Tom Brady is working out with Tampa teammates. Here’s what Dolphins players are doing
The Tampa Bay Times had a big scoop Tuesday.
Someone tipped off the newspaper that Tom Brady and several of his new Buccaneers teammates are holding a private passing session at a local school — proof that even though league rules prohibit practicing (or even meeting) at team facilities due to coronavirus, Brady still intended to get the work in.
Which got us wondering:
Are the Dolphins doing the same?
The answer: Sort of. But without their starting quarterback.
A source tells the Miami Herald that several Dolphins teammates are, independently of the organization, working out together in South Florida. Receivers are running routes. They’re catching passes. And they’re even fielding punts.
DeVante Parker — who is feeling comfortable enough after last year’s breakout season to feud on Instagram with Saints star Michael Thomas — is said to be in great shape. The same is true for receiver Jakeem Grant.
But Ryan Fitzpatrick (the front-runner for the Dolphins’ starting quarterback job) and Tua Tagovailoa (the Dolphins’ heralded first-round pick) have, for now, not been a part of the sessions.
It should be said that these workouts are in no way affiliated with the Dolphins’ official (and voluntary) offseason program. But they have given participating players a way to take the lessons learned in their virtual classrooms and apply them on the field.
There’s plenty of new material to learn.
Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has been trying to install his offensive system — the third the Dolphins will run in as many years. Josh Grizzard, who replaces departed Karl Dorrell as the team’s de facto receivers coach, is trying to make his mark on his new group.
He inherits some real talent.
Along with cornerback and quarterback, receiver is arguably the deepest position group on the team.
At least nine players have a good shot at making the opening day roster.
And while we’re still four months from Week 1, the team’s very preliminary depth chart seems to be coming into focus.
A source tells the Herald that, for now, the vision is for Parker and Preston Williams to start on the outside and Albert Wilson, who recently took a pay cut to help secure his spot on the team, would be the slot receiver.
Granted, that is all subject to change, depending on performance in the preseason and the health of the players involved.
According to a team source, Williams is on schedule in his return from November’s torn ACL. He’s not yet participating in those on-field sessions with teammates, but he is jogging and the Dolphins remain hopeful he will be ready for the regular-season opener.
The Dolphins might be cautious with him during training camp, and it’s undetermined if he will play in preseason games. But Williams has one advantage in that unlike teammates who aren’t injured: he has access to the team facility.
Players rehabilitating injuries, such as Williams, are the only ones permitted to go to team facilities, per NFL rules. The receivers also have had text/telephone contact with Tagovailoa, who reached out to them to introduce himself and say he’s looking forward to working with them.
Players coming off college injuries, such as Tagovailoa, are not permitted to use NFL facilities to rehab during the pandemic, at least for now.
Praise for Dolphins
ESPN’s NFL Live is giving offseason grades to each team, and analyst and former NFL backup quarterback Tim Hasselbeck — in giving Miami an A-minus — made a good point Monday:
“In the process of them getting better, they also weakened their division,” Hasselbeck said. “When you look at guys that came over from New England [Kyle Van Noy, Ted Karras, Elandon Roberts], and Shaq Lawson’s case from Buffalo, and also supplement that with guys like Bryon Jones. Weakening the opponents in your division, getting better and also finding the quarterback of your future in the draft, giving them an A-minus.”
ESPN analyst Marcus Spears, the former Dallas Cowboys defensive end, gave the Dolphins an A-plus-plus.
“It goes back to the end of last season with them beating the Patriots,” Spears said. “I was one of the guilty parties saying they were tanking for Tua. Actually, Brian Flores and company weren’t.
“They were trying to win games and continue to get better throughout the season. They got Tua, Van Noy, Lawson, Austin Jackson, to protect their valuable young rookie quarterback. I think they did a tremendous job this offseason, but it started at the end of last season with what Flores was able to do with that team.”
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 2:20 PM.
