Dolphins news for the week of 8/11

[BillsFever]

Post Dolphins news here!

[BillsFever]

Dolphins | Battaglia Considering Retirement - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:23:43 -0700

Alex Marvez, of the Sun-Sentinel, reports Miami Dolphins TE Marco Battaglia is considering retirement, according to Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt. Battalgia has missed almost a week of practice because of personal reasons. Wannstedt said the Dolphins were looking for another tight end but were likely to hold off signing one until Battaglia made a decision.

[BillsFever]

Dolphins | Dixon To Have MRI - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:53:38 -0700

Updating previous reports, Alex Marvez, of the Sun-Sentinel, reports Miami Dolphins OT Mark Dixon (ankle) missed practice to receive an MRI exam on his right ankle. Dixon suffered a season-ending right ankle/leg injury in 2001 against the Buffalo Bills. Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt said he doesn't believe Dixon's injury is related to the prior one.

[BillsFever]

Dolphins | Smith Might Start - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:54:15 -0700

Alex Marvez, of the Sun-Sentinel, reports Miami Dolphins rookie OT Wade Smith would start if OT Mark Dixon (ankle) is forced to miss any playing time.

[BillsFever]

Dolphins | Stemke Battling For Punter Spot - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:56:03 -0700

Alex Marvez, of the Sun-Sentinel, reports Miami Dolphins P Kevin Stemke is challenging P Mark Royals (knee) for the Dolphins' punting job. Stemke had five punts for a 46.6-yard average in the Friday, August 8 pre-season game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a late replacement for Royals, who didn't punt because of a cyst behind his knee.

[BillsFever]

Dolphins | Royals Hopes To Return Soon - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:56:59 -0700

Alex Marvez, of the Sun-Sentinel, reports Miami Dolphins P Mark Royals (knee) was a late scratch from the Friday, August 8 pre-season game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of a cyst behind his knee. Royals hopes to return for the Dolphins' next pre-season game on Friday, August 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

[BillsFever]

Dolphins | Simmons Back Practicing After Hit - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:57:42 -0700

Alex Marvez, of the Sun-Sentinel, reports Miami Dolphins WR Sam Simmons (neck) impressed Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt by returning to practice Sunday, August 10 despite some soreness from a hit taken during the Friday, August 9 pre-season game. Simmons was upended by Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Torrie Cox shortly after catching Sage Rosenfels' pass. Simmons landed on his head, which forced him to miss the rest of the game.

[BillsFever]

Dolphins | Wannstedt Hopes To Play Fiedler For One Quarter - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:58:20 -0700

Alex Marvez, of the Sun-Sentinel, reports Miami Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt hopes to play QB Jay Fiedler (back) and the first-team offense for one quarter in the Friday, August 15 pre-season game at Jacksonville. Fiedler appears recovered from the back inflammation that sidelined him for the Friday, August 8 pre-season game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

[BillsFever]

Dolphins | Burnett Out - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:59:13 -0700

The Miami Herald reports Miami Dolphins DE Rob Burnett (knee) sat out practice Sunday, August 10.

[BillsFever]

Dolphins | Surtain Out - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 10:09:01 -0700

The Miami Herald reports Miami Dolphins CB Patrick Surtain (knee) sat out practice Sunday, August 10.

[BillsFever]

Dolphins | Konrad Out - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 10:10:14 -0700

The Miami Herald reports Miami Dolphins RB Rob Konrad (finger) sat out practice Sunday, August 10.

[BillsFever]

Dolphins | Hart Out - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 11 Aug 2003 10:11:21 -0700

The Miami Herald reports Miami Dolphins K Rob Hart (hamstring) sat out practice Sunday, August 10.

[Gunzlingr]

Seau aims to rebound from shaky exhibition

JACKSONVILLE - He says the entire team is out for vengeance in those ads promoting Dolphins season tickets, but now Junior Seau's quest is more personal. Tonight against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Seau is trying to avenge his good name.

After earning 12 consecutive Pro Bowl honors and all but ensuring a future place in the Hall of Fame, Seau had a couple of tough moments last week in his first preseason game with his new team.

NFL analyst Ron Jaworski saw Seau get beaten on a 28-yard pass play against Tampa Bay and asked whether the 34-year-old ``has anything left in the tank.''

''He doesn't,'' Jaworski concluded, which suddenly raised questions as to whether Seau is too lost, too flawed, or worse, too old, to make a difference for the Dolphins.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/6536667.htm

[Gunzlingr]

Seau Enjoys New Life in Dolphins' Fishbowl

Zach Thomas used to room with Junior Seau. Said hello to him every day.

Years later, they met.

"When I was in college [at Texas Tech], I had a signed poster of him up on my wall," said Thomas, the Pro Bowl middle linebacker for the Miami Dolphins. "My roommate's dad knew somebody in the San Diego organization, and he knew Junior was my favorite player, so he got it signed."

The inscription: "To Zach, Be your best."

The poster is long gone, but the sentiment is still there. Seau was traded to the Dolphins in April, after 13 seasons and 12 Pro Bowls with the San Diego Chargers, and now he's determined to prove Miami made the right move

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-qanda15aug15,1,5355390.story?coll=la-headlines-sports

[Gunzlingr]

Not much means anything this early, Dolphins veterans say

DAVIE -- The Dolphins' starters could look as out of sorts in their second exhibition game tonight at Jacksonville as they were in their first one last week against Tampa Bay.

It's also possible what looks bad for the Dolphins in the exhibition season will continue to look bad come the regular season. Or it could be that their performance in the exhibition season has little or no relevance to the regular season.

Truth is, it may be impossible to tell.

That's partly because exhibition game plans are minimal and the Dolphins still are trying to find good fits for a handful of players. Perhaps more than that, it's tough to get a handle on experienced teams like the Dolphins because their established veterans really aren't going all out in the exhibition season.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-dolphins15aug15,1,2823806.story?coll=sfla-sports-front

[Gunzlingr]

Dolphins have no excuses against Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE -- Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt tried to downplay the first-stringers' poor play in last week's 20-19 exhibition loss to Tampa Bay, but Miami won't be able to dismiss another mediocre effort tonight against Jacksonville.

The Dolphins' starters looked a step slow and out of sync on both sides of the ball last week. Miami's starters were outscored 13-0 and outgained 126 yards to 14 before the reserves took over.

Wannstedt pointed out the defending Super Bowl champions already had played a game in Japan.

It also didn't help that Miami was without starting quarterback Jay Fiedler, putting newcomer Brian Griese in the role of running the No. 1 offense for the first time during training camp

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/auto/epaper/editions/friday/sports_f3c34663102750ce00cc.html

[bernielivsey_1]

The fins suck news at 11.

[The_Philster]

Even Dave Wannstedt, the eternal optimist about all things Dolphins, will admit his team is still a work in progress. There are issues that two preseason games haven't resolved, but he promises the moment when the solutions arrive is inexorably approaching.

Unfortunately for fans who demand instant gratification, Wannstedt doesn't use a stopwatch to measure the approach. He uses a calendar.

And that's why Sept. 7 is so important....

more (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/6551587.htm)

[The_Philster]

He's likely to beat out Stemke for punter spot
Kevin Stemke has a higher average than Mark Royals, but it seems the competition for the Dolphins punting job really isn't in much doubt.

''It's Mark's job,'' coach Dave Wannstedt said Saturday. ``Kevin's in here competing, but it's Mark's job to lose. I guess that's the way it is with every starter -- it's your job, but you have to prove you're the guy.

``And I'm confident Mark will do that.''...

more (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/6551633.htm)

[The_Philster]

JACKSONVILLE -- In the end, he was overshadowed by the high-priced rookie with a let's-begin-the-hype performance. But Jay Fiedler showed Friday the Miami Dolphins don't need to worry about any quarterback controversy.

A week after the Dolphins' jittery performance in the exhibition opener, Fiedler returned to the field with a typical, business-like effort. He didn't look spectacular -- he missed Chris Chambers on an open deep pass over the middle -- but he made most of the other plays in the Dolphins' 27-23 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Alltel Stadium.

Fiedler was upstaged when Jacksonville's first-round draft pick Byron Leftwich completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Donald Hayes through two defenders with 1:02 left. Leftwich, who ended a 19-day holdout on Wednesday, was 7-of-10 for 84 yards....

more (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/auto/epaper/editions/saturday/sports_f3d38bcc102721a110b1.html)

[The_Philster]

DAVIE -- When it comes to getting rookie left tackle Wade Smith ready for the regular-season opener, the Dolphins couldn't have asked for a better opponent than Atlanta in Friday night's home exhibition game.

The Falcons deploy the same 3-4 defensive alignment as the Houston Texans, Miami's first opponent, Sept. 7 at Pro Player Stadium. While the scout team would provide a 3-4 look, Smith now has the opportunity to get full-contact experience in a preseason setting.

"This is going to force us to talk about ideas and work some things that will fit into this game," coach Dave Wannstedt said....
more (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolnotes17aug17,1,7589935.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front)

[The_Philster]

The soap opera that Oronde Gadsden's career has become could have another interesting plot twist if the wide receiver isn't able to return from a dislocated foot before the end of the preseason.

At this point, the least likely scenario is Gadsden making the 53-man roster. Gadsden, who was injured in practice 2½ weeks ago, said last week that he was unsure when he could play again. An NFL source said the conservative estimate is shortly after the exhibition-season finale Aug. 28 at New Orleans....
more (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-marvez17aug17,1,7315125.column?coll=sfla-dolphins-front)