Archives for December 2011

‘Dolphins 16, Bills 13.’

‘”I felt great coming back last week,” said Bell. “I feel my legs are stronger now than they’ve ever been. That’s one of the reasons I’m playing so good this year. I just felt good before the injury and I feel good now.”‘

‘Easley confirmed the heart condition but would not get specific about it and would not say whether he had any surgical procedure to address it. "When it first came about it was so random, it came out of nowhere," Easley said. "I’ve been cleared to play again. Everything’s positive and I’ll be back."’

‘Long after the cheering stopped, he’s become a Santa Claus of sorts, another big man with a gift for giving. For all the success he had in football and all the Pro Bowl teams he made, Brown’s greatest quality is making people around him feel better. He’s the kind of person you want as a teammate in life, for life.’

‘On a defense that has struggled, Sheppard has provided a glimmer of hope for the future. He was projected to be a player who could be an every-down linebacker, one that could stand up to the run and defend against the pass, and it would appear that assessment was correct.’

Miami Dolphins in holding pattern with interim coach Todd Bowles (Miami Herald)

Sources: Miami Dolphins’ Stephen Ross in talks to bring Carl Peterson aboard (Miami Herald)

Dolphins interim coach Todd Bowles brings ‘no nonsense’ approach (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Matt Moore, Jake Long not practicing with Dolphins (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

For at least a few weeks, low-profile Todd Bowles will take his turn on the Miami Dolphins’ hot seat (Palm Beach Post)

Dolphins QB Matt Moore sits out practice but should start Sunday at Buffalo (Palm Beach Post)

Losman, Uncle Art ready for return to Buffalo (Fox Sports Florida)

Dolphins players sad to see coach Sparano go (Fox Sports Florida)

Dolphins start new era with Bowles (AP)

Not ideal, but Bowles gets his shot (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy And Personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Some sad sack stats for Dolphins (The Sports Xchange)

Bowles Creates Smooth Transition; Other Notes (MiamiDolphins.com)

Countdown To Kickoff: Dolphins At Bills (MiamiDolphins.com)

Coach Todd Bowles Press Conference And Transcript (MiamiDolphins.com)

Reggie Bush Press Conference And Transcript (MiamiDolphins.com)

JP Losman Press Conference And Transcript (MiamiDolphins.com)

‘”I think you hit it on the head in terms of very poor performance for me, I think that was obvious,” Fitzpatrick said. “There was no consistency there in terms of throwing it to the guy that was getting open and when they were getting open making the throws.”‘

‘The Bills need to try and establish the run against Miami’s No. 3 run defense even if they go down trying. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is in such a bad way, putting the ball in his hands 35 to 40 times again is asking for trouble. In November’s 35-8 loss to the Dolphins, Buffalo ran for just 41 yards on 19 carries and lost star Fred Jackson for the season with a broken leg. Fitzpatrick threw for just 209 yards with two interceptions. Defensively, the Bills could be facing ex-Bill J.P. Losman, who hasn’t started an NFL game in three years. They know better than anyone that Losman is sack prone. But outside of a 10-sack assault against the Redskins, Buffalo has just nine sacks in its other 12 games.’

‘Wide receiver Stevie Johnson revealed that contract talks have broken off with the Bills and he’s planning to “ride it out” the rest of the season and see what happens. Johnson, the team’s leading receiver with 63 catches for 790 yards, will become an unrestricted free agent in 2012 and is looking to be paid like a No. 1. He inherited that role with Buffalo when the team traded Lee Evans to Baltimore in training camp. The Bills have the option of placing the franchise tag on Johnson, guaranteeing him a top-five salary for wide receivers – about $9.5 million.’

‘Though the team’s top receiver – and most colorful player – would prefer to re-sign with the Bills, Johnson is wondering where his future rests after the team rejected his last offer.’

‘While nine regular players on injured reserve have contributed to the Bills’ problems, Fitzpatrick’s regression – which began almost immediately after he signed a $59 million extension in late October – has been particularly troubling.’

‘That line of thinking from a well-connected football reporter plays in to the impasse the Bills and Johnson find themselves in for the time being. Undoubtedly, the Bills’ offer wasn’t up to the wideout’s desires and the talks were broken off.’

‘On where the team’s confidence is right now: I think you have to have the old 24-hour rule, I think you do. Win or lose I think you have to get back to being a pro and doing what it takes to get yourself ready to play. Each guy has that responsibility and I have the overall responsibility to make sure we’re headed in the right direction. It’s not easy. Nobody likes to lose. You have a lot more confidence when you’re winning. You deal with it and that’s part of it. You deal with it.’

‘”I’ve been envisioning it for a long time actually, ever since I left Buffalo,” said Losman now with the Miami Dolphins. “To get the chance to play your old team, I think everybody has those thoughts. When I got to Miami here, I definitely knew we had two games to play them, and there was a definite possibility that I could get on the field and play against them.”‘