Tag: Miami Dolphins (Page 10 of 32)

The Vikings may want to trade for Vincent Jackson, like, yesterday

MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 19: Quarterback Brett Favre  of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to the start of the game against the Miami Dolphins on September 19, 2010 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Apparently without Sidney Rice, the Vikings’ offense is about as explosive as toothpaste.

In what had to be an agonizing game for Viking fans to watch, Brett Favre completed 22-of-36 passes for 225 yards and three interceptions in a 14-10 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. One interception was Percy Harvin’s fault, but the other two were vintage Brett. (He threw an absolute pea-rocket into the gut of Jason Allen on one pick, while the other came when he underthrew an intended receiver that had been blanketed by not one, but two Miami defenders.)

Outside of tight end Visante Shiancoe (6 catches, 86 yards), Favre doesn’t appear to be on the same page with any of his receivers. Harvin did catch five passes for 32 yards, but the second-year receiver once again battled injuries throughout the day. He played sparingly in the second half after re-injuring the same hip that kept him out of practice for most of the week.

With Rice (hip) is expected to miss at least another six or seven weeks (and that’s being optimistic – some believe he’ll be out the entire season), maybe it’s time for the Vikings to get serious about acquiring Vincent Jackson from the Chargers. I wrote earlier this week about how I don’t think a move like that would be good for the team’s long-term future, but the Vikes can’t sit idle and watch Favre continue to destroy their season. He’s fun to watch when he’s on, but when he’s off there isn’t a more reckless signal caller in the league.

The trade winds may start blowing hard in Minnesota this week.

Bill Parcells to cede control of Dolphins to GM Jeff Ireland

DAVIE, FL - MAY 02:  Executive Vice President of Football Operations Bill Parcells (L) walks past a player at practice on during Miami Dolphins Rookie Mini Camp on May 2, 2008 at the Dolphins practice facility in Davie, Florida.  (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

The Dolphins announced today that GM Jeff Ireland is taking the reins from executive vice president of football operations Bill Parcells.

From USA Today’s The Huddle:

“Effective immediately, Jeff Ireland will assume full control over all aspects and decisions in regard to the Miami Dolphin football team and support staff.”

However the Dolphins also noted “this was the intent of the structure put in place in the past,” and that Parcells “will remain with the club on a daily consultant basis.”

There was no word as to whether Ireland’s official title had changed.

Even though I think it’s amazing how Parcells continues to come and leave as he pleases in the NFL, the Dolphins are in better shape now than when he first arrived (the team was 1-15 then), so he essentially fulfilled his job requirements. And with Tony Sparano in charge of a team that now has Chad Henne, Brandon Marshall and Karlos Dansby at its core, Parcells has set Miami up for the foreseeable future, too.

Parcells will remain with the organization on a daily consulting basis, according to the team. So as of now, it doesn’t look like he’ll be jetting off to another team anytime soon.

Of course, this is Bill Parcells were talking about, so nobody should be surprised if he popped up in another NFL city sometime down the road.

Offensive line has emerged as the Dolphins biggest issue

MIAMI - JANUARY 4:  Jake Long #77 of the Miami Dolphins looks on while sitting on the bench during an AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens on January 4, 2009 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Merry preseason, everyone. It’s been a long offseason, but football is finally gearing up again and to celebrate I’m rolling out a new series on TSR entitled “2010 NFL Question Marks,” where I discuss one or two of the biggest concerns that teams have heading into the new season. Granted, some teams have more issues than others, but I’ll primarily be focusing on the biggest problem areas. Today I’ll be discussing the issues the Dolphins have had on their O-line thus far in preseason.

Had I wrote this piece before the preseason started, I would have written it about the Dolphins’ free safety position. But considering how good Chris Clemons has looked this offseason, it would be a reach to say that safety will be a big issue for Miami in 2010. (Especially when the ultra-productive Yeremiah Bell remains the starter at strong safety.)

After watching their first three preseason games, the biggest question the Dolphins’ faithful should have is what happened to the offensive line? Once considered a strength because of how well the team could run the ball, Miami’s O-line has be incredibly suspect thus far.

Jake Long and Vernon Carey remain entrenched at the tackle positions, while Richie Incognito and John Jerry are the projected starters at left and right guard, respectively. Joe Berger is slated to start at center after beating out Jake Grove this offseason.

The biggest problem is at the two guard positions, where Incognito and Jerry haven’t been good in pass protection or run blocking. Both are getting shoved backwards at the snap, which is troubling considering the Dolphins signed Incognito this offseason because of his power and drive in the running game.

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Is the pressure already getting to Brandon Marshall in Miami?

MIAMI - AUGUST 14: Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall  of the Miami Dolphins warms up prior to playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a preseason game at Sun Life Stadium on August 14, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

It was only one scrimmage.

It was only one preseason game.

The head coach isn’t even worried, so why should anyone else be?

If those who follow the Dolphins want to take any of the above stances when it comes to Brandon Marshall’s recent struggles in South Beach, I wouldn’t blame them. After all, it’s only the second week of the preseason and we’re still weeks away from the games actually counting.

But given his history with behavioral issues, why wouldn’t people be concerned?

Marshall followed up a poor showing in a scrimmage two weeks ago by dropping the only two passes that were thrown to him during Miami’s first preseason game last weekend. Then, and stop me if you’ve already heard this one, during a practice session on Monday he reportedly dropped a pass in the end zone and then punted it over a fence. He proceeded to stand by himself, sulking on the sidelines afterwards.

Head coach Tony Sparano shrugged off the kicking incident by saying, “I didn’t see it, but I got bigger fish to fry…If he drops them and he gets pissed off at himself about dropping them, I’m okay with that.”

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Brandon Marshall says he’ll play in the NBA if there’s a NFL lockout

Aug. 04, 2010 - Davie, Florida, United States of America - 04 August 2010: .Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall.

Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and………Brandon Marshall.

From ESPN.com:

Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall said Thursday that if NFL teams lock out the players next year, he will try out for the NBA.

Marshall said he plans to audition for either the Denver Nuggets or the Miami Heat.

“My first team will be the Nuggets and my second team will be the Heat — I’m serious,” Marshall said.
Asked to clarify whether he will pursue a basketball career if there is no NFL season in 2011, Marshall said:

“Not pursuing — I’m going to be on an NBA team. Seriously.”

Marshall said he was good enough to play shooting guard professionally.

That’s all the Dolphins need – for Marshall to play in the NBA after handing him $47.5 million.

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