*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***

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Aug 25, 1996: -- Green Wants Back; Hunter released --

DOLPHINS NEWS:

The Dolphins announced yesterday that they have released 7th round draftee Brice Hunter and re-signed WR Kirby Dar Dar to the team. Dar Dar has played mainly on special teams during the preseason and that is probably the reason that he was brought back, particularly following the 91 yard punt return by Tampa Bay on Friday night.

In other news, JJ and Eric Green met for about an hour on Saturday, along with Green's agent Drew Rosenhaus, director of football operations Bob Ackles and trainer Kevin O'Neill. According to an article in the Miami Herald, the meeting went very smoothly.

After the meeting, JJ reportedly talked with a number of the players, asking if they'd have problems if Green was brought back. JJ, however, remains adament that no decision has been made yet whether or not to re-sign Green. If they do re-sign him, it will most likely be a 1 year contract for low base salary plus incentives and Green will drop his injury grievance against the Dolphins.

With the talk of re-signing Green, there has been absolutely no movement on signing Johnny Mitchell. With the good game that Keith Byars had on Friday (3 catches for 30 yards) and the talks with Green, there is virtually no chance that Mitchell will return.

My Comments: Brice Hunter was the last WR on the roster behind McDuffie, Thomas, Hill, Jordan and Miller. After the 91 yard punt return for a TD against the Dolphins on Friday night, which had to have pissed off JJ in a big, ugly way, JJ has made an immediate move to try and help the special teams by re-signing Dar Dar.

As I've said, I'm not in favor of bringing back either Green or Mitchell. But, if it has to be one or the other, I'm much rather have Green. He's more talented than Mitchell, he's a better blocker and he already has experience catching Dan Marino's passes - or dropping them, as the case may be.

To speak on Green's behalf for just a moment, there is the possibility that all that was needed was for JJ to get Green's attention by waiving him to make him wake up and take a realistic look at his situation. To make a bad analogy for a moment, sometimes you have to hit them between the eyes with a 2x4 to get their attention. Once you get their attention, however, they're fine.

If Green wasn't willing to at least try and reform, he wouldn't be talking with the Dolphins. He undoubtedly could get more money somewhere else, because JJ isn't going to pay him a lot after his history with the team.

Still, the best indicator of future events is past performance. It's easy for Green to say in meetings with JJ that he will do whatever it takes to play, but it's a lot harder in December, when he's got all kinds of aches and pains from playing 13 or 14 games, to drag himself to practice and put out the 110% effort that JJ will demand.

Personally, I just don't think Green can really reform. I hope I'm wrong.

Related Info:

Miami Herald:

J.J, Green discuss return

ESPNet:

Green Want's Miami to take him back

ESPNet:

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