Brent Grimes Released by Dolphins: Latest Comments and Reaction

The Miami Dolphins released veteran cornerback Brent Grimes in the aftermath of his lackluster 2015 campaign on Wednesday, the team announced.

Grimes had two seasons left on his contract, which would have counted as an $18 million total cap hit for the remainder of its duration. Per Spotrac, the dead-cap penalty for releasing Grimes is $3 million, but his $9.5 million cap figure for 2016 actually saves Miami $6.5 million.

The 32-year-old was a second-team All-Pro in 2014 but didn't play to that level this past season. Although Grimes logged four interceptions and 14 passes defensed, he was part of a defense that ranked 21st against the pass.

Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post provided statistical context for Grimes' decline:

Controversy swirled after the season when Grimes was named to the Pro Bowl as a replacement player. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly documented the rather vitriolic reaction:

Miami evidently didn't feel Grimes' improvement toward the end of 2015 and his prior production was enough to bring him back into the fold—at least on his prior contract.

The aforementioned data didn't give Grimes a whole lot of leverage in remaining with the Dolphins. That doesn't necessarily mean he's departing the team for good, though.

The Dolphins still have a need at Grimes' position and may decide to bring him back on a discount. Whether Grimes is open to such a scenario remains to be seen, because there's the possibility he secures a bigger payday elsewhere.

New head coach Adam Gase hired former Cincinnati Bengals defensive backs coach Vance Joseph as the Dolphins' defensive coordinator. Joseph was part of a Bengals staff that helped Cincinnati rank second in scoring defense last season, which bodes well for Miami in 2016 and beyond.

Regardless of how Grimes' situation played out, there was still going to be room for the Dolphins to upgrade their secondary. 

Executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum and Co. should consider adding a top-tier cornerback in free agency or taking one early in the upcoming NFL draft—or doing both, especially if Grimes doesn't return on a less expensive deal.