Dolphins Defensive Lineman Phillip Merling Is Out for the Season

​Miami Dolphins defensive end Phillip Merling's off-season of misfortunes has gone from bad to worse. Merling was arrested in May for punching his pregnant girlfriend, and just this week he was formally charged with felony battery for the incident. Now comes news that Merling suffered an Achilles tendon injury that will force him to miss the entire 2010 season. Huh. Who knew "Karma's a bitch" was a real thing? 

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports the Fins might go after Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears -- a player Bill Parcells drafted in 2005 when he was running things in Dallas -- to replace Merling. 

Not that Merling was all that great a player because, in fact, he's been a major underachiever in things other than punching defenseless pregnant women in the face since being drafted by Miami in 2008. But this leaves a big hole in the Dolphins' defensive line and raises more concerns about their already-spotty pass rush, which features another guy that allegedly likes to punch women (Tony McDaniel), a bunch of unproven rookies (Jared Odrick, Koa Misi, A.J. Edds), and a dude who wasn't good enough for the Detroit Lions (Ikaika-Alama Francis).

But no worries. We still have Jason Taylor anchoring the defensive front. Oh, wait. No, we don't. Blimey!