Another Hawaii Players Article From The Sun-Sentinel

Athletic talent and 'a special spirit' set Dolphins Samoan rookies apart

By Harvey Fialkov
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted May 11 2007

While most coaches focus on speed and athletic ability when building a championship team, Dolphins coach Cam Cameron has repeatedly stressed character, family and values as a major part of his selection process. Perhaps that explains why Cameron and General Manager Randy Mueller brought in four Samoan players via the Polynesian Pipeline in renovating the Dolphins' roster. Of course, all four Samoans -- offensive lineman Samson Satele (second-round draft pick), defensive tackle Paul Soliai (fourth), fullback Reagan Mauia (sixth), and lineman Tala Esera (free agent) -- are also considered agile and powerful football players. "They're all different. Their families are different. But what we have seen in these guys is that spirit, that spirit of enthusiasm, that pride," Cameron said. "When they step on the football field, they know they represent someone bigger than themselves, and that's important. We believe in that." Samoans are one of several cultures in the more than 1,000 islands in the South Pacific collectively known as Polynesia. American Samoa, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tonga, Tahiti, Easter Island and Marquesas are all in the Polynesian Triangle. The wave of Polynesian players in the NFL is growing, with more than 50 dotting current rosters. At least 30 are from Samoa or the 77-square mile American Samoa. The Dolphins have a fifth Polynesian player: second-year Tongan defensive tackle Steve Fifita, who is playing in NFL Europa. "These kids have a special spirit about them in terms of their faith and commitment level," said Alema Te'o, who runs the All-Poly football camp in Bountiful, Utah, for mostly impoverished Polynesian-born high school players. "It's a respect thing. When it comes down to competition, you don't want anyone else. "These kids lay it on the line because they know they're not just playing for themselves. They know that when you leave home, you'd better not come back empty-handed." More than 50 college coaches and scouts attend the annual camp, and last year they handed out 40 Division I-A scholarships. Satele, Mauia and Esera are three of seven rookies (five drafted) from the University of Hawaii on NFL rosters. "When I first came here in 1999, we had 19 Polynesians out of 105 on the team," said Hawaii coach June Jones, a former Atlanta Falcons coach. "Now, we've got 76, including three Sateles. They're just very solid players and even better people." Al Lolatia is thought to be the first Samoan to play in the NFL, in 1945, but the Pacific Islanders' lineage began to flourish in the 1970s with Bengals quarterback Jack Thompson, aka "The Throw'n Samoan," and Patriots fullback Mosi Tatupu, whose son Lofa is a linebacker for the Seahawks. The current generation hopes to continue in the footsteps of future Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau and Steelers Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu, both of Samoan ancestry. "Everyone wanted to be Junior Seau, even if you were playing quarterback," said Mauia, a cousin of Satele and Hawaii teammate Melila Purcell, taken by the Browns in the sixth round. Te'o and Honolulu-based NFL agent Max Hannemann said these players are all about doing things the Samoan way, called fa'a Samoa, and by always showing respect, or fa'aaloalo, to their families, coaches, teammates and opponents. Satele, who at 6 feet 2 and 310 pounds has the traditional long hair and size of his ancestors, said he wants to eradicate the negative stereotype of Samoans as being lazy, overweight beachcombers. "We're only laid-back on Sundays," Satele said of Samoa's traditional day of rest. "Monday through Saturday, we're putting in the work. I guess we need a new day to rest now." The 6-4, 345-pound Soliai, who developed his quick burst from playing Samoa's most popular sport, rugby, agrees. "We hear how Samoans are lazy and not healthy and that most Samoans die of heart attacks," Soliai said. "If they [Seau, etc.] could make it, we could make it in the new generation." The 6-3, 312-pound Esera is considered the leader of the Dolphins' Samoan contingent for his ability to lead them in the pregame Haka, a New Zealand war dance that inspired his teammates at Hawaii while intimidating and respecting their opponents. "We're a new breed: smarter, more mature and aware of our role models," Esera said. "They showed us if we work hard and make good choices we can get to that level and do what we were born to do." Their attitude and rituals seem contagious. Dolphins rookie quarterback John Beck speaks a little Samoan. "They called me palagi, or white boy, at [Brigham Young]. I even play the ukulele," said Beck, who played in the Polynesian-laden Western Athletic Conference. "They have a really cool culture. They're so laid-back and chilled, but the minute they turn that switch they're like fire." Despite losing more than 100 pounds when switching from nose guard to fullback, Mauia isn't about to give up his love of Samoan food, such as taro. He may, however, stick to creating holes in defensive lines instead of drywall, as he did at a training facility in Arizona while preparing for the draft. "We were breaking down the wall already," said Mauia, whose nickname is Juggernaut. "It was crazy, but we had some fun with it. "I couldn't ask for a better deal to be with the Dolphins. We're going to bring something different this year." Perhaps the Haka? "Only if the veterans let us," Esera said. Harvey Fialkov can be reached at hfialkov@sun-sentinel.com. Note: I am now sending my blogs via E-mail since they are easier to edit then using the blogger system. So you will now be seeing see whats free from aol.com so just deal with it lol

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Cam Cameron Q&A

Cam Cameron Q&A

The following is a team-released transcript of Dolphins coach Cam Cameron's news conference from Sunday's minicamp:

Q: Is John Beck where you thought he would be at this point?

A: "I really haven't put a lot of expectations on him because I think back to guys like Antonio Gates and Marcus McNeill. I am not making a direct comparison there, but I have just seen too many guys that look good in that first minicamp and then don't make your team and then guys have come in and looked awful and go on to be great players. So I really have not put any expectation in my mind on any of those rookies in a first minicamp. These guys have flown halfway across the world, a bunch of them, the time schedule – they have a lot of things going through their minds so we are not going to make any judgments on any of those guys."

Q: Can you talk about Cleo Lemon's progress?

A: "Just what we said yesterday – just improvement and that's all you really demand in guys. I was killing him this morning about doing an interview with a phone in his ear. You guys [the media] let him get away with that? He had a phone in his ear. That's a first. I've never seen a quarterback with a phone in his ear. I killed him this morning on that. Other than the phone in the ear, there was a lot of improvement. We just want guys focused on improving. We think coaching matters. We think it's about developing players and Cleo is one of those guys I think is getting better."

Q: Any update on Joe Toledo's health?

A: "He felt a little something in his foot, where he had the broken foot. They took an MRI, took one look at it and they didn't see any damage there, but there is still some soreness so they are going to take another look at it to do further study on that."

Q: Is the plan for training camp to have Vernon Carey at left tackle and L.J. Shelton at right tackle?

A: "They go into strength and conditioning this week. We start up practice again a week from Monday. Vernon will be over there at left tackle. Other than that, we've played Rex (Hadnot) some at guard. There will be a lot of little changes in there, but to be saying that 'this guy is this, this guy is that' at this point is way too early. I don't want to get ahead of myself because then all you do is set a guy for a disappointment. And we don't need to do that. We need the guys focused on getting better and then finding out where the fit is, kind of see where these young guys fit in. It's easy to get ahead ourselves, and I don't think that serves our offensive line the best."

Q: Can you tell us about the rookie symposium that is scheduled for the rookies?

A: "Between now and the symposium that the league imposes, some guys got into trouble [last year]. I just remember on the news one night Reggie Bush saying, 'Hey, we could have used this two months ago.' I just remember that registered in the back of my mind. And given the opportunity to have our own, we thought, 'Hey, we've got these guys for the first time.' We had the NFL security meeting this morning. They came down from the NFL office. That meeting went well. Then we thought we'd just have a symposium. The guys from Hawaii have to take off so they're going to miss it, but we're going to videotape it, put it on a DVD and send it to them.

Q: Why do you think DT Frederick Evans and DE Matt Roth are ready to have a more prominent role this year?

A: "Just by talking to (defensive coordinator) Dom (Capers) and our staff. As you know, we've got tremendous resources on our defensive side of the ball. We've got veteran coaches; guys who were here, guys that know these guys. The guys who are still here are here because of their input. The guys who aren't here aren't here because of input. We get input from our coaches along with Randy (Mueller) and our scouting staff. Fred, obviously, is a young, developing player. He's got a long way to go. Matt is just relentless, tough, hard-nosed guy who plays with a motor that we want guys to play with. We're just going to let those guys battle and contribute. If the young guys don't come along as fast as we want to, then obviously Fred's got some flexibility to move from nose guard to tackle. That gives you some flexibility. But, Fred's still a long way away from talking about being an everyday player. We'd like to think that's going to happen, but until it happens it's just talk."

Q: How do you see Lorenzo Booker fitting into the offense and how do you plan on utilizing him?

A: "I could give you an answer, but until we know him better and know how his mind works, we really don't know. Obviously he's a good receiver. He's a good runner in certain situations; a little different pace than some other guys. I know the buzz word is 'change-of-back guy.' But a football player is a football player and you find a way to use him. It could be a punt returner, it could be a kick returner, it could be a third-down back. My guess is a third-down back you usually try to use him on first and second down. But, he's still got a lot of football to learn. I don't think we want to get too far ahead on a guy like that. It's still a different game. He's quick and he's fast, but most guys in this league are as quick and as fast as he is. So it's going to be more a function of his mind than anything else."

Q: Will Anthony Alabi be ready for the next minicamp, June 8-10?

A: "It's a fair question, but what year was it I decided I'm going to get out of the prediction business when it comes to that stuff? I'll be consistent with that. As we know, the minute I put the date on it and we don't reach that date, now it's a setback. For us to go down that road, it wear's everybody out. When he's ready, he's going to be out there. When he's out there we'll start getting him ready to play."

Q: Are you worried about such a valuable position player like Jason Taylor also long snapping?

A: "You're only going to do it in an emergency. Now you're in a game, and you just have to get a punt off to win the game. You can go for it, there are a lot of things you can do. But in a critical situation where the game is in the balance and John (Denney) goes down or something happens, he would obviously be a guy we feel like we can count on."

Q: What are your impressions of Ronnie Brown?

A: "What I see in him is a guy who is smart – and you have to be smart to play that position in this system, I mean extremely smart. So he's extremely smart. Secondly, I think football is important to him. I think he will do what you ask him to do. I think as he grows in this business you're going to ask him to do less because he's going to know what to do. But I still think there is a growth process that he's going through. I see him as a guy who can be a very powerful runner. I see some quickness in the hole, which is critical. He's not a long strider. Long striders scare you to death, especially the way we like to run the football. I like the way his feet are up underneath him. I like the power he's going to be able to run with. But most importantly, I think he's smart and I think he wants to be a really good player. To me, as long as you can do that, you've got a chance."

Posted by Keven Lerner at 10:07 AM Permalink Comments (12)

Dolphins Q&A Sun Sentinel

Dolphins Q&A with Alex Marvez

By Alex Marvez
Sun-Sentinel.com
Posted May 7 2007

Q: Are the Dolphins still trying to trade Marty Booker? A: I'm sure the Dolphins would entertain offers for Booker just like they did before the draft. It can be argued that Booker's productivity with the Dolphins (144 catches and 10 touchdowns in three seasons) doesn't warrant him earning $3.1 million in 2007. Being shopped as trade bait apparently isn't sitting well with Booker, who refused to address the subject at last weekend's minicamp. Q: Which rookie will make the greatest impact this season? I think it's going to be Lorenzo Booker hands down. A: It's too early to tell right now after just one minicamp. Booker, though, should have a chance to play on third downs and may even be Ronnie Brown's backup if the Dolphins decide to jettison Ricky Williams if/when he is reinstated by the NFL. Although I envision growing pains as he adjusts to playing wide receiver on the NFL level, Ted Ginn could make an immediate impact on returns a la Chicago's Devin Hester in 2006. Samson Satele also could push to become a first-team guard, as current starters Dan Stevenson and Chris Liwienski aren't embedded. And the punting job is his to lose for seventh-round pick Brandon Fields. Q: Because he's his own agent, was Daunte Culpepper just promoting himself by telling the media he'll be 100 percent by training camp so another team will sign him if he's released? A: Culpepper is wise to offer an update on his ongoing recovery from November's knee surgery so teams that may have an interest in him are aware of his health status. While Culpepper said he will be healthy enough to practice at the team's June minicamp, it's unlikely he will still be on the roster if the Dolphins can finally complete a trade with Kansas City for quarterback Trent Green. Q: Did Cam Cameron really demote Chris Chambers during a minicamp because he dropped some passes? A: Yes. Chambers was briefly yanked from the starting lineup in favor of Derek Hagan during April's minicamp and used as a third wide receiver because he was dropping too many passes. Chambers said he understood the demotion and gained even greater respect for Cameron for taking him to task for a poor practice. Q: Why is everyone ripping Carl Peterson for not releasing Trent Green, when those same people thought it was fine to hold on to Olindo Mare before trading him? Isn't it the GM's responsibility to do what's in the best interest of the team? A: It's understandable that Peterson is trying to make the best deal for the Chiefs. But publicly demanding a second-round pick for a 36-year-old quarterback coming off an injury-plagued season is absurd, especially with Green having told Peterson he will never play for the franchise again. The Dolphins initially wanted more than a sixth-round pick for Mare but were comfortable settling when New Orleans offered the 199th overall selection. That is because the Dolphins knew Mare's release was inevitable and didn't want to risk getting skunked altogether. While the Chiefs may have the salary cap space to keep Green and his $7.2 million salary, such a move makes no financial sense when the money can be better spent elsewhere on players that figure into the team's future. It will be interesting to see whether Peterson ultimately regrets passing on the Dolphins' offer of a sixth-round pick in this year's draft. Q: Sounds like John Beck didn't have a good minicamp, huh? Is the biggest knock against him his arm strength? A: To place Beck under heavy scrutiny at this minicamp would be unfair, as it was his first time practicing in the NFL with a unit that also is trying to learn Cameron's new offensive system. Beck didn't air it out too much in practice but had good accuracy on most of his passes. Q: The Dolphins have said they may try Jason Allen out at corner. Do you think he will be a better fit there? A: Let's just say it couldn't go any worse than it was at safety, where Allen struggled as a rookie to grasp the team's defensive scheme. At this point, the best-case scenario for the Dolphins with Allen is that he pushes for playing time as a fifth or sixth defensive back while also becoming a top special teams contributor. Q: Wouldn't getting Pete Kendall be a good move, considering there's so much instability on the offensive line? A: At a time when the Dolphins are trying to build a younger roster, the only downside to acquiring a 12-year veteran like Kendall would be potentially slowing the progress of young linemen by inserting him in the starting lineup. Acquiring Kendall also will be tricky. First, it's believed the only way the Jets will get rid of Kendall right now is if Joe Andruzzi is signed as a free-agent replacement. Kendall also is unhappy with a contract paying him $1.7 million in 2007. Other teams with a potential interest like Kansas City or St. Louis could be willing to pay more than the Dolphins. That being said, Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller has proven willing to pay for the players he wants -- defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday and linebacker Joey Porter being two examples – and has familiarity with Kendall from working in Seattle's front office in 1996 when the Seahawks made him a first-round draft choice. Q: Is it true Ted Ginn will have to wear a walking boot and that he'll miss the next minicamp in June? A: The Dolphins are finalizing a medical plan for Ginn that could require short-term use of a walking boot. I don't consider that a major deal as long as he is ready by training camp as expected by team officials. Even without the injury, Ginn, like other rookies from Ohio State, was going to be unable to practice in June because of an NFL rule barring further participation in minicamps until his college's senior class graduates. Q: Have the Dolphins shown any interest in Keyshawn Johnson? A: Not to my knowledge and I would be very surprised if they did. Mueller is trying to improve team speed, which is not one of Johnson's fortes at this point in his 12-year NFL career. Send questions to askalex@sun-sentinel.com

Hawaii Players Article

Since I can't seem to get to the Sentinels Site well we'll have to go with the Palm Beach Post

print page popular pages

Riding the wave

By Edgar Thompson

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, May 07, 2007

DAVIE — When Miami Dolphins 300-pound rookie offensive lineman Samson Satele saw the news during Day 2 of the NFL Draft, the earth nearly shook.

What happened next sent aftershocks to a small, faraway land in the South Pacific and touched four young men in a way they had never imagined.

Miami's fourth-round selection of Utah defensive tackle Paul Soliai thrilled Satele, a fellow Samoan and a Dolphins second-round pick out of the University of Hawaii a day earlier.

"I was jumping, jumping in my hotel room," Satele recalled. "I almost hit the roof."

The Dolphins didn't give Satele too much time to gather himself, picking up college teammates Reagan Mauia, in the sixth round, and Tala Esera, via free agency.

What are the odds, Soliai wondered this past weekend during the rookie's first mini-camp.

"We're all here, and it feels like home," he said. "To be here at the same place, the same area. We have Samoans on other teams, but they're by themselves."

The Dolphins' quartet is a pronounced nod toward the incredible influence a U.S. sovereignty of seven small islands totaling 77 square miles has had on American football.

Last season, about 30 players of Samoan descent were in NFL training camps. The list included star players such as Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, ex-Dolphins linebacker Junior Seau and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu — son of one of the pioneers of the Samoan exodus to the NFL, former New England Patriots fullback and special teams great Mosi Tatupu.

More than 200 Samoans play college football, with the majority in the Pac-10, WAC and Mountain West conferences.

Estimates note that a boy from the tiny island of roughly 58,000 people is 40 times more likely to reach the NFL than a boy growing up on the mainland.

"Who knows, maybe strength in numbers," Miami General Manager Randy Mueller said of his team's Samoan flavor.

But the Dolphins' draft strategy also signifies first-year coach Cam Cameron's emphasis on team unity.

"We're all about togetherness. We're not about putting another one down. We're a family," Mauia said. "We work together, eat together, practice together and sweat and bleed on the field together."

In Samoa, Satele said they call this tight-knit bond aiga. Yet, being an NFL rookie is often a solitary pursuit.

None of the Dolphins' four Samoans entered the draft considered can't-miss prospects. Each day of mini-camp is an eye-opening experience when players such as Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas are on the other side of the line of scrimmage.

"You just have to calm down," Satele said. "You're shaking, 'These are the guys I watched on TV.' Now I'm here and just have to slow down things."

Given each player's natural size and strength, the potential is there to succeed.

Mauia's nimble feet caught the eye of ex-NFL coach June Jones, the head coach at Hawaii. Jones asked Mauia, then a nose guard who once weighed 380 pounds, to lose weight and move to fullback, where he played last season at about 300 pounds.

"He said I reminded him of player a he used to coach (in Atlanta), Ironhead (Craig Heyward)," said Mauia, who weighed 272 and ran two 40-yard dashes in less than five seconds at Hawaii's pro day in late March.

Satele showed the ability to play either center or guard in Hawaii's up-tempo, run-and-shoot offense. The 323-pound Esera played guard on last season's 11-3 squad.

At 344, Soliai showed the ability last season at Utah to not only clog up the middle, but to collapse the pocket.

Beyond raw ability, the Samoan foursome offers something else just as important on the football field.

"They have the coolest culture," said rookie quarterback John Beck, who had more than 20 teammates at BYU from the South Pacific region. "The Polynesian people are so laid back, just so chill. But then they can flip that switch and are on fire."

The Samoan way, or fa'a Samoa, has no room for fear, Mauia said.

If you don't believe him, he has the video to prove it. A snippet on YouTube.com shows him crashing through a section of dry wall to pass the boredom during a training session in Arizona.

Earlier, Esera put his head through a piece of the wall because the area was being renovated and scheduled for demolition.

"That's our culture, not afraid of anyone or anything," Soliai explains with a laugh. "But some people get a little crazy."

Six time zones and more than 6,700 miles away from their homeland, Satele and Co. hope to also find peace and prosperity together.

Once settled, the group will look to establish a slice of Samoa in South Florida, sharing meals, laughs and their trials and tribulations.

"We're never going to lose our culture," Mauia said. "It's just awesome. You couldn't ask for a better deal."

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.

Daily Dolphins News From The Sun-Sentinel

Sundays are really tight for me so ill probably only do one post on sundays, so here it is.

A big challenge? Carey to tackle it

Lineman once against move to left side, but he says the time is now.

By Alex Marvez
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted May 6 2007

DAVIE · There were different starters at four of the five offensive line spots in the opening practice of this weekend's Dolphins minicamp, but one of the biggest changes from 2006 wasn't quite so obvious. Vernon Carey was once lukewarm about moving from right tackle to left tackle. Carey now says he is excited about being shifted to the line's most important pass-blocking position. "It's another challenge I'm willing to take on," Carey said Friday after completing his first practice at left tackle. "It's going to push me to be a better player. "I had a bad attitude about it a year or two ago. But now I just look at it like people think I can't do it. ... I'm willing to prove [them] wrong." Coach Cam Cameron said he was inserting Carey at left tackle after the team failed to address the position in last weekend's NFL Draft. Anthony Alabi worked with the first-team offense during last month's minicamp but wasn't impressive and is sidelined this weekend while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. Damion McIntosh, the McArthur High graduate who started at left tackle most of the past three seasons, was allowed to go to Kansas City via free agency in March. "I just sense [Carey] is a guy I can develop some trust in," Cameron said. Carey is trying to reward such faith by losing weight to better handle the speed rushers who try to attack the quarterback's blind side. Carey said he plans to lose 13 more pounds to weigh 335 during the regular season. "Once he gets a comfort level he'll be fine," said L.J. Shelton, a left tackle converted to guard who is taking Carey's former spot at right tackle. "He's more than athletic enough to handle the position. He just has to get comfortable hearing and thinking about things in a different way. When you hear plays, it's all backwards from what he's grown accustomed to." Besides the different footwork, Carey admitted a shaky start to his NFL career at left tackle contributed to his trepidation about making the switch. A 2004 first-round pick from the University of Miami, Carey's confidence was rocked after regularly struggling in practice against pass-rusher extraordinaire Jason Taylor. "I was a younger guy," said Carey, who played predominantly at right tackle for the Hurricanes. "I wasn't a starter yet, and probably felt I needed to get some reps at something I was doing all my life. Now, I'm older. I've got a lot more confidence than the previous years and feel I can play on the left side." Carey said he isn't intimidated now in practice when facing Taylor, who is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. "I want him to bring it," Carey said. "It's all stuff I need to work on. ... In a game, nobody else is going to hold anything back." Carey said he might have played left tackle earlier for the Dolphins but he didn't receive much developmental help as a rookie. Carey didn't move into the starting lineup at right tackle until his second season in 2005, when Hudson Houck replaced Tony Wise as offensive line coach. Carey also cited a lack of support from the Dolphins' veteran offensive linemen. "I came in observing everybody and looking at the guys around," Carey said. "That's how guys learn most of the time. We didn't get a lot of help from the older guys when we came in. "That's why I try to teach the younger guys when they come in. That's how guys get better. ... Normally, guys are afraid to ask questions. We're changing that around here." That isn't the only thing Carey hopes is different about the 2007 Dolphins. "This team has a challenge to turn this program around and get into the playoffs," he said. "That's what we need to do. We're tired of losing." Alex Marvez can be reached at amarvez@sun-sentinel.com. DE Taylor set to become Dolphins' emergency long snapper By Alex Marvez South Florida Sun-Sentinel Posted May 6 2007, 2:01 PM EDT DAVIE -- Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor is about to add another position to his impressive NFL resume. Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said today that Taylor will serve as the team's long snapper in case John Denney were injured during a game. "It sounds like he's excited to do it and he's pretty good at it," Cameron said. Taylor wasn't available for comment following today's minicamp practice but he did some long snapping during portions of last month's minicamp. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Taylor also received limited action at tight end the past two seasons in goal-line situations. Cameron stressed having Taylor snap would only be done in an "emergency" because of the risk of injury. Jeff Zgonina, who was Denney's backup the past two seasons, left to Houston via free agency in March. Injury Update Cameron said the team is awaiting the results of more medical testing to determine the extent of cornerback Andre' Goodman's left shoulder injury. Goodman, a 14-game starter in 2006 who underwent shoulder surgery in January, was re-injured during Friday's minicamp practice. Tackle Joe Toledo missed today's session because of soreness in his foot, which he broke in December when slipping while stepping out of a hot tub. Toledo, a 2006 fourth-round draft pick who spent all of his rookie season on injured reserve with a knee injury, is being converted from guard to tackle. Fullback Kyle Eckel (illness) also didn't practice, while tight end David Martin returned after being sidelined with a stomach ailment. Reaching the Rookies The Dolphins held a rookie symposium after today's practice to help its incoming crop of players better acclimate to the NFL. The rookies also received a talk from members of the NFL's security force before practice. All draft picks are required to attend a league-wide rookie symposium in late June in Palm Beach Gardens that is designed to help players avoid the off-field problems that have hurt the NFL's image. Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga said he stressed "off-field character" to players when addressing the team after Saturday morning's session. Huizenga watched today's practice from the covered media area in the stands at team headquarters. HYDE: Never has a Dolphins era begun with lower expectations Cameron, Mueller must rely on instinct instead of bluster. Published May 6, 2007 DAVIE -- Somewhere along the way, it's become difficult for Dolphins fans to hear all those sweet stories from a few decades ago when their team actually had all the answers. Oh, it's still fun to hear how Don Shula asked players to offer plays for that week's game, and Larry Csonka always would offer the same handoff to him up the gut. "P-10," Csonka would yell. "Why that?" Shula would say. "Let's hit them in the face and see if they get up," he said. But let's face it: They haven't made stories like that about the Dolphins in too long. In recent years, the stories have to do with people who only thought they had all the answers: Jimmy Johnson questioning everyone but himself; Dave Wannstedt wondering why people didn't understand passing on quarterback Drew Brees for cornerback Jamar Fletcher; or Nick Saban acting like people evidently do on his planet. So this is what you notice about this newest Dolphins era: There's no purported genius at work anymore. No gibberish about what they've done in the past, photos of victories somewhere else or even silly signs lining the hallway like Saban had ("Out Of Yourself And Into The Team"). Of course, that's because neither General Manager Randy Mueller nor coach Cam Cameron has won big anywhere. Cameron couldn't win much in college in his only head-coaching stint. Mueller's career detoured to ESPN for a couple of years. Even in the aftermath of this draft that will carve their success or failure, you heard Mueller say, "We're not saying we have all the answers." And Cameron said, "We did our work, made this plan and followed it and now we'll see how it works." So never has a Dolphins era begun with this perfect storm of fewer players, less fanfare, lower expectations or actual, genuine humility. It's a sinkhole of issues, if you at look at it like that. And some do. Or it's really the best way to win in the NFL. Getting a Bill Parcells is great for ticket sales and optimism. It's a card the Dolphins played with Johnson and Saban. And with good reason in both cases. But big-name coaches are tied to their quarterbacks, the career lifeline stretching two ways. Meanwhile, when Sean Payton went to New Orleans and Eric Mangini went to New York last offseason, there were as many questions about them as there are about Mueller or Cameron today. Yet both showed if you get a healthy quarterback, it makes so much else right. That's why all you have to do for this Dolphin regime is all you've had to do with any louder, more egotistical one: Watch the quarterback. Johnson and Dan Marino didn't work together. That era failed. Wannstedt had the only good coaching season of the last decade in his first year, but he ultimately failed because Jay Fiedler was limited. Saban failed because the gamble on Daunte Culpepper failed. One question will hover over all others at Dolphins camp for the next couple of years. It's on fans' minds, of course. It's asked of newcomers Ted Ginn Jr., and John Beck, naturally. It was brought up by two veteran Dolphins I talked with. It's such a topic that several upset readers from Cleveland e-mailed a story from the Plain Dealer about the minicamp excitement around Brady Quinn (News flash: He got a haircut!) The question, of course: Did the Dolphins do the right thing on draft day? For all the attention on Cameron getting booed by fans after the draft, there was an equally telling scene Thursday at the Dolphins' team banquet. At the end of a long speech, Cameron pulled out some bluster and said, "Together, we're going to bring us a championship. I promise you." No one reacted too much. That's because no one's really listening too hard in the way everyone did to Johnson or Saban. Throw in Wannstedt, and they were all defensive coaches who acted like they had all the answers about offense. This era goes the other way. Cameron's expertise is offense. He doesn't act like he has all the answers there. He just needs one answer at quarterback, though, and he's made the decision. It's Beck, not Brady. That's what this quieter era banks on. Dave Hyde can be reached at dhyde@sun-sentinel.com. Tech tragedy stuns receiver By Harvey Fialkov South Florida Sun-Sentinel Posted May 6 2007 DAVIE -- Some would consider following in the footsteps of Hall of Fame NBA center Moses Malone and a weekend tryout with the Dolphins to be daunting tasks. Piece of cake for Malone's son, receiver Michael Malone, who received a much tougher dose of reality three weeks ago when he was getting frantic phone calls from former classmates and friends at Virginia Tech to tell him they were still alive. Malone attended Virginia Tech for three years before transferring to Sam Houston State in 2005. "Yeah, it affected me," Malone said of the 32 murdered students and professors. "It's a part of me. I had a class in the same building [Norris Hall] where the people got shot. I'm still a Hokie by heart." Malone remembers every detail of that somber April 16 afternoon. "I just got out of my workout and I had 22 missed calls," Malone said. "People calling me, letting me know they're OK. I have some tight friends up there and it was heartbreaking to hear them call me and say, `People are shooting up here and there's been bomb threats all week.'" Malone hopes to catch on with the Dolphins, but he learned a more valuable lesson last month. "Don't take life for granted; always try to do what's right and follow God, because you never know when your day could come," Malone said. FAMILY TIES Malone isn't the only son of a Hall of Fame athlete brought in for a tryout this weekend as former Stanford safety David Lofton is also vying for a roster spot. Lofton actually presented former NFL receiver and father James Lofton for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. "I guess when [the Dolphins] see a guy who comes from a family with a history of athletes they know it's important to the family and that is something a father hands down to the son," Lofton said. James Lofton is the receivers coach for the San Diego Chargers, where he worked with Dolphins coach Cam Cameron the past five seasons. "All those rookies out there are the same and we're looking forward to watching those two guys and really get a chance to look at them on tape," Cameron said. Last week, the Dolphins drafted Syracuse linebacker Kelvin Smith, nephew of Titans Pro Bowl linebacker Keith Bulluck and godson of former Pro Bowl linebacker Seth Joiner. Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder's father, Randy, played for the Dolphins from 1974-76, and right tackle L.J. Shelton is the son of former NBA All-Star forward Lonnie Shelton (1976-85). GOODMAN AILING Starting cornerback Andre' Goodman, who re-injured his left shoulder in Friday's afternoon practice, had an MRI Saturday morning and returned to the facility with his arm in a sling. Cameron said he would reveal the extent of the injury today. ... Tight end David Martin missed his second consecutive day of practice because of the flu. MESSAGE FROM THE BOSS Owner H. Wayne Huizenga addressed the team on the field after the morning practice. "He was there talking to them about ... having balance in your life and we expect you to be quality players on the field and quality people off," Cameron said. "He was very encouraging." BECK'S A NATURAL Rookie quarterback John Beck couldn't wear the No. 12 jersey that he had in college because it was worn by Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese and was retired in 1982. Beck chose No. 9 because of a movie character. "I'm a big baseball fan and I always loved the movie The Natural, and that's what Roy Hobbs [wore]," Beck said. LEMON ON TARGET Cameron praised quarterback Cleo Lemon for successfully tweaking his delivery, including shoulder turn and weight transfer, after daily sessions with quarterbacks coach Terry Shea. "It was nice to see he came out and took all those corrections we are trying to make," Cameron said. "Today, he was lights out; he was consistent and he was accurate." Harvey Fialkov can be reached at hfialkov@sun-sentinel.com.

Daily Dolphins News From The Sun-Sentinel

May 04, 2007

Minicamp stuff

John Beck looks shorter than his 6-2 listed height, especially when he's being swallowed up by the defense durinig 9-on-9 drills. He's playing with the third-teamers, but the defense is light years ahead of the revamped offense at this point. Beck seemed rushed all day, but he did display a rocket arm, particularly on a slant to Derek Hagan and a deep toss to rookie receiver David Sutton - who torched CB Jason Allen.
What a shock, receiver Kelly Campbell is limping again after going down in the afternoon session. Campbell has never met a limp he didn't like.
Sadly, one of the good guys, cornerback Andre' Goodman left the field in pain, in what could be a reoccurrence of his shoulder injury that ended his season last year. Hopefully not.
For the first time ever, the practice sessions are being announced by radio personality Kenny Walker. He's basically explaining to the sweltering fans what drills the players are undertaking. It's actually pretty neat and a positive change. Also, the players now have their names on their backs, which will help us hacks ID practice squad players and workout players. ...
The rookie punter Brandon Fields is 6-5, 236 pounds and looks more like a defensive end but he does boom them. ...
Tight end David Martin, hoping to make fans forget the slippery-fingered Randy McMichael, sat out with a flu bug.
later...

Harvey Fialkov

Sun-Sentinel Dolphins beat reporter


Brown's weight on Cameron's mind
By Harvey Fialkov
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted May 5 2007

DAVIE · Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown admitted after practice Friday that coach Cam Cameron was displeased with his conditioning when he reported for the pre-draft minicamp three weeks ago."A little bit. I think that's just from the added emphasis put on the running back position in general," said Brown, who's about eight pounds overweight at 240 and needs to slice his 12 percent body fat down to 8 or 9 percent. "I think I'm in pretty good shape, but as far as being in football shape, I still have a long way to go and a lot to work on from that standpoint."
Cameron said he's just pushing Brown to become, "a great player.""It takes time to be great at that position," said Cameron, who has seen that firsthand while working with San Diego Chargers Pro Bowl running back LaDainian Tomlinson over the last five years. "There are a lot of expectations on him, by himself as well as us, but we are making progress there."Brown, who gained more than 1,000 yards for the first time last season despite missing three games after fracturing his left hand, has been watching Chargers' game tape and Tomlinson."We're two different individuals and obviously we have two different styles," Brown said. "Just seeing the opportunities he has, as far as catching the ball and doing some different things ... I'm kind of excited by that." Tackle Shelton lighterNew starting right tackle L.J. Shelton said he has lost 20 pounds this offseason and is hoping to drop roughly 10 more to play between 320 and 330 pounds in 2007.The Dolphins' new philosophy of using smaller guards has led to 2006 fourth-round pick Joe Toledo receiving snaps at tackle.Offseason signing Chris Liwienski and Dan Stevenson, a late-season roster pickup in 2006, were the starting guards on an offensive line in flux. ... Cameron said his reasons for firing running backs coach Bobby Williams after the pre-draft minicamp were between him and Williams. ... The locker of suspended running back Ricky Williams has been given to rookie running back Lorenzo Booker.

Top pick Ginn rides bike
As expected, first-round draft pick receiver/returner Ted Ginn Jr. (sprained foot) spent most of the two sessions riding a stationary bicycle, along with defensive tackle Keith Traylor and offensive tackle Anthony Alabi, who are recovering from minor ankle and knee surgeries.Because Ginn's class at Ohio State won't graduate until June 10, he will not be permitted to participate in the June 8-10 minicamp or even attend offseason conditioning sessions at the facility.Ginn said that immobilizing his left foot in a boot next week is a possibility but hasn't been decided yet. ... Tight end David Martin didn't practice because of the flu. ... Receiver Kelly Campbell, who has missed the last two seasons with quadriceps injuries, went down in the afternoon session with an injury to his lower right leg.

GOODMAN HURT AGAIN
Starting cornerback Andre' Goodman was escorted off the field during the afternoon practice after re-injuring the same left shoulder he underwent surgery on Jan. 18.Goodman will be re-evaluated today.On first glance, it seemed to be cornerback Travis Daniels, but the two have swapped jersey numbers because Daniels (formerly No. 21) wanted to wear the same number (29) he wore at South Broward High."He's paying for my haircuts [given by Daniels' brother] for the rest of the year," Goodman said after the morning practice.

Staff Writers Alex Marvez and Dave Hyde contributed to this report.

Other Dolphins News

Dolphins sign 14 college free agents

By Alex Marvez
Sun-Sentinel.com Posted
May 4 2007, 11:14 AM EDT


DAVIE – The Dolphins announced the signing today of 14 college free agents that are participating in this weekend's minicamp.Those players are defensive end Bruce Mkristo (Washington State), defensive tackle Marquay Love (Houston), linebacker Edmond Miles (Iowa), cornerbacks Tuff Harris (Montana) and Geoff Pope (Howard), guards Tala Esera (Hawaii) and Stephen Parker (Arkansas), tackles Marion Dukes (Clemson) and Julius Wilson (Alabama-Birmingham), safeties Courtney Bryan (New Mexico State) and Chris Vedder (San Jose State), and wide receivers Gabe Hatchett (Oregon State), Kerry Reed (Michigan State) and David Sutton (Texas-El Paso).
Sam Houston State wide receiver Michael Malone is one of five college free agents receiving a tryout. He is the son of NBA Hall of Fame center Moses Malone.The other tryout players are wide receiver Charles Futrell (North Carolina Central), long snapper Jake Weber (Illinois State), punter Cameron Muro (Hampton) and safety David Lofton (Stanford). Lofton is the son of San Diego Chargers wide receivers coach James Lofton, a 16-year Hall of Fame inductee who was the first player in league history with 14,000 career receiving yards.The Dolphins also selected 10 players in last weekend's draft, although first-round draft choice Ted Ginn Jr. isn't participating in this minicamp as the Ohio State wide receiver recovers from a sprained foot.


Cameron has easier time at awards banquet

By Harvey Fialkov
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted May 4 2007


DAVIE · Five days after being booed by angry fans during a draft party at the Dolphins' indoor practice facility for selecting Ohio State receiver Ted Ginn instead of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn in the first round, coach Cam Cameron returned to the scene at Thursday's awards banquet.This time, the audience, mostly consisting of season-ticket holders, current and past players, greeted him with polite applause each time he was introduced.
"This is probably only the second or third time I've been in here, but to be honest with you, after tonight I'm starting to warm up to it a little bit more," Cameron joked in his speech.Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller, who didn't speak at the draft-day public relations nightmare, also joked about the friendlier greeting."I'm glad to see we have a little more hospitable crowd than the last time we gathered here," Mueller said. "I'd like to thank Coach Cameron for letting me come up here first this time just to make sure everything was all right."The audience also gave warm receptions to injured quarterback Daunte Culpepper, as well as Ginn, quarterback John Beck, a second-round pick, and running back Lorenzo Booker, chosen in the third round, when they were introduced among the 10-deep draft class.Ginn didn't have a protective boot on his sprained left foot Thursday as ESPN.com has reported. However, a source confirmed that the injury, which will keep him out of this weekend's minicamp, is what is known as a midfoot Lisfranc (ligament) sprain and most likely will have to be immobilized next week.Plantation orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Linn agreed with Mueller's recent assessment that Ginn, barring any reaggravation of the injury, should be fine by July's training camp."Depending on the severity of the sprain, it probably needs to be immobilized, and by training camp, which would be about six to seven months since the injury occurred, he should be ready," Linn said. "It's not unusual to take this long to heal."According to the American Family Physician Web site, Lisfranc joint injuries "are rare, complex and often misdiagnosed" and can range from mild sprains to fracture dislocation.Cameron thanked wide receiver Chris Chambers for not making any Super Bowl predictions this year, and said it was former Dolphins coach Don Shula who recently drilled into him the value of character and work ethic when building a championship team.
CHIP OFF ...
The Dolphins signed 10 undrafted free agents this week, including Sam Houston State wide receiver Michael Malone, the son of Hall of Fame NBA center Moses Malone....Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell and quarterback Cleo Lemon, both unsigned restricted free agents, will sign waivers to participate in minicamp.
Taylor IS TEAM MVP
Dolphins Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor, the reigning Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year, won the team MVP and leadership awards named for Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino and Shula, respectively.Safety Renaldo Hill received the Nat Moore Community Service award for repeatedly giving back to children and people in need through his South Florida Top of the Hill Foundation. His brother Ray Hill won the same award in 1999.The leadership award is decided by the players, while the MVP award is determined by votes from the South Florida media. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel does not participate in awards voting.

Daily Dolphins News From The Sun-Sentinel

Dolphins staffers get a lesson in draft logic

By Sarah Talalay and Alex Marvez
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted May 3 2007

In the wake of a controversial draft-day decision, coach Cam Cameron and General Manager Randy Mueller met Tuesday with Dolphin Stadium officials who have regular contact with season-ticket holders and other fans. The meeting was spurred by the Dolphins passing on popular Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn to select Ohio State wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. with the No. 9 overall pick. "We wanted to have everyone in the organization understand the decision-making process that took place," Dolphins Enterprises spokesman George Torres said. Mueller said the combination of Ginn and Brigham Young quarterback John Beck, who was chosen in the second round, was a more appealing option to the Dolphins than selecting Quinn in the first round. But the move angered a sizable number of fans, including those who booed Cameron during a draft-day party at team headquarters in Davie and interrupted his speech about Ginn with chants of "Bra-dy! Bra-dy! Bra-dy!" The weekly staff meeting was opened to some stadium employees, Torres said. "Both [Cameron] and Randy explained the weekend, so everyone is completely knowledgeable about the plan and strategy so when we talk to season-ticket holders or anyone else, they can explain what happened, what transpired and the thinking about it," Torres said. Wright off to Buffalo One day after being waived by the Dolphins, defensive tackle Manny Wright was claimed Wednesday by Buffalo. A 2005 fifth-round supplement draft choice, Wright showed promise as a rookie but left training camp last August and spent the season on the reserve/non-football injury list while battling depression. Wright returned to the offseason program in March but was overweight at the April minicamp and became expendable when Utah nose tackle Paul Soliai was chosen in the fourth round of the draft. Dukes, Malone signed The Dolphins signed Clemson tackle Marion Dukes and Sam Houston State wide receiver Michael Malone as college free agents. Dukes was a three-year starter, and Malone caught 23 passes for 250 yards and four TDs last season. Elsewhere CONCUSSION SUMMIT: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ordered all teams to send their doctors and trainers to a leaguewide concussion summit in Chicago on July 19. MITCHELL AUTOPSY: A preliminary autopsy showed former NFL linebacker Kevin Mitchell, 36, died of a heart attack in his sleep Sunday at his home in Ashburn, Va.

Random Thoughts From Randy Mueller Sun-Sentinel

May 01, 2007

Mueller chat and cuts

Just had a brief sit-down with Dolphins GM Randy Mueller and we talked about several issues, including the current health status (foot) of first-round pick Ted Ginn (he doesn't want the Jr. anymore) ... Ginn will not participate in this weekend's minicamp, but he wouldn't have even if his foot was 100 percent. Due to NCAA rules, because his classes at Ohio State are still in session he is not allowed to participate in any professional practices. He will be available for the next minicamp in June. Mueller wouldn't say whether Ginn's foot needed to be placed in a boot or not as an ESPN report stated. By the way, Mueller said that his 'intelligence' had Houston definitely taking Ginn with the next pick at 10.
Mueller said that DT Manuel 'Baby Huey' Wright and WR/returner Marcus Vick were cut because of a numbers' crunch, which is partly true. They did draft a receiver/returner in Ginn and a DT in fourth-round pick Paul Soliai, but it's clear that the new regime is separating itself from Nick Saban hand-picked players, particularly the fringe ones with character issues. Although Vick kept clean during his brief stint in South Florida, he's got more baggage than a Samsonite salesman. And Wright, who cost the Dolphins a fifth-round pick last year, didn't endear himself to Cam Cameron by reporting overweight after a year on the non-football injury related list to battle depression. He'll always be remembered by Dolphins fans for walking off the practice field in tears (2005) after being chewed out by Saban.
Also, Mueller gets a lot of heat for being on the Seahawks personnel department when they picked first-round busts - quarterback Rick Mirer and Dan McGwire in the early '90s, but he really had very little input back then other than fetching coffee. It wasn't until Dennis Erickson came in to coach in '95 that Mueller was promoted and the two put together the draft board.
More later...
Harvey Fialkov
Sun-Sentinel Dolphins beat reporter

May 01, 2007

More from Mueller

Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller said today that Brady Quinn isn't the only NFL-ready quarterback.
"There’s no question [that John Beck’s] an NFL passer in every way right now. There’s a learning curve obviously, but we feel like he’s pretty polished,’’ Mueller said.
Mueller also admitted that quarterbacks coach Terry Shea played an "integral’’ role in the teams’ decision to pass on Quinn at No.9 and hold out for BYU’s John Beck (at No. 40) in the second round. Before Shea was hired by the Dolphins, he spent a month with Quinn in preparation for the draft.

Dolphins Q&A Sun-Sentinel

Dolphins Q&A with Alex Marvez

By Alex Marvez
Sun-Sentinel.com
Posted May 1 2007, 1:57 PM EDT

Q: I am baffled as to why the Dolphins want to make Vernon Carey a left tackle. The guy has been a right tackle his entire college and pro career. Why not leave well enough alone?

A: I am thinking the same thing, especially because Carey has said he is more comfortable at right tackle because of his foot placement. Cameron, though, said after the draft that he believes Carey can handle what is considered the most critical position on the offensive line. Carey did play tackle at UM and thinking he could make the transition isn't necessarily far-fetched. But Carey, who did gain some experience playing left tackle at UM, should drop another 10 to 15 pounds so he is better prepared to handle the speed rusher he would face on a weekly basis when trying to protect his quarterback's blindside.

Q: What's with all the guys drafted from Hawaii or coming from out West?

A: With Cameron (San Diego) and General Manager Mueller (Seattle) having previously worked for West Coast teams, the Dolphins' draft seemed less regional than the previous two years when former Louisiana State coach Nick Saban used five of the team's 13 picks on Southeastern Conference players, including first-round selections on running back Ronnie Brown (Auburn) and defensive back Jason Allen (Tennessee). One of Mueller's former coaches from his playing days as a college quarterback (Wes Suan) worked at Hawaii under June Jones, who is friendly with both Mueller and Cameron.

Mueller said the Dolphins were seeking players with a "specific skill set" in the draft. Translated: The Dolphins want players they believe have particular traits best-suited for the systems the team plans to run. The Dolphins are seeking lighter, more athletic guards and want to add more aggressiveness to the line as a whole. The 6-foot-2, 302-pounds Satele fits the bill on both accounts. At 272 pounds, Mauia has the size to become a devastating blocker in the same fashion as Lorenzo Neal, who played under Cameron the past four seasons in San Diego.

The Dolphins also added another Hawaii player in Esera as well as using a fourth-round draft pick on a defensive tackle of Samoan ancestry in Paul Soliai.

Q: Can we expect the rookie offensive lineman to contribute much this season? Also, are they better suited to play center and guard?

A: I would not be surprised to see second-round pick Samson Satele (pictured) of Hawaii receive snaps as the starting left guard during this weekend's minicamp. The Dolphins have juggled their line by shifting Vernon Carey to left tackle and moving L.J. Shelton from right guard to replace him at right tackle. Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said Chris Liwienski and Joe Toledo are expected to split snaps at right guard but added that the plan for how the linemen will be used at the minicamp wasn't finalized.

Eastern Michigan's Drew Mormino (sixth round) could see action as a backup center behind Rex Hadnot. The Dolphins also have agreed to terms with several college free agent linemen who could compete for roster or practice squad spots, including Hawaii guard Tala Esera, Arkansas guard Stephen Parker and University of Alabama-Birmingham tackle Julius Wilson.

The Dolphins want all of their linemen to have the versatility to play at least two positions, so expect Satele and Mormino to work at both guard and center.

Q: Will Lorenzo Booker be the third-down back? Does this mean the Dolphins don't want Ricky Williams back?

A: If reinstated to the NFL as expected, Williams should serve as Ronnie Brown's backup. Booker, though, will see snaps as a third-down back while serving as an insurance policy in case Williams gets suspended again.

Q: Isn't tight end a weakness on this team? I still can't believe they cut Randy McMichael!

A: Because the tight end is used more as a receiver than blocker in Cameron's system, a well-rounded player like McMichael was deemed to have less value than a faster player with pass-catching skills like replacement David Martin. Still, something should be said for the fact McMichael has never missed a game since being drafted in 2002 while Martin has proven far less durable by missing 16 games the past three seasons.

Q: Were you as shocked as I as when they took Ted Ginn instead of Brady Quinn?

A: I was very surprised, but shocked would be a little strong since I truly believed (and reported) the Dolphins had a strong interest in Ginn entering the draft. Remember: You can find a franchise quarterback in the second round a la Brett Favre or Drew Brees. You can't draft a player with the game-breaking speed of Ginn with the 40th overall pick.

I also spoke to someone in the front office of a team with a Top 12 pick that I respect who told me he also didn't consider Quinn worthy of being picked in the Top 10. The fact Quinn slipped all the way to the No. 22 pick gives the Dolphins some validation for their decision. But if Quinn is able to duplicate his Notre Dame success in the NFL while Ginn and/or BYU quarterback John Beck stumble, the coach/general manager regime of Cam Cameron and Randy Mueller will be doomed unless the franchise finds another way to win.

Q: What's the scouting report on John Beck? I think he was a good pick.

A: Here are four pre-draft evaluations of Beck:

Mel Kiper Jr. (from his 2007 Draft Report): "After his stellar senior campaign, I view Beck as definite starter material. Preparation is key with Beck, and in that area, he takes a backseat to no one. At worst, you'll be looking at a quality backup who has the ability to come off the bench and jumpstart an offense."

Nolan Nawrocki (author of Pro Football Weekly's draft guide): "Has the smarts and savvy to become an ideal No. 3 quarterback and at his best could be a solid backup. Physically, falls in line with the same tier of quarterbacks as Tim Rattay and Brooks Bollinger and will never be a solid starter teams want to lead them. A good college system quarterback with enough arm to function in the pros. Will be the best outside the pocket but does not have great mobility to move around and escape in the pro game."

Scout.com: "Positives: intelligent passer accurate in the short and intermediate field. Stands strong in the pocket, poised under the rush and consistently finds the open wideout. Sells the ball fakes, looks off the safety and goes through receiver progressions. Displays a sense of timing, hits receivers as they leave their breaks and nicely sets up screen throws. Puts touch on passes when necessary, placing the ball into the receivers' hands. Immediately gets rid of the ball on quick tosses. Stays away from the errant pass. Negatives: Lacks the top deep arm. Over-aged prospect [at 25]."

NFLdraftscout.com: "Positives: Has a lean frame with room for additional growth, showing average overall muscle tone, good arm length and large, soft hands … Runs with a normal stride and has the functional hip snap to change directions and avoid pocket pressure … Has good balance and adequate body control throwing on the move, demonstrating good hip rotation … Very intelligent player who has no problem executing a complicated game plan … Student of the game who breaks down opposing film and does a good job of making adjustments on the field … Plays through pain and shows very good poise in the pocket and confidence in his protection, as it is rare to see him bolt too early, as he will stand tall and take some shots under pressure … Has good throwing mechanics and sets his feet with agility and solid base … Even with just average timed speed, his feet appear light when forced to move out of the pocket … In the short-to-intermediate area, Beck's tosses show good zip and velocity."

"Negatives: Needs to add more bulk and strength to his frame to absorb punishment in the pocket and, even though he is able to move around the pocket, he is no threat running with the ball … Has good arm strength for the short-to-intermediate area, but realizes that he lacks the raw power to air the ball out consistently, keeping the game plan within his athletic talents … Lacks ideal height and valid speed, but makes up for it with good short-area avoid skills and a quick release to unleash the ball on time … Will sometimes revert to locking on to his primary target, resulting in him throwing into double coverage (see 2006 Boston College and New Mexico games) … Sets his feet well on delivery, but will show a bit of a wind-up when he releases the ball over the top rather than his normal, three-quarters delivery … When he attempts to air it out, the ball tends to float and fall off, causing the receivers to break off their routes. "

Q: Is Carl Peterson crazy or just plain stubborn?

A: How about a little bit of both? Understandably, Peterson is trying to make the best deal he can to maximize value for quarterback Trent Green. But the reality is that the Chiefs aren't going to carry a player with a $7.2 million salary that coach Herm Edwards projected in March as being a potential third-string quarterback behind Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle. This is starting to become a lose-lose scenario on both sides. If Green is going to start for the Dolphins in 2007 as expected, he could use as much offseason time as possible working with his new teammates trying to build cohesiveness in Cameron's offensive system. Peterson, though, may someday rue not taking the Dolphins' offer of a sixth-round draft choice for Green during the 2007 draft.

Q: Why is everyone saying that Ted Ginn Jr. is "raw" as a receiver and runs poor routes? You wouldn't know that from watching him in college.

A: Ginn was a productive college receiver, catching 110 passes for 1,584 yards and 13 touchdowns the past two seasons while also making significant strides as a junior. But NFL draft analysts universally believe he needs significant work on his route running, especially when it comes to correcting his penchant to round off patterns, and must learn how to better shed cornerbacks that will be much more aggressive at the line of scrimmage at the NFL level.

Q: How would you grade the Dolphins' draft?

A: Like in previous drafts, I won't grade the draft simply because how can anyone tell how good the players that were selected will be before they even appear in a minicamp, let along play in a game? Ultimately, this draft will be judged by how well Ginn and Beck fare when compared to Brady Quinn. But it's also important that the Dolphins finally hit on some second-day draft choices. Consider: Safety Yeremiah Bell (2003 sixth-round) and center Rex Hadnot (2004 sixth-round) are the only two of 31 players drafted between rounds four and seven this decade that are projected Dolphins starters entering this season. The lack of productivity from second-day picks is one of the reasons the Dolphins are one of just five teams that hasn't reached the playoffs since 2001