Preseason

Aug. 12 at Atlanta 7:30 pm WFOR
AUG. 19 CAROLINA 7:30 PM WFOR
Aug. 27 at Tampa Bay 7:30 pm WFOR
SEPT. 1 DALLAS 7:30 PM WFOR

REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME NETWORK
SEPT. 12 NEW ENGLAND 7:00 PM ESPN

SEPT. 18 HOUSTON 4:15 PM CBS

Sept. 25 at Cleveland 1:00 PM CBS

Oct. 2 at San Diego 4:15 PM CBS

Oct. 9 BYE

Oct. 17 at N.Y. Jets 8:30 PM ESPN

OCT. 23 DENVER 1:00 PM CBS

Oct. 30 at N.Y. Giants 1:00 PM CBS

Nov. 6 at Kansas City 1:00 PM CBS

NOV. 13 WASHINGTON* 1:00 PM FOX

NOV. 20 BUFFALO* 1:00 PM CBS

Nov. 24 at Dallas 4:15 PM CBS

DEC. 4 OAKLAND* 1:00 PM CBS

DEC. 11 PHILADELPHIA* 1:00 PM FOX

Dec. 18 at Buffalo* 1:00 PM CBS

Dec. 24 at New England* 1:00 PM CBS

JAN. 1 N.Y. JETS* 1:00 PM CBS

New rules and points of emphasis for 2011.

While the trend in recent years seems to have been all about player safety, the league took a nice step back this year and will cut down on the number of penalties called when the head of the quarterback is touched. Last season, a penalty was supposed to be called basically anytime a defensive player made contact with a quarterback’s helmet. This year, unless the contact is the result of a “forcible blow,” there will not be a penalty called.

Other notes:

-As you know, kickoffs will now take place at the 35-yard line, not the 30. What you may not know, is that the 10 players on the kicking team besides the actual kicker cannot line up behind the 30, limiting their speed and momentum as they head down the field.

-There can be no coach’s challenges on any play in which points are put on the board. Anytime a play results in points, the replay rules of the final two minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters will be in place (booth review only.) This rule sucks I’m 1 million%% against this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-If a defensive team intentionally commits a stop-clocking penalty in order to give their coach or the replay official more time to look at a possible replay review, the previous play cannot be reviewed–either by challenge or booth review.

-Look for some penalties this year on ball carriers who, while stiff-arming a defender, get their fingers tangled in the defenders’ face mask, and twist. This is a point of emphasis this year and will result in an unnecessary roughness penalty.

Today in a news conference Brandon Marshall not only spoke about his offseason mishaps with his wife practically stabbing him to death. He saw many doctors during the offseason and took many tests. he has announced today that he has a disease known as B.D.P. Borderline Personality Disorder is a disease that makes a person sometimes depressed or unhappy and not feeling of worth, with tendencies too gamble or feeling of unworthiness. Brandon says for the first time in his life he is vulnerable and is trying to cope with this disease , by speaking out and tryign to help others who may have this disease. Maybe the change is coming and we hope it is on the field. With him being mind and sound off the field it has to help him on the field.

Mike Pouncey the Miami Dolphins 1st RD pick from University of Florida signed his contract Saturday morning and was in training camp Saturday afternoon in pads right with the 1st team. He has alot to learn from the new Offensive coordiantor system and the Dolphins wasted no time getting him on the field and working with the 1st unit Offensive Line. He will be a force in the coming years as his brother has been last year in his 1st year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Lets see is Marino retired? Bring him back cause Chad Henne has not proven to be a leader on the field and can’t take the Dolphins anywhere except behind the Jets and Patriots. Last time I checked you get a pink slip for missing the playoffs and finishing 3rd in your division.

With all that being said a lot of marquee QB’s are free agents or on the trade block. Today Vince Young was released from Tennessee Titans. Kyle Orton is on the trade block from the Denver Broncos due to a man named Tim Tebow and his backup former dud Brady Quinn, but they want a draft pick and Ortons 9 million a year seams awfully high!

I would be leaning towards taking a more mobile QB in Vince Young I think he would be a better fit in the Pro style offense of the Miami Dolphins.

Reggie Bush was traded today from the New Orleans Saints to the Miami Dolphins for a backup safety. The former Heisman winner, who eventually tried to give back the Heisman for his scrupulous activities while playing for USC Trojans in college3 football, missed 8 games last year and only had minimal carries due to injuries and other young RB’s in Saints organization.

Bush then became trade bait when New Orleans Saints drafted newest Heisman winner from University of Alabama, and son of former Miami Dolphin Mark Ingram, Mark Ingram Jr. The Miami Dolphins are looking to mix a blend of Reggie Bush on the field with 2nd round draft choice from Kansas State, Daniel Thomas. Daniel Thomas is a big style running back who will be a great 1st and 2nd down back while leaving Reggie Bush to be a 3rd down back as well as a punt returner and possibly a 3rd or 4th wide receiver used on the field.

Whatever happens if he stays healthy he will be an impact player on the field in 2011 for the Miami Dolphins.

Now that the NFL Lockout is over the players will be getting paid again. They aren’t the only ones who
have been making a sacrifice during this tough couple of month’s period. Front office staff members
for a number of teams took pay cuts, lost hours, or were released all together from their positions. It
made it very difficult for people on sales staffs around the NFL to sell tickets to fans that didn’t know if or when the season would start. A lot of people don’t realize how many people it really takes to make an NFL team run. Yes the players, coaches, and GMs get all the limelight, but it is the ticket takers, sales people, and operations staff that make your time at the games that much more enjoyable.

As of yesterday a number of teams went to the media and told their employees that they would be
reimbursed for the lost pay and hours. That is really great news to people that aren’t necessarily making millions of dollars a year and count on that income. The Miami Dolphins were one of two teams thatmade sure to pay up now that no games will be missed and they are back to business as usual. It really says a lot about an organization when they go out of their way to take care of the little guys too. Players often talk about going to a “good organization,” when they are free agents and these types of actions go a long way to show talent the type of organization they are.

The Miami Dolphins are in desperate need for a veteran QB to come in and help mold Chad Henne into
the player he could be. Now there are the typical bigger names out there that the Dolphins probably
won’t bring in or spend the money on to make a back-up QB like Donovan McNabb or Kevin Kolb. There
are other options out there for them so let’s break them down…

Marc Bulger – Has been a starter for years and shown he can help a younger QB become comfortable in
the system. He should be one of the top guys to make a run at.

Bruce Gradkowski – Has had a very up and down career. He wins a few games, then loses a few.
Beyond the up and down record, he does bring his solid work ethic day in and day out. He would be a
valuable piece in showing how things should be done.

Jim Sorgi – Has been a career back-up, but has done it with such class and to two of probably the best
QB brothers to play in the league. Backing up two class acts in Peyton and Eli Manning has given him an
opportunity to see winning at the highest level and all the hard work and determination necessary to
win in this league.

Vince Young – A little younger than most would think for a veteran back-up, but the perk here is the
chance he could become your everyday starter as well. He should come as a cheaper option for a team
willing to give him a shot. He has shown his talents can out weigh some of the headaches he has caused
off the field.

These are just a sample of some available names. The dolphins could also chose to move forward in a
new direction and look to spend money on a bigger named QB in the free agent class or go about it via
trade. Whatever way they go, it will be done sooner than later.

Two of the most important positions are two of the biggest question marks for the Dolphins. Right now the starting QB is Chad Henne and the starting RB is Ronnie Brown. While both are the best at their positions on the roster right now, it doesn’t mean they are locks for the long term.

Henne is the much bigger problem for the Dolphins. His play seems to be a bit bi polar at times. He has some drives that make you think he could be the next Dan Marino (don’t jump on me – just trying to show how good it looks) and then in the very same game he will look like a lost puppy trying to find its owner. Dolphins could look to make a play for Kevin Kolb, Donovan McNabb (if available), or a few others to step in and take over for a shaky Henne.

In terms of RB for the future the Dolphins should have some options this summer to add some speed and more experience to the backfield. With names like Reggie Bush, DeAngelo Williams, and Darren Sproles, among others it gives the Dolphins flexibility to add a dynamic back to what they have now.

It looks more promising that the Dolphins will add depth to the backfield as opposed to the QB position. Only time will tell and nothing will actually happen until the lockout is over – please let it be soon.

Randy Moss should be a dolphin. He loves going to Heat games already anyways. Deep threat with great hands. When you have a chance to acquire one of the best receivers of all time, you don’t think about it.