Dolphins CB Xavien Howard Arrested For Domestic Violence
Dolphins star corner Xavien Howard was arrested last night on charges of domestic battery, as Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). The alleged incident involved Howard’s fiance.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald obtained a copy of the police report, which states that Howard and his fiance had an argument about the fiance’s recent purchase of a purse, which she did not tell Howard about. The argument became physical, and Howard allegedly grabbed his fiance’s arm and shoved her against a mirrored glass wall in their bedroom. Howard then let her go, and she fell to the floor on her right arm (Twitter links).
Needless to say, Howard could be facing a significant suspension and fine from the league in addition to whatever criminal penalties he may be facing. Domestic violence is an especially sensitive subject in the NFL these days, and if the allegations are true, the Dolphins can expect to be without their top CB for a few games next season.
Howard signed a five-year, $76.5MM extension with Miami back in May, following a 2018 campaign that saw him notch a league-leading seven interceptions en route to his first Pro Bowl nod. He was one of the few high-level pieces that the rebuilding Dolphins chose to keep for the long haul, though he played just five games in 2019 before being placed on IR with a knee injury.
In a statement, the Dolphins said they are aware of the situation and are gathering information but have no comment at this time.
Dolphins Waive/Injured DE Jonathan Woodard
Jonathan Woodard‘s stint with the Dolphins has come to an end. The team waived the defensive end from the injured reserve yesterday.
The 2016 seventh-round pick had brief stints with the Jaguars and Falcons before joining the Dolphins towards the end of the 2017 campaign. He ended up getting into six games for Miami last season, compiling 10 tackles and one sack.
Woodard was waived/injured by Miami during the 2019 preseason, and he subsequently landed on their injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. That’s where the 25-year-old spent the entire campaign, and today’s move could be an indication that he’s ready to return to the field.
The Dolphins have been relatively busy this week, as they added running back Samaje Perine on Tuesday night.
2020 NFL Draft Order As Of Week 17
With one week remaining in the regular season, the 2020 NFL Draft order is starting to take shape. The 1-14 Bengals have locked up the No. 1 overall pick, but the rest of the board will be dependent on the outcome of Week 17’s games.
Here’s a look at where things stand:
1. Bengals: 1-14
2. Redskins: 3-12
3. Lions: 3-11-1
4. Giants: 4-11
5. Dolphins: 4-11
6. Jaguars: 5-10
7. Chargers: 5-10
8. Panthers: 5-10
9. Cardinals: 5-9-1
10: Jets: 6-9
11. Broncos: 6-9
12. Browns: 6-9
13. Falcons 6-9
14. Raiders 7-8
15. Cowboys 7-8
16. Colts 7-8
17. Buccaneers 7-8
18. Raiders (via Bears) 7-8
19. Dolphins (via Steelers) 8-7
20. Jaguars (via Rams) 8-7
21. Eagles 8-7
22. Titans 8-7
23. Bills 10-5
24. Vikings 10-5
25. Dolphins (via Texans) 10-5
26. Chiefs 11-4
27. Seahawks 11-4
28. Packers 12-3
29. Patriots 12-3
30. Saints 12-3
31. 49ers 12-3
32. Ravens 13-2
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/24/19
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: G Colby Gossett
- Placed on IR: RB Dontrell Hilliard
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: OT Quinn Bailey
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: RB Myles Gaskin
Oakland Raiders
- Claimed: DL Jeremiah Valoaga (from 49ers)
Dolphins To Sign Samaje Perine
The Dolphins are signing former Redskins starting running back Samaje Perine off the Bengals’ practice squad, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Rapoport adds that Perine is in the team’s plans for next year, so it sounds like his deal will also cover the 2020 season.
In the near term, Perine will help fill in for running back Myles Gaskin, who suffered an ankle injury on Sunday. That injury left Miami with only two healthy running backs on their roster: Patrick Laird, who has earned three starts this season, and De’Lance Turner. The position has been a revolving door for the Dolphins this year, with four running backs – Laird, Kenyan Drake, Mark Walton, and Kalen Ballage – garnering starts.
The Redskins used a 2017 fourth-rounder to select Perine, a former Oklahoma standout. He broke onto the season quickly for Washington, earning a start in his third career game. The running back continued to show flashes during his rookie campaign, compiling 603 rushing yards and one touchdown on 175 carries (to go along with another 22 receptions for 182 yards and one score).
Perine found himself playing behind Adrian Peterson in 2018, and he was waived by Washington at the end of the 2019 preseason. He was claimed off waivers by the Bengals, and he landed on their practice squad after a brief stint on the active roster.
Josh Rosen On Not Starting, His NFL Future
We heard recently that Dolphins quarterback Josh Rosen wasn’t likely to play in the final two games of the season, but the second-year pro isn’t getting discouraged. During recent comments to the media, an open Rosen reflected on his year in Miami and his future in the league, via Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
When asked if he was disappointed about not playing the final two weeks Rosen demurred, showing respect to Ryan Fitzpatrick. “No. Fitz hasn’t done anything to lose his starting position thus far so I don’t see why anything would change. I obviously would love to play if coach would call me up. I think Fitz has been doing a hell of a job considering all of the circumstances that have been going on this year,” he said.
Rosen added that he “absolutely” hopes to be back in Miami next year, saying “I like it a lot.” It’s long been assumed that the Dolphins will be drafting a passer early next April, which could mean Rosen isn’t starting anytime soon. Many in the media have already written Rosen off, but he isn’t getting discouraged about his longterm prospects despite the multiple setbacks in his brief career.
“I’m very encouraged just in general day to day, in how I’ve developed and watching Fitz do his thing,” he said. “I’m still only 22 years old. It’s not really the window is opened and closed like that. But there’s a sense of understanding time and opportunity. I’m aware of it, but it’s all for you guys to write about more than for me to worry about. Opportunities will come and I’ll try to seize them.”
Rosen has two years left on his rookie deal at very affordable salaries, which makes his situation even more interesting. Assuming the Dolphins are starting a rookie next year, they could use Rosen as a cheap backup or seek to flip him for more draft capital. They won’t be able to get back the second-round pick they gave up for Rosen during this past year’s draft, but it’s possible there’s a team willing to give up something for him as a developmental project.
Fitzpatrick started the year off under center, but was quickly benched in favor of Rosen. The UCLA product ended up starting three games, tossing only one touchdown with five interceptions while completing less than 54 percent of his passes. After starting 13 games for the Cardinals last year his cumulative stats are obviously terrible, but the circumstances he’s been thrust into have been far from ideal.
Rosen has taken a lot of criticism since his college days for his alleged lack of leadership abilities, and he was asked about that on Friday. “I think a lot of that stuff just comes naturally. Comfortability, with guys in the locker room. The offense. Even just with walking around the building and knowing the names of the cafeteria staff. And the janitor,” he explained. “Just getting comfortable with where you are. And just kind of making it your home and getting comfortable with your people and your family. I think as that has happened a lot of the leadership qualities that I pride myself on have started to come through. Because I don’t think you can really step out and lead if you don’t know what you’re doing first.”
Rosen also had a lot of praise for head coach Brian Flores and his staff. It’ll be very interesting to see what happens next with the tenth overall pick of the 2018 draft, and where his bizarre career-path takes him next.
Dolphins Notes: Rosen, Howard, Draft
If Josh Rosen ever wants to start for the Dolphins again, he’ll have to satisfy the conditions of coach Brian Flores‘ list, as Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald writes. What’s on the list? Apparently, only Flores and the QB know the answer.
“I’ve given him that list, for sure,” Flores said Wednesday. “I’m not giving you that list.”
Salguero, speculatively, wonders if Flores is looking for more personality or leadership from Rosen. Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will play ahead of the former No. 10 overall pick pick for the rest of the season, has both in spades. Fitzpatrick, who was asked a general question about camaraderie, agrees on the importance of the intangibles.
“I just think simple things like sitting in the meal room and eating lunch with guys and getting to know guys, something as simple and as silly as that goes such a long way,” Fitzpatrick said. “In my mind, I’m not like ‘Oh, I’m going to sit with Dan Kilgore today because I want him to block better for me.’ That’s not it.
“I think a lot of it is understanding that you’re part of a team and understanding that no one position is better than any other, that we’re all important and we all have to work together, and it’s such a great team sport to get on the same page to succeed. I think knowing guys personally and getting to know them on that level goes a long way towards chemistry and transferring it onto the field. That’s something I’ve just always placed an importance on.”
Rosen, 23 in February, has two years remaining on his original rookie deal, each with modest cap hits.
Here’s more from Miami:
- Cornerback Xavien Howard had knee surgery a “couple of days” ago, Flores announced (Twitter link via Salguero). That’s at least the third knee surgery Howard has had with the Dolphins (both left and right) and potentially a bad sign for the young star going forward. Howard inked a five-year, $72.25MM extension with the Dolphins in May and landed on season-ending IR in late October.
- In the 2020 draft, Flores says the Dolphins won’t shy away from players who come from a different scheme. “If it’s a good player, the scheme is a scheme versatile defense,” Flores said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). “If we have a good player, we’ll fit – we’ll make it work for set player. That goes at any position; we got a good coaching staff, a lot of creative minds here. We try to put our players in position to make plays. If Lawrence Taylor is available, we would fit the scheme for him; we would do it.” The 3-11 Dolphins are currently slated to pick No. 3 overall. Then, they’ll have two more selections via the Steelers and Texans late in the draft. Those picks are currently projected to fall at Nos. 22 and 23.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/17/19
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DE Austin Larkin
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Brady Sheldon
- Waived: DE Anthony Zettel
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: DB Aljiah Holder
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Calvin Munson
- Placed on IR: LB Raekwon McMillan
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: OL Chuma Edoga, WR Jeff Smith
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: WR Scott Miller
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: K Ryan Santoso
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/16/19
Here are today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Claimed: OL Caleb Benenoch
Miami Dolphins
- Waived/inured: CB Ken Crawley
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: WR Amara Darboh
- Waived: WR Tevin Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed off Cowboys‘ practice squad: WR Cyril Grayson
Josh Rosen Unlikely To Play Again In 2019
With the Dolphins looking to the future, it’s fair to wonder if head coach Brian Flores will reinsert second-year QB Josh Rosen into the starting lineup for the final two games of the season instead of continuing to roll with 37-year-old journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick.
But as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes, Flores has shot down the idea that he needs to get another look at Rosen this year. “We will always do what we feel is in the best interests of this team and play the guy that gives us the best chance to win; we feel that’s Ryan,” Flores said. “It’s [been] that way for the last 8 to 10 weeks.”
Of course, Miami acquired Rosen from the Cardinals this offseason for second- and fifth-round picks, and given his status as the No. 10 overall pick of the 2018 draft, it made sense for the draft pick-rich Dolphins to take a flier on the UCLA product. But in six games (three starts) this season, Rosen has completed 53.2% of his passes and has thrown one touchdown against five interceptions. He was similarly disappointing in his rookie campaign with Arizona, and while the 2018 Cardinals and the 2019 Dolphins boasted little offensive firepower of any kind, Jackson says Miami does not view Rosen as its long-term QB.
The team could save a little money by turning back to Rosen, as Fitzpatrick will earn $2.5MM in incentives if he plays in 75% or more of Miami’s offensive snaps this season (he has currently played in 76.9% of the team’s snaps). That money is guaranteed and is in addition to his $5.5MM base salary for 2020, but that is not a pressing issue for the Dolphins, who will have a ton of cap space to work with.
When asked if there is anything more to learn about Rosen by seeing him in additional game action, Flores said, “[y]ou can always get more information, but we have what we have [and that’s] practice reps and the game reps he had and his play for [Arizona] a year ago. The most important thing is what we see in practice on a weekly basis.” Reading between the lines, it sounds like Rosen hasn’t been any more impressive in practice than he has been in games.