Ricky Williams scored three touchdowns - including one on a 46-yard burst - and the Dolphins' defense held off Carolina late as Miami improved to 5-5 on the season with a 24-17 road victory Thursday night.
CCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- There was an eye-popping moment during the Dolphins game Thursday night when Miami's offense deployed in a five-wide receiver alignment, a look that typically suggests pass-happy, wide-open, light-the-scoreboard football.
It'll be interesting to see what the Miami Dolphins' active roster looks like Nov. 29 in Buffalo.
Dolphins coach Tony Sparano admitted Friday afternoon he isn't sure if the Dolphins will have center Jake Grove (ankle) or nose guards Jason Ferguson (knee) and Paul Soliai (ankle) healthy.
Joey Porter, who was held out of Sunday's victory against Tampa Bay, and Randy Starks were defensive stalwarts for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins made their first appearance on NFL Network's Thursday night package, and fortunately the channel has improved its game presentation since initially miscasting Bryant Gumbel as a play-by-play announcer. Still, there is room for improvement.
Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown has decided to undergo surgery to repair a Lisfranc fracture in his right foot, two sources told The Miami Herald. The surgery will be performed Friday.
Even with Ronnie Brown out, expect the Dolphins - and the Panthers - to push ground attacks.
Ricky Williams will be carrying the ball and the burden for the Dolphins as backfield mate Ronnie Brown is out for the season. So welcome to 2002 all over again.
The determined Dolphins lost their best player when workhorse running back Ronnie Brown's season came to an early end for the second time in his NFL career.
Six weeks ago, Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington endured a third surgery on his right shoulder, ending his 2009 season while leaving doubts about whether his career would be next. These days?
Miami Dolphins starting tight end Anthony Fasano (hip), backup nose guard Paul Soliai (ankle) and linebacker Erik Walden (hamstring), who contributes mostly on special teams, were listed with running back Ronnie Brown (foot) as ``out'' on the final injury report before Thursday's Dolphins-Carolina game.
The Dolphins are preparing for life without running back Ronnie Brown, who seems unlikely to play Thursday because of an injury.
Bill Parcells doesn't speak to local reporters and general manager Jeff Ireland rarely does, but Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered an assessment of his team and doesn't sugarcoat the deficiencies at receiver.
Dolphins coach Tony Sparano got defensive when asked about linebacker Joey Porter's season in Porter's seven games before Sparano made him a healthy inactive Sunday. Sparano even said the media seemed ``on a hunt.''
All of Ricky Williams' coaches and teammates believe he has the stamina and strength to take on a bigger workload against the Panthers -- even at 32.
Miami averted a crushing defeat with a 77-yard drive and late field goal. `A loss would have been devastating,' LB Akin Ayodele said.
The postgame locker room was thick with bodies and noise and plain relief when the most accomplished, respected player on this Dolphins team picked through the crowd and sought out the young man across the way -- the one with all that weight on him.
After as possum-ugly a game as the NFL will cringe to see, the Dolphins showed the one thing that would save their Sunday.
The up-and-down team had another up-and-down game and unless something drastic happens in the coming weeks, the Dolphins will be lamenting an up-and-down season.
Joey Porter was placed on the inactive list Sunday despite being healthy. But he was hardly missed as Charlie Anderson had a stellar day.
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