HELENA, Mont. (AP)
Former University of Montana kicker Dan Carpenter has agreed to a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins. The deal came shortly after the NFL draft on Sunday. Carpenter, who played for Montana in the 2004-07 seasons, is the career leading scorer in Football Championship Series history, with 413 points. He also is the career leader in field goals made in the FCS, with 75. "Simply put, last week it was 32 degrees and snow every day" in Missoula, Carpenter said. Miami had temperatures in the 80s and partly cloudy skies, he said. "To me, that's perfect kicking weather," Carpenter said. Last week he worked out with Dolphins' assistant special teams coach Steve Hoffman in Missoula. "Knowing they wanted me to come there made the decision pretty easy for me," Carpenter said. He said he wants to improve the height and distance of his kicks. Former University of Montana offensive tackle Cody Balogh signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears on Monday. Balogh, of Steilacoom, Wash., played all four years at Montana and started the last 41 straight games of his college career. He was one of 10 players signed as undrafted free agents by the Bears. The 6-foot-7, 320-pound Balogh is the fourth UM football player to catch on with an NFL team this year. Defensive end Kroy Biermann was drafted by Atlanta, and running back Lex Hilliard was drafted by Miami.
