More and more money, but for what? posted by Matthew McCabe

Over the last two years America has slowly sunk into an economic mess. People are losing their jobs, their homes, and their self-esteem as they find it harder and harder to make ends meet. It appears however that not everybody is suffering. As college educated people lose jobs they've held for years, and recent college graduates struggle to find any job at all, there are some signing on the dotted line for millions that haven't earned a dime of what they are being given. America's two largest, and most arguably most popular, professional sports leagues are doing nothing to curtail ballooning salaries for top rated rookies who haven't even set foot on the field to prove they are worthy of a contract.

Immediately people are going to disagree and say these kids spent one, two, three, or four (though most don't spend four) years in college as student-athletes waiting for this opportunity. Surely then, that time has earned them a good wage in the professional ranks, but how so? How does performing exceptionally in college prove you are worth anything in the professional ranks? If you ask most athletes and analysts, they will tell you that in no sport are the college ranks anywhere near the intensity of the professional leagues. Given that knowledge, it should be easy to realize then that everything earned in college gets you nothing but attention before your professional career. Accomplishments in an admittedly lesser league (or level of play) don't prove you are capable of success on the prime time stage.

If that isn't enough to convince you, than perhaps you need a history lesson. The history of draft night is littered with failures and wasted money. Yes, a select few do go on to justify the ridiculous contract signed when they were 22 yrs old, but most do not. Without naming every failure, a few stick out as perfect examples. QBs Todd Marinovich and Akili Smith were tremendous collegiate athletes, but terrible failures at the professional ranks. Marinovich couldn't handle the demands of the NFL in comparison to NCAA football and Smith looked lost trying to figure out professional defenses. QBs aren't the only ones, RBs have been taken high in the draft only to fail miserably, Ki-Jana Carter being the best example. Carter helped propel his Penn State team to a 12-0 record in 1994. After being picked #1 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals however, Carter tore his ACL in his first preseason game and never recovered. Carter finished his NFL career with 1,144 rushing yards and 20 TDs.

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Miami Dolphins LB Cameron Wake posted by Vincent Jacovino

I had alot of hope for this guy, I still do. If you have not heard of Cameron Wake by now I am not suprised. His presence has been buried by the return of Jason Taylor (WELCOME BACK!). Wake was plucked from the CFL where in two seasons he collected 39 sacks, was the Outstanding Rookie Of The Year his first season, and was Most Outstanding Defensive Player both years. Now I know the CFL is in no way shape or form the NFL, but looking at those sack stats got me giddy at the thought of what he could possibly do in this league.

This isn't his first time in the NFL though. He was originally an undrafted free agent signed by the New York Giants in 2005 but was later released. Some would say he already had his shot at the NFL and couldn't make the cut, but I believe some players need time to grow and I think he is ready now. So did 16 other teams who were interested in him. Wake signed a four year deal with the Miami Dolphins and I was hoping he would replace the very disappointing OLB Matt Roth. Roth didn't compliment Joey Porter well with only 5 sacks. I thought he looked rather cumbersome and sluggish in many situations last season.

Now it seems like Cameron Wake has to fight just to make the team. Coach Sparano is seemingly pleased with the offseason improvements by Matt Roth, we've got our defensive anchor in Joey porter, and the prodigal son Jason Taylor has returned home. Not to mention some young linebackers like Erik Walden who contributed on special teams last year. So where does that leave Cameron Wake?  Only time will tell. Right now he is practicing with the third team. Keep an eye on him though, my excitement may have been premature and it may not have. I wish him the best of luck.

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Jason Taylor WELCOME HOME to Miami posted by finfan74

There seems to be a little controversy over Jason Taylors possible homecoming to Miami.  Some fans seem to think his best days are behind him.  This would be the view of some short-sighted people, in my opinion.  Though he didn't have a great season last year, it was his first year with a new team and a new system, along with his injuries, I would think it would be pretty unfair to make any kind of negative judgments towards 2007's defensive player of the year.  I would say that last year Jason's priorities were split between football and another passion of his, Hollywood.  We all know you can't play footbal forever, especially when you play a tough position like DE.  Jason earned his "year off" if you will, with Miami in my opinion, and I was personally very disappointed when the fins decide not to keep him last year.  Unfortunately the NFL like everything else in this country is becoming more about the money than about the people involved.  I think Jason was disheartened with Miami's decision and I think it made his try for an acting career a lot harder than it should have been.  You can't blame the Redskins for being dissapointed, but I just don't think Jason's heart was in it last year.  It sounds like he's ready to play football again, and we know if he plays here he's going to give 110%.  His injuries were probably a result of poor conditioning last year, not a sign of age.  I'm personally looking forward to another great season from the Dolphins, and eagerly anticipating the return of one of the greatest footbal players in my time.

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Jason Taylor Doesn't Want the Jets and the Jets Don't Want That Dancer & Mike Tyson is not a Good Man. But, Don King is Evil posted by Colin Linneweber

Jason Taylor Doesn't Want to Play for the Jets? The Jets Don't Want or Need Taylor! 

Free agent defensive end Jason Taylor told a reporter last week that he would like to return to Miami to play for the Dolphins this upcoming season and he likely would not even consider signing a contract with the New York Jets.

 

"It'd be very, very, very difficult. Very difficult," said the 2006 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year and recent performer on Dancing with the Stars. "But at the end of the day, if you can't find a job anywhere else and the Jets call, I guess you've got to retire or go play."

 

Taylor, 34, a six-time Pro Bowler who evidently cares more about doing the electric slide than playing pigskin, was released last month by the Washington Redskins for refusing to participate in off-season workouts.

 

Despite squandering a second-round pick in this month’s draft and a sixth-round pick in 2010 to the Dolphins last year to obtain Taylor, releasing the former University of Akron All-American is a vintage case of addition by subtraction for the Skins.

 

Taylor performed feebly on the gridiron in Landover, Maryland throughout the 2008 campaign when he wasn’t sidelined by one pink injury after another and his firing already has fans in D.C. justifiably singing “Hail to the Redskins.”

 

The New York Jets and their new Head Coach, Rex Ryan, have done a tremendous job this offseason assembling quality players that should make the Jets very formidable on the defensive side of the ball and it’s comedic that Taylor thinks that Gang Green’s hierarchy would covet a decaying player such as himself.

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Coach Tony and the Mets posted by catherine thomas

Wow, Coach Tony was seen pitching balls for the Mets in Port St Lucie. You should have seen his release, incredible!! I am not sure where they got his t-shirt though, it must have been specially made. Very broad, if you know what I mean. Doesn't he sweat and work out with his team? Doesn't he have off season weight training? How does he stay so big? He must work at it. It should be a requirement that coaches are in as good a shape as their players, you know? It doesn't look so good on the sidelines skipping and puffing down there while throwing the challenge flag. You know who you are...........Continue reading "Coach Tony and the Mets"

LITIGATING LOSERS posted by Geoff Partel

You don’t have to go too far back to recall games where one team was somehow “robbed” of a championship while the other basked in glory.   To this day, I’m sure guys like Bill Buckner and Scott Norwood still deal with the inner turmoil that made them household names.   Thankfully, what’s still nice about the increasingly tarnished image of professional sports is that no matter what the outcome is, the books are shut -- end of story.  That is until now, where former St. Louis Rams’ player Willie Gary, along with two Super Bowl XXXVI ticket holders and a Rams seat license holder, have filed a $100M law suit against the New England Patriots.  Gary, who for the past six years has earned a living playing for the Arena Football League’s Georgia Force, alleges that the outcome of Super Bowl XXXVI, where the heavily favored Rams were beaten 20-17 by New England, would have been different had the Patriots not illegally videotaped a Rams practice earlier that week in February 2002.

In a country that never fails to outdo itself when it comes to litigious absurdity, this suit could be the sports equivalent to Liebeck v. McDonald’s; which was that infamous case involving the criminal negligence of selling hot coffee to those who spill it in their laps.   The lawsuit seeks $35 million in damages covering, among other things, the loss of Super Bowl rings, bonuses and endorsements for the 45 Rams players and cost of $400 tickets for 72,922 fans. *I’m not a lawyer, but if Bob Kraft called me to represent his defense, I’d raise these key points after we agreed on my fee of $850 an hour.·         The Rams only led 3-0 early in the second quarter.   On the Rams’ first offensive drive of the second quarter, they got the ball down to the Patriots 34 yard line.  The Rams failed to convert on third down due to an incompletion and had to settle for a field goal.  They missed.  Show the jury how an alleged videotaping of the Rams’ practice impacts the kicker missing a field goal. ·         Again, in the second quarter with 8:49 remaining in the half, New England defensive back, Ty Law, intercepts a pass intended for Isaac Bruce and runs the ball back 47 yards for a touchdown.   Show the jury how an alleged videotaping of the Rams practice impacts the poor judgment by Kurt Warner on this play.  At this point New England led 7-3. ·         With less than two minutes in the first half, Rams receiver, Ricky Proehl,  has the ball stripped at the Patriots 40 yard line.  New England recovers, of which they subsequently score another touchdown with 31 seconds remaining in the half.  Show the jury how an alleged videotaping of the Rams practice impacts the fumbling by Ricky Proehl.   At this point New England led 14-3. ·         In the third quarter, New England defensive back, Otis Smith, intercepted a pass after its intended receiver, Tory Holt, slips and falls.  New England again capitalizes from this turnover with a field goal.  Show the jury how an alleged videotaping of the Rams practice impacts the stumbling by Tory Holt.   At this point New England led 17-3. ·         Later in the third quarter, Kurt Warner fumbled on a fourth- and- goal quarterback sneak.  The ball was recovered by Patriots defensive back, Tebucky Jones, and returned for 97 yards.  New England would have had a commanding lead of 24-3 had the play not been nullified by a defensive hold by Willie McGinest.  Even if that play counted, show the jury how an alleged videotaping of the Rams practice impacts Kurt Warner fumbling the ball.  As a result of the penalty, the Rams got a first down and scored two plays later.  New England led 17-10.  The Rams scored once more tying the game at 17 apiece.   With a minute and a half remaining in the game, the Patriots marched the ball to the Rams 30 yard line of which Adam Vinatieri made a 48 yard field goal to win in the game’s final second of play. 

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End of an Era: Zach Thomas Released posted by Jason Sarney

The Miami Dolphins released Zach Thomas on Thursday, ending his 12 year run with the only franchise he has ever known.  The new Miami regime made the decision, no doubt based on Thomas’ recent concussion issues.  He has not been the same spark plug middle linebacker Miami fans knew and grew to admire since 2006, and unfortunately, it was time. 

Thomas, an under-sized, yet over-achieving middle linebacker, was drafted in the 5 th round in the 1996 NFL Draft, the 154 th overall selection, out of Texas Tech.  He immediately became a fan favorite as it seemed he was in on every tackle the Miami Defense recorded.  His stopping the run, dropping back in pass coverage, and taking the occasional ball to the house, have Dolphin fans collectively reminiscing today.

With a year remaining on his contract, Thomas will look for employment with a contender, should there be a roster spot for him.  As I lifelong Dolphin fan, I can only pray that contender doesn’t play their home games in Massachusetts.  It would be a devastating blow to “Miami Die-Hards.” 

We’ve suffered enough, haven’t we?

If Thomas plays in 2008, I hope he succeeds, and if the Dolphins can’t pull a miraculous run to a Super Bowl title, then I hope the team he is on wins it…other than that team in Massachusetts of course.

If I had my way, I would like to see him on a NFC contender like Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, or Seattle, to name a few.  If he wears a Jet, Bill or Patriot jersey, I don’t know what I would do.  How would I be able to root against one of my all-time favorite players, on a rival team no less?

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Larry Who? Faceless Cav sinks Magic posted by Jeff Gardenour

The Orlando Magic might want to check their stat sheet again today. Larry Hughes scored 40 points, yes, that's right, 40, to lead Cleveland to a 118-111 victory on Monday night. Larry who? Exactly. On a night when LeBron James scored a mere 29 points and dished out 10 assists for another double-double, the King was upstaged by Hughes, who poured in 23 points, alone, in the fourth quarter. You've got to be kidding me. This is like Tiger Woods losing to the world's 100th-ranked golfer, or the Miami Dolphins beating the New England Patriots. Pitiful. Orlando's defense, which played admirably in the early going, is a mere shell of its former self heading into the All-Star break. This is a team that can't rely on Dwight Howard all season long to make the playoffs, let alone win its division. Rashard Lewis missed open look after open look against the Cavs. He can be a 6-foot-10 waste of money, sometimes. Lewis needs to work on his stroke all night and all day to show fans he is worth his big contract. The Magic need more than Howard to win their division. Washington and Atlanta both are solid teams, and will hang around to the end. And, the Magic can ill afford another petty breakdown between coach Stan Van Gundy and Howard, who was benched for a period of time in the fourth quarter after a verbal confrontation upset the coaching staff. This is like Bill Belichick sitting Tom Brady. What? Wake up, people. This is the NBA, not high school or college. If you pay a man millions of dollars, play him, and talk to him about his shortcomings in private later. Stupid.

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Parcells Wants to Start Over in Franchise Mode posted by Nicholas O'Malley

Bill Parcells' new gig as the Miami Dolphins is Vice President of Football Operations. What does that mean? No idea. But it sort of sounds like the sort of obscure title that sort of does everything. So, in Leyman's terms...

We have until week three until the Tuna's down there call plays for Offense, Defense, Special Teams, and one new side of the ball that he made up, just now.

So Bill's pretty much the imaginary owner/coach that exists in Madden. It happens all the time. Bill got bored taking all these good teams to the Super Bowl; the guy wants a challenge. So he takes the worst team and dumps all the overpriced, old players for young, fast, cheap ones that will develop over 3 years and then he'll win the wild card and get into the playoff with John Beck and Ted Ginn (Matt Ryan if he's feels naughty with the no. 1 pick). He's probably not going Ryan, if I know my Madden strategies (and I do) he's trading that sucker for a couple first-rounders which will turn into high 80's players in a couple years and they'll get some nice "playmaker" and "icon" titles.

 So watch out for Bill this year, he's gonna start using some exploits he picked up online during retirement- he's a wily one.

 

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Braylon Edwards Becoming a Star (Written October 10th, 2007) posted by Michael Langston Moore

The Browns lost on Sunday to the New England Patriots to the tune of 34-17.  But did anyone really expect them to win?  Despite many opportunities to stay in the game, the Browns tallied up mistakes and turnovers which led to the defeat.

The Browns now sit at 2-3. Maybe not that impressive to some, but much better than expected considering the Browns’ opponents. With a win this Sunday against the hapless Dolphins, the Browns could march into their bye week at 3-3. If that is the case, third year wideout Braylon Edwards will certainly have done his part.

Edwards came into the league in 2005. Highly touted from Michigan, it was immediately evident that the young man had talent. But he also had concentration issues. For every incredible catch, he would follow it up with a back breaking drop.

In early December of 2005, it got worse for Braylon. After making a sensational catch in traffic, the rookie came down funny on his leg. Lying on the ground in agony, it was all too apparent; Edwards tore his ACL and was done for the season.

In 2006, Edwards’ numbers were fairly good—61 receptions, 884 yards, and six touchdowns—but inconsistency at the quarterback position did not allow the second year wideout to show his full potential. There were also maturity issues. At one point last season, an angry Edwards grabbed the jersey of then quarterback Charlie Frye on the sidelines in demonstration of his own frustration. In another incident, Edwards flew to a Michigan-Ohio State game the day before his Cleveland Browns would take the field. And this was after coach Romeo Crennel told him not to do so.

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Estefans buying stake in Dolphins (AP)

Singer Gloria Estefan and her husband, producer Emilio Estefan, are bringing the Miami Sound Machine to the Miami Dolphins. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross announced at a news conference Thursday that the Estefans are joining the NFL franchise as minority owners. Gloria Estefan says she is a "hard core" sports fan and is happy to be a part of her hometown team. [read full article]

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Estefans set to buy stake in Dolphins (AP)

Singer Gloria Estefan and her husband, producer Emilio Estefan, appear set to take on a new role with the Miami Dolphins. In a press conference Thursday, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is expected to announce that the Estefans are buying a small ownership stake in the NFL team. News of the deal was first reported Monday, but at the time, the team confirmed only that the Estefans and Ross will make a... [read full article]

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Jets' Ryan, Miami's Crowder trade barbs (AP)

Rex Ryan claimed he didn't know much about Channing Crowder until recently. Now, the New York Jets coach can't stop talking about the Miami Dolphins linebacker. For the second straight day at minicamp, Ryan led off his news conference by mentioning Crowder and playfully firing back at some comments he made in a war of words that has become downright humorous. [read full article]

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