Dolphins Should Sign Darren Sharper
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The Dolphins may have found their future free safety in fifth-rounder Reshad Jones, but it wouldn’t hurt to sharpen up their defense in the mean-time with a crafty veteran like Darren Sharper.
It’s a difficult request considering how much money we already paid for Brandon Marshall, and also taking into account that we were already among tops in the league for roster salary before that trade. Sharper wouldn’t be cheap, but if we could get him at for a reasonable two-year contract, the Tuna should absolutely go for it.
Sharper is a ball hawk, plain and simple. The 13-year vet racked up nine interceptions last season with the New Orleans Saints, including three of them for touchdowns. For a defense that was -8 in turnover margin (26th in the NFL), there’s no doubt Sharper would make an immediate impact.
Here’s some more credentials for the five-time Pro Bowl free safety:
1. He broke an NFL single season record of 358 interception-return yards last season, a record previously held by future hall-of-famer Ed Reed.
2. Sharper also shares an NFL record with Deion Sanders for most games with 50+ interception return yards (9) and owns the NFL record for most games with 75+ interception return yards (6).
3. In his 13-year-career, Sharper has accumulated 63 interceptions, nine forced fumbles, and 13 defensive touchdowns.
Talk about big league clout. Plus, you have to consider all the intangibles–all the turnovers he’ll create just by making plays on the ball. And with hard-hitting Yeremiah Bell on the other side, it would be a duo reminiscent to 2001′s Brock Marion and Brian Walker.
And it’s no question that the Dolphin defense could use a Sharper Image. Last season Miami ranked 24th in the league in pass defense, 25th in points-allowed and an embarrassing 29th in giving up plays over 20-yards. Generally speaking, if that many yards are leaking through a 3-4 defense, there’s bound to be a hole somewhere.
The Dolphins already eliminated the hole in center field by cutting Gibril Wilson, filled in the nose tackle position by announcing Randy Starks as the starter, and I expect the much-improved rookie corners, Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, to mature even more this season.
But we still need a reliable anchor, a play-making safety that could bring it all together. A crafty veteran who always knows where the ball’s at. I’m talking legitimate Super Bowl contenders. And that is why, ladies and gentleman, the Miami Dolphins should go after Darren Sharper.
Who is the Best Dolphins QB in the Post-Marino Era?
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It’s already been assumed that the Miami Dolphins will announce Chad Henne as their starting quarterback for the 2010-11 season, the 14th player to earn that title since the great Dan Marino retired in 1999.
Last season Henne showed terrific poise when he was thrust into action in Week 3 against the San Diego Chargers after Chad Pennington was sidelined for the remainder of the season with a dislocated shoulder and a torn rotator cuff.
Henne made his first start the following week going 14–22 with a touchdown pass in the Dolphins’ 38–10 victory over the Buffalo Bills. He was 7-6 as a starter throwing for 2,878 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
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Jeff Ireland: Did Your Mom Ever Teach You Any Manners?
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Imagine this: you are interviewing for your dream job, let’s say at a major market law firm. You’re probably nervous what with the no sleep, caffeine and the whole tedious, pyscho-analytical screening process that comes along with getting hiring. When it’s almost over, the final interviewer, let’s say a top executive at the firm, shuffles through his/her papers and asks this outrageous question: “Is it true that your mother is a prostitute?”
Wow. Talk about a curveball, or more like a 90 mph fastball straight at your head.
Honestly, what do you say to that? You’re offended, naturally, like anyone else, but you want the job. I mean hundreds-of-thousands of dollars are at stake here. What else are you supposed to do? (more…)
What do Marino & Hasselhoff Have in Common?
No, they weren’t both in Boy Scouts (or at least I can’t verify that). It’s simple. They look alike. Note to self: remember to write a memo to the marketing committee for Wrigley’s Double Mint Gum:
Former NFL quarterback and analyst Dan Marino and former Baywatch star and late-night Wendy's drive-through frequenter David Hasselhoff
My sister Michelle, who coincidentally graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in marketing, made this brilliant discovery while watching a Nutrisystem commercial.
Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino can’t sing as well as Hasselhoff, or speak German for that matter, but if you’ve ever seen him in Ace Ventura Pet Detective or Little Nicky, you could argue that he’s just as good of an actor–which to be fair isn’t really saying much. Never mind that he isn’t sporting a Super Bowl ring.
Acting skills or not, Marino once destroyed opposing defenses and led the NFL in almost every single passing category, while David Hasselhoff once destroyed his liver and led the Baywatch cast in total number of episodes. Both, however, are American icons.
I’m not talking about no flash-in-the-pan status, either.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Baywatch is the most-viewed television show of all time, and according to Marino, he lost over 22 lbs. by eating Nutrisystem. No wonder these curly-haired legends are still rockin’ it well into their 40′s.
You can watch Marino’s expert football analysis on CBS Sports as well as contribute to the Dan Marino Foundation, a non-for-profit organization which helps benefit the lives of kids with autism.
As for Hasselhoff, when he’s not saving damsels in distress in re-runs of Baywatch, you can see his expert talent analysis on the hit TV show America’s Got Talent, or you might catch him at the local late-night Wendy’s drive-through when he’s black-out drunk.
It’s OK, Hasselhoff, I use my ketchup-lathered stomach to dip my french fries when I’m hammered too. Don’t Hassle the Hoff!
You can check out other hilarious sports look-a-likes at my Facebook group This Person Looks Like. We currently have over 200 members and 180 photos! Feel free to join the group or add pictures and/or comments, or if you have any other brilliant Miami Dolphin look-a-likes feel free to email me at by clicking the link.
Broncos Sign Linebacker Akin Ayodele
The Denver Broncos signed 30-year-old free agent linebacker and former Miami Dolphin Akin Ayodele yesterday to boost their already-deep defense. Ayodele is one of three starting linebackers in the NFL who has played in every game since 2002. He spend the last couple seasons in Miami (2008-2009), recording atleast 70 tackles each season of his two seasons.
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Miami’s also been busy revamping their 3-4 defense in the off-season, particularly at linebacker, including the signing of playmaker Karlos Dansby and re-signing of veteran Reggie Torbor. The ‘Fins also drafted three linebackers last week: Koa Misi, A.J. Edds and Austin Spitler, and they traded the recently-added Tim Dobbins to the Broncos.
Barring any releases, the Dolphins 2010 depth chart at linebacker will probably look something like this heading into the preseason:
Right Outside Linebacker: Cameron Wake, Koa Misi, Chris McCoy, Brian Johnston
Right Inside Linebacker: Karlos Dansby, Austin Spitler, J.D. Folsom
Left Inside Linebacker: Channing Crowder, Reggie Torbor, A.J. Edds
Left Outside Linebacker: Charlie Anderson, Quentin Moses, Erik Walden
With Joey Porter and Jason Taylor now out of the picture, six-year vet Charlie Anderson and former CFL-star Cameron Wake will be forced to pick up the slack at Sam and Will linebacker.
The middle of the 3-4 is pretty solid with Crowder and now Dansby, but the future is still uncertain for the young talent on the outside. Anderson appeared in all 16 games last season with 17 tackles and two sacks, while Wake was used primarily in passing situations, posting 5.5 sacks in his first NFL season. Wake was very impressive with his bull-rush mentality in third-down pass defense, but he’s still yet to prove that he can fill Taylor’s big shoes when it comes to run defense.
