Dolphins at Patriots Conections

In the modern NFL, players, coaches, and executives are constantly on the move, changing teams and playing on both sides of rivalries. This week, we have another example of that, as the New England Patriots host the Miami Dolphins in the regular season finale. Here is a look at the connections between the two teams.

Hometown Ties:

• Dolphins Director of College Scouting Chris Grier graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amhrest in 1994, playing football for the school for two seasons
• Dolphins Pro Scout Adam Howe is from Raynham, Mannachusetts
• Dolphins Head Coach Joe Philbin is from Springfield, Massachusetts; his first coaching job was as the offensive line coach for Worcester Tech from 1986-1987
• Dolphisn Player Personnel Administrator Chris Shea is from Belmont, Massachusetts; he as an assistant coach at Belmont High School in 1991
• Dolphins Offensive Coordinator Mike Sherman is from Norwood, Massachusetts
• Dolphins Offensive Line Coach Jim Turner is from Braintree, Massachusetts
• Patriots Defensive Tackle Vince Wilfork is from Lantana, Floirda

Former Teams:

• Patriots Cornerback Will Allen played for the Dolphins from 2006-2011
• Dolphins Tight End Jeron Mastrud was on the Patriots' practice squad for a portion of the 2010 season
• Patriots Linebacker Rob Ninkovich player for the Dolphins from 2007-2008
• Patriots Special Teams Coach Scott O'Brien was with the Dolphins as coordinator of football operations/assistant to the head coach from 2005-2006
• Patriots Linebacker Mike Rivera was briefly on the Dolphins roster at the end of the 2010 season, and was on the Dolphins' roster briefly this season after spending the preseason with New England
• Patriots Tackle Donald Thomas was drafted by and played for the Dolphins from 2008-2009
• Patriots Wide Receiver Wes Welker played for the Dolphins from 2004-2006
• Dolphins Tackle Will Yeatman was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Patriots in 2011; he was waived by the team and signed by the Dolphins prior to the start of the season

Pro Teammates:

• Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick and Dolphins Assistant General Manager Brian Gaine were together with the the New York Jets in 1999
• Dolphins Linebacker Kevin Burnett and Patriots Safety Steve Gregory were teammates with the San Diego Chargers from 2009-2010
• Dolphins Running Back Reggie Bush and Patriots Linebacker Rob Ninkovich were teammates with the New Orleans Saints in 2006 and in 2008
• Dolphins Guard Richie Incognito and Patriots Tight End Daniel Fells were teammates with the St. Louis Rams from 2008-2009
• Dolphins Defensive Tackle Tony McDaniel and Patriots Center Dan Connolly were teammates with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2006
• Patriots Running Back Danny Woodhead, Dolphins Linebacker Jason Trusnik, and Dolphins Offensive Lineman Nate Garner were all teammates with the New York Jets in 2008

College Teammates:

• Dolphins Defensive Backs Coach Lou Anarumo and Patriots Running Backs Coach Ivan Fears were together at Syracuse in 1990
• Patriots Safety Patrick Chung and Dolphins Linebacker Josh Kaddu were teammates at Oregon in 2008
• Patriots Cornerback Devin McCourty and Dolphins Linebacker Jonathan Freeny were teammates at Rutgers from 2007-2009
• Patriots Quarterback Ryan Mallett and Dolphins Offensive Lineman Nate Garner were teammates at Arkansas in 2008
• Dolphins Tackle Jonathan Martin and Patriots Offensive Lineman Matt Kopa were teammates at Stanford from 2008-2009
• Patriots Linebacker Jerrod Mayo, Dolphins Linebacker Kevin Burnett, and Dolphins Defensive Tackle Tony McDaniel were teammates at Tennessee in 2004
• Dolphins Wide Receiver Marlon Moore (2006-2009), Dolphins Cornerback Richard Marshall (2003-2005), and Patriots Offensive Lineman Ryan Wendell (2004-2007) were teammates at Fresno State
  
• Dolphins Quarterback Matt Moore and Patriots Wide Receiver Matt Slater were teammates at UCLA in 2003
• Patriots Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia and Dolphins Assistant Linebackers Coach David Corrao were graduate assistants together at Syracuse from 2001-2003
• Dolphins Center Mike Pouncey, Patriots Tight End Aaron Hernandez, Patriots Defensive End Jermaine Cunningham, and Patriots Linebacker Brandon Spikes were all teammates at Florida from 2007-2009