*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Jul 27, 1999: -- Training Camp Opens --
** Training Camp Opens
The Dolphins will officially open their 1999 training camp
today at their training facility in Davie, Florida. The rookies and
selected veterans are expected to report today with the first practice
scheduled for tomorrow.
All remaining players will report on Friday, with the first
scrimmage scheduled for Sunday at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale.
Initially, the only players expected to miss practice are OJ
Brigance, Todd Doxzon and Sammie Burroughs. Burroughs and Brigance
are recovering from back injuries and Doxzon is healing an injury to
his foot that he sustained while playing in NFL Europe.
Richmond Webb is expected to hold out of camp as the team and
his agent work on a long term deal for him. He is currently
designated the team's franchise player and has an offer for one year
of $3.45 million, but is looking for a long term deal.
In the meantime, both Brent Smith and Mark Dixon will get
extra time at the starting left tackle position. Smith took over for
Webb last season after Webb was injured and Dixon was last year's
starting left guard before he succumbed to an injury.
Also, there are reportedly going to be some changes to the way
in which some veterans and injured players are going to be required to
practice this summer. Due to the rash of injuries in recent years,
some players are only going to be required to practice once a day.
Among those are Yatil Green and Kevin Gogan.
I will be publishing more information on training camp later
today.
** Draft Picks Begin to Sign
With 6 draft picks still unsigned, the Dolphins have reportedly
finalized deals with P Brent Bartholemew and RB James Johnson, with
deals close for the remaining 4 draft picks. Bartholemew has signed a
3 year deal worth about $890,000 and James Johnson has agreed to a
deal worth approximately $2.65 million over 4 years.
The remaining rookies are expected to report today and to sign
their contracts in the next day or two. Rob Konrad has an offer of
$2.65 million for 4 years and Grey Reugamer, Joe Wong and Cecil
Collins are all looking at minimum salary deals for 3 years with
varying signing bonuses. More details can be found on the Herald's
web site.
My Comments:
I don't have a lot of time for comments this morning, but I
will breathe a sigh of relief that the draft picks are starting to
come on board. With only Bryan Jones signed before today, I was
starting to get a little worried, but things seem to be working out.
The absence of Richmond Webb is really insignificant at this
point, as long as he's in shape. In fact, giving Brent Smith and Mark
Dixon more time in practice will only pay off better in the long run.
While I've never been one to blame injuries on JJ's practice
regimen, I don't think it will hurt the team to have Yatil Green
practice a little less this summer. What he genuinely needs to do is
to get on the field in a game, even if it's only a pre-season
contest. More repetitions on the practice field are not going to help
him significantly.
I hope to have a training camp preview available tonight at
some point, so stay tuned for more Dolphins news.
Related Info:
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Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
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