*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Jul 14, 1999: -- QB Camp III - Day 1 --
** Three Players Signed
The Dolphins signed two undrafted rookies this week and a
veteran free agent, just in time to participate in the Dolphins' third
quarterback camp of the 1999 season. WR Robert Baker, QB Jon Denton
and DT Walter Scott were each signed to 1 year, minimum salary
contracts.
Baker is a convicted drug dealer who spent 10 months of a 15
year sentence in prison for selling cocaine. Before his conviction,
he spent two years catching passes at Auburn. While there, he caught
62 passes for 896 yards and seven touchdowns, fielded 48 punts for a
9.7-yard average and returned 46 kickoffs for a 21.3-yard average in
his 2 year college career.
During his career at Auburn, he was never a problem and never
failed any drug tests. He made himself available for the supplemental
draft this spring after being released from jail in March, but was not
picked up by any teams.
QB Jon Denton played for two years at Nevada-Las Vegas and in
1998, transferred to Eastern Kentucky, where he played in 10 games,
completing 119 of 217 passes for 1,844 yards with 24 touchdowns and
six interceptions. That works out to a quarterback rating of 108.5.
DT Walter Scott has played the last two years of his career
with the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe. Originally, he was signed as an
undrafted rookie by the Packers in 1996 and then traded to New
England, where he spent most of the 1996 season. He was cut by the
Patriots at the end of the year and spent training camp in Green Bay
in 1997, but has not been in the NFL since then.
To make room for these players, the Dolphins have cut WR Siaha
Burley, DE Eric Davis and S Jackie Mitchell.
** QB Camp III Continues
There is very little news out of the first day of QB Camp III,
other than who showed up and who didn't. LB OJ Brigance and WR Todd
Doxzon didn't attend because of recent injuries. Richmond Webb didn't
participate, mostly because he doesn't have a signed contract yet.
And Darryl Gardener, Barry Stokes and Brock Marion were
excused for personal reasons.
The only report I've seen about actual play during the camp
said that Yatil Green made a leaping catch over double coverage.
Also, JJ commented that Green has run a faster 40 time this week than
he ran at the scouting combine before he was drafted.
The camp continues today at 10:30 AM and 7:00 PM. The evening
practice will be at Joe Robbie Stadium and is free and open to the
public.
My Comments:
The signing of Rob Baker has already generated a lot of
controversy and will, no doubt, generate a lot more. However, the
preliminary reports on Baker seem to be encouraging - at least as far
as his personal problems are concerned.
According to the Herald, Baker's old coach at Auburn says that
he is a great kid. He never got into trouble on the football field
and never failed a drug test while at Auburn. In fact, his coach at
Auburn had this to say about Baker:
"He is one of my favorite players I ever coached," Terry
Bowden said. "He made a mistake. If ever there was a
personality who deserved a second chance, it's this kid. He
needs a second chance and he's not likely to make another
mistake. He never flunked a drug test at Auburn. And he loves
the game."
Also, the fact that he was paroled after just 10 months of a
15 year sentence seems to indicate that he behaved himself in prison
and that the prison authorities felt he wasn't a threat to the
community - for what that's worth.
His conviction was for selling cocaine three times to
undercover police officers. He pleaded guilty before being sent to
jail.
Personally, I have a little trouble with this signing. With
the injury to Todd Doxzon, the Dolphins have an extra roster space for
a wide receiver and the glowing endorsements that Baker has gotten
from former coaches speak well for him.
And I'm not against giving a guy a second chance.
However, the guy hasn't played any football since 1996 and his
most recent 40 time is only about 4.7. Given the glut of good wide
receivers on the team and his lack of recent experience, he'll have to
give a phenomenal performance in training camp to even make the team.
And considering how rusty he must be, that will be almost
impossible.
So I'm afraid that the team is really just wasting it's time
with him, which could be better spent giving guys like Nate Jacquet
and Larry Shannon extra repetitions in practice.
Still, the Dolphins lose almost nothing in giving him a try,
except perhaps for the charges of classless behavior that will be
directed at JJ.
But I would like to pose a question at this point - if Don
Shula were still the coach and had signed Rob Baker to his team, would
there be as much controversy?
I kind of doubt it.
Related Info:
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Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
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