It’s Official Dolfans: Marshall is #19
OK Dolfans, you can officially go buy your jerseys.
I’ve been told that Brandon Marshall will officially be wearing #19 for the Miami Dolphins this season, hopefully erasing the recent memory of another guy who wore that same number, oh, just last season.
Instead of the #15 he wore in Denver (which is taken by fellow reveiver Davone Bess), Marshall’s been sporting 19 ever since OTA’s began last month, albeit on the sideline recovering from minor hip surgery.
Personally, I would have loved seeing him in 85, but I’m old school like that. I tend to think numbers 11-19 should be reserved for punters and quarterbacks.
But whether you like it or not, Marshall has a chance to bring glory to #19, something Ted Ginn Jr. could never do, and I can live with that. I’m just crossing my fingers in the hope that #19 isn’t cursed.
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Marshall Returns to Practice, Brown Sits Out
The Marshall Plan is back in order.
Receiver Brandon Marshall participated in the Dolphins’ organized activities today after sitting out the last couple of weeks due to an off-season hip surgery.
The surgery came somewhat as a surprise to the team and to most Dolfans who didn’t know there were any issues with Marshall, who we just signed for 5 years, $47.3 million. When asked about a timetable for recovery, he said he was, “a little ahead of schedule” right now, but wouldn’t say if he’d be ready for the start of training camp at the end of July.
The only concern for the Dolphins is Marshall’s ability to learn the playbook and the offensive schemes. He doesn’t seem to be too concerned about it, though.
Marshall, acquired for two second-round picks in April, participated in the individual activities, but sat out of team drills. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Marshall (wearing 19, by the way) lined up opposite Greg Camarillo as the starting receivers, and it was great to see him and Chad Henne hook up a few times, although not against defenders. Hopefully that’s an indication of what’s to come.
Meanwhile, Dolphins’ running back Ronnie Brown sat out of practice this morning, still recovering from a foot fracture he sustained in Week 10 of last season. Ronnie said that doctors told him not to run at all this week or next week after having a screw taken out of his right foot.
This much we knew, but what we still want to know is whether or not Brown will be a Dolphin in the future. For now, Ronnie isn’t giving any details or discussing his contract status, but he has said he’ll sign his one-year restricted free agent tender worth $3.97 million before the deadline expires on June 15.
Brown, 28, rushed for 916 yards on 214 carries last season, an average of 4.3 ypc, and he was an integral part of the Dolphins Ground Machine. My guess is that the Dolphins will sign him to the tender and wait and see how his foot responds before deciding whether or not to keep him past 2010.
Clemons Making Strong Statement for Free Safety
With lots of speculation surrounding the Dolphins’ free safety competition, the Miami Dolphins may have found their starter in-house as opposed to a veteran free agent.
According to head coach Tony Sparano, the Dolphins are impressed with what they’ve seen from second-year pro Chris Clemons so far, an indication that Miami isn’t interested in upgrading with either free agents Ken Hamlin or O.J. Atogwe.
Drafted out of Clemson, Clemons started two games last year for Miami posting 13 tackles.
It would be ideal for the Dolphins organization to find their starting free safety in-house, especially for their wallet. Sparano said Clemons has taken more snaps in practice than anyone else, a chance for the third-year pro out of Clemson to learn the new defensive schemes.
“I was just talking about it to the team [Tuesday] morning,” coach Tony Sparano said. “Chris has 256 scrimmage plays right now in practice. That’s the most on the team by any player. Those are live scrimmage repetitions. And he has minimal, minimal mental mistakes.”
Clemons plays loudly on the field with lightning quick speed and ability to make plays on the ball, but his biggest flaw is that he’s quiet by nature. If anyone can make Clemons more vocal, though, it’s crafty defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.
“He’s got the potential, no doubt about it,” said strong safety Yeremiah Bell, who starts on the opposite side. “He has it in him. He’s doing a great job right now. He’s doing what he’s supposed to do, and he’s getting better every day.”
Anyway you slice it, it’s still a young group of guys competing for free safety, there’s no doubt about that. Clemons appears to have the advantage right now with Tyrone Culver practicing at strong safety and untested rookie Reshad Jones just trying to earn a spot on the roster.
There’s still a lot of people who believe Miami may choose to upgrade with a veteran like Atogwe or Hamlin if they aren’t satisfied with Clemons. Considering the move they made to get Steelers’ Ryan Clark to visit, I wouldn’t put it past this organization to spend some more cash.
For now, though, Clemons appears to be the answer, and I’m excited to see what this young kid can do. But there’s still a lot of time before the season starts.
Dolphins Thirsty for some O.J. a-la Atogwe?
There’s no better way to start the morning than a cold glass of freshly squeezed Florida O.J. The question is: does Bill Parcells prefer apple juice?
I know I’ve already discussed this topic before, but what was once only speculation is now a full-blown, legitimate option. It deserves to be revisited.
Since the St. Louis Rams failed to place any sort of tender on O.J. Atogwe, the veteran free safety is officially an unrestricted free agent as of June 1 and therefore is free to sign with whomever he wants.
Hmmm…are the Miami Dolphins among these potential suitors? It seems likely.
Before I get ahead of myself, let’s not forget about the young corp of talent the Dolphins already have at the free safety position. Many think Tyrone Culver has what it takes to start for the Dolphins this season, but with only two NFL starts under his belt, it’s like playing Secret Santa: you never know what you’re going to get (or was that a box of chocolates?).
On the other hand, there is the quick and versatile Chris Clemons, who also has only two NFL starts, and his lack of vocal leadership makes me question his ability to lead a defense that was ranked 24th in yards allowed last season. The same goes for Reshad Jones, who’s built more like a strong safety and the eventual replacement of Yeremiah Bell.
So that leaves us with the now possible, albeit expensive, option of O.J. Atogwe. The 28-year old is entering his sixth year in the NFL, all of which were previously with the Rams, and he’s racked up 15 interceptions in the past three seasons (Dolphin safeties have recorded only 12 picks during that same span).
I don’t know if Miami has the cash for it, but he seems to be a very viable option and a definite upgrade. Yes, it may be comparing apples to oranges, but some experience could really help in the backfield. How much would you pay for a glass of O.J. a-la Atogwe?
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Channing Crowder = A Velociraptor
So I was watching Jurassic Park on Encore last night, and besides wanting to full-out scissor kick William H. Masey in the ribs, I realized something else, something very fascinating: Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder looks like a velociraptor.
You know, those stealth little creatures that hopped out of the brush and ate everyone? Yeah…..try and tell me you don’t believe in evolution NOW:
Then I started thinking about all the other attributes and how these two creatures compare–the tenacious personality, immense agility and the burning hunger for Buffalo Bills. And that’s when it hit me: Channing Crowder IS a velociraptor. Here’s the theory I’ve come up with:
-Velociraptors, or “Speedy Thieves,” were ruthless, carnivorous dinosaurs that existed in the Cretaceus Period about 85-million years ago.
With their extremely sharp teeth, aggressive nature and proficient hunting skills, velociraptors were masters of their domain and they feasted on small lizards and medium-sized hadrosaurids (duckbills).
-Furthermore, Channing Crowder, aka “Clam Crowder,” is a ruthless, predatory linebacker that currently plays for the Miami Dolphins, an NFL career that’s been in existence for five years.
With his dangerously sharp tongue, cat-like agility and killer instincts, Crowder is feared by opposing running backs and he feasts on New England Patriots and Rex Ryan’s leftovers.
Given all these scientific variables, plus the utilization of the transitive property, I have therefore concluded the two are one in the same. So, if you’re reading this Rex, you better put down that Philly cheese steak and look….
…right….
….behind you.
Because that’s what velociraptors do! They sneak up into your house and eat all your babies.
And by house I mean the Meadowlands…
…and by babies…
I mean Mark Sanchez.
