Category Archives: football

(Event Invitation) Can’t Tell Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament

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Can't Tell Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament posterIt is always an honor and joy to be part of events that allow me to give back to the community. In 2013 I have been blessed of becoming part of the board of director of a foundation “Can’t Tell”. This foundation offers treatment and program services at the Can’t Tell Center (www.canttellcenter.com) for adolescents and young adults affected by mental health disorders, bullying, abuse, sexual assault and other trauma, including military personnel suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The therapeutic treatment programs provide aid in
correcting the psychological, emotional, behavioral, spiritual and neuro-biological effects of complex trauma.

We are honored to be hosting the Inaugural Can’t Tell Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament on:

Saturday, June 1, 2013

at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. The cocktail party begins at 5:00 pm with the poker tournament following at 7:00 pm. South Florida community members are invited to sign up online or make donations at www.canttellpoker.eventbrite.com

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Can’t Tell Foundation, a tax-deductible 501(c)3 organization (Tax ID # 27-3814108). All money raised from this exciting event will go directly to providing desperately needed treatment and program services.

Celebrity participants include Miami Dolphins corner back Nolan Carrol, MMA fighters Alistair Overeem, Marcus Brimage, Jessica Aguilar, Mike Rio, Alex Caceres, Jorge Masvidal, El Octagano reporter Andrea Calle, and more. There will also be a special performance at the cocktail party by Elevate Music recording artist Justin Anthony, who recently recorded a single with Snoop Dogg. In addition to the musical performance, the cocktail party, held at the Swamp Bar in Hollywood, will include food, drinks and a silent auction. The poker tournament will feature a guaranteed prize pool of $10,000 with a minimum of 125 registrants. Re-buys and add-ons will be available. The first re-buy is free to pre-paid registrants. All re-buy and add-on money will go directly to the Can’t Tell Foundation.

For more information or to register or donate online, please visit www.canttellpoker.eventbrite.com.

Media Contact:
Dawn Berson
Development Director
Can’t Tell Foundation
dberson@canttell.org

Miami Dolphins and Rebuilding Together Help Renovate a Home in Hollywood as Part of a Military Appreciation Activity

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Miami Dolphins and Rebuilding Together Help Renovate a Home in Hollywood as Part of a Military Appreciation Activity
(Photos – Credit Miami Dolphins)

Hollywood, FL – As part of a military appreciation activity, Miami Dolphins players including Anthony Fasano, Brandon Fields, Andrew McDonald and Marcus Thigpen, alumni, members of the Miami Dolphins Women’s Organization (MDWO), Special Teams Program and Rebuilding Together helped renovate the home of Donald McEnany, an 80-year

old Korean War veteran and Hollywood resident.

“All the work I’ve done in the past is being updated and it’s all stuff I hadn’t done,” said McEnany. “It looks new and it’s great seeing this happen because I watch the Dolphins every Sunday and I’ve been a fan of them for years. I never expected this and I’m real thankful.”

McEnany and his wife Mary have been married for over 50 years and the interior and exterior modifications and repairs done by the Dolphins and Rebuilding Together will assist them in improving their living conditions. Rooms to Go will deliver furniture to the house the following week on December 4, 2012.

“This is our second year partnering with the Dolphins now and I’m always impressed,” said Sandra Einhorn, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together of Broward County. “They come out and they really want to work and they come really looking to dig in.”

-DOLPHINS-

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@ANDREACALLEcorp

Sports and Music

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by jimberrysports

Whitney Houston’s tragic passing took me back to the Super Bowl at Tampa, Florida in 1991. I remember because I was there. It was the first Super Bowl where security was amped up to a high level because the US was in the Gulf war.

Everyone was feeling patriotic when Whitney stepped up and sang her resounding Star Spangled Banner.  Actually, she didn’t just sing it. She BELTED it out. It stuck with you.  The dramatic game between the Bills and Giants was decided on a missed field goal by Buffalo’s Scott Norwood. Still, afterwards, players on both teams were talking about Whitney. Her version was SO good, it actually became a hit recording.

It was one of those moments that reminds you of how sports and music always dance together. I tune out the endless hip hop at NBA games. But I remember real singers bringing their “A” game at major sporting events.

Marvin Gaye at the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles in 1983 was another such moment. Marvin sang the anthem as only he could, with unmistakeable soul.  Its the only time I ever recall an audience clapping in unision during the anthem. We were at a basketball game, but Marvin took us to church.

Prince singing “Purple Rain” IN the rain at the 2007 Super Bowl. You couldn’t have scripted that any better.  Great theatre. It took our minds off of the fact that this was the soggiest Super Bowl in history.

Whitney’s gone, but my memory of how she blended sports and music will stick with me. As athletes often say about each other…she had game.

The book of Eli

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When I first met Eli Manning, it was the week before his brother Peyton played the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl five years ago.  While everyone  was casual chic on South Beach, Eli walked around in a suit and tie. Yes, he looked dorky, but he was being himself.

Now that he has surpassed Peyton with two Super Bowl rings, Eli still comes across kinda dorky…but he’s still himself.  At the team’s big victory parade in Manhattan,  Eli’s Giant teammates hammed it up.  Eli still politely talked about a “team win.”   He’s no motivational speaker. He’s just himself.

In this era of athletes who are quick to promote themselves WITHOUT winning anything, Eli is a refreshing throwback. He’s the guy who won’t brag even when he can. It’s just not his nature.

What a contrast he is to the head coach of that other New York team. The Jets Rex Ryan talks big. Eli just PLAYS big.  Now that he has whipped the glam Tom Brady and gruffy Bill Belechik twice, Eli can walk on water in New York.

However, he’s no Tim Tebow, being interviewed again in a prime time special. He’s just Eli. Nondescript….but quite effective on the field, especially in crunch time.   The New York pressure cooker has not changed him. He has drowned out the noise, and stayed true to himself.

Maybe somewhere Eli does have a personality. I remember people thinking his big brother Peyton Manning was also kind of bland, until we started to see his wacky sense of humor.

With Eli..what you see might be what you get.  He may never be a GQ magazine cover boy. That’s OK.  There’s nothing wrong with just being a solid quarterback who lets his play do all of the talking.

Peyton’s new place ?

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jimberrysports.com

  Get ready South Florida. I got a feeling its coming. Peyton Manning hype.  It sure looks like the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback and the Indianapolis Colts are about to part company.

Manning has tried to put a good spin on his relationship with the Colts, but c’mon. How much sense does it make for the Colts to pay Peyton $28 mil to stick around AND draft Andrew Luck.  Why would Manning want to remain with a Colts team that is clearly heading in a new direction.

Should they follow through with their football divorce, Manning will become the hottest NFL free agent since Reggie White.  The Dolphins will get in the Manning sweepstakes. The question is…SHOULD they ?

I say NO.  Stay away from an old quarterback who has missed a year after his THIRD neck surgery in two years. Too scary..too risky for me.  But I’m betting Dolphins owner Stephen Ross won’t be able to resist.

Manning would sell tickets to an empty Sun Life Stadium, re-excite Dolfans who miss those Dan Marino days, and give the Fins instant Super Bowl hope.

But what if he can’t play. Then the Dolphins are right back where they are…with no franchise quarterback.  Taking the Manning shortcut could blow up in their faces.

The smart money says go find a young Peyton Manning.  The Dolphins new head coach Joe Philbin is known for offense. Let him coach up a young QB, and not play caretaker for an older one who may be fragile and set in his ways.

And….do you REALLY trust that Dolphin offensive line to protect Manning. I’d feel better with somebody who can run away from the pass rush.

In my book, there’s only one good reason for the Fins to get in the Manning sweepstakes. Keep him away from the New York Jets.  For the Dolphins to play third fiddle in a division with Tom Brady AND Peyton Manning….now THAT might get me to change my mind.

Georgia recruiting falls victim to Georgia immigration policy

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Almost from the moment it was enacted in October 2010, the University System of Georgia’s policy for admitting illegal immigrants have been a magnet for criticism, from students, faculty and outside groups alike who have opposed the restrictions in a kind of proxy war in the broader fight over immigration policy across the country. Now, though, opponents may have stumbled into their best argument yet: The policy is costing Georgia potential football players.

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Chester Brown, a 6-foot-5, 340-pound offensive lineman from Hinesville (Ga.), committed to the Bulldogs in July, but he confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and several other media outlets late Monday night that he was withdrawing his UGA commitment “for personal reasons,” declining to elaborate.

However, a variety of people with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to the AJC on Tuesday that Brown’s change of heart was because his admissions application to UGA was rejected because of a controversial Board of Regents policy that was adopted in October 2010.
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Brown’s principal at Bradwell Institute, Scott Carrier, said federal privacy laws prevent him from discussing Brown’s case in detail. But he did say that it was an “immigration-related issue” and that the school has “not given up” on helping Brown realize his dream of attending UGA.

There are two relevant policies in question. One of them, Policy 4.1.6, effectively bars illegal immigrants from admission:

A person who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible for admission to any University System institution which, for the two most recent academic years, did not admit all academically qualified applicants (except for cases in which applicants were rejected for non-academic reasons).

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The other, Policy 4.3.4, redundantly requires the university to “verify the lawful presence in the United States of every successfully admitted person applying for resident tuition status,” which is likely where Chester Brown ran into a thicket of red tape: Both of his parents are Samoan immigrants (that is, from the Independent State of Samoa, not American Samoa), and though Brown’s mother insists he was born in the United States — and is therefore a U.S. citizen — he apparently hasn’t been able to provide documentation to prove it. Per Carrier, “Some things slipped through the cracks that could have prevented this had they been handled earlier.”

Make no mistake: Brown wants to be at Georgia, badly enough that he reportedly had the date of his verbal commitment to coaches (July 15, 2011) tattooed on his arm. Georgia needs Brown, too, to help shore up a frighteningly thin depth chart on the offensive line. As of earlier this week, though, he was reportedly fielding interest from Syracuse, Tulane and Central Florida, among others, and will probably end up at one of those destinations.

Too bad he’s only rated as a three-star prospect. If he had five, here’s guessing the regents would toss the policy onto a bonfire in front of the administration building and raise the bar for him tomorrow.

Reports of Joe Paterno’s death refuted by family

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Posted by Adam Jacobi

Penn State student website Onward State has reported that Penn State players were notified of longtime head coach Joe Paterno‘s passing via email, and CBSSports.com went on this report. Paterno, 85, had been receiving chemotherapy as part of his treatment for lung cancer.

However, Paterno family spokesperson Dan McGinn told a New York Times reporter that the report of Paterno’s demise is “absolutely not true,” and Jay Paterno tweeted that his father “continues to fight.” Onward State has since retracted their report.

Paterno was the head coach of Penn State for 46 seasons before being fired in November as his role in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal came under greater scrutiny. Combined with the time he spent as an assistant, Paterno spent a total of 61 years on the Penn State sidelines. He left behind a legacy that, on the field of play, was unparalleled in Division I football. Paterno holds the all-time Division I record for football coaching wins with a 409-136-3 record, and he won two national championships while going undefeated in five different seasons.

[STATS: JoePa's lifetime coaching record]

Under Paterno, Penn State was a perennial powerhouse, known for decades as “Linebacker U” for its propensity to develop All-American linebackers. Paterno coached such great linebackers as Dennis Onkotz, Jack Ham, Shane Conlan, LaVar Arrington, Paul Posluszny, Dan Connor, and Sean Lee, along with many others.

Additionally, running back John Cappelletti won the Heisman Trophy in 1973 under Paterno, and Cappelletti was one of seven Penn State players to win the Maxwell Award for most outstanding college football player. All in all, 68 players were named first-team All-American by at least one of the major news services under Paterno; 13 of those players were two-year winners.

Paterno’s longtime defensive coordinator and the architect of the defensive schemes that came to typify Penn State football was Jerry Sandusky, who’s now more well-known for the allegations of underaged sexual abuse against him made by men who were involved in Sandusky’s charity, The Second Mile, as boys. Sandusky is still awaiting trial for those allegations, and he pled not guilty to the charges in December 2011.

In an interview with the Washington Post released just a week ago, Paterno expressed remorse for not having done more to stop Sandusky’s alleged crimes, and he also said he was “just sick about” the situation. Investigators did not bring charges against Paterno, and instead mentioned that he had fulfilled his legal obligations by notifying his superiors about an alleged assault when he was first notified in 2002.

After Paterno was fired in 2011, Penn State named Tom Bradley — who, coincidentally, was Sandusky’s replacement at defensive coordinator — interim head coach. Bradley went 1-3, including a loss to Houston in the TicketCity Bowl, and was not retained as a coach when Penn State hired Bill O’Brien in January.

Paterno was well known for encouraging his players to excel in the classroom and earn their undergraduate degrees at Penn State, and his name will live on at Penn State. Paterno and his wife Sue were major financial supporters of Penn State University, as they donated millions of dollars for the Paterno Library on campus, and Paterno helped establish the Paterno Liberal Arts Undergraduate Fellows Program.

Victor Cruz and 25 Breakout Players That Emerged in 2011 NFL Season

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By Cody Swartz

25. Ben Tate, RB, Houston Texans

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Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images
He broke his ankle in his first ever preseason game in 2010, missing the entire season with the injury. With 2011 being his initial taste of NFL action, Ben Tate broke out in a big way. He rushed for over 100 yards in each of his first two contests, finishing the year with 942 yards on the ground and four scores. Tate’s 5.38 yards-per-carry average was fifth best in the league among running back

24. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

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Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Rookies can be breakout players, too, and A.J. Green broke out in a big way in 2011. He teamed with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton to help take the Cincinnati Bengals to the playoffs, stepping right in as the team’s No. 1 receiver. Green caught 65 passes for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns, becoming the only rookie offensive player to be voted onto the Pro Bowl squad.

23. Andre Smith, OT, Cincinnati Bengals

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Andre Smith missed the majority of his first two seasons in the NFL after the 2009 sixth overall pick broke his foot in consecutive years. In 2011, he broke out as the franchise tackle the Cincinnati Bengals had been hoping he would become. Smith played 14 games and allowed just one sack in the final 12 weeks. With Andrew Whitworth as the Bengals’ left tackle, the Bengals have a strong pair of bookend tackles for young quarterback Andy Dalton.

22. Beanie Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals

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Christian Petersen/Getty Images
After a promising enough rookie season, Beanie Wells regressed badly last year, seeing his yards-per-carry average drop from 4.5 to 3.4. He bounced back with 1,047 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2011, finally proving his value as a first-round pick.

21. C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills

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Rick Stewart/Getty Images
C.J. Spiller had an absolutely miserable rookie year in 2010, failing to establish himself at all as the starting running back the Buffalo Bills hoped he could be. Spiller totaled just 283 rushing yards on 3.8 yards per carry while failing to score a touchdown. Spiller’s 2011 production was still just 561 rushing yards and four scores, but when Fred Jackson went on IR with a broken leg, Spiller stepped right in as the feature back. Spiller ran for three touchdowns in his five starts, finishing with a 5.2 yards-per-carry average on 107 carries.

20. Erin Henderson, LB, Minnesota Vikings

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Before the season, the 2011 Football Outsiders book referred to Erin Henderson as a player who “may be E.J’s sister.” Erin Henderson went on to have arguably the strongest season of any guy on the Minnesota Vikings’ defense (except of course Jared Allen). Henderson was phenomenal against the run, finishing with 58 tackles and rating as the fourth-best 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

 19. Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers

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Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Ryan Mathews’ 2010 rookie season was a disappointment, as he dealt with an ankle injury and finished with just 678 rushing yards. He broke out this year, rushing for 1,091 yards and six touchdowns on 4.9 yards per carry. Mathews also caught 50 passes for 455 yards out of the backfield, finishing seventh in the league in total yards from scrimmage (1,546).

18. Trent Williams, OT, Washington Redskins

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Whitney Curtis/Getty Images
The fourth overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft struggled as a rookie, looking overmatched from the day he entered the league. Williams gave up a whopping 11 sacks, and let up at least one in eight different games. He made major strides in 2011. Williams allowed two sacks in the opener against the New York Giants, but then didn’t let up a sack for his final 11 games before a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs ended his year prematurely.

17. Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Oakland Raiders

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Anyone who knew anything about college football knew the Oakland Raiders took a huge risk when they reached for Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft. Heyward-Bey caught just 12 passes as a rookie and only 26 in 2010 before catching 64 balls for 975 yards and four touchdowns in 2011, showing promise as a potential No. 1 receiver for the Raiders.

16. Laurent Robinson, WR, Dallas Cowboys

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The fifth-year receiver spent two years on the Atlanta Falcons and two more on the St. Louis Rams, failing to make an impact with either club. He signed on with the Dallas Cowboys midway through the 2011 season and ended with more touchdown catches than Miles Austin, Dez Bryant or Jason Witten. Robinson caught 11 scores, and he also added 54 receptions for 858 yards.

15. Eugene Monroe, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Eugene Monroe was a highly touted offensive line prospect coming out of college who struggled as a rookie in 2009. He wasn’t much better in 2010, but he finally played to his potential in 2011. Monroe still lets up too many sacks, but he is a fine run blocker and was a key reason why running back Maurice Jones-Drew was able to lead the NFL in rushing yards.

14. Bryan Bulaga, OT, Green Bay Packers

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Like Eugene Monroe, Bryan Bulaga was a major liability as a rookie, and in fact, he was one of the worst players on the 2010 Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. Bulaga started at right tackle and gave up more sacks (12) than any other offensive tackle in the league. He showed an incredible turnaround this year, yielding just one sack in 12 games while helping Aaron Rodgers turn in one of the greatest seasons by a quarterback in NFL history.

13. John Sullivan, C, Minnesota Vikings

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John Sullivan took over as the starting center for the Minnesota Vikings when Matt Birk left for the Baltimore Ravens via free agency. Sullivan was mediocre for his first two seasons before establishing himself as a Pro Bowl-caliber player in 2011. Sullivan rated as the third-best center in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

12. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

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Antonio Brown went from being a sixth-round draft selection in 2009 to being voted the Pittsburgh Steelers Team MVP in 2011. He caught 69 passes for 1,108 yards, pushing Hines Ward out of a starting spot. Brown teamed with Mike Wallace to give the Steelers two Pro Bowl wideouts.

11. Reggie Bush, RB, Miami Dolphins

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Reggie Bush never developed into the Pro Bowl running back the New Orleans Saints thought he would be when they picked him second overall in the 2006 NFL draft. The year the Saints went to the Super Bowl, Mike Bell and undrafted back Pierre Thomas received the bulk of the carries, with Bush getting just 70 in 16 games. A change of scenery in Miami sparked his career as the feature back. Bush rushed for 1,086 yards and seven touchdowns on 5.0 yards per carry, totaling his first 1,000-yard season on the ground. He also ran for 100 yards five times after having done it just once in five seasons with the Saints.

10. Evan Mathis, G, Philadelphia Eagles

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For the first six years of his NFL career, Evan Mathis was a journeyman guard for the Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and won a job as the starter in training camp. Mathis ended up having the single most dominant season of any lineman in the game, according to Pro Football Focus. He was phenomenal as a run blocker but also didn’t allow a sack the entire year. In fact, since PFF was founded in 2008, Mathis hasn’t allowed a sack in 1,846 snaps, although he played sparingly from ’08-10.

9. Lardarius Webb, CB, Baltimore Ravens

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Larry French/Getty Images
He still doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, but Lardarius Webb has quietly developed into one of the best all-around cornerbacks in the league. He picked off five passes and didn’t allow a touchdown, holding opposing quarterbacks to a 56.2 passer rating.

8. Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers

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It may be unfair to say Alex Smith was a bust in his first six years with the San Francisco 49ers, especially considering he had six different offensive coordinators during that span and lacked a big-play wide receiver. New head coach Jim Harbaugh was able to coax a long overdue breakout season out of Smith, who set career highs in completion percentage (61.4), passing yards (3,150), yards per attempt (7.1) and passer rating (90.7). His five interceptions were the fewest of any quarterback who started all 16 games.

7. Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos

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He’s been almost scary good from the day he entered the league. Not only should Von Miller be the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, but he should also get some votes for Defensive Player of the Year. He picked up 12 sacks and 29 quarterback pressures while registering as the best 4-3 outside linebacker against both the pass AND the run, according to Pro Football Focus.

6. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants

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His breakout season was to be expected, especially after the rate at which he finished 2010, with four sacks in the final six weeks. But Jason Pierre-Paul broke out in a big way in 2011, totaling 16.5 sacks that earned him spots on both the Pro Bowl roster and All-Pro team.

5. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

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No one really knew what to expect from Cam Newton in 2011. Many draft experts felt he would be a bust, while still others felt he had the potential to be something special for the Carolina Panthers. Newton’s first game in the league was jaw-dropping: 422 yards, two TDs, 110.4 rating, plus another on the ground. When he followed it up with a 432-yard day against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, he became a household name. Newton finished the season with rookie records for passing yards (4,051) and total touchdowns (35) while setting an all-time quarterback mark with 14 rushing touchdowns.

4. Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers

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Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Jordy Nelson may have had his breakout game in last year’s Super Bowl, catching nine passes for 140 yards and one touchdown in Green Bay’s 31-25 win. His success carried over to 2011, as Aaron Rodgers to Nelson was a remarkably successful quarterback-to-wide receiver combination. Nelson totaled 68 receptions for 1,296 yards and 15 touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl selection in the process.

3. Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints

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Jimmy Graham showed flashes of brilliance late in 2010, catching four touchdowns in the final three games and establishing himself as a top red-zone threat. No one could have foreseen the success he enjoyed in 2011, though: Graham caught 99 passes for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns, more receiving yards than any tight end has ever totaled in one season except for Rob Gronkowski (1,327 this year).

2. Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions

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After suffering three debilitating injuries in his first two seasons in the league, Matthew Stafford had loads to prove in 2011.It’s safe to say he silenced the critics who said he couldn’t stay healthy and couldn’t be the franchise QB for the Detroit Lions. Stafford passed for 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns, becoming only the fourth quarterback ever to top 5,000 yards in a season and just the seventh to throw for as many as 40 touchdowns.

1. Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants

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No one—not his teammates, not his college coach, not his agent and probably not even Victor Cruz himself—thought he could pull off the season he had with the New York Giants in 2011. Cruz embarked from relative anonymity to catch 82 passes for 1,536 yards  and nine touchdowns. His yardage total set a new franchise record, shattering the previous mark of 1,343 by Amani Toomer in 2002. Cruz’s breakout game came against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3, as he pulled in 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He finished the year with seven 100-yard receiving games, including a 6-178-1 performance against the Dallas Cowboys in a must-win Week 17 game.

Tony..Tony…Tony..

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It wasn’t what he was saying. It was how he was saying it. Tony Sparano’s deflated tone in his post-game press conference carried with it an air of resignation.  The conventional thinking is that Sparano HAD to run the table to have a chance to keep his job.  He didn’t.  Its almost as if he knew it was win or else.

That might explain some of his coaching decisions during that loss to the Eagles. He gambled that Dan Carpenter could boot a 55-yard field goal on a windy day. He didn’t. The game against Philly instantly turned around, and the Dolphins never regained the momentum they lost.

The Dolphins struggled mightily in short yardage situations.  After getting stuffed on third and short, they bravely went for it three times on fourth down. They got stuffed each time. Those short yardage play calls were painfully predictable, and ineffective.

Sadly for Sparano, it was a game that highlighted why his future is dim.  When facing a team with equal and superior talent, the Fins have fizzled.  Only two of their wins have come against teams with winning records, and the Bills and Raiders are looking more fraudulent as the season goes on.

Whether its a combination of talent, creativity or both…the Dolphins are a notch or two below the NFL elite. Sparano will be hard pressed to prove that he’s the man to get them there.

By Jim Berry

http://www.jimberrysports.com

This is what i get to see on a day of work

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