Will Dolphins kneel? Is it safe to practice? And what’s going on in Ted Karras’ garage?
What was long expected is now official:
There will be no minicamps or OTAs this spring, NFL Network reports. Players will not be allowed to return to practice before training camp, which for the Dolphins will begin on July 28.
That means it will be some seven months between team-wide events for the Dolphins. A lot has changed in those seven months, including the team’s massive roster turnover.
But football has taken a backseat to the nation’s two biggest stories of the year: The coronavirus outbreak and subsequent lockdown, and the coast-to-coast unrest that has followed the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.
Access to NFL players is way down due to the quarantine, but the Dolphins made two available Thursday: center Ted Karras and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.
They addressed the issues of the day. Here’s a recap:
▪ Wilkins, whose unarmed grandfather was wrongfully shot during a police raid of his home in 2011, said “it’s hard not to get emotional or have strong feelings to what’s happening right now, just because it hurts. It hurts to see what’s happening to a lot of people who look like me.”
Wilkins’ college, Clemson, has been the center of a lot of the ongoing controversy. In 2017, assistant coach Danny Pearman used a racial slur on the football field, according to former Tigers players.
Some have gone so far as accusing head coach Dabo Swinney of racism.
“I just really feel like people are trying to really spin a negative picture of coach Swinney in a lot of ways,” Wilkins said. “And that’s not who he is at all. That’s not the guy I’ve known since I was, what, a sophomore and junior in high school. You know what I’m saying? He’s a man of faith. He loves his players. I know his character. I know his heart. I see a lot of different things being said about him that I don’t necessarily agree with because I know him personally.”
▪ Despite his grandfather’s death and racial discrimination experienced by his brothers, Wilkins did not join those kneeling during the national anthem as a rookie. Will that change in Year 2?
“That’s something I’m sure I’ll figure out as we get closer to this season and something we’ll talk about as a team. We’ll figure things out.”
▪ Karras, who signed with the Dolphins in March after spending four seasons with the Patriots, said there’s been a lot of internal dialogue, albeit remotely, about race relations since Floyd’s death.
“I can only speak for myself and I know there’s a lot of valid protests going on and there’s definitely some winds of change,” Karras said. “I’m going to do my best to keep learning and listening and try to fit in wherever I can. But I’m with my teammates; and whatever we decide, I’m going to go with what we’re doing in unison. I want to be unified and do whatever I can to be an advocate for progress.”
▪ How has Karras gotten to know his new teammates without any organized practices or workouts? By hosting him in his garage-turned-gym for lift sessions.
“I’ve got a rack and a bench,” he said. “When all the corona stuff happened, I didn’t have anywhere to work out and so we kind of put together a weight room and got it going, brought it down here and yeah, it’s been good. Really good, and I just like to start relationships. Obviously we’ve been working together for nine weeks now, so we’re trying to just cram in and kind of still follow the rules as much you’re supposed to with the distancing stuff.”
▪ Despite an increase in coronavirus infections since Memorial Day, the NFL seems determined to start the season on time. But that can’t happen without consent of the players’ association. Wilkins is the Dolphins’ player rep and knows the challenges and needs involved as well as anyone.
“I just want to know that we can do everything in the safest manner possible and that there’s a clear set plan for everyone involved and things can be done in orderly fashion and as safe as possible,” Wilkins said. “That’s all I care about. We always talk about player safety and it’s bigger than just the players on the field, because that can affect our families, our loved ones too. I want to know there’s a set plan to get on the field and if someone does contract the virus, there’s a plan for that. And everything can be handled orderly and cleanly.”
▪ Karras spent his first four seasons snapping to Tom Brady. Now, it’ll be Ryan Fitzpatrick behind him.
“Well, I’ve been a fan for a long time,” Karras said of Fitzpatrick. “I love the way he plays. We definitely communicated a lot this spring. I’m really excited to start getting in-person, start getting some reps together; but I love the way he plays. He’s been a great leader and very welcoming to me so far, so I’m really excited to get to work with him and play some ball.”
