Since It Worked So Well Last Year...

Last season, the Miami Dolphins chose Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. over would-be starting quarterback Brady Quinn out of Notre Dame. A surprising move at the time, the Dolphins apparently had a plan in place as they selected John Beck in the second round. This selection, or lack of, likely had something to do with the fact that the 'Phins will be choosing first overall this coming draft.

With Boston College's Matt Ryan sitting there for the picking, this seems like a no-brainer. Right? Wrong. Miami is reportedly in talks with Michigan offensive lineman Jake Long.

I find it interesting that Tom Condon represents both Ryan and Long. What I find more interesting is the following quote:

The Dolphins are believed to be happy with quarterback John Beck, and they are not considering Ryan as an option with the first pick.

Could the Dolphins be taking a page out of the Browns' textbook that says an offensive line needs to be in place before a quarterback can succeed? Lord knows that Trent Green wasn't the answer, and if Beck gets another shot, it looks like it'll be behind a brand new bodyguard. No word on who they plan on taking with the first selection in 2009.

What's the Market For 12 Years of Concussions?

Trent Green may want to pay attention to this one, as it appears that (former?) Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas is looking for a long-term contract to reward his 12 years of hard work in the NFL.

And when you're an aging linebacker in search of a deal, where better to look than New England? A graduated Junior Seau found home on the East Coast, and Tedy Bruschi is no spring chicken. Thankfully for Thomas, both of the aforementioned are free agents this season, and may not be back to open up a slot in their vaunted 3-4.

The catch will obviously been in the "guaranteed money" portion as I can't imagine many teams would want to back up the truck for a 35-year old linebacker that has missed a handful of games over the last few years, with the most recent due to concussions - not the greatest of injuries for a veteran to endure.

For those that missed Super Agent Drew Rosenhaus over the past few months may be in luck with this one, as he's being mighty persistent.

“We had a great visit in New England,” agent Drew Rosenhaus wrote in a text message last night. “They offered him a contract and we will continue negotiations.”

Read: They didn't offer us enough money, so we'll make a few more phone calls.

Dallas, New Orleans, Buffalo and the New York Jets are all said to be interested in Thomas' services. New Orleans seems like a decent option to me, as their linebacking corps could use some veteran leadership (and some talent to go with it). But if any team is loose enough with their wallet to give Thomas long-term, guaranteed money, I would be shocked - unless it was with the New York Knicks.

Report: Patriots make offer to Zach Thomas [Providence Journal]

Want a Contract Extension? Move to Cleveland!

Though it had only been spoken in rumor form since the 2007 season came to an end, the Cleveland Plain Dealer has officially reported that the Cleveland Browns have awarded Romeo Crennel with a two-year contract extension, keeping him with the team through 2011. The deal is said to be in the range of $4 million.

This signing comes not even a month after the Browns offered a two-year extension to their offensive coordinator, Rob Chudzinski. And that signing came not too long after the Indians (Cleveland's baseball franchise) signed their Head Coach in Eric Wedge to three-year extension during the middle of this past season.

While rewarding Crennel for his solid efforts and turnaround of the Browns this season seems just due, I'm on the fence with this one. The Browns had a supposed successor in place with Todd Grantham, who is now the team's former defensive coordinator after he was given the curb following an abysmal defensive season for the team. So while no clear plan is presently in place to succeed the oldest coach in the NFL, giving him an extension after one year of success seems a bit much - especially given the way that other coaches (Nick Saban, Bobby Petrino) have honored their contracts in recent history.

I know that award voting is an awful benchmark to use, but is there a chance that the league was telling Cleveland something by not allocating a single Coach of the Year vote to Crennel despite being one of the biggest surprises in the NFL? The Browns will face an exponentially tougher schedule in the upcoming season, so do not count out good old hindsight come this time next year. General Manager Phil Savage may look like a genius now, but in a world of "what have you done for me lately," a regression will not be tolerated by too many fans in the Midwest.

Crennel Signs Extension [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Morning YouTubeness: A Hole New Angle

Morning, all.

We've all seen the England streaker video by now, but I'm pretty sure that this is the first time I've seen it from this angle. If streakers get this much time on the field in England, I fully condone more games overseas. That dude would not have lasted 10 seconds in the Medowlands. Enjoy.

Jesse Chatman, Huddle Hurler

The Dolphins fell to 0-9 on the season after dropping one to the Bills on Sunday. While this news is about 20 hours old, the news of Jesse Chatman's nerves is not.

The Miami Herald reports that Chatman's stomach got the best of him during the second drive of the game. While in the huddle, Chatman let loose on the field in front of about 70,000 not-so-proud.

"I got a little Willie Beamen-itis in me a little bit," Chatman laughed, referencing Jamie Foxx's Any Given Sunday character, who vomits before every game. "I needed that because my stomach was hurting."

Surprisingly enough, the Dolphins didn't get flagged for the cookie tossing. Penalty flags otherwise ruined the afteroon for the 'Phins who are now the only team in the league without a win.

Good news is that Chatman, the back-up for injured running back Ronnie Brown showed that he can more than carry the load. He finished with five catches and 27 carries, totaling 124 yards.

Dolphins Taylor Hurts Ankle [Miami Herald]

Morning YouTubeness: Better Late Than Never

Not to go back to the draft, but when Miami passed on Brady Quinn for Ted Ginn Jr., a few eyebrows were raised. While there has been jokes about Ginn getting his sophomore slump out of the way this season, Ginn decided to wait until week eight, in London no less, to haul in his first career touchdown pass.

With Chris Chambers heading to San Diego, this kid is your new #1 receiver, Dolphins fans. Embrace it.



I love the commentary after the grab saying that the Dolphins were "an extra point away from being three down." I wish someone would've said that in the Patriots/Redskins game, after the 'Skins scored to bring it within 45.

When Life Hands You Lemons

John Beck. The Next Heath Shuler?
When you are a team that has yet to win a game this season, nothing may be more suitable than a bye week to allow you to regroup and rethink - even if you're "rethinking" jumping out of a window.

Not only have the Miami Dolphins not won a game, they have also lost their starting quarterback and starting running back for the remainder of the season. While Ronnie Brown will be back next season, current quarterback Cleo Lemon may not. This begs the question, when will the 'Phins start rookie QB John Beck?

When asked of Head Coach Cam Cameron, his current reply is "I don't know."

"I don't have that answer right now," said Cameron, when asked how close Beck is to playing. ``This is an opportunity through the bye week to step back, look at some things, see where we are in all phases."

While Lemon has done alright to this point, he hasn't been spectacular - and more importantly - he hasn't won any games.

The choice obviously comes down to weighing the risks and rewards of starting a rookie quarterback. The Miami Herald discusses Heath Shuler, the 1994 Redskins rookie that took over when Cameron was quarterbacks coach.

Shuler became the starter in the fifth week of the season and would start seven more games. He completed 45.3 percent of his passes and threw 12 picks. Eventually, Shuler was replaced in his third year by Gus Frerotte - which if the stats were not enough to make you realize that Shuler was a failure, the name "Gus Frerotte" should do the trick.

Is it worth starting the next Heath Shuler to savor a few wins? To be determined.

Cameron still is not committed to starting Beck [Miami Herald]

Hi, My Name Is: Jesse Chatman

The Miami Dolphins are winless on the season. And now with recent news out of the Miami Herald, it looks like while they lost yet another game on Sunday, they will also lose their prized running back for the rest of the season.

Enter Jesse Chatman.

Like many others in the "Hi, My Name Is" series, Chatman was an undrafted free agent, signed in 2002. His college experience stems from Eastern Washington University, where he was an AP I-AA All-American selection. University of Michigan fans should know something about I-AA, but I digress.

While in school, Chatman recorded the fourth-highest single season rushing total in I-AA history with 2,096. He finished his collegiate career with 53 trips to the end zone and over 4,000 yards.

Since entering the NFL in 2002, Chatman spent several years with the Chargers before giving way to some guy named LaDanian Tomlinson. He had a tour of duty with the Dolphins, but was traded to New Orleans in 2005.

He spent 2006 out of the NFL, but rejoined the Dolphins in 2007 where he will now be thrusted into the starting running back slot for Cam Cameron.

What many not know is that Chatman was right on the tails of Brown in the preseason, sparking rumors of the former first round pick taking a back seat. Well, now Brown will take a seat on the trainers table, and Chatman will be getting the bulk of the carries while Miami still searches for their first win of the season. Good luck, Jesse.

Fans of Miami, congratulations on that number one overall pick in 2008! Will it be Jake Long? Brian Brohm? Heck, Andre Woodson?

Dolphins' Ronnie Brown Done For Season [Miami Herald]

Afternoon Delight: Pick 'Em

A 16.5 point spread with this guy running the ball? No thanks.
We're in the home stretch of Friday afternoon, and it wouldn't be such without a few gambling thoughts sent to the readers.

This will be the third installment of my "picks," and I must say that with a 7-for-8 going on right now, I'm feeling pretty confident. Of course, if I get blanked this week, I'll just tell you that it was house money to begin with and to quit your bitchin'. On to this week's games...

Kansas City (+2.5) over OAKLAND
I was very close to taking Cincy giving last week, but sure glad I didn't after the barrage that Larry Johnson and company put on the Bengals. This week, I expect Herm Edwards to stick to the ground. With Warren Sapp and possibly Gerard Warren missing the contests, the Raiders will be throwing third-string D-Linemen at the Chiefs. I'll take the points on the road.

Pittsburgh (-3.5) over DENVER
When you take one of the league's biggest run-first teams and pair them up against the league's worst rush defense and add in a bit of surgery for the latter team's main receiving threat, something tells me that not even a last second timeout can stop the Steelers from working the Broncos.

Indianapolis (-3) over JACKSONVILLE
Man, I'm not liking all of these road teams. But what I am liking is the Peyton Manning on Monday Night Football bit that seems to always work out pretty well. Joseph Addai is returning and the Jags main receiver is still Dennis Northcutt. That should be worth four points right there.

MIAMI (+16.5) over New England
Yea, this one I'm not too sure about. Regardless of the record, you're giving a team a three-score lead, at home, before the game even begins. Couple this with the fact that New England could be handing the ball to a white guy for the majority of the contest, and we could be in for a close one. And by close, I mean at least 14 points.


Good luck!

Return of Ricky?

Miami Dolphins fans can rejoice. Despite being 0-4 and losing to the Oakland Raiders this past Friday, great news has come down the vine from the Associated Press. Former running back Ricky Williams has applied for his reinstatement to the National Football League.

Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg says that his client is "extremely excited." No words about Funyuns or Taco Bell's drive-thru hours having anything to do with the emotional outpouring.

The 1998 Heisman Trophy winner spent an extended vacation in Australia and India during a year-long retirement in 2004. He played in the Canadian Football League in 2006 and taught yoga in California.

"Vacation." Nice way to phrase that one, AP.

It's not certain by any means that Williams will get reinstated, with Odell Thurman being a perfect example of a rejection. Though he is under contract with the 'Phins, there has been no word by Head Coach Cam Cameron on his intentions of dealing with the former star.

The Dolphins may want to see if Williams could transfer over to the defensive side of the ball, as their ability to stop the opposition has been nothing short of atrocious. Despite a rough start, current running back Ronnie Brown has strung together two solid games and wide reciever Chris Chambers has 23 receptions in the first four games. However, their defense has allowed 16, 37, 31, and 35 points respectively through the same stretch.

Maybe Ricky could be the answer?

Yes, if your question is, "Who will be the next player to fail a drug test?"

Morning YouTubeness: Job Auditions

'Morning, all. In light of the recent New England Patriots ordeal, Terrell Owens decided to give his contribution this weekend after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins.

Of course, I could talk about the stellar play on fourth down with time running out - but that would just be boring. Action!

Lay Off, He Was Tired

Reports around the NFL have been raving about the training camp that ex-Ohio State'r David Boston has been having this season. Playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Boston looked ready to bump the emerging Maurice Stovall off of the starting rotation of wide receivers...until this morning.

Boston has been arrested on charges of driving under the influence after being found passed out behind the wheel. Three points of this story that make it even more intriguing:

1) The car was in an intersection.
2) The car was running.
3) The car was in drive.

Yep, passed out behind the wheel of a running car, while in drive.

Hey, if you're going to do something, you may as well do it right...right?

When the officer woke Boston, he says Boston told him he was on his way from the Celebration area in Orlando to Tampa International Airport. Boston completed a field sobriety test, and the officer said he had probable cause to believe that he had been driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.

Odd that he had passed all of the sobriety tests. Police have reportedly took a urine sample as well, and are awaiting results. Let's just hope they don't find steroids as well.

Trent Green Officially First In Line To Take Beating

In what was one of the worst kept secrets in the NFL thus far, the Miami Herald is reporting that Trent Green has been named the starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins.

[Cam] Cameron said the primary reason he picked Green was his leadership ability.

''Cleo's time is coming,'' Cameron said. ``He has a lot of room for growth, especially with his leadership.''

Here's to hoping that "leadership" makes up for the offensive line woes that the Dolphins may have this season.

Is There A Priest In The House?

Now I didn't get a chance to watch the Miami Dolphins battle the Kansas City Chiefs to an 11-10 victory last night - and to be honest, I'm thankful I didn't tune in.

I watched Kansas City play Cleveland last weekend, so lord knows what sort of production they would have against the 'Phins. One thing that did intrigue me was the absence of Priest Holmes.

Holmes, in what is supposed to be one of the feel-good stories of the season, was M.I.A. last night, and Jason Whitlock wasn't about to let this one slide through the cracks. In a Kansas City Star piece, Whitlock went as far as to call out Holmes' intentions.

When the Chiefs finally do sign Johnson, I believe Holmes will get what he’s wanted all along — his unconditional release. He doesn’t want to play for the Chiefs. Not under his current contract.

Why play for $870,000, when he can sign a contract with a team in his home state — Dallas or Houston — for the same money with maybe a few incentive bonuses?

Priest Holmes has recently gone on record saying that he would like Larry Johnson's money, if the star back wants to hold out. Ask Brett Favre what sort of feedback usually results from calling out another player on contract issues.

If Holmes wants to continue going on television and calling people out, so be it. But if you're trying to find someone that buys into the story of him coming back and being a factor, you'll need to find someone else as I won't be jumping aboard that bandwagon.

Chris Chambers Will Not Succumb To Your Laws

Dolphins wide receiver Chris Chambers was arrested in the middle of July on what was reported to be a DWI charge.

Today, NFL.com reports that Chambers (with legal counsel in tow) will plead not-guilty to said charges, as his blood-alcohol level was below the legal definition of intoxication.

To add a bit of salt in the wound, he was was also charged with reckless driving and speeding, something I'm not sure you can deny if you actually were driving over the speed limit.

Now, color me confused, but if North Carolina sets a "legal limit" of intoxication, how is it illegal if you're under that set limit? Why not just move the "limit" to zero - as this is apparetnly what it is anyways.

Chambers, one of no real history as a trouble-maker, should get the benefit of the doubt from Roger Goodell, but is in no way a lock to not be suspended. Jared Allen received a two-game ban for his DUI last season, so keep this one on the radar until the September 26th court date.

Here's to hoping they don't throw the book at Chambers, as he may drop it. (Bah-dum, cha!)