*** DOLPHINS TRAINING CAMP ***
Aug 24, 1999: -- Day 28 - Aug 23 --
TODAY'S REPORT:
The Dolphins conducted one practice on Monday with WR Oronde
Gadsden (back), FB Roosevelt Potts (calf), and RB JJ Johnson
(hamstring) returning to practice after missing 7-10 days each.
Gadsden and Johnson were not back at full speed and were held out of
some drills, but did participate in much of the practice.
But the biggest news of the day was the release of three
players - WR Willie Green, DT Shane Burton and TE Rickey Brady. The
release of Brady is not too surprising, but letting Burton and Green go
are pretty big surprises at this point in camp.
The word out of Miami is that Willie Green was looking as bad
as any receiver on the roster, including the recently signed Kio
Sanford. Green just never performed the way his experience and talent
indicated he should be able to perform. It was clear that he would
not make the roster, even with the rash of recent receiver injuries.
Shane Burton's waiver is a little more complicated, but it was
a combination of factors, including his high salary cap number (he was
scheduled to make $934,000 this season), his lying about his prior DUI
involvement and his performance in training camp. Rich Owens can take
over his pass rushing duties, while DT Antoine Simpson has played well
enough to be a backup as a run stopper.
The last straw was when he refused to take a pay cut last week.
As a result, he was released by the Dolphins.
With the lack of eyewitness reports and the news media being
unusually quiet about what happened in practice, there is little else
to report.
JJ'S COMMENTS:
JJ talked mostly about the Chargers game and about the upcoming
Detroit game. He said that he was particularly impressed with CB Jerry
Wilson, who not only had 2 sacks, but also improved his coverage
dramatically. He also talked about Cecil Collins' play in short
yardage situations.
For the Detroit game, JJ said that they would use this game to
see how the team doing and whether or not they were ready for the
regular season. The starters will play longer as a group than in any
other pre-season game and the starting special teams players will all
play together on special teams for the first time.
ROSTER MOVES:
The Dolphins released WR Willie Green and waived DT Shane
Burton and TE Rickey Brady.
FUTURE EVENTS:
The Dolphins will practice once each day for the rest of the
week until Saturday, when they will host the Detroit Lions in their
third pre-season game of the summer.
INJURY REPORT:
WR Lamar Thomas (shoulder) and OJ McDuffie (right thumb) missed
practice, but will be back in 3-5 days. DE Walter Scott (knee), S Rayna
Stewart (sore ribs) and WR Nate Jacquet (sprained right big toe) did
not practice and are listed as day-to-day.
LB Sammie Burroughs (back) and LB OJ Brigance (back) remain on
the club's Active/Physically Unable to Perform List, but Brigance is
going to be examined by a doctor this week and may be able to return to
practice by Friday.
LB Anthony Harris (groin) is expected to be out 10-12 weeks as
he recovers from surgery performed on August 3. WR Robert Baker had
successful surgery on both knees and will probably miss the entire
season.
EYEWITNESS REPORTS:
Unfortunately, there will be no more eyewitness reports this
summer. The Dolphins have closed training camp to spectators from now
on.
My Comments:
Given the reports I'd been hearing, the release of Willie Green
was not particularly surprising. Shane Burton's release was more
surprising, but I don't think he'll have trouble finding another team
to play for and when you look at all the facts of his release, it's
pretty obvious why it was done.
It's nice to have JJ Johnson and Rosie Potts back in practice,
even if Johnson is only working on a limited basis.
My personal hope for the Detroit game is to see what happens
when they line Cecil Collins up behind Roosevelt Potts. Potts is
supposed to be the best blocker of the fullbacks and that could be quit
a devastating combination.
Otherwise there is little to comment on - except of course for
the Dimitrius Underwood situation. As you've no doubt heard by now,
Underwood has told JJ he wants to play for Miami this year and will
report on Monday.
It's doubtful that Underwood will be able to pick up enough
work to be effective this season and that leaves the Dolphins with an
interesting quandary. Do they keep him on the roster in hopes he'll
mature for next year? And if they do that, who do they cut to keep
him? Underwood is principally a defensive end, but Miami already has 5
very effective defensive ends.
Of course, bringing Underwood in does add one more reason to
get rid of Shane Burton. But that still doesn't answer the question
of how to fit him on the roster.
It could all be moot, though. Underwood could come in next week
(his first day will be next Monday) and be terrible. Or he could quit
again. Or get injured - I doubt he's in playing shape or prepared to
face James Brown and Brent Smith in the Florida heat.
Maybe if he stinks, they can convince him to leave camp again
and then place him on the "left camp" reserve roster. Then they'll
still own his rights next year.
But the bottom line is that there's really no room on the
roster for him right now.
Still, it wouldn't be JJ's Dolphins if they didn't bring in
Underwood when they could.
And it's still JJ's Dolphins.
Related Info:
[Return to Training Camp]
Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
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