AFC East: Charlie Anderson
Ikaika Alama-Francis a Fins name to watch
Tony Sparano is moving his players around in hopes of finding the right mix. Inside linebackers Channing Crowder and Tim Dobbins have been battling injuries. So Sparano is trying outside linebacker Charlie Anderson on the inside.
Richard C. Lewis/Icon SMIIkaika Alama-Francis is making a run at one of the starting outside linebacker spots.After another solid preseason performance Friday night, Alama-Francis shared first-team reps with rookie Koa Misi at strongside outside linebacker in Sunday's practice. Misi still projects as the starter opposite Cameron Wake, but Alama-Francis has been a revelation.
"I love it, man," is what Alama-Francis told me at Dolphins camp three weeks ago.
Sparano has been steadily impressed with him at outside linebacker since training camp began. It's important for the Dolphins to find those types of players with Jason Taylor and Joey Porter signing elsewhere.
"He's a handful in the rush," Sparano said a week into camp. "He set the edge of the defense pretty well, strong guy and very, very smart."
When Sparano said that, Alama-Francis hadn't been an outside linebacker for long, just a handful of practices. But it wasn't the first time Alama-Francis had switched on a whim, and this change brought an opportunity to stick in the NFL after bombing out with the Detroit Lions.
Alama-Francis is the son of Joe Francis, who backed up Bart Starr for two seasons with the Green Bay Packers. But Alama-Francis didn't play organized football until his sophomore year at Hawaii. He was a basketball walk-on, but football coach June Jones convinced him to convert.
The Lions drafted Alama-Francis 58th overall in 2007. He played tackle and end under D-line specialist Rod Marinelli, but started only two games over two seasons. The Lions cut him at the end of last year's preseason. He remained unemployed until November, when the Dolphins signed him to play defensive end at 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds.
Then, with three offseason workouts to go before summer break, the Dolphins approached Alama-Francis about standing on two feet for the first time. No more springing out of a three-point stance. They wanted him to try outside linebacker.
Sparano and linebackers coach Bill Sheridan saw something in the way Alama-Francis moved for a player his size. Alama-Francis said he had "three good practices" to show he could handle the gig.
"That's not a lot," he said. "When they're throwing things at you to see how you'll react, you have to do the best you can with what's been given to you. But it was an opportunity, and I embraced it. I was thankful."
After those three OTA workouts, Sparano didn't view the move as experimental anymore. Alama-Francis is at about 275 pounds now.
"Moving from a different position, it's a total 180, dropping into coverage," Alama-Francis said. "When you're on the line, you're moving forward. When you're standing up, you see a lot more and you've got to be aware a lot more. Rushing the passer, coming off the edge and dropping into coverage, I'm excited about all that."
AFC East links: Brohm says he's ready
Quarterback Brian Brohm says he feels like he's prepared to compete for the starting job. "I've had two years in the NFL to get used to everything and get myself prepared," Brohm said. "I feel like I can fully compete for this starting job. I feel like I'm ready to take charge out there. We'll see what happens. But I feel like I'm at a position where I'll be able to put my best foot forward and make a legitimate run at the starting job."
Miami Dolphins
With Jason Taylor, Joey Porter and Matt Roth all gone, the Dolphins need Cameron Wake, Charlie Anderson, Quentin Moses and Erik Walden to step up their game as pass-rushers.
Wake sounds like a guy who is prepared to do just that.
New England Patriots
Jeff Howe of NESN.com cites poor play calling as one of the reasons New England's offense struggled last season.
Despite losing a few starters in free agency, John Clayton says the Patriots are still the team to beat in the AFC East.
New York Jets
According to the New York Daily News, quarterback JaMarcus Russell is no longer on the Jets' radar.
Caylan Davis of NESN.com analyzes LaDainian Tomlinson's Super Bowl prediction.
What AFC Easterners under most pressure?
Four AFC East players made the list, which Kirwan explained is for players whose "teams have put the onus on them to succeed, and if they don't come through, their teams will likely disappoint."
12. James Hardy, Bills receiver: The 41st pick of the 2008 draft has an injury history. The Bills need a receiver to emerge opposite Lee Evans with Terrell Owens and Josh Reed no longer on the roster.
13. Matt Slauson, Jets guard: Kirwan suggested Slauson will have to replace perennial Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca. That might happen, but I disagree there's a serious amount of pressure on Slauson. He was a sixth-round draft choice last year and was inactive for 13 games. Plus, the Jets drafted guard Vladimir Ducasse in the second round two months ago.
14. Charlie Anderson and Koa Misi, Dolphins outside linebackers: They made Kirwan's list in tandem because the Dolphins lost 16 sacks when Joey Porter and Jason Taylor departed. I'm surprised not to see Cameron Wake's name included. Porter singled out Wake when publicly ripping the Dolphins in February.
The agent for Randy Moss, Tim DiPiero, confirmed that he will no longer represent the Patriots' receiver. DiPiero also said that Moss plans to represent himself.
Buffalo Bills
Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc.
examines a rebuilt Bills' defensive line.
Miami Dolphins
Charlie Anderson is getting a chance to play with the first-team defense at outside linebacker with the losses of Joey Porter and Jason Taylor. Draft picks Koa Misi and John Jerry also practiced with the first team.
Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com thinks that Chad Henne has the talent to finally give the Dolphins a successor to Dan Marino.
New York Jets
John Clayton says the New York Jets could sign veteran free-agent quarterback Mark Brunell when the restrictions for the final eight playoff teams are lifted on July 24.
Why they took him: The Dolphins need help with their pass rush. They cut outside linebacker Joey Porter, and Jason Taylor this week signed a free-agent deal with the New York Jets.
Where he fits: The Dolphins' outside linebackers are serviceable, but there are no stars. On the depth chart are Cameron Wake, Charlie Anderson and Quentin Moses.
Scouts Inc. says: Physical and has shown the ability reroute tight ends at the line of scrimmage on film. Reason to be optimistic about ability to develop serviceable underneath man-to-man cover skills. While listed at 263 pounds on roster weighed 244 pounds at the Senior Bowl and appeared more fluid there than he did on film. Adequate range in zone coverage but doesn't appear fast enough on film to consistently turn and run with NFL tight ends and backs. Greatest strength is rushing the passer. Doesn't have elite closing speed but quicker than fast. Uses hands to prevent tackle from locking on to frame, gets underneath outside shoulder and then bends back inside. Flashes the ability to get under offensive tackle and drive them back into the quarterback's lap. Gets hands up when sees quarterback start throwing motion and times jumps fairly well. Has ample experience rushing out of a two-point stance.
Porter: I won't wear Fins jersey again
After a week of allowing himself a modicum of wiggle room in discussing his future with the club, Porter told "NFL GameDay Morning" he has put on a Dolphins uniform again.
"Strapping on that Dolphins jersey, yes, this year was the last time," Porter said.
The Dolphins' season ended five weeks ago, but Porter's blood still is boiling over the way head coach Tony Sparano treated him. Porter was benched for a game and kept on the sideline in favor of younger outside linebackers Cameron Wake and Charlie Anderson.
"If it was a situation where the guys were better than me, then you just have to move on," Porter said. "But if it's not a changing of the guard, they just have to sit and wait their turn. Nobody is that good enough behind me to be stepping on my toes.
"When I was in Pittsburgh, I knew [James] Harrison was getting better. It was a question of 'How can we pay both of these guys because [Harrison] can do what Joey can do?' I understood that. That is not the situation here. It's a big drop off."
Crowder: I didn't pick sides in Porter feud
Crowder was the co-host on Miami sports radio station WQAM when Porter unloaded on the Dolphins over a lack of playing time.
Three days later, Crowder suggested everything was cool between him and Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano.
"I talked to Tony afterwards, and Tony didn't say anything about it," Crowder said. "I wasn't picking sides. I was saying that the situation where your teammate is taken out of the game the day before the game was a surprise. It really was uncomfortable because we didn't really know what was going on.
"Joey's mad. He's visually mad. He's verbally mad. He's just upset about the situation. He was getting some stuff off his chest, and I was listening. It was an uncomfortable situation, but I don't think I'll get in any trouble because I really didn't say anything offensive. I just gave my opinion of the situation. That's what radio is."
Crowder free-spirit personality and chattiness have gotten him into trouble before.
In 2007, before a game in Wembley Stadium, he created a stir in London with seemingly playful comments he didn't know they spoke English in Great Britain and that he couldn't locate it on a map without help.
Last summer, the Dolphins placed a gag order on Crowder after he engaged in a verbal joust with New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan.
"I'm known for that," Crowder said. "I've been misquoted sometimes. Sometimes I'm not misquoted; I just say some dumb stuff.
"But I didn't pick sides. I was just trying to show how the situation looked from our end."
Here's what Crowder said on the air with Porter in reference to veteran outside linebackers Porter and Jason Taylor losing occasional snaps to Cameron Wake and Charlie Anderson in critical situations:
"If the game's on the line, I want my two Pro Bowlers coming off the edges. That's my mind as an inside linebacker.
"If I see different guys out there, not bad mouthing anyone, I'm going to be like 'Peezy, you straight? You good? You healthy? J.T., you straight? You healthy? Why aren't you all out there?'
"It was a funny situation among the team. The coaches and team are all supposed to be together as one, but there's till that camaraderie that gathers. It was an uncomfortable situation among the team, and I know I'm not the only player that thinks that. I know a lot of the other guys were, too."
That's the crux of Porter's dissatisfaction with the Dolphins and why he wants to play elsewhere.
"You got a Pro Bowl player, asking to play," Porter said Tuesday afternoon during a long interview with Miami sports radio station WQAM. Porter sat down on Radio Row in the Super Bowl media center. "If you let us just fight for the job, it's not even an argument. No shots to nobody, but it's not even an argument.
"All them guys in my room, love them to death, but at outside linebacker, I'm the best one we got, period. There's nothing to even talk about. Who am I switching with? Why should I be switching out with any of them guys?"
He later said "If you want to put Cameron Wake in the game, go ahead and good luck to you. Let me go find a new job somewhere."
Inside linebacker Channing Crowder was a guest co-host for WQAM's program and claimed he wasn't alone in being baffled when head coach Tony Sparano took Porter and Jason Taylor off the field. Taylor and Porter were named to the NFL's All-Decade team Sunday.
"If the game's on the line, I want my two Pro Bowlers coming off the edges, Crowder said. "That's my mind as an inside linebacker.
"If I see different guys out there, not bad mouthing anyone, I'm going to be like 'Peezy, you straight? You good? You healthy? J.T., you straight? You healthy? Why aren't you all out there?'
"It was a funny situation among the team. The coaches and team are all supposed to be together as one, but there's till that camaraderie that gathers. It was an uncomfortable situation among the team, and I know I'm not the only player that thinks that. I know a lot of the other guys were, too."
Porter said playing behind Wake and Charlie Anderson so frequently deflated him, especially for the final seven games after Sparano deactivated him for a game.
Porter, speaking to Crowder, said "You've been to me 'Come on, man, I need you right now,' and mentally my mind wouldn't be there because I'm distraught and frustrated that I'm on the sideline a whole quarter, watching the game, and there ain't nothing the matter with me.
"It's hard for me to accept that after being Pro Bowl just a year ago, 17.5 sacks, making the all-decade team. All of a sudden I'm taking back seat, and for who, and for what? Explain that to me, and I'll have a better answer for you."
Porter had a team-high nine sacks, but half of them came in two games. Wake finished his first NFL season with 5.5 sacks. Anderson had two sacks.
Porter suggested he turned into a ghost around the Dolphins' facility after Sparano benched him, claiming Sparano, general manager Jeff Ireland and football operations boss Bill Parcells wouldn't talk to him.
"I went from being a defensive captain and talking to the coach every day to not talking to the coach no more," Porter said. "Only time I talked to him was on game day. I was talking to nobody, seeing Jeff Ireland and Bill and nobody's saying nothing to you no more. You just kind of feel like an outcast. The writing was on the wall for me.
"I'm not going to let them take my fire out of me, and they did that."
Porter wants to part ways with Dolphins
If the Miami Dolphins expect him to play in a rotation again in 2010, then he's not coming back.
The immodest outside linebacker sat down on the South Beach set of "Jim Rome is Burning" and spoke about his dissatisfaction with the Dolphins.
"No, not happy," Porter said. "I thought the situation could've easily been fixed. But it's a situation to where they want to play younger guys. They want me to be a rotation guy. I got a lot of football left in me to be a rotation guy. You know what I mean? I don't get paid like a rotation guy, so I'm not ready to take that role."
Porter didn't demand a trade, but said it would be for the best because he believes he can start for any NFL team. He will turn 33 next month. He would receive a $1 million roster bonus on March 1.
"It kind of would be the smart thing to do," Porter said of a trade. "Why keep a guy there that you want to make a role player? You're paying me as a starter. So why pay me all that money and make me a role player?"
Porter led the AFC with 17.5 sacks in 2008. He recorded nine sacks this season, but half came in two games. Reserve outside linebackers Cameron Wake and Charlie Anderson combined to have 1.5 fewer sacks than Porter.
"We had talks," Porter said, presumably referring to head coach Tony Sparano. "Only thing he would say is 'I have to play my young guys, and I'm not going to let you stop the development, the growth of my young players.' So by him saying that is basically telling me that 'If you're here, you're going to have to rotate. Get used to it.' "
Rome asked Porter what his reaction would be if the Dolphins expected him to function similarly in 2010.
"I won't accept it no more," Porter said. "I accepted it last year because I'm a team guy. I just want to play, have fun, win football games because when you're winning all this stuff is swept away.
"But after seeing how last year went, to ask me to come back and play that role again, I can honesty say I won't come back and do that. I can't be happy about coming back and playing that role."
Porter had a rocky campaign after leading the AFC in sacks in 2008. He battled a hamstring injury, was suspended a game by head coach Tony Sparano for disciplinary reasons and saw his playing time dwindle.
Skolnick, citing unnamed team sources that included teammates, writes:
The general consensus is that his potential on-field contributions no longer outweigh the other stuff that he brings.
My understanding, from these conversations, is that Porter had a habit of sending players off the field who had been sent in to take his spot, especially on third down ... even after he was suspended for the Tampa Bay game. During that game, if you recall, Charlie Anderson had two sacks, Cameron Wake had one, and Jason Taylor had an interception."
Salguero's piece outlines the seasonal exit interview Porter had with Sparano. Salguero writes Porter took umbrage with several issues and mentions an interview Porter did last week on his hometown radio station.The enigmatic linebacker told the show host that he didn't want to return to the Dolphins in 2010. He repeated the complaints he made to Sparano -- that he wasn't happy with his role, that he wasn't happy about being benched.
Porter had nine sacks, a respectable number, but only 1.5 more than reserve outside linebackers Wake and Anderson had. Half of Porter's total came in two games.He failed to record a sack in eight games and didn't make a single tackle in three games, most memorably against New England Patriots rookie Sebastian Vollmer in Week 9. That was just days after Porter accused the NFL of showing quarterback Tom Brady preferential treatment and declared the Patriots' championships should be affixed with asterisks because of the Spygate scandal.
Wake hopes long journey just beginning
AP Photo/Hans DerykCameron Wake's professional football journey has taken him from Canada to Miami.The words scrolled through Cameron Wake's mind in an endless loop on a steamy August night. He was about to play his first NFL preseason game, something he'd waited five years to experience. He didn't want to blow it.
Wake was a dynamic linebacker at Penn State, a captain. But when he left campus he might as well have fallen off the face of the earth. He wasn't drafted, and although he signed with the New York Giants, they cut him before training camp began.
So he floated. For years. He took a job shuffling mortgage papers, another as a personal trainer. A pro tryout got mixed in here or there. He assumed a new name.
Wake finally landed in the Canadian Football League and created enough of a ruckus to get another shot at the NFL.
He signed with the Miami Dolphins, and that's what brings him to that seminal moment in August at Land Shark Stadium. It's only the preseason, but he feels the moment and wants to make sure he experiences many more.
"I don't know if it's fear, but it's a feeling of wanting to make sure you're as ready as you can be when the moment comes," Wake said. "If you're not nervous when that situation comes up, then something's wrong with you. But that situation has happened many, many times.
"When I went up to Canada, every game was a chance. Coming down here [to the Dolphins] and auditioning for the various teams, this was my chance. Getting on the field was my chance. The first preseason game, 'Don't blow it.' It's something I've definitely come across more than once."
Wake has showed he belongs in the NFL. He was deactivated the first three games and gets the scrap snaps left over from veteran outside linebackers Joey Porter, Jason Taylor, Matt Roth and Charlie Anderson.
But Wake has managed to get to the quarterback a few times anyway. He enters Thursday night's game against the Carolina Panthers with 4.5 sacks, tied for second on the team and one behind Taylor.
Symbolic of Wake's journey, he traveled as far as a professional football geographically could -- about 2,800 miles from Vancouver to Miami -- to get his big break. He spent the past two seasons as a 4-3 defensive end for the BC Lions. He collected 39 sacks and was named the CFL's best defensive player each year.
"It's amazing," Wake said. "I changed positions, changed leagues, changed climates, changed coaches, changed countries. I'm literally in the opposite corner of the continent. It has been a major journey."
Wake, however, won't ever admit to feeling like he has arrived.
"Once you get a little bit, you want a lot more," Wake said. "When I signed, that was fine. I was part of the Dolphins. But that wasn't enough. I wanted to make the team. I made the team. That wasn't enough. I wanted to play. When I played and got a couple sacks, that's not enough.
"I need more. Give me more. I want more responsibility. I want more everything. I know it's not going to happen overnight, but I'm hungry."
Wake will turn 28 in January. Brigham Young grads and even Chris Weinke think that's pretty old for someone with one season of NFL experience.
“The long road to quasi-rookie status has given Wake perspective.”-- Dolphins linebacker Cameron Wake
It's amazing. I changed positions, changed leagues, changed climates, changed coaches, changed countries. I'm literally in the opposite corner of the continent. It has been a major journey.
He calls himself "a sponge," trying to absorb as much as he can from the wisdom that surrounds him. He played for Joe Paterno (under the name Derek Wake), but for the past nine months he has been inundated by highly concentrated football lessons from the likes of football operations boss Bill Parcells, head coach Tony Sparano, defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, the NFL's active sacks leader (Taylor) and last season's AFC sacks leader (Porter).
"Sitting in the locker room, you can see all the guys who were big names coming out of college," Wake said. "No disrespect to the easy way to the NFL, but I had to sit on the couch. Being cut from football and having to go off somewhere and having to work your way back in, you appreciate every day moreso than maybe somebody who hasn't had to go through that."
Many Dolfans would like to see Wake get more chances to produce in games. Porter hasn't been getting it done. Porter has been bothered by a hamstring problem and was benched for Sunday's victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Wake had a sack against the Buccaneers, giving him one in consecutive games.
But his signature NFL performance thus far came in his second regular-season game. He recorded 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4.
He abused Bills right tackle Kirk Chambers. Wake used speed and power to record his first NFL sack. He sprinted deep into the Bills' backfield, made a U-turn to shake off Chambers and charged at Trent Edwards from behind, jarring the ball loose.
Wake slowly climbed to his feet, stomping as he rose. He clenched his fists, and in a sudden motion arched his back, threw his arms outward and yelled at the sky.
"It's amazing to go from the couch to a game ball," Wake said. "It's hard to put into words. That journey, to get to that point, it's just the beginning."
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Five nuggets of knowledge about this weekend's games:
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| Stew Milne-US PRESSWIRE | |
| Tom Brady and the Patriots will make a statement with a win over the Ravens this Sunday. |
Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, the former Miami Dolphins coaching pariah, is calling the league's second-ranked offense. The Ravens' defense is ranked first against the run and seventh overall. But the Ravens have been relatively vulnerable against the pass. If Tom Brady can manage to work around Ravens safety Ed Reed, then the Patriots could score another big win after that setback to the Jets in Week 2.
The Jets' offensive line still is playing below expectations. Many observers, myself, included considered the Jets among the elite O-line units. They're solid on paper from tackle to tackle, featuring four first-round draft picks. But the Jets have been average in protecting Mark Sanchez and have struggled to generate a run game.
The Jets are tied for 20th in run offense. Take away two long fourth-quarter runs in the season opener, and reigning AFC rushing leader Thomas Jones is averaging 2.3 yards a carry. The starting front five have committed nine penalties for 62 yards.
While everybody's talking about the need to stop Drew Brees, running back Pierre Thomas will be a devil for the Jets' defense. The Saints' offense obviously changed when they started handing the ball to Thomas in the second half of Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Thomas didn't touch the ball in the first half, but finished the game with 126 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 9 yards a carry.
Maybe few people noticed because it was against the Bills, and a scan of the box score doesn't show that Thomas did all of that damage in 30 minutes. Brees, meanwhile, threw for only 172 yards to win comfortably.
Bills receiver Terrell Owens should have a nice bounce-back game against the Miami Dolphins. For the first time in 185 games, Owens is coming off a no-catch performance. Bills offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and quarterback Trent Edwards are under fire for not getting Owens and Lee Evans the ball. They've had all week to address those concerns and likely will enter Land Shark Stadium with a plan to get Owens involved early and often.
The Dolphins rank No. 3 against the run, but their pass defense has been the sixth-most lenient. Opposing quarterbacks have a 103.3 passer rating against them and are averaging 9.1 yards per attempt, second-to-worst in the league.
Dolphins reserve Charlie Anderson could be a difference-maker against the Bills. Unless you're a diehard Dolphins, Houston Texans or Ole Miss fan, you probably don't know who the heck Anderson is. He has started just six games in his six-year career. But he will be relied upon Sunday.
Anderson is Joey Porter's backup, and the reigning AFC sack king has been slowed down by a hamstring problem. Porter has insisted he will play, but even if he does, Anderson will see increased snaps. Anderson does have ability. In back-to-back games last year against the Bills and San Francisco 49ers, he recorded two sacks and two forced fumbles.
You'll regret not reading this AFC East mailbag
Mack from Waverly writes: Hey Tim I have a couple of questions regarding the patriots defense. Alot of people are counting on the pats to draft a corner high or get one in free agency. I really felt like the defense improved down the stretch after Jonathan Wiilhite was injected into the starting lineup. Do you think he might be the answer at corner? Also do you think the pats might ask Junior Seau back for depth since he has bailed them out for three straight years?
Tim Graham: I'm with you on Jonathan Wilhite. I thought he played well opposite Ellis Hobbs late in the season and may have convinced the Patriots they're OK at cornerback for next year. Junior Seau was an emergency replacement late in the season. He won't be back in 2009 unless disaster strikes -- repeatedly.
Brian in Fort Myers, Fla., writes: I do not see Buffalo taking the TE from OSU, he is unpolished and has too many off the field issues in his past. I actually think he could be a bust and we need help at DE and LB, who do you see the Bills looking at with their first two picks. Thanks--Go Bills!
Tim Graham: You're correct that defensive end and linebacker are needs. The Bills also need a center, but that's not a position you take in the top third of the first round unless he's elite, and there are no elite centers in this year's draft class. That said, Bills fans should be happy if Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew is the pick.
Matthew in Wichita, Kan., writes: There Rumor going on net that Pats hired Romo back to staff. That Pats going after Free agents in nfl as well look at draft because of Jared Mayo.And look at May talking Ray Lewis.
Tim Graham: See what I deal with here? I get about 47 questions like this in my chat every week and another dozen in my mailbag.
Mr. Anonymous in Phoenix writes: tim, i seem to be the only bills fan that doesn't blame dick jauron for yet another losing season (bills seem to have a history of it). do you think he can get the bills to 9 wins or should i wait until the team is sold to another town to see a winning season.
Tim Graham: I've written in my chats and mailbags before I think Jauron is a satisfactory coach. Buffalo's problems are systemic, not coach-oriented. When the Bills decided to retain Jauron and make few front-office changes, Bills fans must hope they've at least decided to adopt a new philosophy on spending money and obtaining players.
The free-agency period hasn't begun yet, so it's too early to tell for sure, but fact the Bills went hard after CFL sackmaster Cameron Wake -- they lost out to the Dolphins -- could indicate they'll be active in pursuing free agents.
Josh in Norfolk, Va., writes: Mr. Graham -- do you think the Phins will pursue Julius Peppers?
Tim Graham: It wouldn't appear the Dolphins would be hot for Peppers, whose agent recently announced the Carolina Panthers defensive end would like to play linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. The Dolphins already have Joey Porter, and last week they spent a healthy chunk (by CFL standards) on Wake. They also gave an exorbitant sum to Charlie Anderson last year.
Doug in Memphis, Tenn., writes: Kurt Warner will QB a second team in the Super Bowl. How many other QB's have done that?
Tim Graham: Kurt Warner is the third quarterback to lead two franchises to the Super Bowl, joining Craig Morton (Cowboys, Broncos) and Earl Morrall (Colts, Dolphins). But Morton was the first to start both Super Bowls. Bob Griese came back from injury in time to start Super Bowl VII in place of Morrall.
George in Wilmington, Del., writes: The last time the Jets drafted an offensive weapon in the 1st round was in 2001 (Santana Moss) and before that it was Keyshawn. Do you think this has contributed to gang greens woes? Was sticking with Tannenbaum over Mangini (or sticking with him at all) a bad choice? Is there a roadmap for the Jets to make a play-off run next season? I am not looking forward to another 5 or more years of having my heart broken.
Tim Graham: Great football teams are about the organization, the culture, the system. Mike Tannenbaum has made more moves that contribute to establishing a winner than he has made mistakes.
The Rex Ryan hire was a great one, even though he is another in a line of defensive-minded coaches. That's where their affinity for taking defensive players in the first round stems from.
Ryan will establish his tone and begin to weed out the players who don't fit his mind-set while adding players who do. But the Jets aren't in need of a major overhaul. They won nine games last year and have talent on the roster. If the Dolphins can go from one victory to 11 in one year's time, then the Jets certainly can make the playoffs next year.
Mark in Danville writes: With McCoy and Bradford electing to return to school does that increase the potential trade value for Matt Cassel should the Pats look to move him before the draft?
Tim Graham: Fewer available prospects will affect Cassel's value somewhat. It's about supply and demand. But the Patriots won't be able to trade Cassel before the draft because they won't know enough about Tom Brady's rebuilt left knee by then. The primary reason they'll franchise Cassel is to provide insurance in case Brady's not ready.
TK in Brooklyn, N.Y., writes: Hey Tim, this seems like a no brainer to me, but is there any chance the Bills go after former Colts defensive cooridinator Ron Meeks? Buffalo runs that Tampa 2 defense he ran under Dungy, and he would be a great help in improving their defense; plus he knows how to defend Brady and the Patriots. The Bills would be foolish not to try and get this guy on their staff in some capacity or another. Please tell me this is going to happen.
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
It took us an hour and a half to get through Friday afternoon's AFC East chat. But you'll need only about 10 minutes to read through the transcript by clicking here.
A couple riveting examples of the types of exchanges you'll read:
Bill (York, PA): Speaking of the Bills trying, yet coming up short (again): What's your opinion of Cameron Wake? He didn't cost Miami a whole lot? In my opinion, he's a much better fit in Miami's 3-4 than in Buffalo's whateveryouwanttocallit. Your thoughts?
Tim Graham: I'm skeptical of any CFL Paul Bunyan story. I lived in Buffalo long enough and have spent enough time in Canada to know these tall tales pop up every year, but they're usually quarterbacks. That so many NFL teams were in pursuit of Cameron Wake leads me to believe there's something there. One person explained it to me as the team that signed him would be getting an extra first-day draft pick this year.
Tim Tebow: This just in: I've cured cancer, fixed the economy and restored Telly Savalas to a full mane of hair.
Tim Graham: Did you let Telly out of his coffin before you gave him hair, or were you just being cruel to his corpse?
Porter apologizes, Crowder mum on fine
DAVIE, Fla. -- There was a day of reckoning at the Miami Dolphins headquarters Wednesday.
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| AP Photo/Alan Diaz | |
| Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder, right, was mum Wednesday on his fight with Patriots lineman Matt Light which earned them both a $15,000 fine. |
Disobedient outside linebacker Joey Porter publicly apologized to head coach Tony Sparano for refusing to come off the field in the final minutes of Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots.
With barely three minutes left in the game, Porter was flagged on consecutive plays for unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct and continued to yap at the Patriots. Sparano sent Charlie Anderson into the game for Porter, who refused to leave the field and sent Anderson back to the sideline.
Porter on Wednesday afternoon sat on a stool in front of his locker and addressed reporters, who were instructed by Dolphins senior vice president of relations Harvey Greene not to ask any questions.
"I'd just like to apologize for not respecting coach Sparano's order to come off the field," Porter said. "I wasn't looking at it that way. I was just kind of still playing football. I wasn't trying to make it as being disrespectful to the team or not obeying his order. We have a great relationship.
"It's crazy how you all got ahold of this and just tried to make it seem as if me and him were not good. I listen to all of his orders. I wasn't looking at the situation that way. I was just standing on the field, playing football. That's just my nature. If I'm not hurt I don't like to come off the field.
"So I think it got blown out of proportion, but I definitely apologize to coach, the staff, and that's pretty much it."
Porter then stood up and walked out of the locker room.
Earlier in the day, Dolphins inside linebacker Channing Crowder was fined $15,000 for his altercation with Patriots left tackle Matt Light, who grabbed a helmetless Crowder by the hair and punched him in the back of the head. Both were ejected.
Crowder spoke to reporters with the caveat he would only speak about the St. Louis Rams and wouldn't address the fine or the incident with Light.
"The league's going to do what the league's going to do," was all Crowder would tell me about the situation.
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James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the NFL and NBA for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. He's a Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Md. native who lives in Miami.
