Dolphins set at safety with 2 signings

MIAMI (AP) -- The Miami Dolphins are set at safety.

Miami re-signed Yeremiah Bell on the eve of free agency Thursday and acquired Gibril Wilson, who landed a big contract for the second year in a row.

Wilson, a five-year veteran released last week by the Oakland Raiders, signed a $27.5 million, five-year deal. He'll receive $8 million guaranteed and $16.5 million in the first three years of the contract.

Bell, who has spent his entire five-year career with Miami, signed a $20 million, four-year contract rather than testing the free-agent market beginning Friday. His deal is worth $10 million guaranteed.

Bell led the Dolphins last year with a career-high 120 tackles and was part of a much-improved defense that helped them make the playoffs for the first time since 2001. Bell was plagued by injuries early in his career but started all 16 games last season at strong safety.

Wilson has played both free and strong safety.

The signing of Bell left Miami with two players on the verge of becoming unrestricted free agents -- safety Renaldo Hill and cornerback Andre Goodman.

Tackle Vernon Carey and linebacker Channing Crowder had already re-signed with Miami rather than testing free agency.

"We're happy we were able to get Vernon, Channing and Yeremiah signed prior to the start of free agency," general manager Jeff Ireland said. "All three players were integral parts of the success that we achieved last year, and we're pleased that we were able to keep them as part of the Dolphins organization. We also appreciate their desire to remain as members of the Dolphins."

A year ago, Wilson signed a $39 million, six-year deal with the Raiders that included about $16 million in guaranteed money, but he was cut after failing to upgrade their run defense, which ranked next-to-worst in the league.

Wilson led all NFL safeties in solo tackles over his first four seasons playing for the New York Giants. He has 66 career starts, including 15 last season, when he played strong safety and made 129 tackles with two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

He started at free safety for the Giants' 2007 Super Bowl championship team.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)