BlogsGreatest Dolphins of All-Time, By The Numbers: 41-50
by Matty I
on Jul 3, 2009 12:15 AM EDT
in News
17 comments
Let's carry on with our look back at some of the the Dolphins' all-time greats - as we identify the greatest players in team history to ever wear each individual uniform number. You can see all of my previous picks by clicking here. Today we will focus on numbers 41 through 50.
Read over my picks and then be sure to tell us your thoughts below.
Number 41 - Keith Byars, FB, 1993-1996
This one was a close one. But Byars, in his 3+ seasons with the Dolphins, was a valuable member of Miami's passing attack. Byars, in his three full seasons in Miami, averaged 53 receptions per season for 464 yards. He also made the Pro Bowl in his first season in Miami. No other Dolphin has made a Pro Bowl wearing the #41. But honorable mention has to go to Fulton Walker - who led the league in yards per kick return in 1983 and also returned a kickoff 98 yards in Super Bowl XVII to put the Dolphins on top 17-10 heading into halftime.
Other Candidates: Fulton Walker, Norris Thomas
Number 42 - Paul Warfield, WR, 1970-1974
Ah yes, the great Paul Warfield. No, I wasn't alive to see him play. But the highlights that are shown of him are impressive. Just as impressive are his numbers. He reached the Pro Bowl all five seasons in Miami and was a 2 time first-team All-Pro. But what is most impressive are his yards-per-catch averages. In his five seasons with the Dolphins, Warfield never averaged under 17.7 yards per reception. His career average of 21.5 yards per catch as a Dolphin is tops in team history. He also has the two top yards-per-reception seasons in team history, averaging 25.1 yards per catch in 1970 and 23.2 yards per catch in 1971.
Other Candidates: Jeris White
Number 43 - Terry Kirby, RB, 1993-1995
Though Kirby spent three seasons in Miami, he only wore the #43 for two of them. However, he was wearing it during his outstanding rookie season - and that's enough to earn this honor. That year, as a rookie, he caught 75 passes, a team rookie record. Those 75 catches are also good to rank 5th all-time in team history for any player - rookie or not. His 874 receiving yards as a rookie ranks 2nd in team history - trailing Chris Chambers and his rookie season by just nine yards. And no rookie has ever gained more yards receiving in a single game than Kirby did in December of '93 against the Bills - picking up 148 yards receiving on 9 catches.
Other Candidates: Bud Brown, Bob Neff
Number 44 - Paul Lankford, CB, 1982-1991
Lankford was never outstanding - but he was never terrible, either. He started 72 games for the Dolphins at cornerback - including 65 starts between '85 and '89. He intercepted 13 passes in his career, including a career-high 4 in 1985. And that's enough to get the nod here when your toughest competition is coming from a running back who spent just one year in Miami and a fullback who was good but never great.
Other Candidates: Rob Konrad, Bobby Humphrey
Number 45 - Curtis Johnson, CB, 1970-1978
Johnson spent his entire nine year career with the Dolphins and was part of two Super Bowl winning teams. He started 111 games at cornerback for the Dolphins. His 22 career interceptions ranks Johnson 10th in team history. And his 4 fumble recoveries in 1970 was the 5th most in the league that year.
Other Candidates: Brian Walker
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Charges against Vontae Davis are dropped
In a statement released by the Champaign Police Department, charges against CB Vontae Davis have officially been dropped.
These charges stemmed from a traffic stop back in June that, as it turns out, wasn't actually Vontae.
1 day ago
Matty I
7 comments
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Jets LB Calvin Pace suspended for four games
by Matty I
on Jul 2, 2009 3:30 PM EDT
in News
24 comments
It's been announced today that Jets outside linebacker Calvin Pace will be suspended for the first four games of the 2009 regular season for violating the NFL's "Policy on Performance Enhancing Substances." In a team-issued statement, Pace blames the failed drug test on an over-the-counter dietary substance:
"This is a situation that resulted from an over-the-counter dietary supplement that contained a substance that I did not know violated the League’s policy. I am responsible for what I put into my body and I should have paid closer attention to the League’s guidelines. I regret that this has happened and apologize to my teammates, the entire Jets organization as well as the fans. Hopefully, this does not distract from our ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl."
I can't help but laugh at the final line from Pace's statement. The Jets winning the Super Bowl? I think he's using more than just performance-enhancing supplements, to be honest. Seriously, have you ever heard more cockiness from a team that didn't make the playoffs the previous year and whose quarterbacks have combined for just eight career NFL starts?
What this does mean is that Calvin Pace's first game of the '09 season will be on Monday Night Football in Miami against the Dolphins. So now we got another story line for a game that is already packed with story lines on October 12.
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Dolphins sign 7th round pick J.D. Folsom
by Matty I
on Jul 2, 2009 1:37 PM EDT
in News
13 comments
Scout.com's Adam Caplan is reporting that the Dolphins have come to terms with LB J.D. Folsom - the team's 7th round draft pick.
Folsom's deal is for 4 years and is reportedly worth $1.812 million - including $62,000 in guaranteed money.
Folsom is expected to be in a battle just for a practice squad spot at inside linebacker. At 6'3, 230, he doesn't possess the prototypical size that this regime is believed to like at linebacker. But he has good speed and projects more as a special-teams player than anything else at the next level.
This makes four draft picks now under contract - with John Nalbone, Andrew Gardner, and Patrick Turner being the other three. It's also believed that the Dolphins are close to a deal with safety Chris Clemons.
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Three Up and Three Down: Talking storylines
by Matty I
on Jul 2, 2009 12:28 AM EDT
in News
51 comments
It's Thursday - meaning it's time to once again go "three up and three down." For this week's installment, I wanted to talk about story lines. In particular, let's look at which story lines are most interesting heading into training camp and which have been or will be the most annoying.
Check out my list below and then be sure to share your thoughts below.
THREE STORY LINES I'M MOST INTERESTED IN
1. How quickly the rookie cornerbacks rise up the depth chart
Early offseason reports indicated that Sean Smith was really impressing the media - when they got to attend practices, of course. His combination of size, speed, and athleticism has really translated well on the field during minicamps and OTAs. But there's also no contact during these practices. It'll be interesting to see how Smith performs once the hitting goes live.
On the other hand, there haven't been many reports at all (good or bad) about Vontae Davis - the team's first round pick. But Vontae is a very physical corner, which likely means his chance to shine will come once the pads go on.
Meanwhile, Eric Green - the veteran who is competing for either the starting job or the nickelback spot - has been getting burnt left and right during offseason practices. So just how long will Green remain towards the top of the depth chart with two talented rookies breathing down his neck?
2. How Jason Taylor is utilized in Paul Pasqualoni's defense
The return of Jason Taylor has excited Dolphin fans across the nation. He's an icon in South Florida and I'm confident that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank. But now the question will become how Taylor will be used. The last time Taylor played in the same defense with Joey Porter, neither really played up to their potential. They are similar players who play basically the same position. And Dom Capers never could seem to find a way to get the most out of both Taylor and Porter in 2007. Taylor will also be 35 years old in September and it's likely that the Dolphins will limit the number of snaps Taylor sees. Training camp will be the first time we really get to see Paul P's plans for using Porter and Taylor together - as well as newcomer Cameron Wake.
3. Chad Henne's development
We are all pretty sure that - as of now - Chad Henne is this team's future quarterback. And it's widely believed that Henne will take over by 2010 (though I'm not as sold on that as some). We know that Tony Sparano made it a point to tell the media he plans on getting Henne as much work as he possibly can during camp and, more importantly, during preseason games. How Henne performs in those games will be watched very closely - perhaps too closely. But expectations are high for Henne - and with good reason, until proven otherwise.
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I'll be around until they kick me out.
2 days ago
Matty I
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I'm on record: Say "no" to Vick
by Matty I
on Jul 1, 2009 12:23 AM EDT
in News
351 comments
Let me start off by saying how this is something I really didn't want to talk about. Why? There are a number of issues in play here. There are legal issues. There are moral issues. And then there's the issue of Roger Goodell. After all, the latest rumblings regarding Michael Vick are that Goodell isn't in a hurry to reinstate Vick at all in 2009. And until Vick is reinstated, this topic is pretty much moot.
But then former NFL head coach Dennis Green had to open his mouth and make the following statement during an interview on Sirius NFL Radio:
"I have a hard time believing that Michael Vick is not going to wind up with Bill Parcells simply because he has that creativeness that says that no matter what it takes, he’s going to find a way to get Michael Vick. Now, whether it means convincing the Commissioner or whatever it takes, Michael Vick is probably going to wind up at Miami because of the fact that Bill Parcells is Bill Parcells."
Keep in mind the source of this information when reading it, of course. I highly doubt Dennis Green has any inside info here. And if he did, do you really think Bill Parcells would let the man just blurt out his secrets on national radio?
However, let's get right into it. If Michael Vick was to be reinstated by Roger Goodell once he completes his home confinement in late July, would I want the Dolphins to make a push to sign him? My answer is "no." In fact, it's an "emphatic no."
I'm not saying Vick isn't a talented player. I'm not that dumb. Of course, I will say that he was immensely overrated as a player even before all of the dogfighting. Vick was never as good as the media wanted you to believe. But media hype aside, Vick was a good player.
That brings me to point one. Michael Vick was a good player. But he hasn't played a single down - or even participated in a single practice - in two years. And Vick wasn't the best passer of the football to begin with (a lifetime completion percentage of 53.8%). The fact is we have no idea what kind of player Vick will be nowadays. Couple that with the media circus that would ensue following his signing, I just don't see enough positives to bringing him aboard.
Now let's get to the meat of the issue here. But first, I'll preface this by asking you not bring up NFL players who have killed a person while driving drunk. What Leonard Little and Donte Stallworth did was simply terrible and, if it was up to me, they wouldn't be playing in the NFL. Keep in mind that I wouldn't ban them from the league. After all, as long as they serve their time as determined by the country's legal system (as broken as it might be), they deserve the opportunity to be employed. But I just wouldn't be the one employing them.
I also want to point out that I am, by no means, claiming to be a perfect citizen. I've broken laws before - as we all have. I'm also not a person who thinks of himself as a "moral snob" - which is a person who looks down on those who have done wrong in their lives. I'm not like that one bit.
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That's the wrong person to get in a bickering war with, because he can talk all day -- that's Crowder. If he's going to be our voice, then we support him, understanding that I've been in the league a while, and I've just never seen a head coach get into a bickering war with a player. It was kind of immature if you're a head coach.
3 days ago
Matty I
11 comments
0 recs
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