Dolphins defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday, a friend and teammate of Jason Taylor’s since 2005, doesn’t know how the team will replace the six-time Pro Bowl stalwart.
“It’s definitely going to be weird not having 99 out there,” Holliday said. “He’s a great player, a great friend. I’m certainly sad to see him go and I don’t quite understand the move.
“I don’t see how it helps us in the immediate future. If we were getting something today that’d be different.
“It kind of puts a little bit of taste in your mouth like the Chris Chambers deal four games into last year. What exactly are we doing? I can’t wait to get back to find out, and hopefully they’ve got a plan to pull some rabbit out of a hat or have something up their sleeve to prove otherwise.”
Not sure what there is to be confused about clearly the Dolphins are a team in a rebuilding phase. He couldn’t tell by cutting Green, Booker or Thomas? Vonnie more than likely the starting LE is going to make the team, but him not knowing his place is not good. This team was 1-15 last season and an improvement of 6 to 7 games to compete for the wild card is somewhat out of the question.
This process, will take more than 2 years, maybe one if next off-season the Dolphins get a high pick and hit Free Agency well. This year is a prove it or get cut year for the veterans because Sparano, Ireland and Parcells will all be here next year. And to make this team better they will have to keep the good veterans and get rid of the waste of space ones. Vonnie has 3 more years left on his contract and his pay goes up $1.15 million next year so this could be a make or break year for him, with Merling, Langford and possibly Dotson coming along to take over his spot.
Thank the dear baby lord Jesus the drama between the Dolphins and Jason Taylor has ended and all of the players from the Jimmy Johnson era are gone. It was surprisingly good value for a player who has said he will only play one more year in the league, a 2009 Second Round Pick and a 2010 6th Round pick. This paves the way for either Charlie Anderson or Quentin Moses to start in JT’s place. This also means that somebody will have to step up in the leadership spot. Will it be Channing Crowder, Will Joey Porter regain his old self, Will another player come out of nowhere? It’ll be an interesting training camp to see what goes on with the young talent and we will keep you updated.
The Redskins acquired Jason Taylor from the Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins will receive a second-round pick in 2009 and a sixth-rounder in 2010.
According to ESPN.com’s John Clayton, Taylor told the Redskins he did not need to renegotiate and was willing to play for the final two years of his contract. He is scheduled to make $8.1 million this season. With around $9 million of cap room, the Redskins were able to work the trade quickly.
The Dolphins had been waiting for an opportunity to trade Taylor, who asked to be moved to a playoff contender at the beginning of the offseason. Before the draft, the Dolphins were asking for a first-round draft choice. They lowered the demand later to a second-rounder.
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Its a little bit old but here it is the NFL Networks lookout on the Dolphins
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ynhoMyO9Q8&hl=en]
Seems little Luke and Big Josh were out in the wild 2 weeks ago and well Luke had very bad aim (nothing new). Seems Luke missed the piece of wood with a Chainsaw and cut Josh’s hand open and Josh had to get stitches. Josh said nothing is wrong but it still brings up doubts about how he will perform. This does make Becks chances better for the starting job but the Dolphins feel it won’t make much of a difference.
I am told it is not a recent injury, it happened almost two weeks ago. I am told the wound is healing nicely. I am told Josh McCown should be ready for the start of training camp practices July 26th.
But it is true. The guy almost got the index finger of his right (throwing) hand hacked off in a fire wood chopping accident in Texas.
McCown needed six stitches to the index finger on his right hand a couple of weeks ago when he was injured while chopping wood with his brother Luke.
According to an Associated Press report McCown told Tyler, Tex. television station KETK that he was holding the firewood and his brother, a backup quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, made the mistake of cutting his finger instead of the firewood.
McCown told the station of the incident/accident during a recent interview. Again: He is fine. He shouldn’t miss any training time. But that speaks only about his hand.
My greatest concern now is how is McCown’s head because it cannot possibly be working very well when it allows him to put his hand in the path of a chainsaw knowing that the only way he makes a living is using that hand to throw a football.
Update: The Dolphins are aware of the accident and are not worried about it because they believe it is not serious.
Like Armando Said, although I’m not his biggest fan. Who knows what this hand injury will do to his mentality. Will it change his throw? Will it do anything? But heres what McCown had to say.
Quarterback Josh McCown said he’s ready to compete for the starting quarterback job, despite suffering a cut on the index finger of his throwing hand two weeks ago that required six stitches.
“Everything’s fine. It’s a non-issue,” McCown said today. “I could have played the day it happened. Now, it’s like it never happened.”
McCown admitted he “was a little concerned” about his right index finger at the time of the injury.
But to make sure he was OK, McCown said he grabbed a football moments after leaving the hospital and played catch with his brother Luke in the parking lot.
McCown said the finger was sore for five or six days. “But now it’s back to normal,” he said.
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The Miami Dolphins on Friday signed defensive end Kendall Langford to a multi-year contract.
Terms were not disclosed.
A third-round selection – 66th overall – in the 2008 draft, Langford recorded 236 tackles – 110 solo – with 23 1/2 sacks during his collegiate career at Hampton.
The 6-6, 287-pound Langford became the first defensive lineman to earn three consecutive All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selections since former Dolphins defensive tackle Ike Readon (1987) was named All-CIAA from 1983-1985.
It wasn’t by the July 1st deadline but the Dolphins got him in before the deadline, So 2 more to go in Merling and Henne. Henne more than likely will get done by training camp, Merling will probably be a problem with him wanting 1st round money.
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There was a good post by Omar Kelly over at the Sun-Sentinel. And He broke down the whole offense. Its a pretty good idea and wish I jumped on it during my mini vacation this weekend.
It’s never too early, or too often to take a look at a breakdown of the Dolphins roster.
Breaking down the roster allows me and you to continuously get a glimpse of how many players – at what position – make the 53-man roster in an ideal world (which means everyone stays healthy, which is a dream scenario). And it also allows you an opportunity to identify holes on the roster, and separate the sure shots (draft investments, possible starters, special teams demons) from long-shots (mostly the leftovers).
Here is my latest depth chart, which includes a breakdown at each position heading into the start of training camp later this month.
QUARTERBACKS – Proposed spots on the 53-man roster: 3
Sure shots: Josh McCown, John Beck, Chad Henne
Breakdown: According to the Dolphins coaches, all three quarterbacks will have a fair shot at winning the starting job during training camp, and the exhibition season. More than likely, unless the initial winner of this QB battle is winning games (another dream scenario), each quarterback will likely get a shot to unseat the starter. One of these three will have to run the scout team unless a practice squad spot is used on another quarterback.
RUNNING BACKS – Spots: 4
Sure shots: Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams
Even money: Lex Hilliard, Jalen Parmele
Uphill battle: Patrick Cobbs
Breakdown: Brown and Williams will likely share the workload early, and they both are perfect fits for the power running game the Dolphins will likely feature. Cobbs is considered a small back by Trifecta standards, but if he’s productive as a change of pace back, and special teams contributor, Cobbs could earn one of the two vacant roster spots. Both Hilliard and Parmele can be stashed on the practice squad if they don’t churn out yards in the exhibition season because it’s unlikely that another team will snatch up either player. Both must become head knockers on special teams to earn a 53-man roster spot. If a quality back becomes available after the first and second round of roster cuts don’t be surprised if the Dolphins front office pounce.
FULLBACK – Spots: 1
Even money: Boomer Grigsby, Reagan Mauia
Breakdown: There likely won’t be much use for a fullback in this offense because it’ll likely feature a lot of two tight ends, and three receiver sets. The fullback will primarily be used for short yardage situations. That means whoever finds a home on the 53-man roster needs to be a special teams demon, which makes Grigsby the front-runner unless Mauia turns into a bulldozer during the exhibition season. Both tight ends are very one dimensional.
TIGHT END – Spots: 3
Sure shots: Anthony Fasano
Even money: David Martin, Justin Peelle, Sean Ryan
Uphill battle: Aaron Halterman, Matthew Mulligan
Breakdown: Fasano likely makes the 53-man roster because the Trifecta has a high opinion of him based on the second-round pick they used to take him back in their Dallas days, and the fourth rounder they used to acquire him and linebacker Akin Ayodele the night before the 2008 draft. It’s anyone’s guess which other two tight ends survive the cut downs. Each has strengths and weaknesses, but all will need to produce, and provide efficient contributions in the running game, passing game, and on special teams to stick around. Peelle’s salary, the highest of all the tight ends, is a bit bloated, which likely puts him at a slight disadvantage. This position can handle a cut back to make space for the three unsigned rookies.
RECEIVER - Spots: 5
Sure shots: Ernest Wilford, Ted Ginn Jr.
Even money: Derek Hagan, David Kircus
Uphill battle: Greg Camarillo, Davone Bess, Selwyn Lymon, Justin Wynn, Jayson Foster, John Dunlap
Breakdown: Wilford is the only Dolphins receiver who can’t have the YOUNG and UNPROVEN label stamped on him. And Wilford just barely graduated out of that label. Ginn will likely serve as a stretch the field receiver, but the Dolphins need to identify another deep threat. They also must find a slot receiver. Hagan seems to be the front runner, but he must become more consistent to maintain trust from the coaching staff and quarterbacks. This position will also likely receive an injection of talent once the first round of cuts arrives. It’s likely that two unproven receivers will have a spot reserved for them on the practice squad. That’s what Bess, Lymon, Wynn, Foster and Dunlap are likely battling for unless someone starts tearing it up in the exhibition season. One (Bess or Foster) could earn a spot on the 53-man roster if he’s an elite kickoff and punt returner.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE – Spots: 4
Sure shots: Jake Long, Vernon Carey
Uphill battle: Julius Wilson, Dan Gore, Daren Heerspink
Breakdown: There is a shortage of depth at the tackle spot, which will likely be addressed after the first few waves of roster cuts. While Wilson possesses promise and the size to succeed, it’s hard to predict this second-year undrafted player is ready to become the utility guy that gets called on when/if Long or Carey go down. Gore and Heerspink, who are both rookie free agents, are long shots to make the 53-man roster, but they could be developed on the practice squad (along with Wilson, who spent most of last season there) if they prove to be dependable.
OFFENSIVE GUARD – Spots: 4
Sure shots: Justin Smiley, Shawn Murphy
Even money: Donald Thomas, Trey Darilek, Ikechuku Ndukwe
CENTER - Spots: 2
Sure shot: Samson Satele
Even money: Steve McKinney
Uphill battle: Mike Byrne, Matt Spanos
Breakdown: Whoever steps up and becomes the starter opposite Smiley immediate gets upgraded to the “sure shot” category. Players like Darilek, McKinney and Ndukwe, who have the versatility to play guard and center, have an upper leg on the rest of the competition because they provide roster flexibility. I suspect versatility will be the key to determining which interior linemen get kept. If Thomas doesn’t prove he’s ready to handle the caliber of NFL players he could be stashed on the practice squad initially, which would allow the former Connecticut walk-on to receive some much needed grooming.
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Well surprisingly I found a Post by a fan on The Phinsider that was pretty good here it is
Just to settle some of the arguments made supposedly “proving” why John Beck shouldn’t start, or why he sucks, or anything people come up with to say he’s no good. These are points that various people have made about Beck that simply are not true. I’m not one of those blind political supporters that think Beck should start even if someone is clearly better, but I think he deserves his shot, and I think he’ll prove he CAN be a starter. On to the Myths
Myth – “John Beck has small hands.”
Fact – Beck has a bigger hand size than 3 of the top QB’s in this year’s draft, including our 2nd round pick, Chad Henne. Beck’s hand size is 9 3/4 in. Compared to Matt Ryan’s 9 5/8, Flacco’s 9 1/2, and Henne’s 9 3/8, Beck will not have a problem fumbling the ball because of “small hands.” His fumbling problem will disappear with better protection, because he won’t be getting killed every time he drops back.
Myth – “John Beck doesn’t have the arm strength to be an NFL QB.”
Fact – Beck’s velocity at the ‘07 combine was higher than every drafted QB except for Russell and Quinn, who didn’t throw. He threw it 61 mph, 3-5 mph better than Troy Smith, Drew Stanton, and Trent Edwards.
Myth – “Beck is not a good decision-maker, and Henne is more accurate.”
Fact – At BYU, Beck’s career completion percentage was 62.4, including his senior year in which he completed 69.3% of his passes. In comparison, Henne never completed more than 61.9% of his passes. Beck also had 32 TD’s compared to only 8 INT’s his senior year, compared to Henne’s 17 and 9. This isn’t to say that Beck will definitely be better than Henne, but it also doesn’t bode well for people saying Henne is CLEARLY the better player.
Myth – “John Beck is not tough.”
Fact – Beck is plenty tough enough to be an NFL QB. In ‘04 he separated his throwing shoulder, only to play anyway the next week. He played most of 2006 on two sprained ankles, and reinjured his right ankle during the season. All he did that season was finish with the highest completion%, TD’s, and yards of his college career.
Bottom Line is, let’s just stop with the misinformed arguments against Beck. You can say you don’t think he’s a good QB, or you don’t think he deserves a chance to start, but at least give a good reason why you feel that way. More than likely, Beck will be our starter come Week 1, and I think he’ll perform well enough to keep the job throughout the year.
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