Practically all media outlets grade the teams on the NFL draft. Good for them although, being honest, they don’t know.
Today I present to you my grades on, well, me. Wrote a ton of stuff leading to draft. What did I get right? And what did I get wrong?
Ryan Fitzpatrick: "I basically got fired yesterday and my day today consisted of zoom meetings with the guy who fired me and sitting in a room with the guy who replaced me for four hours."
Friends, Carson Wentz is out of this game because Jadeveon Clowney speared him to the back of the head with his helmet, not because the guy is injury prone. Big difference.
Ryan Tannehill says the United States of America “was founded upon racist ideas...”
I am so sick of the America bashing by people who have never lived and would never live anywhere else.
The Patriots will use Antonio Brown this year, possibly lose him in free agency next spring and get up to a third-round comp pick for it. They play chess.
I’m told Wes Welker will be joining Mike McDaniel staff with the
#Dolphins
as their WR coach. A return to South Florida after he played for the Dolphins in the mid 2000s.
Personal news: After a combined 30 years at the Miami Herald, I'll be leaving next week for a new opportunity. I'm blessed to have served Herald readers for three decades, but exciting things are on the horizon. Stay tuned.
Great segment on
@espn
about the rule for taking a touchback on a kickoff. Rules were not adhered to. Bills TD on end zone recovery that was wiped out after officials meeting was indeed a TD according to the rules book.
Going to leave this here: I know it’s not the throwback uniforms that did it. But the Dolphins finish 2-0 in that uni this year. Plus it looks great. That needs to be the permanent uniform.
Flight to Buffalo full of
#Bills
fans. They’re all wearing Bills gear and I’ve heard “Go Bills” a thousand times in last hour.
Overheard a Dolphins fan boarding say, “I’m going to freeze and we’re going to lose.”
That’s my report from AA Charlotte to Buffalo.
“You can't have it both ways," a former NBA employee said. "... You can't be over here in February promoting Black History Month and be over in China, where they're in reeducation camps and all the people that you're partnering with are hitting kids."
#Dolphins
QB Tua Tagovailoa, who is questionable for Thursday night’s game at
#Bengals
with back and ankle injuries, is expected to start, per league source.
The last QB to beat Tom Brady at home in New England?
Ryan Tannehill, in the playoffs.
The last team to beat Tom Brady at home in the regular season?
The Miami Dolphins.
The Patriots’ defense of their Super Bowl title ends with a loss to the Dolphins in the regular season finale, forcing them into the wildcard round...and a playoff loss to team with Ryan Tannehill at QB. Amazing.
Don Shula was the face (and jaw) of a franchise throughout the 1970s, 80's and into the mid-1990s. He raised two Lombardi Trophies in Miami. And, oh yes, his team in 1972 was perfect -- a feat never equaled before or since.
#Dolphins
GM Chris Grier says he sometimes texts with former LT Laremy Tunsil and the player who was traded to the
#Texans
for 3 first-round picks jokes, "bring me back."
I'm tweeting only about Coach Shula today. It's a small consideration for a great man who showed me kindness when I began my career covering the Dolphins. Hope you understand.
The Cuban national team that got its butt whipped by the USA team in the World Baseball Classic returned to Cuba today but catcher Ivan Prieto escaped the team hotel and didn’t board the flight, per
@YordiMLB
The Cuban delegation calls Prieto a “deserter.” I call him brave.
Keep seeing on here folks asking what scenario could best convince the Buffalo Bills to tank season-finale against the Dolphins.
Here’s an idea: How about the Dolphins just go win it? How about that scenario?
Like you, I have been frustrated by Miami's offensive line for years.
So if they want to pick every single offensive lineman in this draft, I'm fine with that. Good for them. Get it fixed!
Mario Cristobal will be the next head coach at the University of Miami, a process I’m told began mid November when conversation about a Manny Diaz buyout began and contingent of UM boosters reached out to Cristobal about coming home to South Florida.
Dolphins will wear their throwback uniforms this week vs. Patriots. Wish they wouldn’t. This season doesn’t feel like anything that uniform represents.
#Falcons
TE Kyle Pitts caught 7 passes for 163 yards today vs.
#Dolphins
.
#Bengals
WR Ja'Marr Chase had 8 catches for 201 and is on way to OROY.
Dolphins, in position to get pick of either, traded out of spot. And Chris Grier keeps his job? Seriously?
I saw multiple consecutive practices one camp in which Xavien Howard dominated DeVante Parker, basically took his soul. Jaylen Waddle making plays against top CB is sign great things coming.
Vic Fangio is the real deal, folks. He is a defensive football savant. Last 8 years as a DC with
#49ers
and
#Bears
his defense finished 4 times in Top 5, and 6 times in Top 10.
Just so you know, World Series MVP Jorge Soler tried to escape Cuba’s communism five times and was caught, arrested and imprisoned five times. Tried to escape a sixth time and succeeded.
#Libertad
#PatriaYVida
Tua Tagovailoa is without potential starteting WRs Will Fuller, DeVante Parker, and Preston Williams. Starting TE Mike Gesicki also out today.
And this was his best practice of camp so far.
I’ve never talked to Tua Tagovailoa. Never seen him play in person. Don’t know his friends or family. No tangible connection at all. But I am genuinely saddened by his injury. My spirit hurts for him.
Two Hall of Famers — Kevin Mawae and now Jimmy Johnson — have taken time out from their enshrinement speeches at the Pro Football Hall of Fame to say Zach Thomas belongs in the HOF. I hope my fellow selectors listen.
First-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick all over second-round pick Mike Gesicki in end zone 1 on 1.
Great coverage. And still Gesicki makes the catch for a TD.
By the way, the Dolphins didn't chase Tom Brady, didn't chase Teddy Bridgewater, didn't chase Phillip Rivers, didn't chase Marcus Mariota, and they're not chasing Cam Newton.
Think draft.
The Houston Texans lost, which means that Dolphins first-round pick from Laremy Tunsil trade is currently a Top 5 pick. And did I mention the second-rounder also improves?
New England now feeling what Miami felt with Dan Marino at the end, what New York felt with Joe Namath at the end, what Buffalo felt with Jim Kelly at the end. The dream ends eventually. And here's the thing: It's gonna sting for a while.
One final thing on the Dolphins-Detroit trade situation. I’ve been told tonight by person familiar with what Lions are thinking that they are making plans for having the No. 5 overall selection tomorrow night — Miami’s first scheduled pick of the draft tomorrow.
John Elway retired after 1998 season. Dan Marino retired after 1999 season.
After failing to draft an Elway replacement, Broncos added a HOF QB in free agency and today traded for a future HOF QB.
After failing to draft a Marino replacement, Dolphins still don't get it.
This small voice wishes to thank American truckers across the nation, on every road and highway, at every hour of the day and night, for keeping the nation stocked during this crisis.
#ThankATrucker