Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown (the NFL player I have interviewed more times than any other—I lost track around five) won’t be running the Wildcat anymore. In fact, he won’t be running any plays. The Dolphins officially placed him on injured reserve today with what they were initially calling a foot injury. But more specifically, he has a Lisfranc fracture in the middle of his foot. He suffered the injury in last Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Bucs.
The injury is by no means career threatening, but it is severe enough to sideline Ronnie for a couple months, thus …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed was a dominant force on the Ravens defense throughout the entire 2008 season. He put together a remarkable season by any standard. What’s even more incredible is that he did it while suffering from a nerve impingement in his neck. Overcoming this adversity earned Ed the admiration of his teammates, and their vote for the Ed Block Courage Award.
Ed is just one of many incredible stories of courage in this year’s class. Minnesota Vikings defensive end Kenechi Udeze was diagnosed with leukemia after the 2007 season. Kenechi received a bone …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Here is the AFC Pro Bowl roster. Starters are listed in bold.
OFFENSE
QB: Peyton Manning, Colts; Brett Favre, Jets; Jay Cutler, Broncos
RB: Thomas Jones, Jets; Chris Johnson, Titans; Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
FB: Le’Ron McClain, Ravens
WR: Andre Johnson, Texans; Brandon Marshall, Broncos; Reggie Wayne, Colts; Wes Welker, Patriots
TE: Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs; Antonio Gates, Chargers
T: Joe Thomas, Browns; Jason Peters, Bills; Michael Roos, Titans
G: Alan Faneca, Jets; Kris Dielman, Chargers; Brian Waters, Chiefs
C: Kevin Mawae, Titans; Nick Mangold, Jets
DEFENSE
DE: Mario Williams, Texans; Dwight Freeney, Colts; Robert Mathis, Colts
DT: Albert Haynesworth, …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Admittedly, I didn’t even know what the “Cupid Shuffle” was until I heard that Miami Dolphins players Ronnie Brown, Vernon Carey, and Ikechuku Ndukwe were fined for performing part of it after a score against the San Diego Chargers last week. Each player lost $10,000 as a result because, as NFL rules clearly state, choreographed celebrations by two or more players aren’t permitted. Ronnie understood, sort of:
“I was a little surprised about the amount more so than getting fined. Obviously we were out having fun and we were enjoying the game, and it was one …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
What a difference a year makes. Last season was all about the New England Patriots. And if there was one team last season was certainly NOT about, it was the Miami Dolphins. Today, not only did the Dolphins exact revenge on two lopsided losses to the Patriots from last season, they did so in convincing fashion — on the road, no less — and ended the Pats NFL record 21-game regular season winning streak by pummeling New England 38-13.
To understand Miami’s total dominance in this game, just look at the total net yards — …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
After his tumultuous past, I never thought I’d see this day. But so happy are the Miami Dolphins with running back Ricky Williams, they signed him to a one-year contract extension through the 2009-10 season yesterday. Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland said the team wanted to extend Ricky’s deal so he didn’t become a free agent after this season:
“I wasn’t here in the past so I don’t really know if he had a lack of dedication in the past. I mean, I know what I read and I know what circulates in NFL circles. But when …read more

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
Miami Dolphins RB Ricky Williams is doing everything he can to make sure his ongoing NFL comeback is a successful one. After playing in just 13 games the past three seasons, Ricky has yet to miss a workout during 11 weeks of a strictly regimented offseason program. And to hear him talk makes me wonder if this is the same Ricky Williams that smoked pot and acted “weird” while seemingly throwing away his National Football League career:
“This is the hardest I’ve worked. Coach Saban worked us pretty hard, but I think this new …read more

Photo courtesy EAS.com
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 …read more

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
The Arnold Sports Festival is the world’s largest multi-sport fitness weekend — a three-day fitness free-for-all with 37 events and 12 Olympic sports. This weekend, more than 150,000 sports fans witnessed 17,000 athletes competing in a wide range of sports — from the 20th anniversary of the Arnold Classic professional bodybuilding competition to archery, boxing, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, judo, running, table tennis, tae kwon do, weightlifting, wrestling, and wu shu. That’s a lot of sports. I don’t even know what wu shu is.
As usual, a mega-popular three-day Fitness EXPO anchored the fest …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
With Bill Parcells cleaning house in Miami, it was only a matter of time before head coach Cam Cameron was given his walking papers. In a disasterous 1-15 debut, Coach Cameron was fired as leader of the Dolphins today.
I have mixed feelings on this. Understandably, Bill Parcells wants to put his stamp on the team he was hired to assemble. I don’t think anyone can argue that. He wants people he knows and people he’s comfortable with — people he shares the same organizational and structural philosophy with. Cam Cameron did not …read more