DAVIE, Fla. -- Without Will Allen, the Miami Dolphins' pass defense was dismal, so they re-signed him Wednesday.
Allen was back on the practice field 11 days after being cut at the end of training camp.
"This is a business," he said. "You've got to understand. You can't take anything personal. You take the punch, and you keep rolling. Bitterness doesn't get me anywhere, so here I am."
Allen replaces nickel back Benny Sapp, whose contract was terminated Tuesday after the Patriots' Wes Welker burned him on a 99-yard touchdown pass.
A 38-24 loss to New England prompted the Dolphins to bring back Allen. He was slowed by a hamstring injury at the end of training camp, which contributed to the decision at the time to keep Sapp instead, coach Tony Sparano said.
"One guy was healthy. The other guy really wasn't," Sparano said. "Allen's better right now."
Allen started 53 games for Miami from 2006 to 2009, then missed last season with a knee injury. Teammates in the secondary said they were glad to have him back.
"It's huge," safety Yeremiah Bell said. "He's a veteran guy who knows the game. He's a leader back there."
Besides playing in the nickel package, Allen will back up starting cornerbacks Sean Smith and Vontae Davis. At 33, he's eager to show he's not ready for retirement.
"You've always got something to prove," Allen said. "Always. I've felt like that since I set foot in this league, probably since I came out of the womb."
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
