needed to step up, and badly. That guy turned out be top draft pick Dion Jordan, who's served simply as a depth pass rusher so far this season.

Jordan, while not making a major mark on the box score, gave the Dolphins some production in relief of Wake and helped a banged-up defense slow down a powerful offense when it was needed.

Philbin: There is still a lot Wake can improve on

BY SEAN DONOVAN

When you're considered to be at the peak of your career, simply maintaining your level of output is usually enough to keep the boss happy.

But NFL football isn't your average profession, and in Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake's case, his boss sees plenty of room for improvement in the star pass rusher.

“Absolutely, there is a lot," Dolphins coach Joe Philbin told reporters on Monday, according to the team's website. "Considering now that this is a different defensive system that he is playing in, so now it is year two in that system, so I think there are some things overall from a technique standpoint that he can improve upon."

Olivier Vernon plans to bug Cam Wake all offseason

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Miami Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon's 2012 campaign paralleled his team's -- he trended up through the first half of the season and down after the midway point.

But like his team, he was never really out of it until the end. (photo: June Rivera, Flickr)

The third-round rookie gained steam through the first five games of his rookie season and had his best showing Week 6 against the St. Louis Rams, recording two sacks and two quarterback hits to go with a pair of tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Ireland: Wake's extension was done with 'conviction'

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland has some tough decisions to make this offseason in regard to his free agent list. At least he got one no-brainer out of the way early.

With one year still left on his contract, Ireland re-signed Pro Bowl linebacker Cameron Wake to an extension last May to the tune of nearly $50 million over four years.

That paid off handsomely for Ireland and the Dolphins, as Wake had one of his most productive seasons to date. But as Ireland said Monday, the decision to pull the trigger early on Wake was a easy one.

Jason Taylor: 'Wake's ass-kicking is no surprise'

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Jason Taylor is a Cameron Wake fan, plain and simple. And he'd employ Wake if he had the power.

"If I was starting a team and needed a defensive end, he’d be the first guy I’d call," Taylor said Tuesday at the Miami Dolphins Touchdown Club Luncheon, via MiamiDolphins.com.

The retired Taylor, the most prolific pass rusher in Dolphins history, has been impressed with his former teammate Wake and his 14 sacks through 13 games this season.

However, Taylor expected nothing less from the former CFLer. (photo: Derrick Lee, Flickr)

Wake outduels Smith, but he'd trade it for a win

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Cameron Wake made another mark on the map of elite pass rushers Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Miami Dolphins defensive end sacked quarterback Colin Kaepernick three times, forcing a fumble on one. He totaled six tackles, with two for a loss. However, his team still lost 27-13.

“I would give away every sack I got (14 on the season) for a winning record and the opportunities that we’re not capitalizing on,” Wake after the game, via MiamiDolphins.com.

Wake's productivity finally translating to stat sheet

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Cameron Wake was having a quietly productive start to the season through three weeks, as the Miami Dolphins defensive end was highly disruptive to opposing offensive linemen but had yet to record a sack.

Wake finally found himself on the stat sheet Sunday, and in a big way. The 30-year-old converted outside linebacker recorded four and a half sacks in Miami's 24-21 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Wake, who signed a four-year contract extension during the offseason, is Pro Football Focus' highest-rated 4-3 defensive end. PFF tweeted Monday that he's the best "pure pass rusher" in the NFL, having recorded nine quarterback hits and 20 pressures.

“That guy’s been giving us exceptional effort every single snap,” coach Joe Philbin said, according to the Miami Herald.

No sacks, no problem: Dolphins' Wake still dominant

BY SEAN DONOVAN

The Miami Dolphins' front office drew much criticism this offseason. But there was one move no one questioned -- the contract extension of star pass rusher Cameron Wake.

Wake has been playing like a man possessed so far under his new contract. He has yet to record a sack in 2012, but his 21 total QB pressures is most of any player in the league, via Pro Football Focus.

“I think the kid is playing his tail off," Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said, according to the team's media department. "If you watch the tape, he’s playing his tail off. He’s playing the run very well, he’s knocking the quarterback down a bunch; we’d love him to get more sacks and I’m sure he would. But boy he is playing hard and playing fast."

Miami's most consistent defender was rewarded with a four-year, $49 million extension in May and is proving that he was worth every penny. The Dolphins now have one of the game's most feared pass rushers locked up through 2016.

In last Sunday's loss, Wake terrorized New York Jets' tackle Austin Howard, recording an astounding 11 combined QB hits and hurries in the game. He also drew a holding penalty for the third time this season.

New D, role should help Dolphins' Wake get to QB

BY SEAN DONOVAN

Two things changed for Dolphins' star pass rusher Cameron Wake this offseason.

He got paid, signing a five-year, $49 million contract that completed his arrival to NFL stardom from his humble Canadian Football League beginnings.

And his team switched from a 3-4 defensive scheme to a four-man front. This change will move Wake from outside linebacker to defensive end.

The scheme switch, which has become the trend for all four AFC East teams, is a response to the passing proliferation that the NFL is seeing. The 4-3 allows teams to get to the quarterback and defend the run while having versatility with their coverage packages.

Wake will now have his hand in the dirt nearly every down and will rush the passer every time he drops back. Anyone who watched the Dolphins closely last season saw that Miami often had the former CFL star as a down defensive end, but changing the base defense to a 4-3 is still a significant move.

Wake will now be setting the edge on every play, using his elite rushing ability to contain perimeter runs as well as being in position to do what he does best, attack the quarterback.

Dolphins DE Wake leading, learning simultaneously

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Cameron Wake looked to then-veteran defensive players Joey Porter and Jason Taylor in finding his way as a new NFLer in 2009.

After recently signing a near-$50 million, four-year contract following a 28-sack campaign over the last three seasons, Wake is now the one being looked up to.

"The torch has been passed," Wake told the Sun-Sentinel.

But while Wake is helping the Dolphins' younger defenders find their stride, the 30 year old is adapting to Miami's switch to a 4-3 base defense, where Wake will primarily position himself at defensive end.

"It's a little different because it's kind of new for all of us in this new defense," he said.

Wake said he's helping his understudies more with technique than particulars of the system.