The amazing story of 6-year-old Rocco Passaro’s battle with leukemia, a growing bond with Jaylen Waddle & Dolphins to help him, and the unique family strength that inspires us all.
From
@nflnetwork
#RoccoStrong
:
Tua Tagovailoa went back to the field and he’s sitting around the 15-yard-line in full uniform. It looks like he’s soaking this moment in.
On November 16, 2019, Tua suffered a potentially career-ending injury. On October 18, 2020, he threw his first NFL passes.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow said their kicker Evan McPherson did a couple of warm up kicks before the game winner then told backup QB Brandon Allen: “Well, looks like we’re going to the AFC Championship Game.” A few moments later, he nailed a 52-yarder to win it.
Legendary ❄️
Just spoke with Dorrian Glenn — Damar Hamlin’s uncle — who said his nephew is on a ventilator but he’s improved to 50% oxygen needed after being at 100%. He’s still sedated but main focus is recovering to breathe on his own & healing lungs.
Full interview on
@nflnetwork
:
Antonio Brown was granted bail after a lengthy back-and-forth hearing. His bond with be 100K and he will be required to get GPS monitoring, release his passport and guns, go through drug and alcohol testing and a mental health evaluation.
Shedeur Sanders: “This the highest passing yards I had in my life. I was just at a HBCU.”
Travis Hunter: “They didn’t believe us, but who did? God did!”
Black Boy Joy. What a Game 1 debut at Colorado for Sanders-Hunter duo.
Tua Tagovailoa said he went down to the field to FaceTime his parents since they couldn’t be there to watch him play. He tried to find exactly where his drive ended and he said it was a special moment.
I’m told the unaffiliated neurotrama consultant involved in Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion test last Sunday was fired after the NFLPA found the person made several mistakes, per source.
Message I got from Brian Flores and His team About this lawsuit: “It was time to stop being quiet about the injustices that are happening. This was long overdue. There’s plenty of racism that need to be exposed.”
Bengals center Ted Karras says a company shipped these shirts to the team in honor Damar Hamlin. He says it was like air going out of balloon all week trying to play with so much unknown. When he heard good Damar news today, it made him smile for 1st time.
Hollywood police are investigating Antonio Brown for possible battery at his home today source told ESPN. There is still an active scene at Brown’s home as police determine if battery charges will be brought against him. As of now he has not been arrested. Story coming shortly.
“A lot of people don’t get to see how loved they are while they're alive, so for him to have a situation where he could have been taken away and he has a chance to come back and see all that love that he got.”
Our
@nflnetwork
interview with Damar Hamlin’s uncle, Dorrian Glenn:
This Andrew Luck retirement is a reminder that mental health and happiness are very important topics to talk about for NFL players and people as a whole.
Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle was emotional in locker room about Tua Tagovailoa injury. He says he was wrestling with a lot seeing his brother on the field hurt.
Damar Hamlin has been released and returned back to Buffalo this morning per UC Health physicians Dr. William Knight IV and Dr. Timothy Pritts.
Excellent news!
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel on not kicking a field goal for NFL record-73 points.
“It felt like chasing points, chasing a record is not what we came here to do… 10 times out of 10 you concede and kneel down.”
McDaniel later said that’s karma and we want good karma for Dolphins.
Bills HC Sean McDermott told his team they had a treat in store this AM. They perked up in anticipation.
Damar Hamlin came on Zoom told them I love you boys, flexed with both arms, made a heart symbol and gave them a thumbs up. Bills players stood up and gave round of applause.
De’Von Achane told me he was in Tyreek Hill’s ear about getting hawked on long catch. “How you get caught? Slow,” Achane told him.
Tyreek Hill got No.1 in
@NextGenStats
top speed with 22.01 MPH. Achane: “22 but don’t matter cuz he got hawked.”
Battle for NFL fastest man is on:
Jaguars OLB Josh Allen laughs with a big ‘yeah’ when asked if there is a difference between Doug Pederson & last year with Urban Meyer: “It’s a professional locker room. It’s a professional setting. He’s talking to us like grown men.”
UC health physicians told Damar Hamlin what happened to him. He expressed surprise through writing that he hasn’t been with world for two days. Today he’s started to be made aware of all the support.
His responses show: “It’s not just the lights are on. It appears he’s whole.”
Brian Flores shared with me what was on his heart after killing of George Floyd:
“Many people who broadcast their opinion on kneeling or the hiring of minorities don’t seem to have an opinion on the recent murders of these young black men & women.”
Story:
Damar Hamlin shared this screenshot of his FaceTime with Michael Rubin and Meek Mill on his IG story. Peep the full of joy smile from Hamlin in bottom right corner.
The Houston Texans are releasing WR Kenny Stills in a mutual parting, sources tell ESPN. A veteran WR in Stills now available to sign and help a playoff team for the stretch run.
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel said Tua Tagovailoa sat next to him on the plane. They talked about how he was feeling for 15-20 mins then Tua pulled out his phone to watch MacGruber and they laughed together, per McDaniel.
Asked Floyd Mayweather if he’d fight Jake Paul next once he takes care of Logan Paul Sunday.
“These guys have done a great job fooling the public that they are real fighters..I ain’t got to use my A game, my B game, my C game. I can use my Z game. Don’t even gotta hit him hard.”
Kenny Stills on Jay-Z/NFL paternship: "Talking about we're moving past kneeling like he ever protested... Choosing to speak for the people like he had spoken to the people... I wonder if he's read my Facebook/IG comments or what people say to me... It didn't seem very informed."
New job. Same energy. I’ve joined NFL Network. Hope you follow me on this new journey. Excited to do more TV rapping about football and expanding my coverage around the league. I couldn’t give up these Miami vibes so I’m staying here in the city. 🐬 fans, I still got y’all.
Playlist to start Dolphins practice: “Show Me What You Got by Jay-Z, “Brooklyn We Go Hard” by Jay, “Ni**gas in Paris” by Jay and Kanye West, and “Run This Town” by Jay and Rihanna. All in a row. Would be an incredible coincidence after Kenny Stills’ comments about Jay yesterday.
What happens to all the unused food at Hard Rock Stadium after Super Bowl LIV? Volunteers teamed up to rescue it — between 20K-30K pounds worth — and give it to 5 Miami-area shelters in need instead of it ending up landfills. My story:
Tua Tagovailoa said in postgame convo with Bryce Young he shared what he would want someone to tell him as a rookie. A part of it, Tua said, is to block out media/naysayers + grow through your struggles, run your own race. Tua lived it, came thru better.
Just chopped it up with Dolphins new star CB
@jalenramsey
about his excitement joining Miami’s loaded D, and what’s ahead. New deal for Ramsey secured by agent
@DavidMulugheta
just mins before going on stage at
@HBCUBotBrains
.
University of Cincinnati Health physicians will provide an update on the condition and care of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin at 1:30 P.M. ET today. I’ll provide live updates as they come through!
I’m told Tua Tagovailoa returned to stadium last night & flew back with the team to South Florida. He wore a precautionary neck brace — smiling, walking & talking. Positive results from X-ray last night, MRI still to come per source. His parents were w/ him at hospital & stadium.
Tua Tagovailoa had 3:27 left needing to lead a scoring drive against a top-6 ranked defense. His led his teammates and pulled it off. That’s a franchise QB win. He continues writing his story, his way with his play.
Antonio Brown has turned himself into Broward County Jail alongside his lawyers tonight to deal with his arrest warrant. The wait is over, as
@TMZ_Sports
reported.
Jaylen Waddle is tied for 2nd In NFL (not rookies, the NFL) in receptions (86). Only Cooper Kupp has more as of now. He’s also 12th in NFL in receiving. Waddle really is everything they said he was.
Damar Hamlin shirts, via
@CincyShirts
, have raised over 60K this week with all proceeds going to Damar’s foundation + the story behind how Damar’s parents got and happily wore the shirts in hospital this week.
More from
@nflnetwork
@NFLGameDay
:
Dolphins DL William Hayes tore his ACL, he’s out for the season. Big loss. It happened when he tried not to put his body weight on Derek Carr while sacking him and got his foot caught in the ground.
Personal news: Today is my last day at ESPN. Excited for what’s next TBA in the coming days. But I just want to say thanks to ESPN for giving a fast-talking 24 y/o kid from the South 4 years to write and talk on a network I grew up on. Y’all changed my life. I’ll never forget it.
NFL EVP Troy Vincent says they hope Damar Hamlin will make a full recovery but made clear he will be provided resources/benefits necessary to make sure he had what needed for complete life despite Hamlin not being a vested NFL veteran.
The Dolphins have all FIVE of top-5 fastest
@NextGenStats
top NFL ball carrier speeds this season.
1. Tyreek Hill, 22.07 MPH, Week 3 vs DEN
2. Tyreek Hill, 21.66, WK1 vs LAC
3. Raheem Mostert, 21.62, WK2 vs NE
4. Tyreek Hill, 21.52, WK1 vs LAC
5. De'Von Achane, 21.5, WK3 vs DEN
Antonio Brown’s trainer Glen Holt was arrested for felony burgulary & battery this afternoon. The moving truck driver said he was battered by Holt & Antonio Brown. Officers tried to contact Brown but were unsuccessful. It’s an ongoing investigation. Story:
“I feel like I’m the engine of this team. I get guys going. I get guys turnt up.”
Look at Tyreek Hill’s emotions after playing injured & helping Dolphins to big win over Cowboys. Our
@nflnetwork
1-on-1 includes interaction between Hill & friendly trash talk rival Micah Parsons.
Here at UC Medical Center where Bills S Damar Hamlin is being treated. Members of Bills & Bengals organization have come by to check on Damar including Bengals HC Zac Taylor.
There was a group of about 50-75 fans — Bills and Bengals — here on sidewalk near hospital for support.
Stories like D’Ernest Johnson are why we love football.
Undrafted, unsigned, spends 2018 fishing for mahi mahi in Key West. Joins AAF then Browns as STer in 2019.
Tonight, plays out of his mind in 1st NFL start on national stage securing that his moment will last longer.
Titans are expecting star RB Derrick Henry to be at practice tomorrow, I’m told, setting the stage for a playoff return. He’s been ramping up toward this.
#Dolphins
WR Tyreek Hill on QB Tua Tagovailoa: “Tua actually has one of the prettiest balls I’ve ever caught him in my life... Tua is a very accurate QB.”
“I’m very confident in my QB… the sky is the limit for that guy. Heck of a talent. Has crazy arm strength, arm talent.”
Confused at the outrage about the Eagles. They said during the week they planned to play Nate Sudfield & did exactly that for a Q. He happened to be bad. Steelers rested more players with more to play for. Every team manages their own personnel. Why should Philly care about NYG?
Jaguars HC Doug Pederson surprised his team at a meeting that he’s cancelled their OTA today in exchange for a squad paintballing session.
A look at this morning’s action:
Dolphins star WR Tyreek Hill has 961 receiving yards through 8 games.
Not only is Hill by far the NFL’s receiving leader,
@cheetah
is on pace to break Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving record and notch the first 2K receiving year ever 🐆🐆
Ryan Fitzpatrick said it “broke his heart” to hear he was being demoted. He said he was “shocked” when Brian Flores called him to the office to tell him Tua Tagovailoa was the new starter.
Fitzpatrick being very transparent that the decision really hit him hard.
Titans GM Jon Robinson and HC Mike Vrabel built a team that played a NFL-record 88 players this year, played the whole 2nd half of the year w/o their face of the franchise Derrick Henry & are a win over HOU next week away from being AFC’s top seed.
What a great year & story.
Meet the 335-pound lifeguard turned Dolphins guard Solomon Kindley (
@66up_next
) who saved a teammate from the lake & smokes others in pool races.
His next pursuit is educating Florida youth, particularly underserved Black kids, on water safety.
Story:
HBCU stand up! Lions LB James Houston has 2 big sacks on Josh Allen in his NFL debut after just being elevated from the practice squad.
Houston, a 6th round pick out of Jackson State, was Deion Sanders’ 1st NFL player drafted as head coach. Making a big impact.
True face of the franchise. About 20 mins after game, Derrick Henry came back out to sign autographs for fans who stuck around and take pics. They loved it.
What a night for Tua Tagovailoa. Not 100% with fractured finger coming off the bench making several BIG throws to lead his Dolphins to huge upset win. Defense played amazing and should be the headliner of performance, but this is a big W for Tua & his hopes to be franchise QB.
Dolphins are planning to cut OT Isaiah Wilson, who they just acquired in a trade from TENN earlier this week, sources said.
@AdamHBeasley
1st.
Wilson was late for his physical, on-boarding process & skipped optional workouts he committed to + offered help but wasn't interested.
Speaking with Damar Hamlin family friend Jordon Rooney
@jordonr
on
@nflnetwork
about positive signs doctors have seen over last 12 hours & level of clarity they have on Damar’s recovery moving forward:
“I wanted to be as advertised… I’m very pleased with my debut, you could say, the warm up.”
Listen to Dolphins star DB
@jalenramsey
go deep in our
@nflnetwork
@NFLGameDay
1-on-1 on his 94-day journey back from full meniscus repair, feeling unworthy of God’s grace & the support:
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa linked with Miami Hurricanes safety Kam Kinchens to give out 150 turkeys and goodie bags + 100 $100 gift cards in Miami.
Tua said he wanted to give back to his new South Florida home community so he collaborated with Kinchens event.
Here’s a snippet:
Odell Beckham hopes everyone can feel in their life the sort of happiness that happened when Ravens got back to locker room. He calls this the best team he’s ever played on and says Lamar Jackson is the general that always keeps them alive.
More from my postgame chat with
@obj
:
Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey will return to practice today, per sources, opening 21-day window to return off injured reserve.
Ramsey will be eased back into action. He won’t play Sunday. But back on field, with a new cut he posted this AM, less than 3 months after meniscus surgery.
Terron Armstead on Tua Tagovailoa:
“1’s swaggy man. He’s playing incredible – he is incredible. He’s an amazing QB. He’s a commander of the game. He’s seeing it at a high level. He’s slowing it down for himself and he’s having fun… We’re grown men playing a kids’ game, so…
Back home after a week covering Damar Hamlin’s remarkable story: one I’ll remember forever. Did my best to do it with grace & empathy. Thankful of Damar’s family trusting me to share emotions/updates + all who followed our
@nflnetwork
coverage or sent a kind note on our work 🙏🏾🫶🏾
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel indicates LT Terron Armstead (pec) won't have surgery & hasn't been ruled out to play Sunday vs. 49ers.
I'm told Armstead has been telling folks he's aiming to play this Sunday. Armstead does have a remarkable ability to play through injuries.
The Dolphins are exercising the 5th year option on DT Christian Wilkins, per source.
Miami views Wilkins as a foundational player for their defensive identity with his energy and work ethic. A lot of steady improvement since being drafted including a strong 2021 campaign.
Just made it from my garage to elevator to condo carrying 16 grocery bags. Might take a few mins for feeling to come back to my left hand/forearm, but I made it.
Apparently I’d rather pop a blood vessel than take a second trip. The game is the game.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa wins AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September.
Tua went 72-of-101 (71.3%), 1,024 pass yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs, 121.9 QB rating.
1st Dolphins player to win AFC Offensive Player of the Month in 30 years.