The Miami Herald has independently confirmed that Phillip Merling is out for the season following an Achilles' injury suffered this week.

The report follows an earlier report by profootballtalk.com that Merling's offseason troubles -- that included an arrest for domestic violence on his pregnant girlfriend -- had grown with an Achilles' injury whose extent was not known.

I have been in contact with a source saying the Dolphins may turn their attention before training camp is over to Dallas defensive end Marcus Spears, a starter who has fallen somewhat out of favor with the Cowboys and whom Bill Parcells drafted in the first round in 2005.

Although Spears finished the season with a career-high 2.5 sacks in 2009, the Cowboys got a lower restricted free agent tender offer than either of his backups. Spears was available in trade just prior to the draft.

During the Dolphins' offseason practices, Merling had received most of the first-team snaps at right defensive end, opposite starting left end Kendall Langford. Odrick had received first-team work in goal-line and short-yardage situations.

Merling was expected to compete with Odrick for the job, which was left open when the Dolphins moved Randy Starks to nose tackle in April.

Merling, 25, had 33 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 16 games last season, including two starts. As a rookie in 2008, he played in 16 games and had 26 tackles and a sack.

Besides Odrick and Langford, the other defensive ends under contract are Tony McDaniel and Ryan Baker (who both can play tackle or end), Lionel Dotson and Ikaika Alama-Francis. The nose tackles under contract are Starks, Paul Soliai and undrafted rookie Travis Ivey.

Merling is the second defensive lineman that the Dolphins have lost in recent days. Last week, Jason Ferguson unexpectedly retired, though he would have missed the season's first eight games regardless because of an NFL suspension for using an illegal substance.

According to a Dolphins source, the troubled defensive end is headed for season-ending surgery after suffering a recent injury to his Achilles tendon. Initially it was unclear if the injury was a strain or a tear, but as of this evening further tests have shown it is indeed a tear.

The injury, first reported Thursday afternoon by Pro Football Talk, took place during normal offseason workouts, the source said. That means Merling will still draw a salary of $600,000 for the 2010 season, which was to be his third in the league.

Well, maybe we should have kept JT after all?

Ryan Baker. Unless we bring someone else in. It has to be Baker. Versatility. Everything I've read on the guy this offseason has him in the good graces of SIP.

this has to be some type of front office conspiracy

Merling reportedly sustained the injury during a football workout, putting the finishing touches on a nightmare offseason.