Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

By the time Miami Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown walks into training camp this summer, he might think he’s in the wrong place. So much has changed in South Florida, it’s hard to recognize the 1-15 Dolphins. And that’s a good thing. There’s nothing like a nearly winless season to inspire change.

One of the few bright spots for the Dolphins in 2007 was the development of Ronnie Brown. Though his season ended after seven games with a torn ACL (trying to make a tackle after an interception, no less), Ronnie’s string of four consecutive 100-yard games had proven what Miami Dolphins brass strongly suspected when they selected him with the second overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft — that he was the real deal. At six feet and 232 pounds, Ronnie’s built like a brick wall. And his ridiculous 40-time at the ‘05 NFL Scouting Combine wasn’t a fluke. The guy can move with the football in his hands. Factor in his pass catching ability and you’ve got all the makings of a workhorse, every-down back that 29 other teams wish they would’ve traded-up to get.

How good was Ronnie’s 2007 season before he messed up his knee trying to run down New England Patriots CB Randall Gay after an interception? He was leading the entire NFL in yards from scrimmage. But at the time of the injury, he wasn’t sure how serious it was or if or how long it would sideline him. His questions would soon be answered with bad news, though. “It felt a little weird and then once I actually went off the field, the doc told me he thought it was my ACL,” Ronnie explained. “Later on when I was in the shower and then also when I was trying to ice it, it felt weak and unstable. At that point, I kinda thought maybe it was a little more serious than I originally imagined.”

And that’s the worst feeling for an NFL player — the reality of an injury that prevents you from doing your job. Which, for some players, could lead to not having one. But Ronnie had surgery right away and after a period of rest, he’s been improving rapidly. “I’m four months out of surgery and everything seems to be going really well,” Ronnie said. “I’m actually running and doing some things on the field that I’m excited about after being cooped-up for so long. But I’m just excited about the upcoming season and I’m trying to get back and hopefully pick up where I left off last season.”

Where he left off was among the best in the NFL at his position. In six and a half games, Ronnie had piled up 602 yards on 119 carries. Yeah, that’s 5.1 yards per carry. It was sickening to see his promising season end so early, but always the consummate professional, he kept a positive attitude and was ready to deal with the challenge. “At that point, I felt pretty good about my conditioning and health,” Ronnie admitted. “I think EAS supplements have been a big advantage for me. I have a great opportunity working with EAS to hopefully help myself come back faster than I might normally if I wasn’t using the products.”

Ronnie’s regimen includes his favorite Phosphagen Elite™ (a flavored creatine powder that acts as a buffer against the lactic acid that limits exercise power); Athlete’s Defense™ multi-vitamins (designed to support an athlete’s immune system by increasing antioxidant defenses); and Myoplex® shakes for workout recovery. “I think they all play a big part in my being able to come back,” he said.

When he does come back, he’ll see what appears to be a brand new team. The Dolphins have been extremely active so far in free agency, adding OL Justin Smiley (49ers), DT Randy Starks (Titans), LB Reggie Torbor (Giants), WR Ernest Wilford (Jags), TE Sean Ryan (Jets) and former Cowboys DT Jason Ferguson via a trade. Plus they’ve hired a new head coach in Tony Sparano. And NFL living legend Bill Parcells was hired as the Director of Football Ops. “I was excited about Bill Parcells for the simple fact that everyone knows the things he’s done with other programs,” Ronnie said. “As far as him coming into Miami, I think it’s something we needed as an organization and I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to a change and looking forward to us turning things around.”

As far as seeing so many new faces in the locker room, Ronnie admitted to feeling a little uncertain. “It’s a little weird,” he said. “In college, everything pretty much stays the same. I’m working on my fourth year in the NFL now and it’s a little different here, but everyone knows it’s part of the game and changes do happen. It’s one of the things you just have to work with and overcome and hopefully we can add some key guys and everything can come together as an organization and get this headed in the direction it’s supposed to go.”

In this current NFL, a team can completely turn their misfortunes into fortunes. Sometimes in just one season. And Ronnie feels the Dolphins are a prime candidate to do just that despite their previous one-win season. “We have a great opportunity here with the pieces we already have and the people that have been brought into the organization,” he said. “If we can continue to do the things we’ve done to improve over the past few months, I think we’ve got a good chance to be a pretty good team this year.”

This was the second consecutive year I interviewed Ronnie from the “EAS Experience” at the Arnold Sports Festival Expo and the fourth time overall. Visit Ronnie online at RonnieBrown23.com or his Team EAS page.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

EMQB Interview: Ronnie Brown

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

With free agency just hours away, I still can’t believe the New England Patriots don’t have a deal in place for wide receiver Randy Moss. His record-setting 2007 more than earned him the right to have been signed to a long-term deal by the Pats. He kept his nose clean and was a leader and good teammate. He’s Tom Brady’s favorite target. What more needs to be said? I feel like as soon as I publish this, news will break of his signing … with the Patriots. Still, New England has a lot to consider. They have a slew of free agents and have the difficult task of deciding who they can keep. Remember, this was an 18-1 team last season. A roster overhaul isn’t really an ideal game plan. Who am I to question the mighty Patriots, though. They seem to find a way to make it work.

It’s always easy to assume the teams with the most money to spend will do the most spending in free agency. But what each team must do is look at their needs and decide what holes can be filled best in free agency or the upcoming Draft. And for those teams without a lot of cash to spend, it doesn’t mean they won’t be active. Obviously they have fewer options, but if there’s a player out there they want, they’ll do what they have to to get after him.

Here are my Top 10 free agents heading into tomorrow’s free-for-all:

1. Randy Moss, WR, Patriots
2. Michael Turner, RB, Chargers
3. Alan Faneca, G, Steelers
4. Lance Briggs, LB, Bears
5. Asante Samuel, CB, Patriots
6. Marion Barber, RB, Cowboys
7. Justin Smith, DE, Bengals
8. Bernard Berrian, WR, Bears
9. Tony Richardson, FB, Vikings
10. Derek Anderson, QB, Browns

Other players I really like (in no particular order) are Daunte Culpepper (QB, Raiders); Chris Brown (RB, Titans); Jerry Porter (WR, Raiders); Ernest Wilford (WR, Jags); Donte Stallworth (WR, Patriots); Jesse Chatman (RB, Dolphins); Julius Jones (RB, Cowboys); Atari Bigby (DB, Packers); and Lorenzo Neal (FB, who was released by the Chargers) and DeShaun Foster (RB, who was released by the Panthers). There are a lot of good players that will be available soon.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Randy Moss Leads Top 10 NFL Free Agents

It was dink. And dunk. But whatever it takes to win a football game is what the New England Patriots are willing to do. And they did it last night. This season’s MVP quarterback, Tom Brady, set an NFL playoff record for completion percentage (he was 26 of 28) — mostly of the short variety but to eight different receivers — as the Pats beat the Jacksonville Jags 31-20 to advance to the AFC Championship game still undefeated at 17-0. Which makes the Patriots unflappable. Even after the Jags made an early statement with a convincing nine-play, 80-yard TD drive to lead 7-0, the Pats answered. Twice. And they never looked back against a very determined Jacksonville team.

With Tom Brady’s near-perfect play, New England got a boost from the running game as Laurence Maroney added 122 yards. Talk about balance. The Patriots had 29 passes and 29 runs. This is bad news for Indy or San Diego. New England will beat you any way they see fit. With Laurence running as well as he has all season (he showed a second gear several times), this is an offense that no team seems to have an answer for.

Let’s face it. It was a perfect game plan against a team that refused to blitz. All-Pro WR Randy Moss had one catch for 14 yards. He was blanketed by the Jags secondary who just didn’t want to get beat deep by one of the most exciting players in the game. Fair enough. My question was why the Jags stuck with their game plan to rush four and give Tom Brady five or six seconds to find a receiver? Sure, it was worth a shot, but when Tom Brady is picking you apart, it’s time to try a different strategy. In my book, there is only one way to beat the Patriots. You have to get pressure on Tom Brady. He will make mistakes if he’s forced into them. I realize you’re taking your chances in getting burned by one of Tom’s many options in the passing game. It’s hard — maybe impossible — to cover these guys one-on-one. But I think it’s the chance you have to take.

Nevertheless, I was impressed by what the Jags did on the other side of the ball. David Garrard has evolved into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. I think he’s going to be other-worldly good next season. And with the improved play of Ernest Wilford, Reggie Williams and Marcedes Lewis — coupled with an obviously potent ground game — the Jags will be a force next season. They need a deep threat. They need speed on the outside. But this team’s going to be very good again.

Still, the Patriots continue their path toward perfection. They are as good as any team I’ve ever seen, if not just in talent, in adjusting their game plan to beat their opponent. No one does it better.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

New England Patriots Still Perfect at 17-0, Tom Brady Breaks Playoff Record vs. Jags

Wide receiver Ernest Wilford and the rest of the Jacksonville Jaguars are buying into what head coach Jack Del Rio is selling them — hard-nosed, blue-collar, team-oriented football — the kind that produces unity and wins. At 5-2 and in the middle of a crucial three-game road stretch, the Jags are clawing their way up the AFC South Division standings. I talked with the Teal’s most explosive pass catcher about what it takes to win in the NFL.

Shownotes: David Kindervater (host), Ernest Wilford (NFL player guest), Lloyd Vance (BPR NFL Analyst)

• 0:30 – In the NFL, any kind of win is a good win
• 1:05 – Three-game road trip is the longest in the NFL in 07
• 1:45 – Jags are 3-0 away from Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
• 2:29 – Not looking ahead to Dec. 2 rematch with Indy
• 2:52 – Buying into the philosophy of the head ball coach
• 3:24 – Quarterback Quinn Gray’s gradual progression
• 4:07 – Running the ball and doing whatever it takes to win
• 4:54 – Having fun playing and the development of a wide receiver
• 5:30 – Understanding the game as it slows down
• 6:30 – Helping the youth in the Jacksonville community
• 7:30 – Lloyd Vance’s Two-Minute Drill

Sponsor: ColdGear ArmourFleece Big Logo Hood
Links: ErnestWilford19.com, Jaguars.com, NFL.com

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Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

BPR78 Ernest Wilford