Here are some news and notes from Dolphins training camp:

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  • Safety Chris Clemons, who practiced with the first team after missing the first two days of training camp with a bruised knee, predicted he’ll star alongside Reshad Jones. “I see myself as a starter,” Clemons told The Miami Herald. “Don’t let anyone take anything from me. I feel like I’m the leader.” Clemons is trying to hold off Jimmy Wilson, who practiced with the starters while Clemons was sidelined. But Clemons has regained his spot with the first team. Clemons, who is entering his fourth season, had 13 tackles in 14 games last year after registering 61 in 14 games in 2010.
  • It’s turning into a race between David Garrard and Matt Moore for the starting quarterback job as rookie Ryan Tannehill isn’t receiving many snaps with the first team, according to The Miami Herald. The Dolphins went 6-10 last year, but were 6-6 under Moore, who took over when Chad Henne had to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. Moore completed 210 of 347 passes for 2,497 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Garrard, who sat out last year after having back surgery, threw for 2,734 yards with 23 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 14 games with the Jaguars in 2010, a year after he made the Pro Bowl.
  • Receiver Chad Johnson made a fashion statement by painting his fingernails black, according to The Miami Herald. Coach Joe Philbin didn’t notice Johnson’s cosmetic change, but he said the receiver should have gone with a different color. “There are certain things that are important to me. Fingernail preference isn’t high on my list right now,” he told The Miami Herald. “That’s an interesting tidbit though. I don’t know if black was probably a bad color for [Wednesday]. He probably should have used a light blue or something.” Johnson signed with Miami after making 15 receptions for 276 yards and a touchdown in his one season as a Patriot last year. He had averaged 69 catches for 939 yards and 6.5 touchdowns the previous two seasons in Cincinnati. Johnson is battling Davone Bess (51 catches, 537 yards, three TDs n 2011), Brian Hartline (35 catches, 549 yards, one touchdown) and Legedu Naanee (44 catches, 467 yards, one TD for Carolina) for the No. 1 receiver spot in South Beach.

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Miami Dolphins from blogger Dave Carey, follow @CBSSportsNFLMIA.