A six pack of Dolphins:
Gibril Wilson wants to make one thing clear: He said he has not lost his starting safety job, even though Chris Clemons was on the field instead to open the Jets game. ``That was just a certain package,'' Wilson said. Yeremiah Bell ``and I are still the starters. Nobody needs to get antsy.''For years, major colleges from lower-profile conferences have bent over backward to accommodate ESPN, scheduling basketball games at midnight, football games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and asking ``How high?'' when ESPN says jump.
Four Dolphins rookies had major roles Sunday -- Vontae Davis, Sean Smith, Brian Hartline and Chris Clemons. But what's the deal with Pat White (13 snaps all season) and Patrick Turner (who hasn't played)?
The Dolphins' disappointing start generated plenty of commentary from team alums at Don Shula's and O.J. McDuffie's charity events last week. Ted Ginn Jr. drew derision from several former Dolphins for drops and his penchant for running out of bounds.
Football media musings from the couch:
Best TV rookies? ESPN's Jon Gruden has commanding TV presence, but this award goes to Rodney Harrison and Tony Dungy for their refreshing candor in NBC's studio.
Even as Heat fans await the key summer of 2010, this season should provide answers to pressing questions. Among them, and what NBA people are saying:
The number of Marlins coaches that will not return next season doubled, from two to four, on Friday when the team announced that third base/outfield coach Bo Porter and bullpen coach Steve Foster declined contract offers for 2010.
The spotlight on Channing Crowder gets brighter this week, with the Dolphins playing on the high-profile Monday night stage and his summer spat with Jets coach Rex Ryan providing fodder for the ESPN broadcast.
For the first time this season, UM offensive coordinator Mark Whipple and defensive coordinator John Lovett spoke at length about their players Tuesday. Some highlights:
As the Dolphins turn the offense over to Chad Henne on Sunday, it would help if the struggling secondary can contain Buffalo's Terrell Owens and Dolphins nemesis Lee Evans. The two combined interceptions by Denver's Andre Goodman and Renaldo Hill -- whom Miami didn't re-sign -- are two more than Miami has.
Asking and answering:
From a television standpoint, what is the best news about the baseball playoffs that begin next week?
Word around the Marlins is significant offseason changes are likely coming, with some familiar faces to be jettisoned.
It was late Monday, and Dolfans heard something familiar: ESPN's Ron Jaworski saying how ``Miami lacks explosiveness'' and Matt Millen bemoaning how the Dolphins ``cannot make a big play.''
Besides Hurricanes fans, you know who else is thrilled about the University of Miami football program's revival?
The notion that other teams passed the Heat this summer? Coach Erik Spoelstra said he doesn't believe it.
Should the Dolphins get the ball more to Ronnie Brown and Ted Ginn Jr., who get fewer touches than many other No. 1 running backs and receivers?
TThe Dolphins are back on the NFL's grand stage Monday, much to the delight of their players who grew up watching Monday Night Football, and ESPN, which appreciates the franchise's national following.
As Dolphins great Mark Duper watched prize pupil Leonard Hankerson and UM's other receivers against Florida State, he marveled at what he saw.
What's the view of the Dolphins among prominent national voices? There's a bit of skepticism, but more who say they will be good again, though not as good as New England. CBS' Phil Simms, NBC's Cris Collinsworth and Sirius Radio's John Madden predict Miami will be the AFC East's clear-cut No. 2 team.
NFL opening weekend TV talk:
It's premature to draw many conclusions from preseason, but here's one we can safely make: ESPN elevated its Monday night booth by replacing Tony Kornheiser with Jon Gruden, partly because Kornheiser was ill-suited for the job.
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