Considering the Dolphins' lackluster wideouts, perhaps the secondary fits a twist on an old joke:

If the Dolphins' defensive backs could catch, they would be playing wide receiver.

Yet for the past two-plus seasons, it has become commonplace to see a Dolphins defensive back jump the route beautifully, lay his hands on the ball and then clap those same hands in frustration as the ball bounces off the ground. Even in many of their best games, Dolphins cornerbacks and safeties simply don't pick off passes.

This season, of the Dolphins' three interceptions, only one -- by cornerback Andre' Goodman on Sunday against Houston -- came from a defensive back. Last season, the secondary accounted for only nine of the Dolphins' 14 interceptions. This season still might undercut 2006, when safety Renaldo Hill's two interceptions only tied departed defensive end Jason Taylor for the team lead and the secondary had only five for the season.

Since Sam Madison had a 29-yard return for a touchdown Oct. 12, 2003, the only three pickoffs the Dolphins have taken all the way back have been by Taylor.

Interceptions kill. But should-be interceptions dropped into incompletions actually give offenses a mini-boost -- the drive should be over, but it isn't -- and can haunt defenses, i.e., the tipped pass that Dolphins safety Renaldo Hill dropped in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 29-28 loss.

Instead of the Dolphins getting the ball back up 21-20, Houston got a field goal to take a 23-21 lead.

''Even though our offense did come down and put points on the board, still it would have put us in a better situation, a momentum swing for us,'' Hill said. ``I definitely didn't sleep. It hurts.''

Hill, who has lost another couple of potential interceptions this season, sighed he would have to work more with the Jugs machine that spits balls out to help players practice good catching form.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said he thought defensive backs did a better job of catching the ball at practice last week than they have done in any previous week, but, ``That being said, we had our hands on a lot of footballs [Sunday] and probably two interceptions could have been five somewhere.''

Dolphins cornerback Will Allen said, ``Any time a ball hits your hands, I feel like you should catch it. At this level, everybody can catch. You'd like to think that.''

SAFETY DROPPED

The Dolphins dumped safety Tyrone Culver, part of the punt coverage team that allowed Houston's Jacoby Jones to run back a punt 70 yards for a score Sunday -- and point to his mother in the end zone stands while doing it -- and signed free agent safety Brannon Condren.

Condren, whom Indianapolis took in the fourth round of the 2007 draft, was waived by Indianapolis at the end of this year's training camp. St. Louis picked him up, but made him inactive for four games and waived him Friday.

TAKEOVER ADVANCES

As anticipated, the owners of the NFL's 32 teams voted Tuesday at the fall meetings in St. Petersburg to approve a movement that will pave the way for Stephen Ross' eventual takeover as the majority owner of the Dolphins. A date for the transfer has not yet been set.

Currently, Ross owns 50 percent of the team as a result of an acquisition that was approved this offseason. Wayne Huizenga owns the other 50 percent. The approval Tuesday means Ross eventually will takeover up to 45 percent more of the team.

Huizenga plans to keep almost 5 percent of the team to hold some stake for him and his family.

''This is just another step toward the eventual transfer of up to 95 percent ownership interest in the team and the stadium from Mr. Huizenga to Mr. Ross,'' team spokesman Harvey Greene said. ``Mr. Huizenga remains managing general partner with Mr. Ross being a full partner in the enterprise.''

Miami Herald staff writer Jeff Darlington and Miami Herald writer Garrett W. Hylton contributed to this story.

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