By Rhino
2015 was my 39th Dolphins draft (in 45 years as a fan) in which I was aware that a draft even existed. ☺
I used to wait for the newspaper to see a list of names, but I had no way to know who most players were, outside of a top pick here or there. Plus, like most others in the 1970’s, rookies were not seen as ‘game changers’.
Here are some of my most VIVID memories of Dolphins drafts. They jump out because AT THE TIME they elicited emotional memories, regardless of eventual status as HOF or bust. This is NOT a list of “best drafts” or “worst drafts”. It is an attempt to express how our team has intertwined itself with our lives.
The grouping of recent drafts making the list, I would assume, is the result of the NFL’s “product diversification” through the NFL Network and marketing every aspect of the season and off-season to the fans.
The drafts are listed chronologically, but given a number ranking to show where I rank them for personal reasons.
# 7. 1976 Kim Bokamper
Because my mom loved Johnny Cash’s “A Boy Named Sue” … hot Iowa summer nights on the porch, I would sing “A Boy Named Kim”. She gave me looks like I was stupid for not knowing the lyrics. lol (give me a break, I was 13!)
#11. 1978 Guy Benjamin
My first year in California… a Stanford QB to replace Griese? Say it ain’t so! Whew! It wasn’t so!
#2. 1981 David Overstreet
Spring of my junior year of high school… Believe it or not, this ranks as one of my most vivid memories, perhaps because his tragic death has been burned it in my memory.
#4. 1983 Dan Marino
I was dealing with a knee injury and the possibility of losing my track scholarship in my second year of college. I was supposed to transfer from my junior college in California to U.T.S.A. in the Fall, but they were waiting for medical reports. I knew nothing of the “rumors” surrounding Marino. I didn’t question how we got him… I was just thrilled that David Woodley would not be our “Griese” (I know, just ask OD… some of us just can’t shake the ghost of those 70’s teams). This draft has been elevated in status, like 1981, but for positive and obvious reasons. By 1985 I would be bragging about this draft, even if I had been preoccupied at the time.
#10. 1989 Two 1st Round Picks
I had been in Dallas-FW area for 5 years and was in graduate school, waiting tables and listening to the draft on the radio in the kitchen. Sammie Smith and Louis Oliver were the picks. We were in the ESPN days but I used my money for books (is that how you spell beer?) rather than cable t.v.. However, I was an avid college football fan and in the 1980’s the teams from the state of Florida dominated the college discussions like today’s SEC. Fla. St. and UF guys staying in Florida? Can’t miss. Oops, it would have been better from U-Miami in the late 80’s.
MIAMI – NOVEMBER 28: University of Miami Hurricanes head coach Jimmy Johnson celebrates with Michael Irvin #47 following the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Orange Bowl on November 28, 1987 in Miami, Florida. Miami defeated Notre Dame 24-0. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
#9. 1990 Richmond Webb
Webb was a product of Roosevelt H.S. in Dallas, not far from where I was still training in a post-college attempt to break a 4-minute mile. I grew up idolizing Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett, Jim Ryun, and Steve Prefontaine. I ran 4:03 in 1987 and wanted to reach the sub-4 milestone before entering my life as a “worker bee”. On the Tuesday after the draft, during a 12-mile run, everyone was talking about local product Webb getting drafted. I could finally talk about the Dolphins in the middle of Cowboy country. Webb was an instant favorite. (p.s., I tore my Achilles that summer and never raced again, subsequently going from Manute Bol-thin to looking like Richmond Webb).
#12. 1996 Karim Abdul-Jabbar
Just the name, folks. He wasn’t even a first rounder. I clearly remember joking: wow, we just drafted a the tallest RB in history. I made this joke to my students as a first year teacher. “Crickets” from the purple dinosaur generation.
#5. 2005 Ronnie Brown
The drafts from previous years were a blur, having been embroiled in a brutal divorce. 2005 was my first freedom draft. I hated the pick, and I thought it was a terrible year to be drafting that high, desperately wanting them to trade back. Ronnie’s jersey was the first I had owned since Griese (Marino t-shirts, but no jersey). Ten years later this was a classic case of overcompensation. Something about our drafts in the mid-naughts just didn’t feel right. But it could have been worse. We could have taken Cadillac Williams or Cedric Benson. Perhaps take Aaron Rodgers and wait for a RB (hindsight is wonderful).
#1. 2007 Tedd Ginn
Everyone wanted a QB. I wanted Adrian Peterson. I had remarried and my wife had graduated from U.T. so we watched all the games. Peterson was NFL ready coming out of high school (yes, look it up!). His freshman year at Oklahoma he single-handedly ran OVER the Longhorns. I hate OU, but couldn’t stop talking about this kid. My academic team was at state competition, and the coach (ME) was sneaking away to watch GameCast of the draft online. A.P. was almost there for us. Damn Vikings!! I know, I know… we just drafted Brown a few years ago. Then the Dolphins called Ginn’s name. I slammed my laptop closed and didn’t even look at the rest of the draft until the following Wednesday. It wouldn’t be long until 1-15. My laptop slam was prophetic! The Dolphins still seem to be reeling, but my academic teams (four different teams per year) went the opposite direction, winning a combined 26 state titles and 7 national championships. Somewhere Seinfeld is smugly satisfied about how he always “breaks even”.
#3. 2008 Jake Long
My attempts to bring my new wife into the Dolphin family fan had slammed into that 1-15 season. She was not impressed. She feigned interest as I explained the significance of our First #1 overall pick since 1966’s inaugural. I spent more time reading media debates on this pick than I had in my previous 30+ years combined. I felt Long was the best and SAFEST pick. What I hadn’t internalized at that time was that the game had ALREADY changed, and we may have been drafting for the ‘old game’.
#6. 2012 Ryan Tannehill
After the “Suck for Luck” vs “Play to Win” endless debates, a QB was certainly gonna happen. Like many Dolphin fans, we worry about getting a “Ghandi complex” by intentionally starving ourselves on draft day. Tannehill was my LEAST favorite. In six years of UT games, I finally understood what they hated about Tx A&M. I was hoping for the Fins to wait until the 2nd round and take Cousins. I had a Ginn moment. My television was in more danger than a Fox News reporter on a late night stroll through Baltimore. The only pick I liked was Miller. If I can warm up to Tanny leading our team, just about anybody can. ☺ Tanny’s first game ever as our QB would be the first game for my daughters and my wife. The last two minutes of the first half (Texans) I got some of those “1-15” looks.
#8. 2015 Overall Haul of Talent
This draft is fresh but I can’t help but feel it will stay in my top 10 rankings because of the cumulative impression of “football” guys we have collected in the draft and undrafted free agents. What a joyful opposition to 2007. This is one of the first drafts in decades where I didn’t find myself “rationalizing” until I “liked” the picks.
Perhaps the 2015 draft will be remembered because of a bunch of Dolphin bloggers with laptops of their own, who over the last few years were able to teach me so much about this game (and team) that has been with me throughout my life.
Finsmob Unleashed 
Great story rhino
Thanks for the story Rhino. I remember most of this, but not necessarily to the extent you explain them. Hope the Dolphins have not caused a second divorce for you. Lol
Son,
I hope the wedding went off without a hitch and that your daughter has a long, happy life, and that your first grandchild, is a masculine child.
I used to have a boss who’s first name was Kim. How cruel of his parents to name him that imagine how much he was ridiculed in school….
People of Asian and Pacific Island descent use the name Kim for male children- not really so uncommon.. Perhaps not part of western culture so much, but not uncommon worldwide.
Great Piece Rhino
“Vivid”
Yes, tens of thousands of shoes being thrown at the TV when Tedd Ginn and his family was drafted can be described as “:vivid”
And thanks for pitching in with the blog Rhino
I’m running out of material….
NIce job. Rhino. Thanks for contributing.
Congrats to Son on the wedding.
LOL @ Rhino on “Crickets” from the purple dinosaur generation.
Great writeup as well. Some of these walks down memory lane are depressing though. LOL
Congrats on the wedding Son!
Oinks to the Son family!
From John Clayton’s mailbag today
Q: I’m super bummed that the Cowboys got La’el Collins. Did the Seahawks try to get him? Was it a risk-reward thing, because I heard they scooped him up for something like $1.5 million. I know Seattle offensive line coach Tom Cable is one of the best at what he does, but how great would the O-line be with top-tier talent?
C.J. in Seattle
A: I’m sure the Seahawks looked at doing something with Collins. He was the bargain of the year, receiving a $21,000 bonus to sign a three-year contract at the NFL minimum. Twenty-six teams inquired about him. But Collins’ agents shortened the list pretty quickly. In the end, it came down to Miami or Dallas. Collins felt more comfortable with the Cowboys, feeling he was joining the best offensive line in football. He’ll likely play left guard. Collins had a first-round grade. Jerry Jones did a great job of selling him on coming to Dallas.
And there you have it.
I didn’t see Son here saying anything about the wedding but I assume it happened. Congrats, hope it was a great day, man.
congrats son. Nice job rhino. Some of those names bring good memories. some bad.
***
Remember Tommy Streeter
Yeah as a guy who can’t cut it.
Lol
They are getting really thin at CB
Logan Ryan is probably their best corner now
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 14m14 minutes ago
Patriots remaining CBs: Malcolm Butler, Bradley Fletcher, Logan Ryan, Robert McClain, Chimdi Chekwa, Daz Swanson, Justin Green, and rookies.
Excellent job Rhino – Nice tie in to the realities of life, and how us fans, Dolphins fans remember certain events that happened in our own lives and how they can be accessed by a Dolphins memory. Crazy, right?
not sure why i ever watch the NBA. Its soo rigged. The refs decide the games to push the series one way or the other. Way worst than the NFL.
Home court is such an advantage in the NBA that series are predicted just based on the schedule. It’s like trying to take a castle. LOL
I dont watch anymore. I’ve found looking up the scores the next day to be much more satisfying, The blatant abuse of power by the refs just turned me off, especially after that one was found cheating.
I’m almost there. Some of the games are fun but the refs control the outcome in these games.
Great article Rhino! Love the insight considering I never used to keep up with the draft until I was much older. Love hearing the back stories.
Piggy,
I can write up a Deflate-Gate article for this week if you want. You can spice it up some since you are better at that than I.
Just do it! That would be great New Age
Lol! Will do. Be back in a few. The wife is restless to spend some money. ;(
Go for it!
write it and submit it whenever you are ready
You can e-mail it to either Piggy or myself, we’ll get the article in for you.
it sounds like phillips had a really good day on friday and was pretty average the 2nd day. Not sure if he was gassed or what.
He was just being his usual lazy self on Saturday. lol
that’s what it seems like. Or he was running on fumes.
we know who to blame if phillips is bust
“The source said general manager Dennis Hickey had his sights set on selecting a tailback in the second round and was scared off by Phillips’ work ethic. After a pretty contentious debate between the GM and his boss, Tannenbaum got his way, and Phillips was selected, even though Hickey has final say on the Dolphins’ personnel.”
where is this from?
Dennis Hickey’s diary
Which tailback would be another question.
LOL@ Mike
at the end Hickey stats “Marsha Marsha Marsha”
Nice write up Rhino. Go Warriors!
Way to go Rhino…..awesome piece. And LMAO at “We were in the ESPN days but I used my money for books (is that how you spell beer?)”
Plus a 4:03 mile………that’s serious stuff. We could have started together and you would have been showered and changed by the time I finished.
piggy here it is
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-omar-kelly-dolphins-jordan-phillips-0511-20150510-story.html
reports from sources about draft discussion which take place in house are the type of reports I am highly skeptical about
There is less than 10 people in the draft room – I’m not sure which one of them is speaking with Omar’s sources…
but I guess FO guys can say enough to piece a story together. Maybe Hickey was hot for a RB while Tannebaum wanted Phillips (Piggy shrugs)
But generally I don;t see a really good reason to give any weight to any of this about who’s decision it was
And I say that before we get a result and realize whether the player is boom or bust
Its just not very credible that a source inside the draft room gave this kind of detail to a beat reporter
BTW why does the report call Phillips a NT and suggest that Tannebaum wanted the pick b/c NTs are hard to find. That sounds like something Omar would say….
I just read them not write them. I wasn’t in the room so I don’t know but I don’t think this report is without basis either. Ultimatley it really doesn’t matter who said what. Phillips is a phin now and we’ll know soon enough if he’s boom or bust.
Omar? Seriously….LMAO
Exactly! LOL
Jahndoh says:
May 11, 2015 at 10:54 am (Edit)
Which tailback would be another question.
***
Jay Ajayi….lol
A lot of rooks who come to South Florida and aren’t use to the heat get gassed as the days go on. These are also the first football activities they’ve had in months. I can see that every practice Phillips has will be reported with a magnifying glass and it’s silly.
Boulder, I highly doubt that report with Hickey and Tannenbaum on Phillips. They don’t leak that stuff to the media. That’s a typical unknown source report because there isn’t one and the fact that it comes from Omar I call BS. It sounds totally made up.
Well take it however you want. I continue to read omar even if I don’t agree with everything he writes. He’s still a professional journalist. I guess we’ll see if phillips is a steal or a bust soon enough.
Omar is fine
Sometimes he is a little crazy
I used to take him a lot more seriously though…I admit to that
so close to getting Collins. It’s one of those things where I’d feel better if we had no shot. The “what if’s” are agonizing!! (on this article today: woke up Saturday morning after A.P. testing was finished… felt ‘free’, cranked it out in a couple hours… I’m filing taxes late – don’t ask – so that’s keeping me busy today cuz I need to be done in time for Warriors game).
Getting Ajayi in the 5th is WAYYYY better, imo, than any RB we would have taken in the 2nd. He has the same condition as Dwayne Wade (from what I’ve read)… That pick really helps make this an awesome draft.
Great piece Rhino!!! I have to say taking Jake Long with the #1 overall pick was THE biggest flub, with Ted Ginn 2nd tied w/Dion Jordan for biggest flubs in our draft history. Marino is the shining star…and always will be.
flub
verb \ˈfləb\
: to fail to do (something) correctly
I agree w/Jahn – at least we beat the Jets with Ginn while Jordan – never mind. We needed a QB then too, and I wanted Brady Quinn which shows you how much I know…lol
Jake much much much better than Ginn, who was much much better than Jordan. Jordan biggest flub in Dolphin draft history. Ginn was a Jet killer Jake was a probowler.
It hurts me to say Jake Long cause I thought he was a great player just had too many injuries and played thru many of them. But we needed a QB & Matt Ryan was there….
Ginn killed the jests once
aside from that 2 kickoff return game he caught one deep pass in a MNF game
He was a pretty horrible pick and just not a good football player
I actually think Ginn is among our worst draft picks
But the guys we are discussing are pretty recent
their are more serious pokeys out there
How many times has Jordan single handedly beaten the Jets?
FTR, Ginn performed well twice against the Jets. He maybe only single handedly won one of those two games, but he rose to the occasion vs. the Jets. That’s better than the Zilch that Jordan has given us.
Ajayi had a 2nd round grade
I was just looking at the drafted RBs
2 in the first round (Gurley & Gordon)
2 in the 2nd round (Yeldon & Coleman)
and 3 in the 3rd round (Duke Johnson, Abdullah, David Johnson & Matt Jones)
I really don;t like those 2nd round propsects
but those 3rd rounders are pretty good IMO
the 4th round had Davis, Allen and Langford and the only one I like in that group is Davis
In the 5th round we took Ajayi and Karlos Williams, David Cobb and Cameron Artis-Paybe (comp pick) were selected
Usually I identify the 2nd round as a place to get a good RB
but I don;t know
in this draft the difference between 5th rounders and 2nds seems to be preference
I like the 3rd round guys much more than the 2nd rounders
The 2 1st rounders were head and shoulders above the rest IMO, the next guys up was just a matter of preference
BoulderPhinfan says:
May 11, 2015 at 11:32 am (Edit)
I just read them not write them. I wasn’t in the room so I don’t know but I don’t think this report is without basis either. Ultimatley it really doesn’t matter who said what. Phillips is a phin now and we’ll know soon enough if he’s boom or bust.
**********
I agree
the reality is, whether Phillips is boom or bust reflects on the current FO no matter who made the final call
I’m just a skeptic and always out to point out when there is a piece of journalism I question…lol
yup. I hope Ajayi pans out as a steal then we got our RB anyway.
Jahn: I hope the Warriors wake the f-up & win tonight. I wanna see a Clippers-Warriors Western Conf. Finals!!!
Me too Gigi!!!!!! Wake up call time!
Jason Allen was a pretty bad pick
Jamar Fletcher too
John Avery
Yatil Green
these guys are all 1st round picks from the last 25 years
I actually think Jordan (and Ginn) may have been better than all these guys
I guess draft position is something to look at too
and the #3 overall pick for Jordan takes Jordan to the toilet
Boulder, I’m not concerned about Phillips being a bust at all. That’s being propagated by constant reports repeating the same thing over and over and the kid answered it honestly saying I guess I didn’t do enough to make the scouts not question my work ethic so I’m going to work to change that. One thing that can’t be denied is his size and athleticism and there is tape on him that shows a guy with great upside.
My issue with Omar is I’ve lost a lot of respect for his professionalism and have heard him ask so many dumb questions at pressers. I also don’t trust him when he uses the word sources because I don’t think he has many insiders especially in the newly revamped personnel dept.
I do think Omar asks some dumb questions but I still like to read him from time to time if the article is not blocked.
For the Jersey Boys on this blog — lol:
@NYMag: Chris Christie spent $82,000 of state money on snacks at NFL games
LOL
And that was in one day!
LMAO!!!
LOL, everyone was wondering why the concession stands were running out of stuff.
Geez! How about paying for them yourself jerk?
Remember too that Phillips wasn’t a 1st rd pick so a bust tag for him will have a different level of failure. Meaning if he pans out to be just an average DL rotation guy it’s not really a big deal as a 2nd rd pick as long he’s on the team and is part of the defense. Bust for him would be rarely played and was eventually released.
I suspect he will be a rotational guy that we barely notice on gameday
but should help is stopping the run
I think we’ll notice his power and athleticism from time to time. This guy can move for his size, he’s not a slow tree trunk type guy.
Hindsight Samurai Ranking from 2013
1. DeAndre Hopkins (actually my #1 in 2013)
2. Keenan Allen (much more productive as a rookie but we did say he was NFL ready)
3. Terrance Williams (600 and 700 yard years next to Dez Bryant)
4. Robert Woods (simlar to Williams so far)
5. Justin Hunter (appears to be emerging)
6. Cordarelle Patterson (not very good so far)
7. Tavon Austin (was the #5 pick, similar numbers to Patterson)
So far Hokins and Allen are the only ones that seem like probowl caliber players
None are huge busts but Austin and Patterson are struggling to produce as receivers (but have been good on ST)
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/defense-department-paid-5-4-million-nfl-honor-troops/
This story about US gov paying teams to honor soldiers is breaking
Not sure that bothers me. The US government pays the networks to broadcast military recruiting commercials during games as well.
Are we so naive as a nation that we think stadium and team owners are just devoting substantial portions of their pre-game and half-time shows to the military just to be good guys? I just read the article and the flakey Senator from AZ (sorry, Senator Flake if you will…) would have you believe that.
People will get all up in arms over anything they don’t approve of when it comes to taxpayer dollars. But I submit, that 5.4 million over a 3 year period is less than $.02 per American (divide that by 3 to get the annual cost!) in an effort to honor our troops. Not “egregious waste” as this Flake says.
but those are commercials, which is understood to be an advertisement
paying teams to honor the military is not intended to be an advertisement for the military
5.4 M is really not a lot of money relative to the defense budget
spread across 14 teams it might be nothing
I’m not sure its a big deal
But I don’t care for PSAs for profit
I think it’s naive to think those displays don’t contribute positively to military recruiting to be blunt, Piggy.
Northern Lights? 😉
LoL no kush hangover … I am so dead today
tim,
There is a reason Phillips didn’t go until the 2nd round. Omar is not the only one that’s questioned his work ethic. I guess we’ll see.
My point on Omar was saying Tannebaum won the debate over Hickey. I think he made that up and he doesn’t have to give up his sources to prove it.
I know why Phillips went in the 2nd rd and so does he, he’s been open about it. His personality does not come off as one who is lazy when you hear him talk. Maybe he needs to learn better how to take care of his body and condition himself better. He’s 22 years old. Maybe it’s conditioning that wears him down more so than effort.
I have no idea what hickey said or didn’t say. I don’t care.
But most scouts are saying that he had issues with work ethics and if Bob stoops (which i respect as a coach) couldn’t get the most out of him I doubt philbin will.
Philbin’s personality doesn’t make anyone want to bust their ass for him. He doesn’t seem like the best motivator.
I’m a little surprised how open Phillips is about talking about the questions of his work ethic
People are usually defensive about that sort of stuff
But he acknowledges he must get better
which I guess is a good thing
the lazy jerk….lol 😀
Yeah that’s what I’m saying. A lot of guys immediately say I don’t think so and sound stupid doing it. He’s articulate and humble about it saying obviously I didn’t do enough for them not to question my work ethic. That’s why I’m not worried about him.
I believe (with out going back and looking it up)
the presser said the Defensive coaches were beating the door down to get Hickey to draft Phillips?
He’s here now!
Mute point
jahndoh says:
May 11, 2015 at 12:33 pm (Edit)
Are we so naive as a nation that we think stadium and team owners are just devoting substantial portions of their pre-game and half-time shows to the military just to be good guys? I just read the article and the flakey Senator from AZ (sorry, Senator Flake if you will…) would have you believe that.
People will get all up in arms over anything they don’t approve of when it comes to taxpayer dollars. But I submit, that 5.4 million over a 3 year period is less than $.02 per American (divide that by 3 to get the annual cost!) in an effort to honor our troops. Not “egregious waste” as this Flake says.
****
Jahn
Organizations and people honor the military all the time. Why do NFL teams get paid to do it? It cheapens it, don’t you think? Its okay to ask everyone else to spend their time honoring the troops, but if you ask an NFL team – you better pay for it.
its not so much about tax payer $ or the military. I have a problem with the teams doing this for profit
Really Long as the worst #1 pick?
Pick Yatil he never played a down due to injuries?
Pick Overstreet he never played a down due to death?
Long played at a PROBOWL level until injured?
death is no reason not to play
what a lazy jerk
its like Jordan Phillips all over again!
😉
Overstreet played about a half season and won the starting job by the end of Marino’s rookie year and was looking really good. Then he died in the off season between 83 and 84
Boulder, pro players have to self motivated. Everyone here already knows you don’t like Philbin so you’re never really objective about him. But remember there are position coaches who work these guys and if they don’t carry their weight that goes back to the HC from both the asst. coaches and the practice tape. No HC can motivate 53+ players individually working with them, he has to oversee the entire team. All he can do is talk to the player(s) in question and let them know where they’re headed if they don’t pick it up. If the player doesn’t respond he’ll be cut and that’s on him.
This is pro football, not Pop Warner where coaches try to get kids focused on the game and not watching airplanes fly by. LOL
there is a reason I don’ t like Philbin as a HC. Its his record as an NFL HC.
2 years in a row the team gave up at the end of season with playoffs on the line. I guess I’ll blame the dog for that.
That’s a different topic, you talked about motivation.
“Jahn
Organizations and people honor the military all the time. Why do NFL teams get paid to do it? It cheapens it, don’t you think? Its okay to ask everyone else to spend their time honoring the troops, but if you ask an NFL team – you better pay for it.
its not so much about tax payer $ or the military. I have a problem with the teams doing this for profit”
I highly doubt that 5.4M spread amongst most of the NFL teams over a period of 3 years constitutes “a profit”. Sorry, but my guess is that the US government pays $.008 (not a typo) per year per taxpayer happily and the cost is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of drafting a non-voluntary military.
If a corporation was going to get that same air time in a stadium they’d have paid in the BILLIONS. Not 5.4 Million. The NFL made 20-20 BILLION during that period. I feel this is a reasonable expenditure, a reasonable exchange, and if you’re interested in changing something about corporate welfare in association with the NFL the time spent on that article would’ve been much more useful directed toward taxpayer financed stadiums…which…we all seem to reconcile just fine when we’re watching the games on Sundays or hoping our teams don’t move to other cities.
I guess I should ask, does it bother you that Networks get paid to air recruiting commercials? Because it’s definitely accurate to say these displays at NFL games are helpful to recruiting efforts.
No it does not
but that is an ad
it does not pretend to be otherwise even when it uses words like “honor”
Would it bother you if hospitals charged people an extra fee if you leave the hospital alive?
Some things are off limits
Jahn,
The stadiums and other tax breaks are my main grievance so I agree that this is just a drop in the bucket. I hate corporate welfare and the NFL is a big part of that problem. We wonder why the rich get richer while we fund their businesses with very little in the way of return benefit. The rules are skewed as we have people looking for the welfare frauds instead of the corporate ones.
we don’t reconcile corporate welfare when we watch games
the $ is already spent and we want to watch the game
it does not mean you agree with the way the forum was financed
there is a lot written about corp welfare financing sports stadiums. If we write more, we will not have a better sense of it as far as I know, and it doesn’t preclude us from looking at other topics
I’m not sure these things are broadcasts
but if they are its the broadcaster who’s time is paid for, not the NFL team
these are just game day occurrences – that we usually don;t see on TV
NFL teams, like most corporations are nickeling and diming people on this one
it might not be a lot of $ but this kind of little stuff happens all the time and it gets under my skin
Yesterday, I ordered food at shake shack (don;t know if that is a NYC burger joint only) and they asked me if I wanted to donate $ to a charity.
What am I donating through Shake Shack?
Why can;t I do that directly to the charity?
Why does shake shake initiate this?
I know what b/c they are funneling the tax benefit.
They take everyone donations
put it in their piggy bag, itemize them
then record the donations they deliver to the charity as their own tax deductions (I suspect this anyway)
Its shady as hell
its not illegal, unless they actually steal the donation and don;t give it to the charity
but if you ask me – that is a fine line
there are some things that should be off limits for profit, even a slight profit
Charity, Honoring the military are among those things
How bout you guys each pay me $1 to help an old lady across the street…lol
How is Shake Shack by the way?
Can I do with with pennies? Also, can Mike E make my donations for me? He likes old ladies better than I do.
To go back to the Ted Ginn Jet Killer discussion. Ginn was a Jet Killer and it was more than one game, it was more than 2 games. He had at least 3 notable games vs. the Jets in his brief Dolphin career.
The first notable game was the Chad Pennington season in 2008. He only caught 2 passes in the game but they were big ones vs. Revis including a 28 yard TD pass and a 43 yard bomb on a flea flicker.
The next game was the next season and it was the Chad Henne game where once again he scorched Revis deep for a 50 yard TD pass.
Then of course was the 2 TD KO return game that also came in the Chad Henne season. The following season we added BMarsh and let Ginn go.
All in all Ginn was a huge disappointment but he was a Jet and in particular Revis killer.
Piggy,
Great points and i remember when Michael Jordan’s charity opened my young eyes to the shady practices that go on even with charities. It truly is despicable to see how widely the system is abused for the Almighty Dollar. The old excuse that these benefits help provide jobs is the worst too. Help me abuse the su=sytem and steal from whoever I can…because I provide minimum wage jobs and help America stay strong. Cue the patriotic music.
I had a friend who argued against some of these types of charities for the solders. Let’s just say his future prospects took a nosedive suddenly. Perception is always king.
The minimum wage debate is laughable. They argue raising it $1.25 PH is a life changer and now a family of 4 can survive on that. I mean are you fucking serious? Minimum wage is not meant to support a family, it’s a minimum wage mainly for teens in their first job and kids going to college, or an extra job. If you’re relying on minimum wage to raise a family you shouldn’t have a family.
Tim:
We have a Shake Shack in Connecticut. It is quite good. Good burger and top notch shakes.
Yeah there’s one not far from where I work and I’ve been meaning to try it. Thanks!
My feeling on those corporate donations are that often times they get you to donate when often times you would otherwise not. There have been many occasions when prompted I will make a charitable donation but left to my own devices I would probably just sit here on this blog rather than find a charity I should donate to.
Good point.
How does that make it okay for some one else to get a tax break base don your donation?
What if for every $2 you donated, the corp kept $1 and donated the other dollar
Aside from being illegal, would you be okay with that?
You would not have donated the $2 unless they asked right?
are you telling me its okay for some one else to profit from something to be designed for charity?
arwe we talking about religion institutions?
Shake Shack is tasty Tim
But its usually a big line in NYC
and not worth the line
I was so tempted not to put this out so as not to feed the beast, but since Aaron Schatz and ESPN’s Football Outsiders (assuming that is their version of PFF) said it……seemed only fair to share.
————————————————-
AFC East
New England Patriots: 11-5 (10.6 mean wins, SOS: 25)
Miami Dolphins: 11-5 (10.6 mean wins; SOS: 22)
Buffalo Bills: 8-8 (8.2 mean wins; SOS: 19)
New York Jets: 6-10 (5.8 mean wins; SOS: 20)
Your hot sleeper Super Bowl contender for 2015 is the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots run away with the AFC East year after year, but our early projections suggest the defending champions will finally get some serious competition in their own division this year.
We’re high on the 2015 Dolphins because the 2014 Dolphins were essentially a good team dragged down to 8-8 by dismal special teams (last in the Football Outsiders efficiency ratings) and a difficult schedule. However, special teams are less consistent from year to year than offense or defense, which means the Dolphins are likely to be a lot closer to average in that area in 2015. And like the rest of their division, the Dolphins also get an easier schedule this year, trading the NFC North and AFC West for the NFC East and AFC South.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
at meaningless predictions
LOL — but this meaningless one gets even worse:
“the gap between the teams is close enough that if Tom Brady were to be suspended for multiple games due to Deflategate, we would have to slightly favor the Dolphins as AFC East champions.”
I guess stopping the run had nothing to do with the 8-8 last year
Tim
I saw a stat on twitter about the min wage
According to the graph
here in the US you need to work somewhere around 40 hours a week to hit the annual median salary if you get min wage
but in Australia you only need to work 6 hours – WTF! 6 hours a week
UK and Ireland were more comprable to Australia than the US too
Some countries have a different point of view on the value of work
there are a ton of factors in that stat that don;t involve min wage (like what is the medium salary)
I don;t believe for a second that companies that pay min wage salaries are getting squeezed
I’m not sure this topic requires political attention though
If it takes people 40 hours a week to hit min wage – that doesn’t sound unconscionable
its probably not the wages paid that are causing a hardship for some people
its the costs of everything else
like the costs of a NFL ticket….lol
been to both perth and syndy. Very clean almost like disney
I want to go
How long was the trip there?
4 years in the Navy
I’m just saying
Shake Shack, instead of asking me to donate $2
How bout you donate $2 and then you can get your own tax break instead of mine
I know you can do it, you just charged me $12 for a piece of ground beef
LOL jetssuck
I didn’t realize it was a naval trip
I was thinking, how long is the flight there? but I guess you didn;t take a flight
That was probably a great country to be stationed at
I was on aircraft carrier Kennedy/Nimitz that made a few days visit. Only a couple days is the usual stop time when visiting ports.
Jordi — it’s about the longest flight you can find. Get to Hawaii and then add another nine hours. But man the place is cool. Only country I’ve been where I would be as happy here.
And the women are spectacular. Not like there are that more model types, but all of them are attractive, like the bottom here got folded into the top half. Plus the Aussie men are about the only ones more obnoxious than you and me……they actually find you to be polite.
LMAO @ Christie!!! I don’t think I’ve spent $82,000 on food shopping over my entire lifetime!
hell we spend 200-300 a week maybe christie gets comped a lot
Stanger, saw those predictions for records as well (Miami 11-5)… didn’t post it cuz I was afraid to get the “kool-aid” debate going so early. LOL but now everyone can blame you! 🙂
LOL Rhino. Is funny how when you say “our metrics” it makes you someone. 🙂
jetssuck
No
not talking religion institutions
I was saying above that I ordered food at shake shack yesterday and as I paid for my food they asked if I wanted to donate an additional ______ to _____ charity – which I am convinced is only done so that Shake shack can get a tax break base don my donation and appearently only pisses me off
I was joking but regilous churches do keep a portion of donations. It’s almost like the mob.That was a lot of typing to explain
the donations are intended for the church though right
when some one puts $1 in the basket – it all goes to the church right?
you go to a good church if it all goes back to the church…Churches have slush funds just like any organization.
Perth, Australia is a great place. During the apollo mission that was orbiting the eearth without computer systems the Perth city people all turned on their lights so the space capsule could make a reading as where they were in ralation to where they were going and how fast thus providing the needed info so they could reenter at the desired location.
Isn’t that the base they used last year when looking for that missing plane?
I don’t know of any bases I was stationed on aircraft carrier… I’m pretty sure we have a land base there I just don’t know where
Stanger
There are a few Aussie women at my crossfit gym and they are usually pretty hot
I still can’t figure out how it is like you get a pinched neck in your head turning there. You could say maybe I like pure Anglo Stock, but then I spent a semester in London and it was no different than the US. Best I can come up with is being overweight is a sin there. They are all so fit.
It is not so much the minimum wage- it’s the cost of things relative to minimum wage that is the issue. Inflation caused the prices of things to go up, EXCEPT the wages of the average blue collar worker (and many white collar workers, too). Upping the minimum wage doesn’t address the cause, and would only serve to perpetuate the cycle.
http://cover32.com/dolphins/2015/05/11/look-former-miami-dolphins-wr-defends-the-new-england-patriots/
BoulderPhinfan says:
May 11, 2015 at 10:27 am
not sure why i ever watch the NBA. Its soo rigged.
(whispering very low) boulder, i agree with you but have to keep it on the down low. i dont want jahn yelling at me for beating a dead horse. but i quit watching the wwf i mean the nba years ago. it is horrible
http://nflhumor.net/nfl-helmets-meet-marvel/
http://nflhumor.net/nfl-helmets-meet-marvel/
jahn,
not that i need to clarify with you but just messing around yesterday about the ‘pissing you off part’
and so you know, my issue with the violence wasnt the cops killing someone, of course that is wrong, it is the media and protesters just ignoring the thugs these people were.
we don’t reconcile corporate welfare when we watch games
the $ is already spent and we want to watch the game
——————————————————————————————————–
how about the fine print of our cable bills where they now charge you and everyone a local sports fee of several bucks…..Our paper bill is 17 pages and that’s not counting the front and back.
we are also paying for disadvantaged kids to have free internet. Back in the day we used to go to some building that housed thousands of books called a library.I’s sure they have internet there….I actually got several dates in coolllege going to such a place.
Piggy, how the fuck do you make a decent living working 6 hours a week? How would anything get done? I’m not buying it.
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz · 5h5 hours ago
N. Illinois 6-8 TE Tim Semisch,who impressed at Fins tryout & is red zone threat, is being signed to Fins contract,agent Brandon Smart said.
Greg Likens @GregLikens · 5m5 minutes ago
#Dolphins announce they’ve signed TE Tim Semisch & waived TE Ryan Taylor. Semisch impressed as a tryout player this weekend
Australians love Americans because we saved them during one of the WW’s. They treated us like royalty.
I saw that represented in I believe the HBO special ‘The Pacific’.
Friendliest country on earth far as I can tell. And yeah they love yanks…..been a few places where that wasn’t true.
I have to agree with you
most unfriendly place I have been to I’d have to say Mombassa, kenya. This is the same place obama’s father came from.
Won’t doubt you on that for a second. Never been a fan of third-world visits, but I was hated in Paris when I was 20. For some reason in the South of France all was cool. Go figure.
From Habib on the PBP. Couldn’t imagine greater praise.
“But if it means anything, my first impression of Parker is — am I really going to type this? — pretty much on par with my first impression of some guy named Landry last summer.”
Tim Knight says:
May 11, 2015 at 2:41 pm
Piggy, how the fuck do you make a decent living working 6 hours a week? How would anything get done? I’m not buying it.
HA, shows what you know. my son is doing it working 0 hours a week. it is called living with mommy.
LMAO!!!!
Historical perspective on Minimum Wage:
Truman introduced the idea (“Fair Deal”) as a progressive policy. Now, be careful with the word “progressive” as the current political climate has distorted it from two previous historical contexts.
1) 1901 T. Roosevelt (Square Deal) was trying to reform the relation between ownership and labor (a concern in politics with the transition from agriculture to an industrial economy for 50 years prior to TR). The MOTIVE was to make the ‘community’ (nation) stronger in preparation for “competition” with other industrialized nations for resources and markets. Both political views agreed, so the first progressive (reform) era (1901-1920) was motivated by our entrance into the imperialism game (and turned many Americans OFF to the game when the ‘competitors’ clashed in WW1).
2) The second ‘era’ of progressivism was the New Deal during the Great Depression. FDR’s MOTIVE was different from TR’s. While we all hear the rah-rah “elevator explanations”, there is significant evidence that the programs were designed to avoid possible communist revolutions in the U.S. as were being attempted in Europe.
3) Truman’s Fair Deal called for universal health care (supported by every president, including Eisenhower and Nixon), civil rights, and a minimum wage. The minimum wage was yet another attempt to codify the split of the “profit pie” (if you will) and applied to the ability of a family to meet basic needs (i.e. Maslow’s Heirarchy). Increasing prices when minimum wage goes up (the cycle as some of you refer to) is not ‘worker driven’… it is ‘owner driven’. The purpose of the minimum wage was not “income equity” but more “equitable income”. Truman’s MOTIVE was similar to FDR’s, a fear of communism becoming attractive in the U.S. amongst the working poor. Put this in the context of the Cold War and it intensifies. LBJ can be argued to be doing the same thing with the Great Society and War on Poverty (and his support of civil rights, since second class citizen status in any nation generally equates to poverty).
Just as Truman’s administration established a Containment Policy for dealing with communism in foreign relations, the Fair Deal, the sudden interest in civil rights after 100 years, the expansion of federal programs by BOTH parties from 1945 to 1980, can be argued as DOMESTIC CONTAINMENT POLICY.
Hopefully this context will help with the discussion of minimum wage today. I wonder if anybody read this. 🙂
There are too many words and facts in this post
Can you just grunt something and act like you mean it like the rest of us
I got no time for facts!
I did, with great interest! Thank you for condensing the history of the term/idea.
jetsssuck says:
May 11, 2015 at 2:47 pm
Australians love Americans because we saved them during one of the WW’s. They treated us like royalty.
Guadalcanal, 1942
US and Brits needed Australia ‘safe’ and to keep open the only supply line in the Pacific (south of Australia, since Japan had closed everything to the north).
Yep!
But Rhino — not like people in the British Islands weren’t both supplied with the food they ate and protected by the US. The line there was “overpaid and over here”
supply line between British India and the Pacific island possessions. The Pacific war was undeniably about imperialistic assets. The trade routes to the islands of Oceania (petrified bird poop was vital for making munitions… lol, really) were the concern.
No doubt Rhino. Wasn’t saying the US wasn’t vital to Australia, just that that whole war in the atlantic thing was about supporting the British Isles. And when you go down under they seem to appreciate the effort a bit more.
Aussie#1: When the hell is that bridge going to get done?
Aussie#2: Not sure, they only work an hour and 20 minutes a day and that doesn’t count lunchtime.
Coach Jay Gruden expects a “big jump” from Robert Griffin III heading into his second year in Gruden’s system.
“You’re not really thinking about who’s where, what’s my footwork,” Gruden said. “Everything should come a lot more natural for you, and hopefully, we see that transition from year one to year two in this system with the terminology and knowing where to go with your footwork and anticipation of getting the ball out quicker.”
_______________________________________
Then Tannehill’s 2nd year under Lazor should be really fun to watch!!! 🙂
Color me shocked- George Zimmerman is involved in another shooting. It appears he got shot this time.
This guy can’t avoid fucked up situations.
Rhino, on your minimum wage post, I got an education on how the word Great can be used for both a negative and positive. LOL
Stanger,
War in Europe was a main concern until Dec 1941… 😉
From that point on the Pacific was our REAL war. 2/3’s of Americans who dies in WW2 died in the Pacific, with most of that 1/3 in Europe coming AFTER Japan surrendered.
The supply line the U.S. was most worried about after Pearl Harbor was the one around Australia.
Hitler gets the press (cuz we had to white wash the only person in Europe more evil than Hitler… Stalin), but the Pacific was America’s real WW2.
Would have been the most bloody by far for us if it continued.
Rhino — I’m sorta a WWII buff, and my impression was that we went with a “Europe first” strategy. But that 2/3rds of the deaths in the Pacific stat is fascinating.
And how did this happen?…….”most of that 1/3 in Europe coming AFTER Japan surrendered.” VE Day did come months before VJ Day after all.
By the way, I had four Aussie roommates in college (all here to run track)…. THAT’s when I learned to drink beer…. (drinking until 4 am, up at 6 am to run 22 miles… if you don’t show they’d drag you out of bed and badger you to quit the team lol).
Aussies are awesome. Played rugby with a good number……only thing crazier on the field was a Kiwi.
Look at me, I’m an absolute nut bag!!!
LOL — saw that before, but is that actually a Kiwi? You go out partying with one of those boys and it is like you are looking for a White Castle. 🙂
stangerx says:
May 11, 2015 at 4:03 pm
Rhino — I’m sorta a WWII buff
yep who isnt. i mean kind of got to just out of respect for that generations and the sacrifices they made.
best t-shirt ever
Ah two topics (war and min wage) that I have to say much on but rather not discuss in here 🙂
When do OTA start again?
What do you think about petrified bird poop?
Tim, stop posting your selfie’s, we know you’re a nutjob.
You think I’m an animated Kiwi fruit? And you call me nuts. LOL
Regarding Finsmob fest (Texans @ Fins?), can’t someone just call the sales people now to secure a block ahead of the single game tix sales?
Al — we’re working on it, but don’t worry about the single game sales so much. My impression from talking to them last year is that, in the nosebleeds at least, they hold out some sections just for group sales, least for a while. So the real question is going to be which ones to choose from. That’s why we ended up having to switch from 426 (the old standard) to 403 last year.
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet now9 seconds ago
1st round WR Breshad Perriman just signed his rookie contract with the #Ravens, per @RosenhausSports.
ProFootballTalk @ProFootballTalk 5m5 minutes ago
Texans waive D.J. Swearinger http://wp.me/p14QSB-9LNX
Rhino says:
May 11, 2015 at 3:42 pm (Edit)
Stanger,
War in Europe was a main concern until Dec 1941… 😉
From that point on the Pacific was our REAL war. 2/3’s of Americans who dies in WW2 died in the Pacific, with most of that 1/3 in Europe coming AFTER Japan surrendered.
The supply line the U.S. was most worried about after Pearl Harbor was the one around Australia.
Hitler gets the press (cuz we had to white wash the only person in Europe more evil than Hitler… Stalin), but the Pacific was America’s real WW2.
__________________________________________________
Well our no. 1 goal was the defeat of Germany. Churchill to Washington right after Pearl Harbor and he developed a Euro-centric strategy on the war that the first priority was the defeat of Germany. He was able to get a commitment from FDR to focus on Germany first. This did not set well with the U.S. Navy who wanted to go after Japan. However, resources were shifted primarily to the Atlantic and the first priority was to protect access to mideast oil. That was the premise behind operation Torch and the landings in North Africa in November of 1942.
The Pacific strategy was at that time a defensive strategy centered on maintaining a supply line to Australia but it was not supposed to be offensive but 2 things happened to change that. First was the crushing defeat of the Japanese at Midway which decimated the heart of their carrier battle group and second was the discovery of the Japanese building an airfield on Guadacanal. That airfield was too tempting for the Navy and it lobbied for an amphibious assault on Guadacanal to seize the airfield in Japanese territory from which they could launch further airstrikes. The primary architecht of this strategy was Ernest King the Navy CinC. This led to our first offensive action of the war which preceded Torch by a couple of months and we landed on Guadacanal in August of 1942.
Ken — if your wrote that yourself rather than pulling it from somewhere……I’m very impressed.
Omar Kelly ✔ @OmarKelly
Football Outsiders data consistent tells them the Dolphins are a good team, YET Miami keeps producing 8-8 records. You be the judge.
Omar Kelly ✔ @OmarKelly
Could Dolphins go 11-5? Absolutely. If Tannehill drastically improves, the running game improves, defensive improves & injuries are limited.
___________________________
Dipshit alert…you be the judge 😉
Don’t care. He’s paid to have opinions, I don’t have to read them and particularly don’t have have to like them. I find it easier to just ignore them and him.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/sfl-miami-dolphins-depth-chart-breakdown-offense-postdraft-20150504-story.html
“Thomas allowed seven sacks in nine starts last season, but none of those sacks occurred as a guard, which is his natural position.”
None of those sacks were at guard because he wasn’t playing guard. He wasn’t good enough to crack the starting line up at OG. He only played because of poor depth at OT. I am sure Marcell Dareus and Sheldon Richardson are licking their chops about the prospect of lining up against Thomas.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/fo-espn-feature-columns/2015/espn-early-afc-projections-2015
LOL don’t bet the house on it. Didn’t SI pick us to win the superbowl saban’s 2nd year? we won 6 games.
btw, totally random but at this little hole in the wall Jamaican place I go to that’s in my area of Miami, Patrick Ewing passed by to eat over the weekend (I guess he lives in Miami). Wow has that guy aged! I didn’t recognize him in the photos the shop owner was showing me.
He was old when he was born- like Greg Oden.
Ken,
If it makes you feel any better, I’m projecting Turner to win RG and Douglas to win LG 🙂
I don’t feel any better. My hope is Jamil Douglas and Thomas doesn’t see the field.
turner as RG is a gamble. The guy hasn’t taken a snap at guard in the NFL and we automatically assume he can start.
Stanger:
That was from my vast font of knowledge on WWII history.
LOL. Not that I was looking for that but thank you. I guess.
Benjamin Allbright retweeted
Mark Segraves @SegravesNBC4 49m49 minutes ago Washington, DC
Sources say DC @MayorBowser has been advised to use @Redskins name in public as sign of good faith to team owner Dan Snyder.
——-
Oh my, what a LOL moment ..
Ken,
You will be surprised by Douglas’ power. He is ALOT better than Thomas in using his arms to get nasty with DL and it appears Douglas has a strong lower body base (thick legs) to drive people (or at least hold his own). He isn’t as quick as Thomas but he makes up for it in other ways.
Good. I am done with Thomas. He does not have the strength to take on the DTs in our division
Boulder,
Yea but SI uses random opinion instead of data simulations to derive predictions.
LOL ok.
Btw, another random topic ….I must be one of the only persons in Miami rooting for the Cavs over the Bulls LOL. I’m simply amazed by how many in Miami are butt hurt over Lebron going home. The Bulls have been annoying for the Heat long before Lebron got here and I always root against them 🙂
Stanger,
I’m surprised that you are surprised about Ken’s elaborate response on WW2 strategy.
He has stated numerous times about his affinity for history and work done in college on the subject of it.
It was just impressive that’s all. Big difference from pulling from some internet site and writing it yourself.