Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Denton to receive shot with Dolphins

Former UNLV and Green Valley High School quarterback Jon Denton's roller coaster career took another interesting twist Monday when Denton signed a one-year free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins.

Denton will take part in the Dolphins' quarterback camp which begins this afternoon in Davie, Fla. If he passes that test, he will be invited to the team's training camp which begins on July 28.

How long Denton, kicked off UNLV's squad before the 1998 season following two suspensions (he admitted to testing positive for marijuana) can stick with the Dolphins remains to be the seen.

The Dolphins have three veteran quarterbacks on their roster headed by future Hall of Famer Dan Marino. Former University of Miami standout Craig Erickson, an eight-year NFL veteran, and former University of Washington quarterback Damon Huard, a three-year NFL pro, are also on the roster. And former East Carolina star Dan Gonzalez, who was on Miami's taxi squad last season, also is ahead of Denton on the depth chart.

"We just brought him in to take a look at him," said Bob Ackles, the director of football operations for the Dolphins. "We've already got four quarterbacks on our roster. We told (Denton) that we'd take a look at him this week and take it from there."

Ackles said Denton's checkered past, which also included a personality clash with highly respected Division II coach Roy Kidd of Eastern Kentucky last season and an ill-fated attempt to hook on with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, "were discussed."

So what attracted the Dolphins to Denton?

"He seemed to have a strong arm," Ackles said.

Denton's agent, Scott Salomon of Coral Springs, Fla., believes Denton has an excellent chance of making the Dolphins' roster.

"They really liked everything Jon Denton brought to the table," said Salomon, who also represents former UNLV star Talance Sawyer and All-Pro punter Reggie Roby. "I think they're not only impressed with his throwing arm but also his knowledge of the game."

Salomon said he called Tom Hackert, the Dolphins' director of pro personnel, "about 200 times in the last four months" to get Denton a workout with the club.

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