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Miami Dolphins' depth chart not yet meaningful
It shouldn't be that much of a surprise that the Dolphins' initial depth chart only sort of resembles the way they have been lining up in practice.
For practices, coach Tony Sparano knows how many snaps he wants not just for entire units, but for each player, with all the echelons within each unit. He isn't just a bear for details, he's a grizzly. The depth chart on the other hand . . .
``When you ask me to put together a depth chart after 12 practices, it really is something that's going to take place in another 10 practices,'' Sparano said. ``It's kind of hard for me to do that right now with a clear conscience. So, I put the depth chart out with no real rhyme or reason.''
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Miami Dolphins CB Vontae Davis' injury appears minor
Although not serious enough to keep cornerback Vontae Davis from walking on his own, the Dolphins' first-round draft pick sustained an injury to his left knee during the second quarter that sidelined him for the rest of Thursday night's game.
Davis, with his knee wrapped in ice, walked with a considerable limp while flanked by two trainers as he left for the locker room with a few minutes remaining in the first half.
He stood on the sideline for the final two quarters, no longer wearing shoulder pads, while continually bending his leg as if to test the soreness. Fortunately for Davis, the Dolphins will have 10 days before the start of the regular season to get him healed.
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Miami Dolphins' Jake Long won't play in Pro Bowl
As of Friday, the only part of the Dolphins that will be a part of the Jan. 31 Pro Bowl is its home stadium.
Left offensive tackle Jake Long, an AFC starter and the only Dolphin in the game so far, pulled out because of an unspecified injury, the NFL announced on its website. The first alternate at tackle, Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, moved onto the AFC's roster. Ironically, last year Long played in the game as a rookie because Buffalo's Jason Peters stepped down because of injury.
The Pro Bowl, being played on the U.S. mainland for the first time since 1979 and in Miami for the first time since 1975, last featured Dolphin-free football in 2007. Defensive end Jason Taylor was tapped for the AFC roster but did not go. The same thing happened with cornerback Sam Madison and linebacker Zach Thomas in 2001 and defensive tackle Tim Bowens in 1998. You would have to go back to 1997 to find a season in which the Dolphins did not have a player selected.
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Who has the edge: Miami Dolphins at N.Y. Jets
WHEN THE DOLPHINS RUN THE BALL
The Dolphins shredded the Jets for 268 rushing yards in their first meeting. They had 115 yards from Ronnie Brown and 68 from Ricky Williams on the way to their biggest rushing day of the season. That performance surprised the Jets, but one wonders what they can do about it because they have since lost nose tackle Kris Jenkins, their best run-stopper, to a season-ending injury.
Advantage: Miami.
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Miami Dolphins sign linebacker and wide receiver
The Miami Dolphins were dominated by opposing ground games late in the season, even by run-poor Houston, to such an extent the problem had to be greater than losing starting nose guard Jason Ferguson. Particularly against Pittsburgh in the season finale, big yardage was gained outside the tackles.
That points to Miami's outside linebackers, which might be the reason Miami turned over another stone for answers in signing Brian Johnston to a two-year deal worth $875,000 in base salary Thursday.
Johnston, who spent the 2009 season out of football after failing a physical with the Detroit Lions, is listed as a defensive end and saw his only NFL playing time at the position as a rookie with Kansas City, which had just traded All-Pro Jared Allen.
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