phinatic1399
03-30-2012, 08:13 AM
The Dolphins do not announce the draft prospects that are summoned to team headquarters, but sources say Miami’s list of upcoming visits includes North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples (an option at pick No. 8), Mississippi offensive tackle Bobby Massie (ESPN’s Todd McShay has Miami picking him at No. 41) and West Virginia linebacker Bruce Irvin (combined 22.5 sacks the past two years).
Among others booked for visits: guards Brandon Brooks (Miami of Ohio) and Desmond Wynn (Rutgers) and Montana cornerback Trumaine Johnson (a potential second-or third-rounder). The Dolphins drafted Johnson’s former defensive back teammate, Jimmy Wilson, after he visited last year.
Teams can bring no more than 30 non-local players to their facilities. Among players with local ties, Miami invited all the notable UM and FIU prospects, plus others including Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David (5.5 sacks), Wisconsin All-Big 10 cornerback Antonio Fenelus and Virginia Tech cornerback Jayron Hosley.
The Dolphins want to spend time with Coples, considered the draft’s best 4-3 end, and reconcile the widely-held perception that he didn’t always play as hard as he could last year.
Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, also in the mix at No. 8, had dinner with Jeff Ireland and Joe Philbin on Wednesday, then had an impressive throwing session in front of 21 teams (including Miami) on Thursday. Linebacker Melvin Ingram, another option at No. 8, met with a Miami coach privately before South Carolina’s Pro Day.
As for Massie, he has “great upside but he's unpolished,” Sports Illustrated’s Tony Pauline said. Philbin wants to upgrade the offensive line. But if the Dolphins take some combination of a lineman, pass rusher and Tannehill with their first two picks, they would urgently need to address receiver with picks No. 72 and/or 73.
Sometimes, teams book visits with players that are very talented but have had off-field issues. For example, Montana's Johnson -- who has very good top-end speed -- pleaded not guilty last year to obstructing an officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Irvin, who ran an impressive 4.5 in the 40, was charged last month with destruction of property after breaking a sign at a sandwich shop. But Irvin overcame a tough background to thrive at West Virginia. He dropped out of high school, earned a GED and has impressed teams in interviews.
CHATTER
### The Dolphins have several players entering the last year of their contracts, and doing extensions with Jake Long and Cameron Wake is the team's priority, according to a club source. Talks with Wake have not started, but are expected to begin soon. Long is due to earn $11.2 million next season. Wake is a bargain at $565,000 but would make significantly more in a new deal.
Though Long and Wake are the priorities, the Dolphins also would like to extend the contracts of Randy Starks and Brian Hartline, among others.
### The Dolphins are considering whether to leave Wilson at cornerback or shift him to safety, where he has some experience.…. Linebacker Philip Wheeler visited Oakland after meeting with Miami on Saturday. He tweeted, "Which team would be a better fit for me this season? This is a tuff career choice.'' Then he offered this after his Bay Area visit: "Raider nation showed Love. Preciate that. Legendary place.''
### Consultant Carl Peterson, the former Chiefs president and owner Stephen Ross’ buddy, no longer has an active role on the Dolphins’ football side after assuming a big one during the coach search. Peterson, who met with all the candidates, did a lot of background work on Philbin, calling Packers coach Mike McCarthy, general manager Ted Thompson and others. Peterson said this week that even though Philbin didn’t call the plays in Green Bay, “McCarthy told me that on first and second down, he asked Joe, ‘What do you think?’ Joe has a great capacity to communicate with everyone at all levels. He’s impressive.”
### Former Dolphins majority owner Wayne Huizenga, who owns five percent of the team and knows what it’s like to be bashed by fans, can commiserate with Ross. “I feel for Steve that it’s not going the way he wants it to go,” said Huizenga, who cracked that he came to the owners meetings for free drinks. “I don’t think Steve is doing a bad job.”
### Ross got plenty of moral support from other owners this week. The Jets’ Woody Johnson (a Dolphins fan growing up) and the Giants’ John Mara stressed how “smart” Ross is and have “no doubt” he will win. “Giants fans, in 1978, marched and burned tickets,” Mara reminded me, referencing the Dolphins’ fan protest last week. “The good thing is [Dolphins fans] are showing they care. The worst thing you can have is silence. People have to show some patience.”
Rams coach Jeff Fisher was effusive about Ross this week – “very, very impressed with Steve as an owner, his enthusiasm, his passion.” But 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, asked Wednesday about his impressions of Ross after meeting with him in January 2011, said only that Ross is “professional” and had nothing more to say.
### Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt was genuinely “disappointed” to lose cornerback Richard Marshall to Miami and raved about his competitiveness and versatility. “He was an outstanding player, one that we wanted back. Very good feel for the game.”
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Among others booked for visits: guards Brandon Brooks (Miami of Ohio) and Desmond Wynn (Rutgers) and Montana cornerback Trumaine Johnson (a potential second-or third-rounder). The Dolphins drafted Johnson’s former defensive back teammate, Jimmy Wilson, after he visited last year.
Teams can bring no more than 30 non-local players to their facilities. Among players with local ties, Miami invited all the notable UM and FIU prospects, plus others including Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David (5.5 sacks), Wisconsin All-Big 10 cornerback Antonio Fenelus and Virginia Tech cornerback Jayron Hosley.
The Dolphins want to spend time with Coples, considered the draft’s best 4-3 end, and reconcile the widely-held perception that he didn’t always play as hard as he could last year.
Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, also in the mix at No. 8, had dinner with Jeff Ireland and Joe Philbin on Wednesday, then had an impressive throwing session in front of 21 teams (including Miami) on Thursday. Linebacker Melvin Ingram, another option at No. 8, met with a Miami coach privately before South Carolina’s Pro Day.
As for Massie, he has “great upside but he's unpolished,” Sports Illustrated’s Tony Pauline said. Philbin wants to upgrade the offensive line. But if the Dolphins take some combination of a lineman, pass rusher and Tannehill with their first two picks, they would urgently need to address receiver with picks No. 72 and/or 73.
Sometimes, teams book visits with players that are very talented but have had off-field issues. For example, Montana's Johnson -- who has very good top-end speed -- pleaded not guilty last year to obstructing an officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Irvin, who ran an impressive 4.5 in the 40, was charged last month with destruction of property after breaking a sign at a sandwich shop. But Irvin overcame a tough background to thrive at West Virginia. He dropped out of high school, earned a GED and has impressed teams in interviews.
CHATTER
### The Dolphins have several players entering the last year of their contracts, and doing extensions with Jake Long and Cameron Wake is the team's priority, according to a club source. Talks with Wake have not started, but are expected to begin soon. Long is due to earn $11.2 million next season. Wake is a bargain at $565,000 but would make significantly more in a new deal.
Though Long and Wake are the priorities, the Dolphins also would like to extend the contracts of Randy Starks and Brian Hartline, among others.
### The Dolphins are considering whether to leave Wilson at cornerback or shift him to safety, where he has some experience.…. Linebacker Philip Wheeler visited Oakland after meeting with Miami on Saturday. He tweeted, "Which team would be a better fit for me this season? This is a tuff career choice.'' Then he offered this after his Bay Area visit: "Raider nation showed Love. Preciate that. Legendary place.''
### Consultant Carl Peterson, the former Chiefs president and owner Stephen Ross’ buddy, no longer has an active role on the Dolphins’ football side after assuming a big one during the coach search. Peterson, who met with all the candidates, did a lot of background work on Philbin, calling Packers coach Mike McCarthy, general manager Ted Thompson and others. Peterson said this week that even though Philbin didn’t call the plays in Green Bay, “McCarthy told me that on first and second down, he asked Joe, ‘What do you think?’ Joe has a great capacity to communicate with everyone at all levels. He’s impressive.”
### Former Dolphins majority owner Wayne Huizenga, who owns five percent of the team and knows what it’s like to be bashed by fans, can commiserate with Ross. “I feel for Steve that it’s not going the way he wants it to go,” said Huizenga, who cracked that he came to the owners meetings for free drinks. “I don’t think Steve is doing a bad job.”
### Ross got plenty of moral support from other owners this week. The Jets’ Woody Johnson (a Dolphins fan growing up) and the Giants’ John Mara stressed how “smart” Ross is and have “no doubt” he will win. “Giants fans, in 1978, marched and burned tickets,” Mara reminded me, referencing the Dolphins’ fan protest last week. “The good thing is [Dolphins fans] are showing they care. The worst thing you can have is silence. People have to show some patience.”
Rams coach Jeff Fisher was effusive about Ross this week – “very, very impressed with Steve as an owner, his enthusiasm, his passion.” But 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, asked Wednesday about his impressions of Ross after meeting with him in January 2011, said only that Ross is “professional” and had nothing more to say.
### Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt was genuinely “disappointed” to lose cornerback Richard Marshall to Miami and raved about his competitiveness and versatility. “He was an outstanding player, one that we wanted back. Very good feel for the game.”
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