Dolphins Notes: Beal, Carroo
The Dolphins‘ interest in adding cornerback help led them to consider supplemental prospect Sam Beal, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. However, Miami didn’t hold Beal in as high regard as did the Giants, who sacrificed a third-round pick in order to land the Western Michigan product. Beal, of course, suffered a season-ending injury upon landing in New York, but he could have provided depth to a Dolphins defensive back depth chart currently led by Xavien Howard, Cordrea Tankersley, and Bobby McCain. Given that Miami is still searching for cornerback reinforcements, Jackson speculates the club could be interested in a trade in the coming weeks, but notes the Dolphins are loathe to sacrifice high draft picks.
- More from Jackson, who adds that former third-round pick Leonte Carroo is not a lock to make the Dolphins‘ roster, especially given the team’s other options at wide receiver. Miami gave up a haul of draft picks for the right to select Carroo in the 2016, but he’s managed only 10 receptions and 98 yards over two seasons. The Dolphins now have the option to deploy DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Danny Amendola, and Albert Wilson, so Carroo — who Jackson notes hasn’t always been in the best shape and has trouble separating from opposing corners — could be a roster casualty. For what it’s worth, Caroo was also considered to be on the Dolphins’ roster bubble in 2017.
Gore: Understands Why Dolphins Traded Jay Ajayi
Frank Gore may be competing for touches with fellow running back Kenyan Drake, but that doesn’t mean the veteran isn’t impressed by his Dolphins teammate. In fact, Gore told Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post that he understands why the organization moved on from their former starter in order to give Drake more reps last season.
Dolphins Sign RB Jeremy Langford
Jeremy Langford has found a new home. ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports (via Twitter) that the running back has signed with the Dolphins.
It’s been a quiet offseason for the 26-year-old running back, as he hadn’t generated any reported interest after being cut loose by the Jets in April. The former fourth-rounder split the 2017 campaign between the Ravens’ and Jets’ practice squad, but he didn’t end up seeing the field for a regular season game. He inked a future/reserves contract with New York following the season.
The running back’s last notable contribution came in 2016 with the Bears, when he ran for 200 yards and four touchdowns on 62 carries. He also added another 19 receptions for 142 yards. Langford compiled more than 800 offensive yards during his breakout 2015 campaign. The running back will be reuniting with head coach Adam Gase, who was Chicago’s offensive coordinator in 2015.
Langford may have a tough time making the Dolphins’ opening-day roster. Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore sit atop the depth chart, and the organization seems to be optimistic about fourth-rounder Kalen Ballage. Therefore, the two-year veteran will likely have to compete with Senorise Perry and Brandon Radcliff for a roster spot.
Stephone Anthony Likely To Start For Dolphins
- After being traded from the Saints to the Dolphins last season, linebacker Stephone Anthony appears set to open the 2018 campaign as a starting outside linebacker, Andre Fernandez of the Miami Herald writes. Anthony has disappointed in four NFL seasons after being chosen as a first-round pick, and the Dolphins subsequently declined his fifth-year option for the 2019 season. That would have paid Anthony nearly $10MM next year, but as Fernandez details, Miami could conceivably extend Anthony if he succeeds this season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/24/18
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Freddie Bishop
- Placed on IR: FB Nick Bawden
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Adonis Jennings
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Frank Ginda
- Retired: LB Mike McCray
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: C J.P. Quinn
- Waived: TE Josiah Price
New England Patriots
- Signed: S Eddie Pleasant, OL Nate Theaker
- Waived/Injured: WR Cody Hollister
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: WR Marquess Wilson
- Waied: CB Randall Goforth
Latest On Anthem Issue
Months after the NFL passed an anthem policy without players’ input — one that appeared to reignite the issue and please few in the process — the NFLPA’s grievance caused the league to pump the brakes on it. Now, the old policy is in place after the NFL and the union agreed to resume talks on the issue.
Some new developments surfaced Friday. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross attempted to navigate the PR damage his team’s anthem policy — potentially a four-game suspension for players who kneel during the song’s playing, news of which broke before the NFL-NFLPA’s joint statement emerged Thursday night — by saying this course of action was merely a placeholder.
“We were asked to submit a form to the NFL on our overall discipline policy prior to the start of the rookie report date. The one-line sentence related to the national anthem was a placeholder as we haven’t made a decision on what we would do, if anything, at that point,” Ross said in a statement (Twitter link).
Giants co-owner Steve Tisch also discussed this issue, coming out on the players’ side of the discussion. Tisch said, via Marc Malkin of the Hollywood Reporter, Giants players will not be disciplined for protesting during the anthem. However, it’s not known if the Giants’ better-known co-owner, the influential John Mara, is fully on board.
“We support our players,” Tisch said. “They are not going to be punished. There is not going to be any punitive action taking place against them.”
President Donald Trump (Twitter link) resurfaced with thoughts on this issue, which has become one of his frequent talking points. Perhaps rhetorically, Trump asked if it was “in contract that players must stand at attention, hand on heart?” No such language exists in any player’s contract. Trump also suggested the NFL first suspend players who kneel during the anthem before calling for Roger Goodell to suspend protesters without pay for the season were they to do so a second time.
The Dolphins’ leaked placeholder policy did not prompt the sides to issue their joint statement Thursday night, Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports, adding both sides hope this resolved before Week 1. Maske reports an arbitrator also was not required to produce Thursday’s statement scrapping May anthem policy, pointing out the league and the union have engaged in dialogue since the June grievance emerged.
The NFLPA, not the Players Coalition, is overseeing the talks with the NFL this time, Maske reports.
“I know there have been conversations about the grievance. But in terms of sitting down to talk about a resolution with players being involved, there hasn’t been anything yet,” Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, part of the NFLPA’s ruling executive committee, told Maske. “That’s the whole purpose, to have some face-to-face conversations about this. That’s what’s in the works now.”
Dolphins List Anthem Policy Under Conduct Detrimental
The Dolphins (perhaps unintentionally) became the first team to publicly wade into the national anthem protest debate, as the club listed “proper anthem conduct” as a section under actions considered “conduct detrimental to the club,” reports Rob Maadi of the Associated Press. Miami later clarified that the NFL required clubs to stipulate their anthem policy before training camp, so the Dolphins — who open camp on Friday — were forced to list their policy somewhere. Now that the NFL and NFLPA have announced the league’s anthem stance, which would have fined the clubs of players who did not “show respect” while the anthem was performed, is on hold for the time being, the Dolphins’ actions won’t have much of an effect.
Dolphins Planning New Practice Facility
- Per Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins could build a training facility that will allow them to practice where they play. Miami is considering building a $75MM complex on team-owned land adjacent to Hard Rock Stadium, which would be a considerable upgrade from the facility at Nova Southeastern University that the team has trained in since 1993. Although that facility has been improved over the years, it is still a far cry from the first-class complexes that are becoming more commonplace around the league. Other locations remain in consideration, but an upgrade is coming, and it could come as soon as 2020.
Frank Gore Likes Move To Grass
- Frank Gore turned 35 years old in May, but he’s hoping the move to a grass field with the Dolphins could help prolong his career, as he tells Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “Turf is tough on your body and it’ll have you swollen,” said Gore, who played on turf for the past three seasons with Indianapolis. “Playing on turf, I wouldn’t get my body back until that Friday. But when I’m playing on grass, I’m good after the game. I’m happy that I’m on grass.” Gore isn’t expected to be the lead back in Miami, as he’ll compete with Kenyan Drake and rookie Kalen Ballage for carries. But he’ll conceivably serve as something of a mentor to both of those young players, each of whom is under the age of 25. Gore managed 3.7 yards per carry on 261 totes for the Colts in 2017.
Jay Cutler On Retirement
After earning a fortune in the NFL and looking less-than-stellar with the Dolphins last year, we’re inclined to believe Cutler when he says he’s probably done with football. Still, you can expect his name to pop up if a starting quarterback suffers a serious injury in training camp.