Archives for September 2006

‘Carey called Mularkey “a passionate coach. A coach who believes in just beating up on your opponent.”’

‘When former coach Mike Mularkey, now the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator, benched Losman last year, he understood. It helped him realize how a quarterback always needs a sense of urgency. “He had to make a decision,” Losman said. “There was no reason to be mad or upset at anybody else but yourself. Football careers aren’t that long, so everything is happening in the now. Every game, week and year is critical.”‘

‘Under Dolphins team rules, Mularkey is not allowed to talk to reporters. But, according to sources, he believed he was in a no-win situation in Buffalo, working for a general manager who likely would prefer a handpicked coach. Mularkey, sources said, also figured he’d have a hard time replacing the assistants because of his own tenuous situation.’

‘”He’s gotten better every day, certainly every week,” new Bills coach Dick Jauron told reporters during a conference call this week. “He’s at a kind of a critical time in his career. It’s his third year, and that’s helped him. He doesn’t have a lot of experience so we’ve got to be a little bit patient with him. I’m saying we’re going to be forcefully patient.”‘

Mularkey facing familiar faces (Miami Herald)

Wilkinson faces lawsuit (Miami Herald)

Sunday vs. Bills a sellout (Miami Herald)

Learning as he goes (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Civil suit keeps Wilkinson off Dolphins practice field (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Dolphins’ Mularkey ready to face his former team (Palm Beach Post)

One Dolphins loss, OK; two losses … not so much (Palm Beach Post)

Dolphins’ Wilkinson defending self in civil suit (Palm Beach Post)

Losman getting comfortable (Florida Today)

Saban: Things will get better (Florida Today)

Dolphins Players Post-Practice Press Briefings (MiamiDolphins.com)

Dolphins-Bills Game Declared Sellout, Will Be Televised Locally (MiamiDolphins.com)

Coach Saban Post-Practice Press Briefing (MiamiDolphins.com)

Dolphins Players And Coaches Sponsor Youth Groups And Others To Attend Games (MiamiDolphins.com)

Wes Welker: A Great Story (MiamiDolphins.com)

‘Dolphins 27, Bills 15.’

‘Thus, don’t put your money on the Western New Yorkers, because head coach Nick Saban’s Fins will win it, 27-17.’

‘"It’s still real fresh," said Leonhard after practice Thursday. "The defense that we’re running is pretty simple right now. It’s just a matter of getting back on the field and getting in that game shape. It’s amazing how quick it can go on you in a week and a half when you’re not seeing things. I was still working out, but it’s different when you’re practicing."’

‘"I still have a chip on my shoulder from the draft," said Simpson, who was a unanimous All-Southeastern Conference first team pick last year for the Gamecocks. "I thought I should have went higher than what I did. I just feel like I’m good enough to play at this level. I’m going to go out there and show what I can do and prove myself."’

‘Bills linebacker Takeo Spikes missed his second day of practice Thursday with a pulled right hamstring, leaving his status in doubt for Buffalo’s game at Miami this weekend. Spikes remains listed as questionable on the Bills injury report, but coach Dick Jauron held out hope he would be able to play and said after Thursday’s practice it will likely be a game-time decision.’

‘What was your lowest point? Spikes: I was getting ready to come to Buffalo for the game against Kansas City. I wanted to show everybody how good I was doing, how good I felt, how I was walking strong. I had to see Dr. [James] Andrews, first and I was expecting he’d take my walking boot off. He looked at me and said, "It’s looking pretty good." Then he said, "Six to eight more weeks in the boot you’ll be fine."’

‘”Obviously, we like both of them,” said Bills coach Dick Jauron. “We drafted them. We think they’re going to be really good players. There is going to be some learning. It will take some time. But they’ll be out there performing.”‘

‘Spikes doesn’t believe Vincent’s injury is as bad as the team contends. Spikes said they might as well put him on IR, too, because his hamstring injury is similar to Vincent’s. He was asked if he felt Vincent could have returned in four or five weeks. “Ain’t no if,” Spikes said. “Let’s be real about it. There ain’t no ifs about it. He could have come back. He would have come back. I don’t want to take anything away from the [young] players we have in this locker room. I think we have some helluva good players on this team. But you can’t replace experience.”‘

‘The Bills will start rookie Keith Ellison if Spikes can’t go. When Ellison entered the game at New England, he played weak-side ‘backer and Angelo Crowell shifted over to Spikes’ spot, on the strong side.’

‘Whether McGahee’s head is in the right place remains to be seen, but it’s time for him to begin materializing as the “elite” back he’s been made out to be. The Dolphins’ game, under the circumstances, is an ideal time for that to take place. If not, the Dolphins could blow Buffalo out.’