One thing Bart Scott said really stood out to me because I share a similar mentality.

“It’s too hard to B.S. people. It’s easy just to be yourself and say what you feel. Some people will agree with it. Some people will not. But at the end of the day who gives a [bleep],” Scott said.

I’ve been struggling with that this week, but I think I’ve managed to put my shields back up. But I still plan to refer to a certain person as No. 55 until he produces a sack. Nothing personal. Just business. Respect is earned.

-Omar Kelly writing on Hard Knox and why he's calling Koa Misi "The Player."

Really? You and Bart Scott, huh. Same page. Mindset. Determination. Demanding that respect be earned by NFL rookies.

Delusions of grandeur might not even fully explain what is going on with this guy.

Not even sure what happened to him. Maybe it's the extra couple of AM radio interviews he's doing. Whatever it is, it has actually bothered me enough to boycott his articles/twitter from here on out. It's a shame too because he's one of the more diligent beat writers.

An elaboration on my reasons:

1) He's become a blowhard.

One thing I can't abide is a blowhard. You know the guy. You say you cooked out last weekend and he says he makes his own barbecue sauce. You say that your bench went up ten pounds and he tells you that he used to bench 450 in college but hurt his shoulder. They're the worst. In this case it's a faux air of football awareness, replete with BS generalizations. 

I really don't want to hear how he's not noticed Chris Clemons and that's a good thing, especially when delivered with a gravitas that speaks of years upon years of serious experience. Here's an idea: If people are asking you as a reporter how Chris Clemons is doing start by actually watching him in practice.

2) Calling out Koa Misi is both unprofessional and unneeded.

This one bothers me the most. Calling a rookie player by his number alone or by a general name like "The Player" is flat out disrespectful. Especially to a guy in Misi's situation.

He's a kid transitioning to one of the more difficult and demanding positions, that of strong-side linebacker in a 3-4. He's also a second round pick who signed before camp and for nothing even resembling a king's ransom. He comes from humble origins (his parents didn't have a TV to watch the draft), speaks with humility and has the respect of his teammates.

Nothing he has done warrants your insistence on calling him "no. 55" or "The Player." For one, it's not even clever. It's derivative schlock borrowed from a Bill Parcells highlight reel. For two, it's absurd.

Omar Kelly Studio Gangsta has gone from one of the best reporters to one of the most annoying. Annoying is the operative word. I'll start reading Studio Gangsta's column again if he is willing to explain to Koa one on one, why he is referring to him as "The Player."

Methinks not. Sorry for the rant. Had to put it out there though.

Two words: Mathias Kiwanuka.

What does a player on the New York football Giants have to do with our own beloved project player, Cameron Wake?

Please, allow me to explain.

Kiwanuka was drafted as a 4-3 defensive end. At 266lbs he had decent speed and was seen as a guy who could put his hand down and get a solid pass rush.

So it was somewhat shocking to Giants fans when they learned that after his first season with the team that Kiwanuka would be moving from end to outside linebacker on the strong side. That's right. A 4-3 end playing up as a 4-3 outside linebacker. Granted they sometimes run a hybrid style similar to the kind the Phins used under Saban Satan, but the conversion was nonetheless one that seemed dubious at best.

The story of course is now well known. Kiwanuka has rotated from defensive end to outside linebacker in alternating seasons depending on the health and positioning of Osi Umenyiora. The man who created such a versatile player out of Kiwanuka?

Bill Sheridan. I think you can catch my drift here. Sheridan's defense fell apart at the end last season, but a lot of that had to do with a completely depleted secondary, including the loss of former "U" safety Kenny Phillips. The Giants did however finish with the 13th ranked defense in the NFL. That's a bit better than the Dolphins' 22nd ranked one.

So basically the guy ran a decent shop, just not what the Giants are used to. He is a brilliant linebackers coach and I believe should instantly improve existing personnel as well as coach up Micah Johnson when he slips to us all the way in the third round.

;)

Okay. That last part is just my announcing this year's Phinisher Draft Linebacker ManCrush. Or PDLMC.

Carry on. And those dreams of watching Wake sack the QB on second down and intercept him on third are maybe soon to be realities.

I am not sure where the rules fall on this one, but I think we ought to sign him.

Nice extension. Focuses on the ball (bat). Makes the catch. Takes the hit. Retains possession. Shows swagger by looking at the camera confidently.

Plus his small size should allow him to sneak in behind linebackers. Clearly he's not scared to cross the middle. A Yac Machine that is hard to locate to tackle. Apparently he's hard to jam at the line too.

Like I said, Sign Him.

In a light-hearted, non name calling sort of way.

But seriously. The Henne thing. Let's have it out here and now.

You write in the comments section of a post or so ago that only now do we have reason to believe that he could be the franchise QB of the future. This of course implies that those of us that have been pushing to get him involved are of course uninformed. That only now is there a reason to be excited about him. We were unfounded in our belief, etc.

You also cite that he was an underachiever at Michigan as a reason for our excitement to be unfounded. Not to mention that he was unexciting in the preseason.

Okay...

So let me list some reason's why this is both unfair and hypocritical.

1. Florida. Chad Henne, in a manner very similar to Monday nights performance, rallied his troops his senior year to defeat the mighty Gators and their great Captain Tim Tebow.

2. Chad Henne is 6'3" and 230 lbs with a powerful arm.

3. In every appearance on the field Chad has never looked flustered or out of place. He not once had the "deer in headlights look" that nearly every rookie QB has. He just didn't look like a rookie. Ever.

4. The first regular season series he was under center led to a touchdown. He generated 67 yards in the air that drive. In fact, he should have had a passing TD in that first series (against the Cardinals last year) except Ronnie Brown uncharacteristically dropped an easy pass in the endzone.

5. He has votes of confidence and the appellation of "QB of the Future" from not only Tony Sparano, but also Jeff Ireland and that other guy... What's his name? Oh. Bill Parcells. Yeah. Those voters.

6. He has a huge Spartacus-esque cleft in his chin.

7. He played his senior year hurt, which could explain some diminished stats. Like for instance, only being the second most prolific passer at Michigan. Ever.

8. John Beck.

Oh yes. What ever made you think he was the one? Don't worry. I'm not going to lie here. Beck had the measurable talent. He had a strong arm. He had the stats in college. I didn't like his age, but after he mentioned the "fiery eyes of Marino" in an interview with Joe Rose I was smitten too. I thought he could do it, you know, be the QB of the future.

But he didn't have it.

I look back on it now and think how freaking stupid it was to be excited about how far he could throw the ball (and touting a youtube clip where he hurls an incomplete pass some-odd-yards down the field).

So seriously dude. Some of us saw talent in Henne, tangible and intangible. I for one learned something watching John Beck in those early games. I learned what lack of confidence looks like.

Please don't imply we were somehow unfounded in our belief.

I mean, what made you predict that Teddy Ginn was going to finally have that breakout season?

Zing.

Just keeping you honest Matty. This has been the only thing I have disagreed with you about. Except the whole Beau Bell vs. Curtis Lofton man-crush thing. But hey, let bygones be bygones. Right?

The early word on the street is that Chad Pennington has a dislocated shoulder. Not a torn rotator cuff.

Why is this good news for him?

While a dislocated shoulder may also involve a torn cuff it does not necessarily have to. Both injuries would put Pennington out for several weeks but the dislocated shoulder, sans a cuff tear, will allow Pennington to make an eventual recovery. Probably full.

The rotator cuff is the thin muscle that lies underneath and between your deltoid muscles (shoulders). It is essentially assists in articulating the shoulder and when the arm's range enters certain extreme angles the cuff is more or less on its own, as the deltoids have no role in those positions.

In my opinion the rotator cuff is the biggest design flaw in the human anatomy. It is too small to be expected to suddenly handle what much larger muscles can. Then again, I don't believe that the human body was designed. But that's something else entirely. ;)

Think of doing a bench press. If you touch the bar to your lower pectoral muscle and then push the bar up and back towards your eyes you have done it perfectly. You have used your pectorals, triceps and deltoids and a host of other minor muscles, including the cuff. If the bar goes too far forward, say nearing your ribs, it involves more of the rotator cuffs and increasingly less of your chest, which is the biggest group you were relying on to perform the exercise. The rotator cuffs, as I said before, are very thin and tear easily when suddenly forced to maneuver weights that previously were being sustained by larger muscle groups.

So while this might be Pennington's last start as a Dolphin (and I hope he somehow stays involved with the team - even if Henne proves he's the man) we can all hope for his sake that the separated shoulder does not involve a cuff tear.

He might get back in the game faster with a cuff tear, but given it is his throwing arm the injury will be a nagging one and will forever diminish his arm strength. I've had a tear before. It took me three and a half years to get my shoulder strong enough to go heavy on bench again. I just got back to where I was (benching 350 these days) this month. It has not been an entirely pleasant experience.

Incidentally, I tore it playing football in the snow. My team won though, so it was easier to take. ;)

Go Phins!

Okay, seriously.

The hate has to stop. Chad Pennington whether injured or not, needs to be shelved. Not because his play is bad but because of his age. The Dolphins need to figure out what they have in their other two young QBs. Namely Chad Henne.

Why Chad Henne? Because Pat White is lost out there on the field. He might in time turn into something but it will not be this year. As to Henne... Get ready. Here comes an earful.

Chad Henne was inconsistent in college. When he was healthy (he struggled the later half of his college career with a shoulder injury) and surrounded by decent talent he produced at a very high level. When he out-played Tim Tebow (yes, knuckleheads, he out-played Time Rainbow as my true Cane loving self calls him) in the Capital One Bowl game he showed that he was a big game QB who could make all the NFL throws. That was his senior year. The Senior Bowl and the combine would demonstrate his native abilities as well.

After being drafted by the Dolphins last year he slowly emerged, as a rookie, as the best QB in the Phins stable before bringing in Chad Pennington. John Beck was/is a total bust. Josh McCown was/is a joke. Henne, until Pennington, was going to be the starter.

In a league nearly defined by the storyline(s) of rebuilding teams last year two rookie QBs emerged as top competitors. Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. Chad Pennington, not Chad Henne, emerged as the Miami Dolphins storyline last year. It was a story that revolved around the jets (not capitalised as is proper). Last season's number one narrative for the Phins was a subtext to the failure of the jets organization. It tasted sweet, but belied many issues.

We could not run up the middle from the pro set or other NFL base offenses. We had trouble defending the pass, though certainly not to the degree we have trouble today. We lacked big play potential (though I will concede that it was not as big a deal as it is right now). All things we have dealt with this season, with the exception of the line's run blocking, which is so far improved.

Chad Henne sat the bench all year, with the exception of one very good showing in mop-up work in a losing game against the Cardinals. Henne too was behind the eight ball, and I believe this, no matter what he did in the preseason. Chad Pennington was going to start this season. I believe this messed with Henne's confidence. Pay attention, because I'm going to say something hypocritical in a second.

So Pennington goes down today with what looked to me like a torn rotator cuff. I've suffered one of those in my life and you hold your arm low, around the wrist, because the pain shoots down from your shoulder into your whole arm. That aside, Henne came in and played sub-average. I won't say he played poorly. Here's why.

The hipocrasy. Though I believe Henne might have suffered some psychological blows by being so quickly sidelined this preseason, I also saw incredible mental toughness today. I also saw his big play potential.

The play where he crossed the line of scrimmage... I saw a bigger, stronger QB who dealt with poor line play with Ben Roethlisberger style toughness and broke two tackles to make a (albeit illegal) nice pass downfield. I saw a guy who made a couple of very fast passes (again because of CRAPPY line play at the end) were slightly off their mark, yet still were catchable passes. Ted Ginn, you apparently are not going to be that guy. Too bad.

I also saw a guy who shook off a terrible interception off a designed play (it was a designed play where he was to look off the coverage and make the quick throw in hopes to get Davone a big chunk of yards).

I also saw a offensive line that crumbled. Henne was getting rid of the ball without even having a chance to look second or third receivers down.

I also saw a guy who looked unpolished and who made some sloppy, innacurate passes. He also led the Phins on their only TD drive. He showed his live arm and his physicality in the pocket. Two things that Pennignton lacks. Now whether Henne will ever attain the level of cerebral play that CP was capable of, well, that is a different story.

One more thing to think about: These receivers are used to running timing routes to catch softball passes from Pennington. They will take time to adjust to catching balls thrown with the velocity that Henne has. That longish catch and run from Bess? Methinks it happened because the ball came in really fast. Ginn's drops? Ditto.

A week of practice and better communication with the line may work wonders. Before those of you who hate Henne and for some utterly insane reason still mention John "Bust" Beck, I say give him the next three games. I think he'll prove to be something legit. If I'm wrong about it I want to know by the end of the season. That way we can draft a QB.

I won't touch the Tebow stuff yet. If Henne fails, well, we'll have plenty of time from November through April to talk that talk.

This is probably a disastrous suggestion, but hey, how has it not already been disastrous?

But I say we should put Smith (or Davis) and Allen both on man coverage. Leave them unassisted with the free safety providing stop gap over top on the number 1 receiver side or man-up on the slot.

The SS and the Sam backer would then be put on the tight end every second and third down of 6 plus yards. The SS on every other down would key off the tight end solo.

Our front three plus the two OLBs and the Mike are enough to stop the run.

Basically I don't think the Phins can coddle the CBs any longer. Let them run and play. We have to adjust to stop the hot routes and tight end routes. Against the Colts we had a pass rush but the tight end was getting open too fast for the rush to develop. JT had a poor game, but in his defense he appeared within the picture as Manning threw the ball plent of times.

How can we sack the QB if the receivers/ backs are open in no time at all?

I've been thinking about this lately and what I've arrived at is the notion that the Dolphins are loaded with trade bait. I'm not personally saying they should do any of these trades (except the case of unloading one to two OLBs for high value because of the inflated market).

I think these are all possible. In fact... I daresay one will happen (other than the Samson rumors, which already exist).

Outside Linebacker

With all the new teams going to a 3-4 scheme there will be high demmand for guys that can play OLB in a 3-4. Preferrably guys that have experience.

The Phins are loaded with warm bodies (now with coaching) and even a couple of blue chip prospects.

Matt Roth, Charlie Anderson and Quentin Moses are all prime trade material. Roth in particular could bring a late first day or early second day pick from a team trying to convert.

Moses too, could fetch somethin in the 4th to 5th round level, as the kid seems to be perpetually on the upside collum and the current regime seems to at least see something (perhaps only a fith round pick!) in him, which will intrigue teams.

With Cameron Wake on board and the potential addition of someone in the draft the Phins have the room to trade one or two. IMO Roth would have the most return in a trade. Face it: They ain't resigning him.

Wide Receiver

This will be scandalous. But...

Trade Davone Bess or Greg Camarillo? They won't do it, but with a logjam at the speedy slot receiver position they have a lot of value stuck in one spot. With Camarillo coming back off an injury I don't think this will happen.

But maybe in a year. At some point one of them will be leaving the team either via FA or trade. I'm big fans of both so I can't say I want this.

Trade Ernest Wilford to the Raiders. If they're that dumb. Since they're that dumb.

Trade Ted Ginn? Before you throw something at me let it be said that I like Ginn. He's showing signs of having some (for lack of a bettter word) moxy. I liked the aggressiveness he showed later in the season, particularly agains the Jets. But, if the Phins are trageting a WR with the first two picks then unloading Ginn for a solid draft pick might not be crazy. Think Kenny Britt, Greg Camarillo, Davone Bess and Brandon London.

Face it. The Phins lack a no. 1 receiver. They have some of the best no. 2 and 3 guys around, but not a no. 1.

Center

I don't even need to explain this one.

Again... Just talking ideas here. Who would you trade and for what? If at all.

Been a long time since I've posted or commented here, but I have still been looking over this wonderful blog.

Matty I, you truly run a great shop here. How you deal with all these nuts is beyond me.

;-)

The one way the Dolphins are in the conversation with all those elite teams is turnovers.

We're tied for second in the league with a +10 turnover ratio. The top three are the Titans (+11) and then the Giants and the Dolphins.

I really think that is the number one reason this team has won so many games.

I mean, we're a team with a very weak offensive identity. We don't dominate in the running game and if anything, we're a scrappy (not powerful) passing team.

The offensive line has many questions along it. Samson Satele can't handle 3-4 nose tackles. Vernon Carey is underachieving. Ndukwe stinks. Smiley and Long have been the heart and soul of the line and now Smiley's gone (and some credit has to go to the improved blocking of David Martin and Anthony Fasano - those of you that have been around this site know how I feel about Martin - he nearly got John Beck killed last year).

The key is that our defense can play very stubbornly and we take the ball away at the right times. On the offensive side Chad Pennington is incredible at not turning the ball over. He also makes the plays when they're needed.

The 2008 Miami Dolphins are play makers, not powerhouses.

Just think, one pick thrown by CP on last Sunday against the Rams and the game could have ended completely differently.

My point is that I think that the Phins protecting the football and creating turnovers is as good as an extra 1,000 yards on offense.

That's the premise of David George's article in the Palm Beach Post.

Now, before I launch into some stats let me say that this is one of those arguments where the only way to be wrong is to insist that your right.

To write so casually about Seau's "career being so much better than Porter's shows a total lack of knowledge. I fully admit to being a fan of J-Peezy. I defended his down season last year.

My business partner is a Steeler's fan and I watched him plenty in the Black & Gold making plays. The has had a very good career. So has Seau. Neither are sure-fire HOF guys. That's just the stats talking.

Here's why it's ridiculous to think Seau is better than Joey Porter. Tackles are not accurate because the NFL apparently is not listing them prior to 2001 (I seem to remember there being tackle stats prior to 2000 before).

Junior Seau - 18 Seasons

509 Tackles (354 Solo)
56.5 Sacks
21 Passes defended
18 Interceptions

Joey Porter - 10th Season (being played now)

455 Tackles (334 Solo)
70.5 Sacks
36 Passes defended
12 Interceptions

Joey also has a Super Bowl ring.

I think there is a reason for this kind of article getting written. It's simple. People love to say Joey Porter is overrated (to the point where they underrate him) and at the same time they love to think of Junior Seau as one of the all-time greats (top ten - something I think he is not).

Joey brings it on himself. His barking makes moderate people dislike him. Meanwhile, I think the world is better with dogs in it.

Holla back, now ya hear?

This is selection from something I wrote elsewhere, but thought would add to the community here. If any of this refers to something previous it is because it belongs to a longer article.

After two games shaping up the way they did, I was pretty down on the line and the performance of the backs. Then I remembered something and decided to do a little research.

I wanted to shed light on some confusion over the Dolphins running game. So here it goes:

So far this season...

Ronnie Brown has carried the ball 17 times for 48 yards. Earning him a 2.8 yard average.

Ricky Williams has carried the ball 21 times for 52 yards. Earning him a 2.5 yard average.

Ronnie has carried the ball more times than Ricky in the 3rd and fourth quarters. Both of these guys are big backs that need to wear down defenses to start getting longer runs.

Ricky's numbers look bad right now. I couldn't possibly argue against that idea. The bottom line is that Ronnie isn't setting the world on fire either. So that leads me to the newspapermen and radio hosts (790 The Ticket's Sid Rosenberg, I am looking at you). These stalwarts of suspect statistical awareness have pronounced that the running game will be either completely lost this year or that switching the roles will solve the problem.

So, let's look at the Dolphins overall situation before we go off the deep end and join them.

Maurice Jones-Drew has carried the ball 12 times this year for 30 yards in his first two games. Good for a 2.5 yard average. That includes a 22 yard run.

Fred Taylor has carried the ball 23 times for 67 yards. That's a 2.9 yard average.

Larry Johnson has carried the ball 34 times for 96 yards. That's only a 2.8 yard average and he too has a 22 yard run in there.

All of them have logged two games. Their teams need a solid rushing attack to win and both teams have, like the Dolphins, lost their first two games.

None of them are impressing, but does anyone actually think that Maurice Jones-Drew will average 2.5 yards a carry this year? I hope not.

So the season has started slowly for some running backs. So why is it in the case of Ricky and Ronnie that it is less an issue of a slow start and more of a possible loss of ability. It's only natural, I guess. Ronnie Brown is coming off knee surgery and Ricky is not a spring chicken and, despite his physical gifts seeming undiminished, he may have lost a step.

There is also the chance that it is just a slow start. What if?

There is an aspect to this discourse that casts the fans and media's responses to early failure in a somewhat poor light.

The issue is looking at the ball carriers over their careers.

In 2005, when Ricky was reinstated he carried the ball 5 times for 8 yards in his first game. He followed up that break out day with a 6 carries/ -1 yard performance. Negative one yard. He finished the season with a 4.4 yard average, multiple hundred yard games and was a key component in that team's 6 game winning streak that closed out the season.

Ricky's prior stats from 2002 and 2003 are ridiculously impressive. In 2002 he was averaging over 5.5 yards per carry after two games and over 4 yards per carry in 2003. So he might not be fully explained here.

How about Ronnie Brown? If this guy is consistent at something it is certainly that he starts slow. Fantasy vultures ought to memorize these numbers.

Ronnie Brown in 2005: Carried the ball 22 times for 57 yards in the first game. That's a 2.6 yard average. He followed that up with a breakout 12 carry/35 yard masterpiece. Lifting his first two game average to 2.75 yards per carry.

Ronnie Brown in 2006: Carried the ball 15 times week one. He got 30 yards. I won't do the math for you on that one. The next weekend he had a respectable game. Carrying the ball 15 times for 70 yards. Good for a very healthy 4.7 yard average. Still, he averaged 3.33 yards per carry over the first two games.

Ronnie Brown in 2007: Game 1 against Washington Brown carried the ball 11 times for 32 yards. That's a 2.9 yards per carry average. The following game was a much improved 11 carries for 33 yards. Yes, 11 multiplied by 3 is 33.

My point here is that you can't write off players or a whole team (even a team with as many struggles as the Dolphins) by week 3. Yes, they're going north this week to face the New England Patriots. Yes they just got blown out by the Cardinals. No, Ronnie and Ricky won't continue to play poorly. No, I'm not crazy (hopefully) and yes, the numbers tend not to lie.

I wouldn't be surprised to see this as a breakout game for one of the two running backs. I also wouldn't be surprised to see the Dolphins lose anyway. They've been pretty good at finding ways to do that despite breakout performances at the running back position.

Ah, fellow Dolphins fans, I hope you're all ready. You especially Rzayo and Left Coast. The ultimate mind-bender of them all is about to descend on the noble Phinsider's website.

Are you ready?

Can you possibly fathom how difficult the answer is to obtain?

Do you believe there is even a proper method to determining the right answer?

Here you go:

Who would be a better running back?Ricky Brown or Ronnie Williams?

I am sure this is make-believe but nontheless I will place it as an official rumor.

Usain Bolt as a WR is not as crazy as making Christian Okoye a RB. Durability was the concern there as it would be for someone like Usain.

Still, I honestly would not put this kind of stunt beyond Bill Parcells. Parcells chief scouting technique is a player's measurables, followed by production and then finally experience.

Usain Bolt certainly fits into one of those categories.

Okay, a lot of the above was just BS to fill the word requirement. Enjoy the story.

Enjoy the Parcells & Usain Bolt nonsense.

Or is it?

I though I'd share this with ya'll. This is absolutely great.

Taken from the Jaguars official site's live blog. Read it and enjoy.

8/16/08 at 8:41 PM Henne to Ginn. What a throw by Henne. Now they're calling it incomplete. We might get a challenge on this one.


8/16/08 at 8:42 PM Tony Sparano is challenging. He got em both down. It would be out of bounds at the Jaguars 25. It's all a matter of establishing possession, I think.


8/16/08 at 8:43 PM The ruling stands. Ginn didn't establish possession. He beat Mathis.

8/16/08 at 8:14 PM Pennington looks pretty good. He still can't break a pane of glass but he can nibble a little and hit the slant.

8/16/08 at 8:14 PM Witherspoon does it again. He's out to the 43. He's the star of this game for the Jaguars so far.

8/16/08 at 8:18 PM The Jags are going for it on fourth and two at midfield.

8/16/08 at 8:19 PM Garrard had Walker wide open deep and overthrew him. Miami takes over at its 49.

8/16/08 at 8:19 PM It was a very aggressive play-call by offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and it should've been an easy touchdown throw. Hey, if you're gonna have a bad night, the preseason is the right time to have one.

8/16/08 at 8:20 PM Chad Henne has replaced Pennington, who was five of six for 55 yards.

8/16/08 at 8:22 PM Henne can break a pane of glass; a pane of plexiglass.

THEN LATER

8/16/08 at 8:41 PM Henne to Ginn. What a throw by Henne. Now they're calling it incomplete. We might get a challenge on this one.

8/16/08 at 8:42 PM Tony Sparano is challenging. He got em both down. It would be out of bounds at the Jaguars 25. It's all a matter of establishing possession, I think.

8/16/08 at 8:43 PM The ruling stands. Ginn didn't establish possession. He beat Mathis.


Great hearing it from the other guy for once (again - we did win once upon a time). Don't you think?

via www.chrisrue.com

Deep breath. 1,2, 3, 4...

This is ridiculous! Have any of you (who cry hypocrisy and point fingers at Parcells & Co for signing Pennington) paid attention to Parcells career? At all?

Vinny Testeverde, for crying-out-loud, went everywhere he did.

Drew Bledsoe, who was essentially a JUGS machine at the end of his career, was staving off Tony Romo for weeks before Parcells (probably Jerry Jones) put Romo in.

In fact, I'm not surprised Keyshawn Johnson and Drew Beldsoe weren't getting into fights in the Dolphins locker room on the first day of camp.

BILL PARCELLS DOES THIS. This is what we got when he signed on. A stubborn but hihgly effective personell manager.

The youth movement is intact. Signing Chad Pennington does nothing to hurt that movement. He is simply better than the current vet they have. It's a simple issue of upgrade.

Josh McCown was a waste of money, in my opinion. He would have started too, something I've maintained for a while. Those in the John Beck fan club had better wake up to the fact that he had an extremely unfair hill to climb. He had to be much better, not just somewhat better or equal, in order to start for this team.

With Henne pushing him already and Beck's inability to blast McCown out of the water has put his career as a Dolphin in jeopardy. 

That said, here's my top reasons why signing Pennington was a brilliant, not just good, decision.

1. Josh McCown and Chad Pennington are not in the same league. McCown is injury prone, albeit not like Pennington, and is a far inferior player. McCown's best season is like Pennington's worst. End of conversation.

2. Chad Pennington is a game manager. His historically best completion percentage and substatial intellect will make him a very good tutor to Chad Henne. Josh "too country" McCown was only informing Henne about the finer points of chain saws and collard greens (which I like).

The Dolphins will be a running team. Dan Henning's offense is an extremely conservative power offense. The QB is in charge of not losing the game. That is it. The league has moved away from this era, which was exempligfied by the Super Bowl teams of the early 2000's.

3. I didn't like Chad Pennington. He was 7-1 against the Phins and more than once made me look like an idiot. I'd be explaining to my friend about how Pennington had a noodle arm and then he'd light up the Dolphins with pass after well thrown pass. See December 2006.

4. Pennington will have a presence. Henne already seems to have that "it" that good leaders have. Players already respect him for what he's done as well as his presence on the field. McCown has never had this trait. John Beck is too shook from last year (and may not be a good leader in general) to have this quality.

Chad Pennington will be able to talk in the huddle like a guy who's had success before. Players will respect him. Did I mention he's 7-1 against the Dolphins?

5. The Vets like Joey Porter, Vonnie Holliday and Will Allen will appreciate the upgrade, even if the fans do not. They want to win soon. 

6. In the style of Little Nicky's Beck Facts, here is a misconception about Pennington that seems to floating around.

He will only stand in the way of the youth movement.

Reality: He was signed for a two-year contract. He is injury prone. Chad Henne will see the field sooner than later.

7. He is a competitive guy who has been mistreated by his old franchise. A franchise that he will get a chance to upstage on game one. Do any of you remember Joey Harrington's best game as a Dolphin? Or how about Daunte Culpepper's best game as a Raider?

Vengeance is sweeter than honey.

8. Another misconception: Chad Pennington showed last year that he can't play anymore. The Jets had a terrible line last year. Absolutely terrible. They had no running game last year either.

The Dolphins have a better offensive line and running game, by far, that the Jets. Pennington should have a good season if he can stay healthy. (This improved Dolphins line is completely contingent upon David Martin's never seeing a snap again).

Mangini is an idiot and wants to pretend that he is a part of the Parcells and Belichick genius. He is not and he has never liked Pennington.

9. This one is sad. The Dolphins wide receivers are not Duper and Clayton. They have trouble catching consistently and Chad Pennington's "touch" might be a good thing.

Okay, this last one was a stretch.

In the end I think this has more to do with the John Beck fanclub. Ernest Hemingway once said that the most important thing a writer needs is a built-in *#%@ detector.

Mine starting beeping last year during the Eagles game. The alarm sounded two weeks later against the Jets.

Give Pennington a chance.

www.thephinisher.com

Okay. Thought I'd lay it all out here.

First, there's the little fact that the Phins are the winningest team since the AFL/NFL merger, with the Steelers nipping at our heels.

That aside. Let's talk success.

The Miami Dolphins

League Championships: 2
Super Bowl Championships: 2
Conference Championships: 5
Division Championships: 12

The Toronto Bills (and their historical Buffalo franchise)

League Championships: 2
AFL Championships: 2
Conference Championships: 4
Division Championships: 10

The AFL thing is so cute and old timey. Super Bowls? Only one team has not won a Super Bowl in the AFC East.

Any takers on who that team is?

I think if they don’t win a Super Bowl in the next eight years they should be demoted to the CFL. I mean, seriously, they are really dragging down the AFC East.

www.thephinisher.com

Cam Cameron is a name that inspires paper bags to become wet.

It also is a name that vaguely reminds us of 1950's doo wop and evangelical tv hosts.

But I ask you, can you remember when Cam Cameron roamed the sideline? Were you there when Samkon Gado carried the rock home? Did you witness with your own eyes the time when Cleo Lemon perfectly executed a play-action fake from a formation with an open backfield?

If you somehow can't remember and need something to recall the tender memories of 2007, well  then the NFL has just that.

Honestly. This has to be the worst depth chart in Miami Dolphins history. I can't wait until they take it down.

http://www.nfl.com/teams/depthchart?team=MIA

Enjoy everyone. Things simply must be better.

www.thephinisher.com

I know Anderson is working out there now, but something tells me that if JT is truly done with the Dolphins and no new players arrive then Quentin Moses should have the inside track.

Moses was a guy who was considered to be a steal (he slipped very far) for the Raiders in the 2007 draft.

The Raiders, ever insane, cut the third round pick and he was picked up by the Cardinals. There too he was cut and midway through the season the Dolphins picked him up.

Moses was heralded as a prototypical pass rushing linebacker in a 3-4 and the only knock on him was that he'd have to work harder from a training standpoint. Particularly concerning his overall strength.

Work ethic has been a knock on him, which could be undeserved, and that could also get him cut from Sparano's hard-work Dolphins.

Still, he showed a lot of potential in very limited action last year. Evening racking up 1.5 sacks.

Here's SI's video from his draft profile. He looks great. You all may have seen this from last year.

Just thought you-all might like a refresher.

www.thephinisher.com

NFL analyst Pat Kirwan has a really nice article about how some teams, particularly the Dolphins, will move away from a spread offense and bring back the meat and potatoes.

The power rushing game has been absent from the league for some time and because of the spread offense teams are fielding smaller, quicker defenders.

Kirwan thinks that Parcells is going to remind the NFL of its roots.

Anyone know if Larry Csonka has any gas left in the tank?

Kirwan Article

www.thephinisher.com

Here's what I think is going on in the Jason Taylor saga.

Bill Parcells wants Taylor on the team.

Taylor wants to play for a contender.

Parcells & co. made a halfhearted attempt at trading JT before the draft but asked for too much because they...want...him...back.

Taylor can't come out and say he doesn't want to play for the Dolphins because he doesn't want to hurt the fans (or his legacy).

So instead of being a squeaky wheel like Chad Johnson, Taylor has continuously stirred the pot through passive measures like letting Jason Cole know about his displeasure and writing things like he did on ESPN this week.

Taylor is trying to be as much of a thorn in Parcells side that The Tuna will trade him.

The Tuna is ignoring the thorn as best he can because he doesn't want to trade him.

Essentially they're playing chicken.

What we do know is that Tony Sparano (you know, the Dolphins Head Coach) has talked about how Taylor is going to be an important part in developing Jake Long. He as also said that he is comfortable with and understands what Taylor is doing. No bones about it (how awesome is it when Tony says that?)

Bill Parcells has said that Taylor will be a Dolphin unless he retires.

The outcome?

Well, let's leave it up to a poll.

Well, sort of sited.

Sparano, when talking about advantages Jake Long might have, mentioned that Jason Taylor and Vonnie Holliday might be Long’s best assets. He said that he told Jake that even before the contract was finalized. Jake, apparently was taken aback.

The bottom line: Sparano believes both of the Phins star pass rushers are good teachers and will be able to teach and assist Long in developing and matching the speed of the pro game.

So for now… It seems… Tentatively that… Taylor is in the plans. Halleluiah (said quietly and fearfully).  We may yet have a  pass rush.

Holliday too, who had a year diminished by injuries and a thin supporting cast, is also garnering the respect he deserves. Sparano, when interviewed at the owner’s meetings, almost forgot to mention Vonnie’s name as a member of the current starting line.

Those folks who worry too much about JT and BP would do well to remember that potentially the most important rookie this year is Tony S.

"No bones about it."

www.thephinisher.com

The first mini camp is upon us (note: this bonehead thought it was a full mini-camp) so I changed the post.

In any case, football season is not that far away.

As the various camps come and go there are several aspects of the Dolphins that garner more curiosity than others.

The key things that we Dolphins fans should want to hear are the following (in their proper order):

1. Ronnie Brown is running and showing signs of nearing a full recovery.
2. Jake Long is as advertised.
   
3. Ricky Williams shows up in unbelievable shape and has his mind squarely on football. Williams has spoken about a desire to return to elite status. Let’s hope he already has. Williams is the guy I’m pulling for most of all, as is documented .
   
4. Shawn Murphy is going to be the starting right guard and impresses in his first few days.
   
5. Ted Ginn is running better routs and looks like he has developed more as a receiver this off-season.
   
6. John Beck, Josh McCown and Chad Henne… Let’s hope they all show something in the beginning. We particularly want to hear that one of them is showing the most, as this means one may be clearly the best.
   
7. The new defensive lineman are imposing and stealing the show. I want to hear about how Ferguson, Starks, Merling, Langford & Company exemplify the new attitude.
   
8. Jason Allen is developing nicely and should start in the fall.
   
9. Yeremiah Bell is fully recovered from his ruptured Achilles. Let’s hope some of the corners are showing signs of recovery as well.
   
10. The number ten thing we want to hear. Sparano addresses the Taylor-Parcells scandal by restating what he has always said. Mainly that he thinks Jason is doing something positive for the team and that he is  confident that JT is preparing for the season. We want to hear that Taylor figures in Sparano's plans.

I’d also add that I’d like for an unknown to emerge. Jayson Foster and his 4.34 – 4.28 speed is the one I’d most like to see surprise the other 31 teams that passed on him.

Not all of these questions will be apparent to the media allowed in. My guess is that they’ll watch the quarterbacks closely (give their typical over or under throwing and chemistry showing between x and y comments they always give). Oh, and they will ask questions about JT. They should have the vision to fit in a couple of questions about Ricky and Ronnie too.

Basically, we may not hear about some of these issues. There may be more concerns that I’ve overlooked.

Any ideas?

www.thephinisher.com

This should be a nice neutral piece of news to cool the heated quarterback discussions.

Well, John Beck may have to prove himself yet as an NFL quarterback but he has already won something this off season. Beck caught five tarpons at a celebrity tournament, winning it and the adulation of anglers everywhere.

Including this one. Pennsylvanian trout just don't compare to tarpon. Some days I miss Florida more than others.

I wonder if he was trying to catch tuna instead. Mayhaps a "Big" one?

Beck wins celebrity tournament.

The draft has come and gone. The most anticipated part of the Miami Dolphins draft, a trade of Jason Taylor and what they would get for him, never happened. Now what?

Let’s start and end with this: The essential part of a 3-4 defense is the pressure one, or sometimes both of the OLBs get off the ends.

If the 3-4 scheme doesn’t get a successful pass rush it is done for. It is that simple. A lot of Dolphins fans were very excited about the signing of Joey Porter last year because they envisioned him rushing off the end opposite of JT. The saw a nightmarish pass rush falling down on opponents quarterbacks. They also didn’t understand the Dolphins scheme or the 3-4.

The Dolphins were incredibly thin at the linebacker position last year, particularly the outside. That’s why they ran a hybrid defense and used Joey Porter for much of the year as a down lineman, which is completely idiotic. Porter is a fast, high octane outside linebacker who can run with tight ends and provide solid run support while also being able to rush the passer. He is too small to play in the down position and loses his greatest asset: his speed.

JT, who is a freakish talent, can play at either position. His incredible first step and snap anticipation allow him to consistently beat larger left tackles and get to the quarterback. Taylor is also deceptively strong and can use his speed first and fall back on a bull rush if need be.

Praise aside, every Dolphin fan knows that over the years JT has sometimes been engulfed by elite left tackles. Think back to those days when Tony Boselli would play fast enough to keep pace and well, we know how ridiculously strong he was. Taylor was a non-factor in those games against Jacksonville.

Had he been standing up, though, he might have faired better. The power of the 3-4 defense is the power to confuse and obscure the blitz itself. One play it would be Taylor, stunting across the middle and getting away from Boselli while the strong safety comes up to support the vacant outside spot and stop the run.

The next play it would be a double blitz, with the “Will” linebacker (Crowder in the Thomas days) coming up the middle and Joey Porter off the edge. Meanwhile Taylor would play contain and drop back and play the flat. Boselli never would have had the luxury of knowing that every play his job was to eliminate Jason Taylor.

Without the pass rush, the 3-4 is very thin against the pass. Corners have to be able to cover in man with only the free safety’s assistance, because the strong safety would have to help support the flat or stop the run. It is a nightmare.

A team like Pittsburgh last year floundered at the end because of weak blitzing. When Polamalu went out they were extremely vulnerable because his incredible ability to be everywhere at once was lost. Polamalu to them was a player who could watch the rush and still run downfield after a receiver.

I don’t think the Dolphins have anything even reminiscent of Troy P.

Miami though, now has depth at the linebacker position. Ayodele, Torbor, Crowder all can play the two inside spots, though Crowder has the best speed for the free backer and can run sideline to sideline better thant he other two.

Last year a single injury threw the 3-4 alignment out the window and forced them to run a 4-3 all the time, but with awkward personnel. Their defensive line was terribly thin and average even when it was fresh.

Additionally, Taylor and Porter have more tread on their tires than given credit for. Together, in a true 3-4 they should be able to keep teams off balance and wondering which direction death is coming from.

Plus Taylor is even better now at moving around on his feet. Did you see that dance last night? Wow.

Personally, I see a lot of potential in Quentin Moses as a 3-4 OLB. Abraham Wright is intriguing but very raw. Plus he apparently doesn’t like to hit people, which is really lame.

Torbor too, could slide to play a conservative OLB if need be. Additionally, there is the new arrival Merling, who could potentially develop into a massive, very intimidating OLB. Imagine him coming in unblocked on the blindside. Ouch.

Basically, with very little available out there to play an outside linebacker in the 3-4, Jason Taylor is essential. They have depth enough to compensate for the unforeseen and not have to sacrifice the 3-4 alignment. Without JT we only have a older Joey Porter to rush the passer, more tread or not. Porter, as I said, is best when he’s allowed to do it all and make plays.

Without #99 the Dolphins will have little to no pass rush. That means another very bad season. 

So again, we should be perfectly happy with a hall of famer spending his last year(s) in Miami. Even if he isn't.

www.thephinisher.com

Okay, if the welcome isn't worn out yet I'll share my draft. This isn't a mock, because I don't think they'll do it this way, but instead it is the way I'd run the draft.

Will such audacity every cease?

Round 1

1st Overall - Jake Long, OT Michigan

Honestly and sincerely, I love this pick. Ronnie and Ricky have a shot at a big year. John Beck will have a chance to breath a little before every snap and we should be able to score some points.

Additional First Rounder?

I wouldn’t trade JT. I would keep him and let him finish his career with class. A trade to another team and still no Super Bowl will hurt his Hall Of Fame potential.

If it did happen though, say because JT wants out badly, and the first rounder was offered up, then I’d select…

One of these three players, in this order of availability: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB Tennessee St.; Quentin Groves, OLB Auburn; Kenny Phillips, S Miami.

Rodgers-Cromartie will probably be gone too early for any pick we’d get for Taylor so Groves would be the guy. If Groves was gone then I’d upgrade the safety position with the local guy. I’m not sold with how that position will go this year.

Round 2

Pick 32 – Curtis Lofton, ILB Oklahoma

This is my mark it down player. I truly believe Lofton has a Zach Thomas-like career ahead of him. He makes plays and tackles better than anyone in the draft. And he tackles hard too. Torbor is just a stopgap and Crowder is a better “Sam” backer than he is “Mike.”

I do appreciate Little Nicky's belief in drafting Travares Gooden later on. After all he has the best line out of anyone in the 7th Floor Crew.

Pick 57 – Chilo Rachal, OG USC

Like I pointed out yesterday, this character is big, quick and real nasty. The Dolphins offensive line would be embarrassingly good with the additions of Long and Rachal.

Ricky and Ronnie would both love thousand yard seasons.

I think that’d be just fine too.

Round 3

Pick 64 – Tracy Porter, CB Indiana

Or the best available CB. If Rodgers-Cromartie is on board because of a trade involving Taylor, then I’d take either Cliff Avril, DE Purdue or John Carlson, TE Notre Dame. In that order.

Plain and simple: We need a tight end of quality. Not necessarily a pro bowler, but one of quality.

Round 4

Pick 100 – One Of These Three: Frank Okam, DT/NT Texas; Craig Steltz, S LSU; Brad Cottam, TE Tennessee.

In that order.

Okam has a lazy reputation but the Tuna and Company can fire him up. He has more upside than anyone in the draft at this point and can be a true force for years to come. He also could be a complete bust. With Jason Ferguson coming off an injury and Paul Soliai still a raw talent, Okam may be able to plug in and play right away. He has Pro Bowl potential.

I like safeties. Good make for an enjoyable viewing experience. Steltz can run and hit and I personally believe is one of the most underrated players in the draft. Steltz could surprise a lot of scouts.

Fifth Round

I’d draft Cam Cameron here. See if the guy has any juice left in the old slinger.

Can't you hear the cheerleaders yelling, "Cammy! Cammy!"

Sixth Round, etc.

Best Available In This Order: OT, QB, RB, TE, S, DT

What you guys think. Go easy on the Curtis Lofton pick. I’m sensitive about it.

www.thephinisher.com

Okay, here's my best Nostradamus impersonation. It's not a very good impersonation because I do not use strange meaningless metaphors. Love the new format.

Round 1

1st Overall - Jake Long, OT Michigan

Hey, I called it (like everyone else in the world) and so still get to keep the prediction.

Additional First Rounder?

If the Dolphins do indeed get a first round selection for Jason Taylor, I think they have a couple of paths to take.

One would be QBs Joe Flacco or Chad Henne, which would be a stretch but would get them a true competitor for the QB position. This would be the case if they get a late first round selection. They may grab Quentin Groves here and see which of the two QBs slips to #32.

If somehow they get in the top fifteen, then guard Brandon Albert may be a target if he's around. Otherwise I think they'll go with the best available cornerback.

Round 2

Pick 32 – Quentin Groves, DE/OLB Auburn

This guy is a sack maestro who will be able to learn on the job from Joey Porter and Jason Taylor. He becomes a must pick if Taylor is traded. Has enough talent to be graded and taken in the first round but most likely will slip.

Pick 57 – Tracy Porter, CB Indiana

Many see a love affair with Chad Henne existing. Henne could be the pick, because the Dolphins will have to take a quarterback at some point in the draft. I just don’t think they’ll do so this early. Cornerback is one position that they need a true playmaker at. Porter lacks size and will need some coaching from a technique standpoint. He makes up for it with a knack for the big play and superior control of his body and position. He could be a “shut down, big play” corner. The Phins already have a corner who can blitz and support the run in Will Allen. It’s time to get a guy who can run with elite receivers.

Round 3

Pick 64 – Chilo Rachal, OG USC

This one is easy. They need a guard because Mormino isn’t it. Rachal is big, standing 6’5” and weighing in at 315 lbs. He also has a nasty reputation and plays to the whistle. This guy has Parcells written all over him. The new line, from left to right reads: Jake Long (LT), Justin Smiley (LG – they’ll move him to split the rookies), Samson Satele (C), Chilo Rachal (RG), and Vernon Carey (RT). Two words: Holy Shit.

Round 4

Pick 100 – One Of These Three: Brad Cottam, TE Tennessee; Frank Okam, DT/NT Texas; Craig Steltz, S LSU

Cottam is a big guy, weighing in at 270 lbs and has superior speed and runs a good route. So why is he still here in the fourth round? I think he’ll still be there because of a combination of his lack of experience. The other options I see here are Craig Steltz, the safety out of LSU or Frank Okam, a bruiser of a DT from Texas.

Okam has prototypical mass to play nose tackle in a 3-4 and also has show the quickness and moves to occupy multiple blockers. He has a lazy reputation and had a bad senior year. So did Texas though too.

Steltz quietly had a brilliant Pro Day and if you saw any LSU games last then you know he is a true playmaker back there. The Dolphins could use some insurance at the position, especially with question marks hanging over Jason Allen’s development and Yeremiah Bell’s return from a ruptured Achilles. They brought in Keith Davis from Dallas, and he seems to be ready to play too. So, I think the Phins may nab Okam if he’s here and get a potential starter.

Hidden Pick? If ILB Beau Bell slips here, which he probably won’t, then the Dolphins will take him in a flash.

Fifth Round

There is nothing here because the Dolphins traded it away for Trent Greene. Great.

Sixth Round, etc.

I won’t deign to actually name names here. They will probably spend the rest of the draft on the offensive line, linebackers, TE, S and other positions lacking depth. Somewhere in there they will take a developmental quarterback. 

This would be a solid draft for the Dolphins. I’ll offer up my personal Dolphins draft on Friday. My draft is flawless and gleaming with genius.

Ahem...

www.thephinisher.com

"Ireland was asked what positions other than quarterback he thinks are important to a team. He said the core positions, in his opinion, are cornerback, quarterback, left tackle, nose tackle, and a #1 receiver."

Jeff Ireland's list of core positions seems to echo more of Jerry Jones than Bill Parcells.

This makes sense, being that Jones was Ireland's boss longer than Parcells.

Jerry Jones has always put emphasis on flashy players on the outside. Think Deon and Michael Irving.

Look at their current interest in Pacman Jones for an example.

Or the way they sprinted to sign Terrel Owens.

I wonder what kind of tension and or impact this could have. Parcells certainly likes those positions, but prefers to draft other positions higher (defensive players other than corner). Rarely does he go for a no. 1 receiver in the draft.

Just look to the Terry Glenn meltdown in New England.

I don't necessarily have a hard opinion on this; I just thought it was kind of interesting.

What do you guys think?

www.thephinisher.com

I'll start by ignoring the rumors of disdain on Long's part. I believe we all agree that those are rubbish.

Instead I'll share some things I've been thinking about, as far as the discussion of why the Dolphins would take an O-Lineman so early when the draft is so deep.

Here it goes.

Simply: The Dolphins need to address multiple skilled positions on defense.

There is a need for depth/ a starter at middle linebacker. I'm not sold on either Channing Crowder or Reggie Torbor as "Mike" linebackers. Both make very good "Sam" backers but have yet to complete a season in the middle.

There is also the cornerback and safety position(s). The Dolphins have too many guys coming off of injuries and a serious lack of top-end talent.

On top of all that there is the possibility of a Jason Taylor trade and that would create a hole at the strong side OLB position (more on this in a second).

So how does this pertain to the also dire needs on the offensive line? It's simple.

The Dolphins are going to have to spend at least two picks in the first four rounds to take advantage of this year's very deep pool of offensive linemen. There will be good caliber O-linemen all the way to the fourth round but after that there is somewhat of a drop off. Albeit less than a typical year.

If they take Gholston or Chris Long at #1 overall they will need to spend the 32nd overall pick on an offensive tackle. That means that they'll have to draft a cornerback, safety or middle linebacker (not necessarily all of them) somewhere in those remaining picks. Don't forget the other lineman they still need.

The drop off at those positions is much quicker this year, especially at corner.

These musings also lead me to believe the powers-that-be when they say that Taylor is staying. They can get oodles of other talent they need this year and worry about finding a "tweener" to replace Taylor in years to come. There are always Quentin Groves types available later in the first round and even into the second.

Plus they have some depth at the position now, and can add some more later in the draft.

I just think that there simply is no need to draft an OLB that early in the draft. Especially when you have a guy named Jason Taylor on your team.

Worry about that position later.

By taking Jake Long 1st overall, barring a trade or some other move, the Dolphins are free to spend both second round picks on defense. They could take say, my personal man-crush pick of middle linebacker Curtis Lofton at number 32.

Seriously, Zach Thomas deserves a guy like Lofton to take the mantle.

After Lofton (I'm not stubborn, really) they should take the best possible corner at 57. Open the third round with an o-lineman or tight end and then focus on finding depth at both defensive and offensive tackle. Take a developmental quarterback late in the draft.

So basically, I think they're drafting Jake Long (in order to draft Curtis Lofton). Okay, I'll lay off the Lofton talk now.

But first go to you tube and watch his highlights. They really remind me of Zach.

I'm sharing this post from my blog. It's my theory of how the negotiations will play out.

The news for the week is that the Dolphins have begun negotiating with Jake Long and Vernon Gholston prior to the draft. ESPN today reported that they were probably going to also negotiate with Chris Long and Derrick Harvey as well.

Harvey of course, will lead many to ask questions. The reality though, is that a reasonable contract might be worth more than the bluest of the blue chip talent. Harvey may take a contract much smaller than what Long (s), Gholston et al will be willing to take because he was going to be drafted several selections later than them.

This is ingenious and good for the NFL.

By getting a guy like Harvey in the mix, and involving everyone else, the Dolphins have essentially opened a dialogue about the amount of money being spent in the draft. If Harvey says he'd play for an amount less than what some of the other "frontrunners" would play for but still more than he would have got at the 8th or later selection then the Dolphins have successfully leveraged the other candidates. The first selection will set the precedence for those that follow.

Those previously 1st overall candidates will be selected after someone like Harvey and they will probably be paid less.

This may lead the previously believed 1st overalls like Long(s) and Gholston et al to sign for less.

Example:

Dolphins contact Jake Long and negotiate a contract for 36 million guaranteed.

They then contact Chris Long and Chris agrees to 35 million guaranteed.

Gholson says he'll play for 34 million

Harvey says he'll take 30 million (less than last year's fiasco with Jamarcus Russell).

Jake Long negotiates again and says he'll play for 34 million.

Dolphins draft the man they want, Jake Long, and get him for less than they would have if they just drafted him without playing any games.

Parcells is awesome.

www.thephinisher.com

Hello,

First an introduction. I'm a native Floridian (born in West Palm) and now live in Philadelphia. This of course makes me a genetic Dolphins fan.

I love this site. Matty does a great job cataloguing  the Dolphins and all the users have insightful commentary. It's a great way to ease the long winters (or work days).

I've been reading the site for a while and just recently joined up. I also just recently began my own Dolphins blog, which is the same name as my user id here.

Anyway, here's an observation that I'd like to share.

Glenn Dorsey has consistently been described as a poor fit for the Dolphins and any team running a 3-4 scheme. The fundamental knock is that he does not have the mass to play NT, which is the most important spot on the front three.

It's not the only spot though, and the play at the DE position in a 3-4 can greatly increase the overall performance of a team.

I have two very simple arguments.

Vonnie Holliday. 6'5" 288 lbs.

Kevin Carter. 6'6" 305 lbs.

Those two guys are the best DTs (DEs in the 3-4) that the Dolphins have had in a while. Carter in particular could hold his ground and plug holes while possessing speed enough to play contain and get after the quarterback. Holliday is the same, though a hair less as adept at plugging holes, as we saw last year.

Okay, here's the point.

Glenn Dorsey. 6'2" and 298 lbs.

So, he's not a great fit at the DE spot? Everyone gets held up on the NT spot and it doesn't make any sense. He's not a NT. He's a 4-3 tackle or a 3-4 end. The Dolphins could and may very well draft him. Matter of fact, it'd be damn clever of them to trade with Atlanta (so the Falcons can get Matt Ryan) for their 1st and 2nd picks and move back two slots and draft either Dorsey or J. Long.

Dorsey would be a huge addition to the team and a upgrade at the position.

Reggie White, by the way, was 6'5" and 300 lbs. Go figure.