Patriots free agent All-Pro punter visiting the Dolphins – The Mercury News

The Miami Dolphins are bringing New England Patriots punter Jake Bailey for a visit, according to a report from ESPN.

Bailey had an All-Pro and Pro Bowl season in 2020 and is considered one of the best in the league. Miami may be dropping veteran punter Thomas Morstead, who is a free agent after playing for the Dolphins in 2022.

Bailey is averaging 45.9 yards per punt for his career, with 45.9% of his boots falling inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

He signed a four-year, $13.5 million contract with the Patriots last offseason, but while on injured reserve, he was placed on the suspended list at the end of last season, voiding his guarantees. Bailey’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, filed a claim disputing the suspension.

“While Jake Bailey was on the IR, he never missed a single treatment, meeting or practice,” said Hendrickson. in a statement released at the time. “He was hoping to come off IR to play last weekend, but Jake was told he was suspended for the last two games. That comes as a surprise given his full participation while on injured reserve. We have filed a claim to combat this unknown suspension.”

Prior to the suspension, Bailey was placed on injured reserve on November 19 with a sore back.

Morstead, in a disappointing special teams drive for the Dolphins in 2022 that returns coordinator Danny Crossman, stood out with 28 punts falling inside the 20-yard line in 2022, the second-highest total of his career. Morstead turned 37 on March 8.

The Patriots signed former Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki from free agency on Friday.

This story will be updated.

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