*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Oct 07, 1996: -- Atkins Cut --
DOLPHINS NEWS:
According to a report on ESPN this afternoon, the Dolphins
have waived free safety Gene Atkins in the wake of yesterday's loss to
the Seahawks.
Atkins had partial coverage responsibilities on 2 of the 3
TD passes against the Dolphins yesterday and Coach Johnson said after
the game "We have a free safety (Gene Atkins) that has got to help
out on the coverage and has got to make the tackle,".
Atkins has been with the Dolphins since 1994, when he was
signed as an unrestricted free agent from the New Orleans Saints. In
1994, Atkins started 15 regular season and 2 playoff games for the
Dolphins, but in 1995 his career took a downward turn after he
attacked a reporter in the Dolphins locker room early in the season.
He was the starting free safety at the beginning of last
season, but after a series of incidents and public disagreements with
coaches, he was benched in favor of Louis Oliver.
Also in the news, the Dolphins signed offensive lineman
Everett McIver to a reported 2 year contract. McIver was with the
Dolphins in training camp but was cut at the beginning of the season.
My Comments:
Wow. And I do mean Wow.
Another bolt from the aqua by JJ. Atkins had won the starting
job back from Shawn Wooden in training camp after the rookie beat him
out initially, but as I noted earlier, Atkins had some blown coverages
yesterday that helped the Seahawks win.
Without being able to look into either JJ's mind or the
Dolphins' locker room today, I wonder if Atkins' attitude had anything
to do with this. According to this morning's Miami Herald, Atkins
said that he wasn't responsible for the coverage on the final
touchdown. If he did, in fact, say something like that, that could
have something to do with his dismissal.
After last year's antics, it wouldn't surprise me if Atkins
had words with JJ following the game, especially considering JJ's
comments about him. If Atkins did fight with JJ, he basically sealed
his own fate.
What happens now? Well, Michael Stewart is still on the
roster, even though he's been injured and Louis Oliver can play both
strong safety or free safety. But for the immediate future, Shawn
Wooden will probably get his chance to start at free safety.
And one other thing - there is still an open slot on the
Dolphins roster and there are still rumors about the Dolphins trying
to work a trade for Anthony Smith of the Raiders. The trade deadline
is tomorrow, so be on the lookout for that.
Related Info:
[Return to Dolphins News]
Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New England
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