*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Mar 31, 1998: -- College Players Work Out for Coaches --
** Collegiate Players Work Out for Coaches
Twenty two potential choices in this year's NFL draft worked
out for Dolphins coaches yesterday in Miami. These players were all
college players with ties to the local Miami area who are eligible for
the draft, which begins on April 18th.
All of these players worked out under an NFL rule that allows
teams to bring in collegiate players for workouts who have ties to the
local area. These ties can be the college they attended or it can be
family or high school connections.
Among the most notable players to attend the workout were
Michigan quarterback Brian Griese and U of Miami cornerback Duane
Starks. Brian Griese is the son of former Dolphin Quarterback Bob
Griese, who needs no introduction. Duane Starks is arguably one of
the best cornerbacks available in this year's draft and will almost
certainly be a first round draft choice for some team.
Brian Griese, on the other hand, will probably not be selected
high in the draft, but he has improved his standing in the NFL scout's
eyes after he led his team to a national championship this year and
then played well in the Hula Bowl. Originally, it was thought that
he might not be drafted at all, but now he will probably be taken in
the 4th or 5th round, although he could go as high as the third
round.
Other players who attended the workout are quarterback Ryan
Clement, fullback Carlo Joseph, wide receivers Jammi German and Magic
Benton and offensive linemen Yacub Abdul-Matin, Kerlin Blaise and
Carlos Callejas, all from the University of Miami.
Players who attended the workout who do not come from the U of
Miami include CB Roosevelt Blackmon, DE George Cousins, QB Pete
Gonzalez, OL Lonnie Gilbert, DB Dwight Henry, LB Willie Rodgers, WRs
Tutu Atwell, Ed Williams, Nakia Jenkins and Daryl Heidelberg, CBs Brad
Trout and Demetrius Carr and RB Mark Renaud.
** Drayton Has Minor Surgery
The Dolphins announced yesterday that tight end Troy Drayton
had minor arthroscopic knee surgery last Thursday, but should be able
to participate in the first Dolphins' mini-camp of the season on April
24-26th. The surgery was primarily to remove a torn piece of
cartilage.
** Off-Season Conditioning Officially Begins
According to the Herald, the Dolphins' off-season conditioning
program officially began yesterday. While the program is technically
voluntary, all players are "highly encouraged" to attend. One notable
attendee already this year was Calvin Jackson, who spent much of last
summer's training camp in JJ's doghouse for not attending the
off-season conditioning program last spring.
** Z.Thomas and Shawn Wooden may get new contracts
Dolphins' director of football operations Bob Ackles has a
meeting today to talk to agent Drew Rosenhaus about a multi-year deal
for Tim Bowens. However, Ackles is also expected to discuss a
contract extension for Zach Thomas, who is technically under contract
until next year.
He is also expected to work on a new contract for Shawn
Wooden. While Wooden is not currently under contract, he is an
exclusive rights free agent and is effectively tied to the Dolphins
for at least this season.
** Brett Perriman's Brother Killed in Shooting
Garyn Perriman, 28, was shot and killed during an apparent
robbery on Sunday afternoon outside of a Liberty City convenience
store where he had just stopped to buy a quart of milk.
Police say that Perriman had just stepped out of the
convenience store and was assaulted by two men who tried to steal some
jewelry that he was wearing. When Perriman fought back, he was shot
twice and died on the street.
Garyn and his brother Brett grew up in Liberty City and were
popular athletes in the community, which is known as a pretty tough
neighborhood in Miami.
My Comments:
The death of Brett Perriman's brother puts football in proper
perspective during this off-season of free agency disappointments.
Nothing that has happened to the Dolphins over the last 3 months is
anywhere near the tragedy of Garyn Perriman's death.
Sometimes it's important to put things in perspective.
Back to football -
Don't read too much into the fact that the Dolphins are
working out Brian Griese, Duane Starks, et al. Right now, they are
still looking and checking players out and about the only thing that a
workout normally does at this point is to confirm a previously made
observation.
Duane Starks, in particular, is not likely to be a Miami first
round choice. Besides the fact that the Dolphins have already
bolstered their secondary with the signing of Brock Marion, the
Dolphins have far greater needs on the defensive and offensive lines.
None of the other players that worked out caught my eye, but I
think it is significant that the Dolphins worked out 3 quarterbacks
and more wide receivers than any other position.
Not surprising is the fact that they worked out 4 offensive
linemen, given the desire to run the ball more this year. It was a
little surprising that they didn't look at more defensive ends, but
that may just be an issue of available talent.
I have heard that the Dolphins do plan on taking a quarterback
through the draft, perhaps as high as the third round. Given that,
plus Brian Griese's ties to the team and the fact that he'd be a fan
favorite, it makes sense that they would have Griese in for a look.
Griese's stock has risen dramatically this year and he played
especially well in the Rose Bowl with the national championship on the
line and even had a good Hula Bowl. Watching him and Ryan Leaf on the
same field during the Rose Bowl did demonstrate that Leaf is a better
athlete and has a better arm, but I thought that as a leader and a guy
who makes decisions well under pressure, Griese more than held his
own.
So, OK - I confess - as a sentimental favorite, I hope that
the Dolphins take Griese in the draft. I'm encouraged by the fact
that they at least let him work out. And while I know that JJ won't
take Griese just because his father is a hall-of-fame player, I also
believe that JJ won't reject Brian Griese just because he has ties to
the old Dolphins.
The number of wide receivers that worked out may give us an
indication that JJ wants to see if he can get some more speed players
at receiver. Right now, the wide receiver position is in almost
exactly the same situation as it was last year during summer camp. We
have OJ McDuffie as one starter and the other side is still up for
grabs. Yatil Green is still an unknown and unproven quantity and
Charles Jordan has shown flashes, but hasn't really broken out.
Moving right along, I must confess to a mistake. I was sure
that the Dolphins off-season conditioning program had already started,
but I guess that JJ gave the guys a few months off before getting back
to the grind.
Of course, you can be sure that some guys - like Zach Thomas -
are in the gym almost every day whether there is a conditioning
program going on or not. And guys like Lawrence Phillips and Yatil
Green are undergoing rehabilitation after surgery, so they are working
constantly. But the regular program didn't begin officially until
yesterday.
And speaking of Zach Thomas, I don't think that there's one
other player on the team that deserves a salary increase more than he
does. He's essentially playing for the league minimum right now and a
starter as important to the team as he is deserves better. So it's
good to hear that they are thinking of using some of that cap money to
make his life a little better.
Related Info:
[Return to Dolphins News]
Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
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