Legal analysis: Could Antonio Brown just sign a waiver?

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On Monday, August 12, 2019,  a neutral, independent arbitrator held that Antonio Brown will be unable to use his Schutt AiR Advantage helmet. Brown – who has been donning the same type of helmet since he was in Pee Wee football – would be unable to play or receive a paycheck unless he wears an otherwise approved helmet. After Brown believed he found a suitable replacement, the NFL informed him that the helmet did not meet additional testing.

From a legal standpoint, the issue of whether Brown can sign an injury waiver to effectively circumvent the arbitrator’s ruling has come to the forefront. However, the validity of such waivers has historically been strictly scrutinized.

Former players have successfully settled cases against the NFL based on the theory that the league was negligent and breached its duty to take reasonable precautions for players’ safety. These claims are founded on the idea that the league either knew or should have known about these risks and should have done more to ensure players made an informed choice.

On the other hand, a waiver is an agreement altering the rights and responsibilities of the parties. While negligence is a legal cause of action, a waiver is a defense to negligence claims and is based on the plaintiff’s express assumption of risk. Waivers must meet two requirements to be enforceable: (1) the scope of the waiver must be clear; and, (2) the waiver must be consistent with public policy. Waivers are generally held to be against public policy if one party has unequal bargaining rights.

The bargaining power between the players and the NFL is beyond extreme. Most players don’t hold any leverage in contract negotiations with teams, and even less regarding league rules and conditions of play. Therefore, once a player signs a contract, the league is the party that sets and enforces rules.

In Antonio Brown’s case, there is no issue of unequal bargaining power or any concerns over public policy. The most likely reason the NFL has not entered into a waiver with Brown is because it simply doesn’t have to.  The league has been scarred by the recent concussion litigation and does not want to be left exposed to any potential liability in allowing Brown to use his Schutt AiR Advantage helmet.  In fact, ninety-nine percent of studied retired NFL players’ brains show signs of CTE.

Most importantly, the league does not owe Brown anything. While Brown may allege that his helmet preference is safety related, the league is in a better position to determine player safety and is the ultimate decision maker. The likeliest, fairest outcome is that the league gives Brown the same one-year grace period that was given last year to players like Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

 

Griezmann afronta primera gran prueba con el Barcelona

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Seguramente cuando Antoine Griezmann levantó el celular en marzo para escuchar a los representantes del FC Barcelona que quieran negociar con él, nunca le dijeron que iba a llegar a ser el líder. Tampoco que iba a tener la responsabilidad de liderar al equipo.

En un hipotético caso, solo iba a ser el tercer caminante culé en el frente de ataque. Con los ojos azules y con una daga en su poder para asestar todos los golpes que pudiera. Sin embargo la responsabilidad mayor era entenderse rápidamente con Messi, y asociarse con Suárez en la búsqueda del gol.

No le mintieron los directivos catalanes. Solo que al llegar, el francés tuvo que trabajar en la pretemporada sin sus mayores referentes. Y cuando le correspondió debutar en La Liga, no tuvo a Messi por lesión y después perdió a Lucho Suárez por la misma situación.

Y la cosa no acabó acá. Coutinho se marchó cedido al FC Bayern Múnich, y Ousmane Dembélé estará cinco meses de baja por una rotura fibrilar en el bíceps femoral del muslo izquierdo.

Los planetas se alinearon para lo peor en el inicio de temporada blaugrana. Solo está sano y salvó el recién llegado campeón del mundo, un hombre que supo liderar al Atlético Madrid a dos finales de Champions League, a ganar una Liga y la Europa League.

Un debut poco alentador

San Mamés fue una pesadilla. El nuevo templo vasco desnudó al Barcelona de un Ernesto Valverde sin ideas. Griezmann partió por derecha junto a Dembélé y Suárez. Luego, con la lesión del uruguayo, se plantó como centrodelantero y se vio limitado. No le llegaron balones claros y él tampoco hizo algo para buscarlos.

Careció de volúmen ofensivo, a pesar de pagar tres pelotas de los postes. Fue un Barcelona espeso, con fragilidad en el medio sector y que tuvo en Rafinha Alcántara su mejor hombre en la cancha.

Las ironías de todo esto es que el brasileño, hermano de Thiago Alcántara, pudiera salir cedido o traspasado a otro club español.

Llegó el momento de Griezmann

Mientras todo se resuelve, Antoine debe ejercitar sus hombros y cargar su mochila. El peso que tendrá por estos días será, capaz sea posible, el más grande que va a tener en su carrera: cargar al FC Barcelona. Recibirán al Real Betis, y todavía ‘Grizzu’ no sabe quiénes serán sus compañeros de combate en la primera fila de guerra.

¿Para eso pagaron €120 millones, no?

Escrito Por: Raúl Zambrano Cabello | @RaulZambrano7

Foto: Alejandro Villegas /@AlejandroVG32

 

Lea y escuche mas sobre La Liga española y el fútbol europeo en general visitando SportsVenezuela.com o escuchando nuestros podcast en el perfil en Cinco Razones Deportes Network

¿Fue un fracaso la Era Coutinho en el Barcelona?

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Phillipe Coutinho llegó al FC Barcelona luego de varios veranos de rumores que lo acercaban a la disciplina azulgrana.

El Liverpool de Inglaterra aguantó lo mas que pudo a su estrella, y finalmente acabó cediendo a los deseos del diez brasileño, quien claramente quería mudarse a jugar con uno de los mejores equipos del mundo.

Coutinho era el relevo ideal de Andrés Iniesta, y el FC Barcelona invirtió como nunca para que el brasileño fuese el segundo de Messi, y a futuro, quien fuese tomando la batuta del proyecto una vez que Messi pase a un segundo plano.

Llegó en el mercado de invierno y no pudo disputar la Champions League con el Barça, pues ya había jugado algunos minutos con los ingleses en la competición, en el último año que esta regla estuvo vigente.

En La Liga y en la Copa del Rey fue clave para terminar de amarrar ambas competiciones, e incluso en la final de la copa, abrió las puertas de una espectacular goleada con una asistencia en el primer gol.

Parecía que se estaba dando una sucesión sin muchos sobresaltos, con un Coutinho protagonista ya, para despedir a Andrés Iniesta por todo lo alto.

El FC Barcelona sufrió la debacle de Roma y Coutinho no pudo hacer nada al respecto.

Un año y un mes después, el propio Coutinho, ante su ex equipo, sufría algo similar tras desperdiciar una ventaja inicial de 3 a 0.

Pero poco fue precisamente antes, en un momento de felicidad, que se vio claramente que la relación Coutinho-Barcelona no era la mejor. Sobretodo con la afición culé, que fue muy dura con el mediocampista brasileño.

Un gesto tapándose los oídos tras hacerle un golazo al Manchester United fue la clara señal de que si no llegaba la Champions League tan deseada, Coutinho podía ser uno de los sacrificados.

El Barcelona sobrevivió al juego de ida con el Liverpool en las semifinales de la copa europea, y con un golazo de Messi, terminó goleando en un partido que podía haber terminado empatado a dos goles por bando.

La debacle de Anfield Road con Coutinho (además de Messi y Suárez) como protagonista, fue una herida que dejó boquiabierta la confianza del grupo.

El Valencia selló la salida de Coutinho

Tras la eliminación de la Champions League el barcelonismo veía la final de Copa del Rey como un pequeño consuelo, y un partido que debía ganarse sí o sí.

En frente, el Valencia celebraba sus 100 años de vida, y quería regalarse esa Copa, que el Barcelona había conseguido hacía ya cinco años consecutivos.

Este partido fue el último partido oficial de Coutinho con la camiseta del FC Barcelona.

Sin Suárez fuera por lesión, ni Coutinho ni Messi pudieron derribar el muro del equipo che, y por falta de acierto, el FC Barcelona se quedó con otro sabor amargo en la boca.

La era Coutinho: un final antes de tiempo

La era Coutinho se puede resumir en títulos, y en fracasos, pues quedó a deber en varios momentos claves, sobretodo en su segunda temporada, que se suponía sería la de su despegue.

Consiguió tres títulos (dos ligas y una Copa del Rey), aunque en dos de ellos el brasileño solo fue protagonista en la segunda mitad de la temporada.

Se va Coutinho, por ahora, pues fue cedido al Bayern Munich con una opción a compra, y a mi me queda la sensación de que se dejó de creer en él muy rápido.

Para Coutinho, el Barcelona ya es cosa del pasado, aunque podría volver en un año si el equipo alemán no ejerce su opción.

La llegada de Griezmann y la gran cantidad de opciones que tiene el FC Barcelona en el medio campo práctiamente dejaron fuera de los planes de Valverde a Coutinho, quien además llegó fuera de ritmo competitivo, como varios de los sudamericanos, tras disputar y ganar la Copa América Brasil 2019.

El Barcelona tuvo como titulares en la media cancha a Sergi Roberto y Carles Aleñá en el debut liguero de esta temporada que terminónen derrota en Bilbao.

Queda la sensación de que alguno de esos puestos en la creación del equipo debió ser del brasileño.

El empeño de Valverde en utilizarlo pegado a la banda limitó el potencial y la llegada del 10 a las áreas contrarias, y la salida de Coutinho, el fichaje mas caro de la historia culé, debe ser anotado como otro fracaso de Ernesto Valverde.

Ojalá regrese y pueda ser el sucesor de Messi, con o sin Neymar…

Five questions with Marlins rookie pitcher Jordan Yamamoto

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Jordan Yamamoto is a rookie pitcher with the Miami Marlins who was part of the package the team received in return for Christian Yelich in 2018. He made his Major League debut this season on June 12 and is seen as a major part of the Marlins rebuild. We discussed his experiences leading up to his rookie season.

5R: What was your MLB Draft experience like?

JY: I was actually sleeping when I got drafted. The draft happens and you’re six hours behind in Hawaii so it was like eight o-clock in the morning in the offseason right after high school so I didn’t want to wake up. My agent called me and said, “Hey, you’ve been drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers, congratulations!”

5R: Take us back to when you found out that you were being traded to Miami. Where were you when you heard the news?

JY: I was actually eating lunch in my neighborhood watching “Law & Order”. I got the call from the farm director of the Brewers and he said, “You’ve been traded.” It never hit me until I got on a plane and headed to Florida.

5R: As a rookie establishing yourself within the Marlins, it seems like your minor league days are over. There’s an account on Instagram called “Minor League Grinders” that showcases videos submitted by the players of what the journey is like, whether it’s the peanut butter & jelly sandwich diet, working out in a locker room shower, bus rides, etc. What has been your “Minor League Grinders” moment?

JY: Has to be in Clinton, IA, when I was there in 2016 with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The locker room was the old locker room before and they wouldn’t sweep the ground so all we had to do was grab all of our towels and lay it on the ground so we could walk around because if not you’re like walking on the warning track. It was just kind of rough. Our visitor’s locker room in our old stadium in Helena (which no longer has a MiLB team) never had bathroom doors in the stalls, which is crazy.

5R: What’s your mindset when dealing with adversity?

JY: For me, it’s the sun rises and it’s a new day. That’s how I grew up. My dad would say “flush it” and that was a key word because you can’t change the past in anything you do in life. The only thing you can do is use that to better your future. That’s what it comes down to. You have to try to stay consistent because the lower lows you get, the higher highs you get, it’s going to be a lot harder to stay consistent the whole time.

5R: You’re also a skilled barber and have given your minor league teammates fresh cuts during the season. Where did that passion come from?

JY: I grew up in art. I grew up painting, drawing, sketching, all this stuff. One year I was like, “I’m gonna try it,” and it just became natural. I started watching YouTube videos and it all just went from there. It’s hard to find a barbershop every city you go to in the minor leagues because you travel so much. It’s hard to trust some guys, especially if you don’t know them because a haircut can make or break two weeks. Especially for guys in the minor leagues because they like to go out and have fun but if you go out with a pretty bad haircut then you can’t add it to the club. It’s just more for them and on top of that, they don’t make too much money, it’s more of a, “here, you don’t have to spend $40-50 on a haircut, I’ll just do it for you.”

Josh Rosen has produced mixed results in his quest to be the Dolphins' starting quarterback.

Josh Rosen nothing special, but he should start over Fitzpatrick

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The Dolphins’ second exhibition game was typical of the preseason – a lot of ugly.

Unfortunately, Josh Rosen, in his first game action for Miami with the starting unit, couldn’t rise above his offensive line’s shortcomings or his own inconsistency to elevate his case for the starting quarterback job.

Rosen wasn’t all bad or all to blame for the inability to get the Dolphins in the end zone in six possessions during the first half at Tampa Bay.

He also wasn’t anything special.

That’s in line with what has been apparent all along, through offseason workouts, training camp and a week ago playing with the second team against the Falcons.

An extended opportunity Friday with the first unit didn’t change the equation. It reaffirmed it.

Elite talent shows early

A million years ago Dan Marino stepped on the field and the immediate reaction was, wow! Most of the elite NFL quarterbacks since then have given the indication quickly.

Some dropped balls blunted Rosen’s cause Friday. But on fourth down at the Tampa Bay 2, he had Isaiah Ford open in the end zone and threw a sinker that didn’t get there.

That was the time to seize the moment. It eluded him.

Rosen has shown the talent to be a better NFL quarterback than his predecessor, Ryan Tannehill. He has an arm, instincts and pocket presence that Tannehill lacked.

But he’s done nothing to suggest the Dolphins should hand him the keys to the franchise and end their quest for a quarterback to lead them into the future. That remains top priority for next year’s draft.

Nonetheless, Rosen should be the starter going into this season. Because what are you going to learn from 36-year-old Ryan Fitzpatrick leading a team that’s a babe in the woods?

We’re not seeing any of that old Fitzmagic anyway. Fitz’s one eye-opening moment from his limited preseason action has been bowling over a Buccaneers DB.

Gotta love Fitzpatrick, but his gritty leadership is not taking this team to the playoffs. He’s an ideal backup and example for Rosen to follow.

Youth shows on offense

This is a developmental season. This is the time to find out what they have in Rosen and see if he can grow with the other youthful components of the offense.

The long climb ahead for that group was evident against the Bucs. Rookie guards Michael Deiter and Shaq Calhoun have struggled, though Pro Football Focus gave Deiter high marks for pass protection Friday.
Run blocking was poor for the whole line. Even receiver Preston Williams, the hot item of the summer, showed how green he really is with a couple of dropped balls.

Overall, the most encouraging sign from Friday’s game was how well the defense played, even with notables such as Xavien Howard and Reshad Jones sitting out.

Not surprising, considering defense is coach Brian Flores’ forte. It furthered the hope that Flores and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham can produce a collective greater than its components.

There were four sacks and a forced fumble. Rookie Christian Wilkins was solid up front and second-year linebacker Jerome Baker was a force on the blitz – Baker needs to be better at finishing his chances, though.

No point in starting Fitzpatrick

Still, the intrigue circles back to the quarterbacks.

Difficult to understand Flores’ thinking in saying Fitzpatrick will likely start week against Jacksonville. Usually the third game of preseason is a dress rehearsal for the starting unit.

Of course, every coach wants to believe he’s chasing a championship. If the Dolphins were in that position this season, Fitzpatrick, the experienced hand, would be the safer and logical choice.

Asked about the intangibles of grit and leadership that are Fitzpatrick’s strengths, Flores said, “Yeah, it plays into the evaluation, but at the end of the day it’s about production on the field.

“[Fitzpatrick] had a good scramble, made a couple good throws. Josh [Rosen] made a couple good throws, Jake [Rudock] made some good throws and they made some not so good decisions. It’s all a part of the evaluations.”

For a team looking beyond this season, the only way to truly evaluate Rosen is to give him a chance to flop or fly in the regular season.

If they go with Fitzpatrick, it means they’ve already ruled out Rosen.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns

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preseason

Top 3 performers from preseason Week 2 – Dolphins at Buccaneers

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As is always the case, there were a lot of ups and downs for the Miami Dolphins in their second preseason game. They pushed their way to a late fourth quarter lead, but the Buccaneers took advantage of the Miami backups on defense and managed to kick a winning field goal, defeating the Dolphins 16-14. But the preseason is not about record, it’s about evaluation. So here are the top three players for Friday night.

Sam Eguavoen, LB

This is not even a contest. The best player on the field for Miami all night was the former CFL standout. Consider where Eguavoen came from, and it’s astonishing he’s made it this far. Eguavoen comes from the CFL, as previously mentioned. There, the rules are different, the field is larger, it’s a whole different animal. Nonetheless, Eguavoen has unseated Raekwon McMillan as a starter on the defense even before his injury, and he’s proving he deserves that.

Eguavoen made six tackles, two for a loss, and forced a fumble against the Buccaneers on Friday. It’s been a long time since the Dolphins had a linebacker with that kind of playmaking ability. He’s undoubtedly going to make the team, and it’s well-deserved. This preseason game against Tampa Bay only confirms Eguavoen’s ability.

Charles Harris, DE

Just when it seemed all hope was lost for the former first round pick, he has a game like this. Charles Harris consistently applied pressure, and even managed to set the edge on his way to four tackles and 1.5 sacks against the Buccaneers. Never has he been more physical. Surprisingly, he looked more like a well-rounded defensive end more than just a pure speed pass rusher. For Harris, that’s a major accomplishment.

The Dolphins coaching staff is clearly working on his pass rush technique and the strength of his hands, and it appears to finally be paying off. Miami needs pass rushers, and Harris improving takes some of the pressure off the coaches and front office, and puts it on opposing QBs.

Patrick Laird, RB

Surprisingly, the best running back of the evening was the one who has the least impressive reputation. Patrick Laird, an undrafted free agent out of Cal, showed shiftiness and power that no one could have predicted. It makes one question why he hasn’t been getting more looks higher up on the depth chart. Laird ran the ball seven times for a total of 51 yards, and he also caught two passes for a total of 16 yards and Miami’s only touchdown of the night.

Laird’s numbers would have been even higher but there were some unfortunate holding calls on the backup offensive linemen. Nonetheless, even with the numbers as they are, Laird was by far the superior running back. He still has Mark Walton and Myles Gaskin ahead of him, but Friday’s preseason performance should put an idea in head coach Brian Flores’s head that Laird needs more looks.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for six years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Preseason

Preseason: Dolphins at Buccaneers – Top 3 players to watch

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After two joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Miami Dolphins will enter real game action against them thanks to the preseason. Naturally, there are some players to keep a close eye on, but for this article, the featured players will be outside the box. Everyone wants to see Preston Williams and Josh Rosen. It’s too easy to point them out. So, here are some new but important faces to keep an eye on for Friday.

Jaryd Jones-Smith, OT

With the Dolphins missing Zach Sterup for Friday’s game, there’s going to be a lot of focus on the backup left tackle position. Last week, Jordan Mills got thrown into the position at the last minute. As a result, the offensive line was disastrous, and both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen spent most of their time running for their lives. Then a new face came into play. Jaryd Jones-Smith stepped in on the second day of joint practices, and somewhat stabilized the line.

Seeing that Sterup is out and Mills has shown to be insufficient, Jones-Smith has a good opportunity to prove his worth against a solid Buccaneers defensive line. All he has to do is be average, and he’ll be making a case for himself.

Jonathan Ledbetter, DE

Last week’s preseason game, it was a toss-up to decide who would make the top three performers list between Ledbetter and fellow DE Dewayne Hendrix. Even though the nod ultimately went to Hendrix, Ledbetter still deserves a strong look. The rookie out of Georgia is spending time with the starters in practice. That’s impressive for an undrafted free agent. With Tampa Bay QB Jameis Winston still working on accuracy, and Blaine Gabbert being…himself, Ledbetter has an excellent opportunity for himself.

Against the Falcons, Ledbetter made five tackle and recorded half a sack. Push a little harder, and he could see himself doing more than making the team. He may earn significant playing time.

Christian Wilkins, DT

The big name of the list. Christian Wilkins undoubtedly contributed to the success of the Clemson defense during his college career, but his Dolphins tenure is not starting off with him wowing the coaching staff. Head coach Brian Flores admitted that while he’s doing well overall, he needs to improve his pad level. That’s a technique issue, and the coaches are no doubt working hard on that with him.

The Dolphins defensive line struggled to make a dent in the Buccaneers offensive line throughout the joint practices. Any sort of showing from Wilkins this preseason that allows him to stand out will be an encouraging sign for both his short and long-term future.

Dolphins must leave ‘no stone unturned’ in pursuit of next Marino

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The Dolphins have yet to play a regular season game in 2019, but that has not stopped the rumors from circulating, that Miami will be all-in on a quarterback in 2020.

And although some believe it is etched in stone like Moses and his Ten Commandments, I assure you it is not.

After all, Josh Rosen could continue to progress, as he’s done all offseason long. And as he continues to trend upward throughout the summer months, solidifying himself as the 2020 starter this season-would put Miami in a MUCH better situation. But only a fool would fail to see the supporting cast, and wonder if he’s being set up to fail-much like he did in Arizona. 

Miami’s offensive line is bad. Really, really bad. Their defense is a work in progress, and allowed Matt ‘Medicare’ Schaub to lead a 90-yard drive on his first preseason possession. Which is not good, if you’re keeping track at home. And who can forget, Miami has once again hit the reset button. Once again heading into an NFL season with a  rookie head coach and young staff, certain to make mistakes. 

So IS Josh Rosen being given a fair chance to prove he’s the long-term answer?  The metaphorical magic 8-ball says- ‘not likely’. 

In the past, we have seen teams draft a QB, despite having a promising starter already in place. San Francisco drafted Steve Young, despite having Joe Montana. The Chargers drafted Phillip Rivers, after investing several years in Drew Brees. Washington doubled down with RG3 and Kirk Cousins. And who can forget when Kansas City traded up to select a generational talent like Patrick Mahomes, despite having Alex Smith on the roster. 

Each of these situations are unique in their own way. And one would say the supporting cast here in Miami, is less than ideal. But is it necessarily a TERRIBLE idea to draft the #1 QB on the Dolphins’ draft board? Not necessarily. 

Truth is, Miami could use their treasure chest of draft picks to move heaven and earth to get ‘their guy’. The guy, the front office has had their eyes set on for years. One that everyone in the organization believes can turn this once storied franchise into a Super Bowl Contender. That sounds good doesn’t it?

Or maybe Josh Rosen continues to progress, and proves that he has all the intangibles to be ‘the man’ in Miami. Maybe they then turn their focus to the draft’s top pass rushers or offensive line talent in 2020. And if Rosen fails with everything around him perfectly in place, they can then turn their attention to the the ‘Belle of the Ball’ in 2021. Trevor Lawrence. 

In the end, I’m not sure there’s anything Rosen can do this year to change Miami’s fate of drafting one of the top QBs in 2020. And whether that be Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, or the next emerging superstar, history suggests the Dolphins must continue to draft a QB, until they find their next Dan Marino. Because until they do, they will continue to hover around the .500 mark. Worst case, the Dolphins find themselves with two potential franchise QBs, and a valuable trade asset. 

No matter what the outcome, the future looks promising in Miami.  And for the first time in years, should finally fill the void left behind by No.13, so many years ago.

This article was written by Josh Houtz (@houtz) while laying next to his wife and newborn in the hospital. But we assure you, he is not Adam Gase. 

Minkah Fitzpatrick

Are the Miami Dolphins misusing Minkah Fitzpatrick?

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Wednesday’s practice started a bit of drama surrounding defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. When the Sun Sentinel’s Omar Kelly pointed out that Fitzpatrick was struggling in practice, Fitzpatrick’s mother fired back with no restraint.

Dolphins fans everywhere know that Kelly is not shy about stating his opinions, controversial or otherwise. But it isn’t every day that his comments earn the ire of players, or those close to them. It brings up an interesting point though. Miami is using Minkah Fitzpatrick all over the field. Inside the box, in the back of the secondary, covering tight ends, and so on. That is exactly what Fitzpatrick did not want to have to do. He hoped to be used in a single position and focus on that. That still isn’t Fitzpatrick’s reality, much to his dismay.

“I wish she would have addressed me first,” Fitzpatrick admitted on Wednesday. “My mother feels very strongly. She’s not wrong. But coach is asking me to do something right now, I gotta do what they ask me to do … you just gotta do it. If you resist it, you’re not gonna play well. If you think about playing somewhere else, you’re not gonna be able to focus on your position. I’m not a 215 pound to 220 guy, so being in the box isn’t best suited for me, but that’s what coach asked me to do. So that’s what I’m gonna go out there, I’m gonna practice my hardest, try my hardest. I might lose some of those matchups in the box, but I’m gonna fight my hardest.”

So Fitzpatrick agrees with his mother’s statement. His abilities are being misused. However, the whole appeal of drafting Fitzpatrick out of Alabama in 2018 was his ability to be a jack-of-all-trades. He does it all. He does some things better than others, but his versatility is still impressive.

“He’s done a really good job.” said head coach Brian Flores. “He’s a hard-working kid, does a good job with his communication, practices well every day. Obviously, it’s never perfect for anybody, but he’s a guy who we’ve used in multiple roles. He’s taken to that and really learned them all at a pretty good level. Obviously, there’s always room for improvement from a technique, from a fundamental standpoint – just an understanding of the game. He’s still a young player. It’s a new system, but he’s really a joy to work with from an abilities standpoint, as a kid – he’s a really good kid, too. I’m looking forward to working with him some more.”

The term “misused” isn’t something to be used lightly. True, Fitzpatrick feels comfortable elsewhere in the secondary, but necessity takes precedence. As of now, both of Miami’s starting safeties, Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald, are nursing injuries. With them out, Fitzpatrick is being asked to step in. True, he’s willing, but he’s made it clear he doesn’t think he belongs there.

Now, fans are coming out to agree with Minkah Fitzpatrick. They believe his skills are suited for the free safety position. When he was drafted, that’s what everyone envisioned him as. But now that’s Bobby McCain’s role, and Fitzpatrick is taking over his slot position. Keep in mind, back in Alabama, the slot is where he spent most of his time.

Whatever one may think of his integrity, coach Nick Saban knows how to handle and develop players. If Fitzpatrick’s best place is in the slot, he should be there. If he gets moved around, it’s not because the coaches don’t care.

“It depends on if it’s a matchup-based game and his guy’s to the field, then we’ve got to put him to the field.” Flores said. “If we’re playing a zone game and we’re playing him middle of the field, then we’ll play him in the middle of the field. If his guy’s into the boundary, we’ll do that. He can do a lot of things. Part of what we do is try to put him in positions – because he can do so many things – not to overload the kid. I think that’s a big part of our responsibility as a coaching staff is not to overload him.

“I don’t feel like he’s overloaded. He’s played multiple positions. He’s really done a good job at all of them. Every time he gets out there, it’s a new experience. Whether he’s getting stack receivers or Y-Y wing or empty – I mean there’s a myriad of things that could happen and every one is a good experience for him, and he’s done a good job.”

More than likely, Minkah Fitzpatrick will go back to his slot position upon the return of Jones and McDonald. Until then, he will have to endure being an all-purpose player. Is he being misused? The answer is no, not really. He is as advertised, someone who can do it all, but at different levels of effectiveness. This is the next man up mentality in a nutshell. The coaches know what he is and isn’t good at, but when injuries come into play, sacrifices must be made.

Training Camp

Top 3 performers from Dolphins-Buccaneers training camp – Day 2

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Wednesday concludes the joint training camp sessions between the Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Next, they will face off against each other in real game action, culminating the experience. As usual, there were ups and downs all across the board, but there were some higher highs and lower lows that stood out above the rest. Now the time has come to, for the final time this season, break down the top three performers in training camp.

Kalen Ballage, RB

Yes, he was on Tuesday’s top three list as well, but it cannot be denied just how strong Kalen Ballage has come on as of late. Tuesday’s practice saw Kenyan Drake walk off the field with a trainer and never return. Wednesday, he arrived wearing a walking boot, leaving the starting spot wide open for Ballage.

And you better believe Ballage is taking full advantage of it, despite Drake’s injury not being viewed as serious. Tuesday, Ballage scored two touchdowns, and on Wednesday he scored three. The speed he displays when running down the sideline is staggering, and is frankly uncharacteristic of a player his size. This is exactly what Miami saw when they drafted him last season in the fourth round.

Everyone knows about his speed, but it’s his hidden power potential that, up to this point, was hidden away. Since getting this opportunity, Ballage has become aggressive with his running, and is even willing to make some hits. At last, he’s using the power his frame naturally give him. If he keeps that up, he could snatch the majority of snaps away from Drake when he eventually returns to the field.

Jaryd Jones-Smith, OT

Interesting choice for a second top three performer? Perhaps. But after leapfrogging veteran Jordan Mills as the second-team left tackle on Wednesday, his contribution cannot be overlooked. As soon as Jones-Smith entered the lineup, the left side of the offensive line found some stability that wasn’t there before. That’s telling, especially given how the OL has been in shambles for weeks now.

Granted, Jones-Smith was not perfect, giving up a whistled sack. But overall, his play was solid enough to warrant giving him this distinction. It’s been a rough road for the former Pitt standout, losing his dad to brain tumors and nearly losing his leg back in his college days. He and his record-breaking wingspan overcame those challenges however, and now he’s here to prove he has something to offer.

Cornell Armstrong, CB

Armstrong is the top gunner on special teams with Walt Aikens out with a knee injury. But that isn’t why he’s making the list for Wednesday’s training camp. The second-year player out of Southern Miss didn’t get much coverage coming out of college, but Chris Grier and the scouting department saw something there no one else did. Armstrong is steadily improving as a cornerback, reading routes and making plays as a part of Miami’s backup unit.

Even Wednesday, Armstrong made an impressive play. He read the eyes of the QB and managed to deflect a pass in the endzone with a dive, laying out to prevent the catch. Dedication like that is always worth noting. Armstrong may not be getting a lot of looks, but he’s doing the best he can with what he is getting. With the Dolphins looking for someone to start next to Xavien Howard, he should get a chance to try.