Daily Dolphins News From The Sun-Sentinel

Beck's minicamp a bit sticky

Humid days make it tough to handle ball

By Alex Marvez and Matt Baker
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted May 7 2007

DAVIE · Dolphins rookie quarterback John Beck admitted Sunday that he had an uneven performance after completing his first three-day NFL minicamp. Beck said one of his biggest adjustments was getting acclimated to South Florida's humid weather after playing at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. "My first couple snaps on the first day were a little off because my hands were kind of sticking to the ball, but I've got it now," said Beck, a second-round draft pick who is considered a future starter. "Day by day it's getting better ... I feel like each day I've been able to progress." Beck received extra snaps at the minicamp because Daunte Culpepper (knee) was sidelined and the Dolphins remain unable to complete a trade for Kansas City quarterback Trent Green. Beck let the 25-second clock expire twice during Friday morning's session and struggled Saturday afternoon, fumbling a snap and having a pass batted down at the line of scrimmage. Beck participated in select passing drills during Sunday's practice because the Dolphins focused on special teams. "I'm trying to progress as fast as I can, but one thing I'm not going to do is get frustrated," said Beck, the second-leading passer in BYU history. "It's kind of like being a freshman all over again. You have to learn everything from the bottom. That's how I'm taking it." TAYLOR LOOKS SNAPPY Coach Cam Cameron said defensive end Jason Taylor will serve as the team's long snapper in case John Denney is injured during a game. Cameron stressed that having Taylor snap would only be done in an emergency because of the risk of injury to the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Jeff Zgonina, Denney's backup the past two seasons, left for Houston earlier this offseason. INJURY UPDATE Cameron said the team is awaiting the results of more medical testing to learn the extent of cornerback André Goodman's left shoulder injury. Goodman, a 14-game starter in 2006 who had shoulder surgery in January, was reinjured during Friday's practice. Tackle Joe Toledo missed today's session because of soreness in his foot, which he broke in December when he slipped while stepping out of a hot tub. Fullback Kyle Eckel (illness) didn't practice; tight end David Martin (illness) returned. REACHING THE ROOKIES The Dolphins had a rookie symposium after Sunday's practice to help incoming players become better accustomed to the NFL. The rookies also met with members of the NFL's security force before practice. Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga said he stressed "off-field character" when addressing the team after Saturday morning's session. Huizenga also attended Sunday's practice. KENDALL TO DOLPHINS? Yahoo! Sports reported the Dolphins have contacted the New York Jets about the possibility of a trade for guard Pete Kendall. Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller worked in Seattle's front office when Kendall was drafted by the Seahawks in 1996. Although 2007 second-round pick Samson Satele may eventually emerge as the first-team left guard, Dan Stevenson manned the position during the minicamp. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Stevenson joined the Dolphins midway through last season after spending time on New England's practice squad and has never played in an NFL game. The Dolphins have a vacancy at left guard after releasing three-year starter Jeno James in March. Rex Hadnot, a two-year starter at center, also received snaps at guard during the minicamp. Culpepper's mom dies Culpepper's adoptive mother, Emma Culpepper, died at 92 at her home in Ocala on Saturday. The cause of death was not immediately known. Emma Culpepper raised as many as 15 children, none of whom were biologically hers. She took Culpepper in when he was a day old. "She was basically just on a mission always to help people. Anybody that touched her life, she was always trying to better them," he said. Ginn to wear No. 19 Rookie wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. wore No. 7 at Ohio State and is currently assigned No. 11 with the Dolphins. But the team's first-round pick said he will wear No. 19 during the regular season to honor his father, Ted Ginn, who wore it in high school. The Dolphins will have their next minicamp June 8-10 in Davie. This most recent minicamp was more fan-friendly than those in previous years, with players' names on jerseys and a public-address announcer explaining drills to the fans. ..... Taylor surprised his teammates post-practice, handing out 150 smoothies from his new Juiceblendz franchise. Taylor will be having a football camp at Dolphins headquarters June 4-6 for players ages 7-18. For information, go to jasontaylorfoundation.org. Staff Writer Harvey Fialkov and wire services contributed to this report. Dolphins RB Booker follows in pal's footsteps Speedy rookie recalls Jets' Washington By Matt Baker South Florida Sun-Sentinel Posted May 7 2007 Less than an hour into his first NFL minicamp Friday, rookie Lorenzo Booker looked lost. The Dolphins' third-round pick from Florida State had returned punts during the previous drill, but wasn't sure what to do next. Should he go into group drills as a slot receiver or work out with the running backs? "I'm a running back first and foremost; that's what I do," Booker said. "But I happen to be a little more versatile than a lot of guys." That versatility has Booker comparing himself to a close friend and former Seminole teammate, the New York Jets' Leon Washington. Both are undersized at 200 pounds, but both possess enough agility and speed (4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash) to contribute by rushing, receiving and returning kicks. The Dolphins learned the value of a versatile running back the hard way. Washington torched the Dolphins in Miami last December for 151 yards, including a 64-yard reception to set up the winning field goal. "It's funny that I'm on the Dolphins, because he really had a coming-out party last year against Miami," Booker said. "He said he came here for a private workout maybe two days before the draft, and they said if he was there in the third round they'd take him. They didn't, so he was a little irritated." Like Washington, Booker suffered from a crowded backfield at FSU. Booker averaged 4.8 yards per carry in his four years with the Seminoles but never had a 1,000-yard season. Booker will likely continue being a part of a rotating backfield, splitting time as a third-down back with starter Ronnie Brown and possibly Ricky Williams, if he is reinstated. "Obviously Ronnie is more than capable of carrying the load, but most of the teams that went far in the playoffs had two backs," Booker said. "And I'm sure Ronnie wants some rest at times." Because Booker's speed and quick cuts complement Brown's bruising rushing style, the Dolphins have two different ways to attack defenses. "We can kind of have a fastball and a curveball," Booker said. "We change the question on them just when they think they have the answer." Despite the parallels between Booker and Washington, linebacker Channing Crowder compares his new teammate to another NFL star. "I don't want to amp him up and try to do anything like a Reggie Bush-type player, but he has that versatility," Crowder said. "He's just such a player. You get a guy like that, and he creates mismatches." As a rookie in his first minicamp, Booker is absorbing veterans' advice. Washington told him to find his role on the team and keep from bickering with teammates. Brown helped correct his mistakes on the practice field. Booker has already made a strong impression on coaches. He shared snaps on the second team with veteran Jesse Chatman during his first practice and has taken over Williams' old locker. "He is everything we thought, which is a guy who is smart, a guy who is tough ... and has great quickness," coach Cam Cameron said. After asking a coach for help with his position during the first practice, Booker joined the running backs for group drills. But he said he will do more than just run the ball. "I like to view myself as a playmaker," Booker said. "I want them to be able to line me up on a linebacker or motion me out of the backfield or toss me a sweep, different things like that to make the defense start pulling their hair out." Matt Baker can be reached at mwbaker@sun-sentinel.com.