DAVIE, Fla. -- New Miami Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey stepped to the microphone and apologized for his hoarse voice, explaining he wore it down in recent days trying to build a winner. Hickey then introduced a succession of big acquisitions in the first 24 hours of free agency -- 316-pound left tackle Branden Albert, 300-pound defensive tackle Earl Mitchell and 305-pound defensive tackle Randy Starks. All signed Wednesday. Starks remained with the Dolphins after a brief stint as a free agent, signing a $12 million, two-year contract. He spent the past six seasons with the Dolphins, with only one playoff game during that time. "The moves we made so far just show were close to doing something special here, and trying to bring in some people to help us get over the hump," he said. The return of Starks, a two-time Pro Bowl player, and the addition of Mitchell compensate for the loss of defensive tackle Paul Soliai, who joined the Atlanta Falcons after seven years with Miami. "Pauls a good player," Starks said. "He has been here a long time. Hell be well missed, but we have people who can step up." Hickeys shopping will continue, with additional offensive linemen, a tight end and a linebacker the most pressing needs. The Dolphins are trying to end a 13-year drought without a post-season victory, and theyre eager to put in the past their bullying scandal that involved tackle Jonathan Martin. The acquisition of Albert was a step in that direction. Hell take over the position manned at the start of last season by Martin, who was traded late Tuesday to the San Francisco 49ers for an undisclosed draft choice. "Im going to be here to play left tackle and make a difference," Albert said. "Thats the reason Im here. I feel like its a team I can help the most and make my legacy even better." Albert signed a $47 million, five-year deal that includes $26 million guaranteed. Dolphins officials, accompanied by a couple of players, treated Albert to dinner Tuesday night to celebrate the agreement. "Probably the happiest person at the dining room table was Ryan Tannehill," Hickey said. "He was really excited to have a player of his calibre on our team." Albert will protect the blind side for Tannehill, who was sacked a franchise-record 58 times last year. Mitchell was also part of the dinner celebration after agreeing to a $16 million, four-year deal. Like Albert and Starks, Mitchell envisions better days ahead for the Dolphins. "Im coming to produce and definitely trying to help this team reach new heights," Mitchell said. "Thats my reason for being here. Im trying to get us to a Super Bowl." Mitchell blossomed in his fourth NFL season with the Houston Texans last year, when he became a starter and won raves for the way he clogged the middle. He has been playing defence only since his junior year at the University of Arizona, and he and Hickey both said hes still improving. Alberts reputation has also been on the rise, and he made the Pro Bowl last year with the Kansas City Chiefs. He has had a home the past three offseasons 45 minutes from the Dolphins complex and will now move north, eager to go to work with his new team. "I live in downtown Miami, but I probably wont anymore because of the commute," he said with a smile. "Ive got to find a place close to the facility." Baltimore Orioles Pro Shop . Catch the game on TSN starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. Tampa Bay currently holds the last of the Atlantics three automatic bids to the playoffs, but the Maple Leafs are just one point behind. Stitched Orioles Jerseys . Today, well look at five frontcourt players today, here from the Bay Area. 1. 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Shaun Hill tossed a pair of touchdown passes to Jared Cook and the Rams blanked the Redskins 24-0 on Sunday afternoon to record their second straight shutout win. After Tavon Austins 78-yard punt return staked the Rams to a 24-0 advantage late in the third quarter, chants of RGIII, RGIII, RGIII, reverberated throughout FedEx Field. Griffin, though, never got the call until two minutes remained after Colt McCoy departed with a neck strain. Brockers, Jenkins, Ogletree and Robinson were among the slew of players the Rams received from their 2012 blockbuster trade with Washington, along with Stedman Bailey, Zac Stacy, Isaiah Pead and Rokevious Watkins. St. Louis sent its 2012 second overall pick to the Redskins in exchange for three first round picks and a second-round selection. Washington had the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. The Redskins made the gamble in the hopes that it would solve their franchise quarterback woes. It reaped early benefits as Griffin won the 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and led Washington to a 10-6 mark and an NFC East crown. But the Baylor product has suffered a pair of knee injuries since, including a torn ACL in Washingtons 2012 Wild Card playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and has struggled to adapt his game the last two seasons. Griffin suffered a dislocated ankle in Week 2 of this season and returned in Week 9 at Minnesota, but was benched after a trio of poor performances in favor of McCoy, who was 20-of-32 for 199 yards with two interceptions Sunday. Hill was 16-of-22 for 213 yards, while Cook hauled in four passes for 61 yards for St. Louis (6-7), which posted back-to-back shutoouts for the first time since 1945.dddddddddddd The Rams blanked Oakland 52-0 last Sunday. Pretty impressive, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said of the shutouts. I look at this as we can play better. The defense recorded seven sacks, two interceptions and eight tackles for loss in the triumph. Pierre Garcon tallied nine receptions for 95 yards for the Redskins (3-10), who have dropped five games in a row. These guys are trying, we just got outcoached and outplayed today, Washington coach Jay Gruden said. Rams safety Rodney McLeod intercepted McCoy over the middle on Washingtons opening drive and St. Louis held the ball for 7:20 on its first touch, but came away with no points. The Rams drove the ball to the Washington 22, but an illegal use of hands and offensive pass interference penalty on consecutive plays pushed the ball back to the 42 and St. Louis wound up punting. St. Louis found the end zone on its second drive when Cook hauled in a 35-yard TD pass early in the second. Greg Zuerlein missed the extra point and then pushed a 28-yard field goal to the right on the Rams next trek. Zuerlein also missed a 38-yard try on the final play of the half. Zuerlein finally split the uprights on a 34-yarder to cap the Rams 13-play, 61-yard march to begin the third, making it 9-0. Baileys 36-yard catch-and-run to the 1 converted a 3rd-and-12 on the Rams next touch and Hill flipped a 1-yard TD pass to Cook on the very next play. St. Louis then added two more points when Johnny Hekker tossed a two-point conversion to Cory Harkey on a fake field goal, extending the margin to 17-0. Game Notes These two teams played in Week 2 of the 2012 campaign after the trade that April, with the Rams limiting Griffin to 206 yards passing in a 31-28 victory ... Tre Mason carried the ball 20 times for 66 yards for the Rams ... St. Louis outgained Washington 329-206. ' ' '