Vance Joseph
“Both win,” Joseph told me. “And I’ve been a 3-4 guy most of my career. But when you come to a place like this and see the defensive personnel you’ve got, and, in my opinion, it’s not broken, you can’t all of a sudden go to 34 where you have to re-draft to a defense. That takes time. That takes too much time.
“And I don’t want to be a guy who as a coordinator, I’m a 34 guy with 43 personnel driven team. I’m not going to say, ‘Well, let’s change it,’ and set us back two or three years. That’s not smart in my opinion. That’s not coordinating. If this team had 34 personnel, we’d be a 34 defense. I can do both. For me, it’s not a big deal to be a 34 or 43 defense, it’s just numbers. It would be a shame to come to a place that’s close to being good on defense and then flip it, then you’re three years away again. I didn’t want to do that.”
Then there’s this from VJ
“Absolutely,” he said. “Because in spurts last year, you could see they put up good stats against good people. But in spurts they also didn’t look very good. But it wasn’t because of effort or I wouldn’t say even scheme. I don’t know what it was. You watch the film and they did some really good things last year. A couple of games it got out of whack. But between Cam and those guys, you have good, solid NFL players here. So we’re capable of playing good defense. And I expect we’ll play good defense.”
OK, so I’m going to get the 800 LB gorilla in the room out of the way right now, because you know my feelings on one Mr. Suh, but heading into free agency and the draft, besides having your defensive centerpiece who happens to be a 4-3 DT, what else about our defense mandated that we’re a 4-3 defense? I’ll tell you, nothing. We began to fill in our roster before the draft with a bunch of 4-3 DE’s, adding to what we already had in Cam Wake, who we obviously believe is going to be a force with the contract extension.
Dolphins building blocks DT Ndamukong Suh and DE Cam Wake
Let’s look at the timeline . . .
We cut DE Quinton Coples 2/16. Not that Coples is a franchise player, but at 6’5″ 290, ideal for playing 3-4 DE. Coples, still on his rookie contract was due $1.75M this season, and was a $3M cap hit. We signed on 3/8, DE Mario Williams, who last year was miscast as an OLB in the 3-4 defense, and is better suited as a 4-3 DE. We then on 3/9 make the trade for CB Byron Maxwell, and LB Kiko Alonso, for the price of moving back just 5 spots in the 1st RD, from #8 to #13. A very good trade if the 2 aforementioned players play well and start for the Dolphins this season. VJ got his big CB, but Alonso is clearly a 4-3 MLB or OLB, not a 3-4. The reason I point this out, is because VJ determined what kind of personnel we acquired, so in essence, him saying we had 4-3 personnel was really saying Suh is a 4-3 DT, and we’re going to build around that. I’m not going to hide my feelings on that, you know where I stand, and hopefully, it works out.
After the trade for Maxwell and Alonso, we continued to sign 4-3 DE’s, starting on 3/17 with DE Andre Branch (6’5″ 265). We then re-signed LB Spencer Paysinger, who is a special teams and depth player. On 4/5, we signed the just waived by the Browns CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (5’9″ 195). On 4/18, we signed DT Chris Jones (6’1″ 295), waived by the New England Patriots. Ekpre-Olomu not the prototypical CB VJ likes, but Chris Jones, fits the smaller, quicker, penetrating type of 4-3 DT he prefers.
Then came the draft, and despite the fact many of us, not of all of us expected some help for the defense, the only major defensive pick was 2nd RD CB Xavien Howard (6’0″ 201). In the 6th RD, we picked up hybrid (CB/S) Jordan Lucas (6’0″ 201), again, prototypical size for what VJ is looking for, bigger cornerbacks. The rest of the draft, 6 picks in total, went towards the offense. I’ll talk about that next week, but for now, let’s stay focused on the defense.
So, pre-draft free agency came and went, and the actual draft is over too, so the only thing left now is post-draft free agency, where any player signed does NOT count against next years compensatory pick entitlement. It appears that our first target is DE Jason Jones (6’5″ 272). Once again, adding veterans to our D-line. We will not be relying on younger players in our d-line rotation, that much is clear. On the back end of the defense, that’s a different story, but it’s clear our D-line rotation will be veteran, sprinkled in with some youth. There is no official depth chart right now, but this is how I see it.
Base 4-3 defense
RE – Andre Branch 6’5″ 265
DT – Earl Mitchell 6’3″ 310
DT – Ndamukong Suh 6’4″ 320
LE – Mario Williams 6’6″ 292
WLB – Jelani Jenkins 6’0″ 243
MLB – Kiko Alonso 6’3″ 238
SLB – Koa Misi 6’3″ 255
LCB – Byron Maxwell 6’1″ 207
RCB – Xavien Howard 6’0″ 201
RS – Reshad Jones 6’1″ 218
LS – Isa Abdul-Quddus 6’1″ 201
Nickel Defense
RE – Mario Williams
DT – Jordan Phillips/Chris Jones
DT – Ndamukong Suh
LE – Cam Wake
LB – Jelani Jenkins
LB – Kiko Alonso
LCB – Byron Maxwell
RCB – Xavien Howard
NB – Bobby McCain
S – Reshad Jones
S – Isa Abdul-Quddus
I could see Chris Jones in the nickel package as a DT, but for now, I’m going to give the edge to Phillips. I could also see Neville Hewitt being a nickel LB, so that’s possible too.
I know it sounds like I don’t approve of the way we went about creating our defense, mostly because we built it around a DT who will earn over $100M when his contract is finished. While I didn’t agree with the move, he’s here, and he’s one of the best players in the NFL, but I think he can be better than he was for us last season, and I think he’ll need to be if we’re going to contend for the playoffs. As I mentioned, we have a strong veteran presence on our defense, but there is a young man who none of us are counting on, but if he comes in with the right attitude, continues to work hard, and then the kicker, actually gets reinstated by Goodell and the NFL, Dion Jordan be a factor for us. We all hope that’s the case
As far as the linebackers and secondary, it’s going to be very interesting to see if the gambles paid off with the trade for Maxwell and the draft choice of Xavien Howard, or possibly the emergence of Tony Lippett. Will Isa be the safety we’ve been looking for to complement Reshad Jones? Was Kiko Alonso the missing cog that takes our LB corps to a higher level? If the answers to both of those questions is yes, the Dolphins should be an exciting team to watch this year, especially with what we’ve done with the offense. Stay tuned next week when I discuss the offense.
Finsmob Unleashed 
I was thinking about the Colts offense back in the day that Gase has said he sort of hijacked along with Christensen and I remember they used a lot of stretch plays in the running game. Both Ajayi and Drake should excel there.
why run a stretch play vs the wide 9 when you can just block it the way the Jets do against us and run between the tackles for positive yds
What does the wide 9 have to with our offense running the stretch play?
I have a friend who is from DR who got a full ride to a college because he was a basketball player who was 7 foot plus and 310 lbs. He wasn’t very good but he averaged 20-25 minutes game in college. Well, this guy was treated like a king and he always has great stories. He tells me how he would get spending money by selling his new shoes which he could get everyday if he wanted plus he would sell his meal pass to students who would actually bring dates to. He used to go into town and get comped meals and get seating to the most exclusive restaurants without reservations. Car s borrowed from car dealerships. He told me it was the best time of his life.
Dominican Republic?
yes….did you have to look that up on google LOL
Didn’t google it, but I was thinking for a few minutes. lol
…”he’d get money selling his shoes which he could everyday if he wanted”.
Just how big a market could there be for shoes from a 7 foot plus 310 guy? lol
he could any size he wanted. I asked him same question also
He should be in jail then according to your previous stance on Tunsil.
tunsil went too far in asking for money especially from a coach. Who knows other stuff that was not reported. Asking or shaking down has to be asked in his situation.So I have to guess it wasn’t a squekly clean program. Three years in row that school had top 15 recruiting class.
jetsssuck, how about Tunsil was offered money? Now you’re saying he shook them down? LOL
He was an elite athlete on their team, they get treated differently. You’re making it sound like he’s a gangster and how exactly would he shake down a university?
coaches get contracts to produce don’t they? You think players play hurt when they know they have a nfl contract waiting? It happens all the time but taking money from a coach is a big question mark on a guys character.
I don’t see it that way at all. You seem to want to railroad Tunsil. A coach helping keep the heat and lights on for a poor family is not a bad thing in my eyes. People help people in life. The NCAA is the problem.
Ole Miss wasn’t anywhere near a squeaky clean program
But I don’t judge the players for that
I can’t look down at a player for asking for $ to pay his mother’s utility bill
I guess this was the only time he ever asked for money so it’s ok. OK Mr. Simpson
I’m more likely to applaud Tunsil for asking for money then scold him
I applaud him too….wasn’t like he asked for money to spend on Bling….he wanted to get his Mama’s light bill paid….it gets hot in the summers down south.
jetsssuck says:
May 20, 2016 at 12:27 pm (Edit)
tunsil went too far in asking for money especially from a coach. Who knows other stuff that was not reported. Asking or shaking down has to be asked in his situation.So I have to guess it wasn’t a squekly clean program. Three years in row that school had top 15 recruiting class.
Would it have been better for you if he stole the money to help his mother? Mayb he should have dropped out of school to get a job to help her.
maybe if the mother got help from her boyfriend or some where else.How can 2 working adults working not afford to pay a utility bill. If that is case most utility companies have budget billing. It speaks volumes concerning the families character if she asked him for the money. Is it possible this happened before?
WOW!
Man, you only see it one way and act like Tunsil’s situation is unprecedented. At the end of the day, the coach or someone in the school is the one in the wrong based on NCAA rules, not ethics. Helping people survive is not usually looked at as a character flaw. I think you’re alone in this debate for all the wrong reasons.
Was there a boyfriend or whoever to help with bills ? I know nothing of this story so I’d be interested to know if there was one or if you’ve made an assumption. And yes 2 WORKING adults can have trouble making ends meet. Do you watch the news? The economy sucks right now to a lot of people.
yes, there was a boyfriend and plus he has a brother Alex. 2 working adults should not have any problem paying utilty bills. If that is case they should live in section 8 public housing and receive government help. State minimum wage is around 8 bucks a hour.
Well said!!! Guess what, the Tunsil’s don’t have that problem anymore. 🙂
Meant for Herd.
Thant you!
Apparently these kids never come from any ghetto’s….smh
It’s probably the biggest reason these young players end up broke or in trouble. They’ve had nothing their whole lives and then have big money at their disposal. They have no idea how to handle it.
Exactly….that’s why we see more & more how financial planners are offered at the rookie symposiums, as well as other life coaches for these young guys.
I wish I had that at my disposal back then.
yes, that is probably so plus they have all the free time where in college they had structured life’s designed for them by school program.
Northeast folks,
I’m taking the wife to manhattan in June. What are some non touristy things I should look into doing? My wife has never been so we will be doing all the normal junk, but I was hoping for some cool off the path ideas that were low cost/ unique. Things to do, Places to eat and stuff like that.
I didn’t think low cost & Manhattan could ever be associated.
Just take in the big city. Not sure how many things I could suggest at low cost. The weather is getting nice here so there is Central Park, you can go on a day cruise (a few hours) on the Hudson, there are tons of great bars and restaurants, shows, Times Square just for the crazy atmosphere.
Piggy is probably your best tour guide, he lives there. 🙂
Piggy likes to waller in the gutters, so that’s a very low cost thing to do….lol
I’ve been spending most of my time getting out of the city lately
but here are a few suggestions
1. Go to Central Park. Its free to walk in the park. Its huge. Its beautiful. There is a ton of entertainment inside the park. You can watch a ton of cool things: shakepeare in the park, concerts, acrobats performing and this weirdo
2. Check /out the high line
http://www.thehighline.org/
its basically another park. Its built on an old railroad track. Its fairly new. Check out their website
3. Are you guys foodies? Check out Chelsea Market:
http://chelseamarket.com/
4. Ride the subway. Don’t be scared of it. People spend a fortune on cabs. The subway will get you everywhere. And its sometimes an adventure. I’ve seen fighting, nakedness, wierdos and some of the worst smelling people of my life on the subway. FUN FUN FUN!
5. Go to Brooklyn. I’m sure Mike E and Bat will tell you its not what it used to be. And its not – but it can be fun for a visit. There is a lot of new development. The architecture in parts of Brooklyn is some of the best in the city. Prospect Park is bigger and better than Central Park. Coney Island is kinda gross but can be kinda of fun. Brooklyn Bridge Park the new park http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/events. Don’t know much about it. BAM http://www.bam.org/ is an incredible cultural center.
6. Walk around. walk around anywhere. Its fun. There is always something. I hate time square. if you want to avoid touristy stay away from time square. But I’m sure it can be fun.
7. http://www.lincolncenter.org/ The Lincoln center has a ton of events. And the upper west side where it is located is very nice. The buildings around it are really nice. You can see opera, ballet and dance at the Lincoln center on a regular basis. I don’t know if Broadway is your thing (its not mine) but I think when tourists see a show in NYC they think Broadway – but there is other stuff like events at the Lincoln center worth checking out.
8. Its relatively boring, but I have seen a few people check out the courts downtown to go look at the steps of the Supreme Court where they always film law and order. If you go on the right day you may even see a victorious pig walking down the stairs.
9. want to bore yourself to death while your wife spends all your money. Go to Soho and check out the shopping.
You will never be able to do all these things
There’s a ton to do
getterdone says:
May 20, 2016 at 12:37 pm
I applaud him too….wasn’t like he asked for money to spend on Bling….he wanted to get his Mama’s light bill paid….it gets hot in the summers down south.
——————————-
did you see the bling on him during the nfl draft. His shoes were valued over 10k because of the diamonds.
He bought them on the cheap from your 7foot friend from DR.
I don’t think so. My friend washed out playing pro ball in Europe and now is a manager at Party City. Took him 6 years to go from asst. to mgr. He was only making 14 bucks a hour as asst mgr but worked 56 hour weeks and he was paid hourly plus he makes bonus’.
Yeah every top prospect had that because they know a big payday is coming. They have agents now. Once declared for the draft, none of that matters.
jetsssuck says:
May 20, 2016 at 1:09 pm (Edit)
yes, there was a boyfriend and plus he has a brother Alex. 2 working adults should not have any problem paying utilty bills. If that is case they should live in section 8 public housing and receive government help. State minimum wage is around 8 bucks a hour.
Wowweee. 8 whole dollars an hour? And you have to pay for housing and food and clothing and transportation and medical. And on and on. Arrogant much?
He’s digging a really deep hole with all of this and I’m not sure why he’s going there. After all his Mom has a boyfriend with a friend named Alex. LOL
Alex is Laremy’s brother.Please keep up I have to go in a couple.
Oh that changes everything. Is his brother rich?
8 dollars a hour times two is 16 bucks a hour. Plus,I didn’t say that is what they made as working adults. They could have very well have made more considering the economy has improved in recent years. People who can’t survive on 16 bucks an hour have alternatives like renting with another, getting second jobs, and budgeting their money better. Medical is most likely paid with medicaid or Obamacare. Food stamps from gov’t if their income is below standards. Don’t tell me one can’t survive making 16 dollars a hour between two people. It’s doable.
I’ve been to New York a few times and did all the usual things. My wife hasn’t and is more interested in those things where you show up to snap a picture and look for a few minutes and leave. You know, stuff that usually gets blown up by aliens in movies. I didn’t know if there were some neighborhoods that we should see more than others.
Museums are cheap, usually just a donation.
Soho is always cool and there are parts of Brooklyn now that have really cool restaurants and bars etc as well.
OMG on the talk about squeaky clean! No college with athletics is squeaky clean, same as a politician. Morals, politicians, college, ncaa, business, should never be used in a sentence together, unless it’s one like this. Some of you guys are a little naive.
Show me someone running any of these thats squeaky clean and I’ll show you a schmuck. You can put Philbin in the schmuck category too. Even Shula wasn’t squeaky clean.
I also have some friends from up there that have given me suggestions but wanted to leave no stone unturned.
Some of the financial issues with athletes has to do with having to give free rides for people.
SB
Make sure you get some pizza. Best pizza in the world, and make sure you go to Wo Hop in Chinatown too, but you have to eat downstairs. Just walk around midtown, there are so many cool places to see.
Oh, and when Hulk from CT comes on in a few and says CT’s pizza is better, he’s effing wrong! lol
Pizza under the Brooklyn Bridge.
Oh, and Mike E wouldn’t tell you not to got to Brooklyn. If you do, go to Totonno’s pizzeria in Coney Island, or L&B Spumoni Gardens. Totonno’s used a to be a da best, so I’m a sure it’s a still pretty good. Go to the original Nathans in CI, and go on the Wonder Wheel.
Nathans in coney island is awesome
SB I left a big list above
also forgot to mention the west side on the Hudson
its very pretty
I cycle there occasionally
I’m going to have to re-watch some Anthony Bourdain on netflix. I know he had a few shows with non touristy places.
As for food
I tend to like the Lower East Side
Brooklyn always has great food too
Queens too
Bourdain did a Chinatown special but I’m pretty sure you have to know how to dins those places
got to go..Remember a zebra has permanent stripes.Good talking with everyone
Except Tunsil isn’t a zebra. LOL
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/events-calendar/june-events-calendar
Steve I never ate there (pizzeria under the Brooklyn Bridge) I only recommend places I’ve actually eaten in.
They’re franchised to the rest of the country, but nothing like the one in Brooklyn.
Were’s the Beef?
Mushrooms?
Jalapenos?
City Folks—-SMH 😉
You can have whatever you want on it
You can check out a lot of the city on a bike
and now the city rents them for cheap
http://www.citibikenyc.com/
Don’t ride through times square unless you have a death wish
but along the west side or east side – preferably the west side – there is no traffic
the bike lanes are seperated from the traffic
some asshole always manages to crash though
There’s only one way to find out which kind of asshole SB is . . . lol
You haven’t figured it out yet?
Now I want to check out my own city
I’m going to Ridgewood NJ tomorrow
Is that near you Mike and Tim
Not too far from Tim, and really close to my nephew Phil, who you’ve met. He lives in North Bergen
Does your nephew live in Punxsutawney, PA?
Your nephew is way east and south of there on the river side. Ridgewood is in the north middle of Bergen County heading into the hills and closer to Passaic County.
About a half an hour north of me. I wouldn’t refer to it as a city though, it’s a town. It’s in the same county I grew up in. It’s a wealthy town and has a nice strip of shops, cafes and such on Ridgewood Ave. which is a main road. It’s a bit clicky and a snooty town as well, at least it was when I would go there. The surrounding towns are nice too but it’s very suburban, not city like.
SB7, there is also the Guggenheim Museum, it didn’t take Art Vandelay very long to design it. LOL
best museaum int he city IMO
I live a few blocks away
Lol.
^sorts assholes^
Tunsil will be the biggest colossal bust ever drafted says every jestssucks in america.
Tunsil’s actions are mild in comparison to the norm.
Better!
Looks like a piggy pie
Round table?
Do you know many brothers died for that pie!
You bastard!
SB
FWIW, and that ain’t much, I don’t think you’re any kind of asshole. My nephew Phil is actually from Brooklyn, he’s no groundhog. lol
Tim
Is that right? Just shows you how much I know about north Jersey. lol
Yeah I mean without crazy traffic he could get there in a half an hour+ or so using highways but where he lives and then getting through Paramus to get there it’s a busy area with tons of shopping and malls all over rte 4 and rte 17.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bergen+County,+NJ/@40.9186211,-74.1809898,11z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c3000da684cd8b:0x6ce387c0f3df8605!8m2!3d40.9262762!4d-74.07701
I forget that N.Bergen isn’t in Bergen County. I really don’t know that part of NJ at all.
Yeah it’s Hudson County but real close to the border of Bergen. The most southeast end of it close to Fort Lee which is the town you enter going over the GW Bridge.
Central Park hosts an all-female, naked production of The Tempest
11 women admirably ditch their costumes to promote body freedom and free expression
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/central-park-hosts-an-all-female-naked-production-of-the-tempest-a7038841.html
Piggy hiding in the park watching the play…..
LOL!
There is a pig picture for everything. LOL
Piggy, do you know how to get to Ridgewood? It depends on if you’re driving, riding a bike or a zip line. LOL
Piggy, just remember Saturdays heading into NJ from the city can have a lot of traffic due to NY peeps looking to shop at the malls in Paramus which is how you have to go to get to Ridgewood. The earlier the better. Noon time and after could be a real clusterfuck.
I’m headin g out there at about 1030 on the road
How are you going?
Tim
Isn’t it odd that North Bergen is the most southeast part?
Not sure why it was named that but probably from a long time ago. It’s an old river town albeit way up on the cliffs. He lives off the Hudson River divide. He’s closer to Hoboken and Jersey City heading south than Ridgewood heading northwest.
Yeah, now that my son is going to Stevens, he’ll be really close to Phil, only about 10-15 minutes away
Yep! So Steven’s it is? Good school. Congrats!
the Tempest starts in 10 mins
GDP you should have posted that an hour ago
Now I got to scramble to get to Central Park
Tim
this is how
Nice!
Piggy, if you’re taking rte 4 west off the GW to rte 17 north to Ridgewood which is the most direct way you can go, if you’re hungry stop at The Fireplace Restaurant for great burgers, fries, onion rings, milkshakes etc. right on the exit for Ridgewood Ave. and Oradell Ave. You want to go over 17 heading west even though it will be called E. Ridgewood Ave. as it travels west. LOL
https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Fireplace+Restaurant/@40.9620083,-74.1008022,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xcb85a5ac20080523!8m2!3d40.96931!4d-74.0785844
Sorry Piggy, but if you hurry there’s still a few holes in the fence unoccupied, that or you might have to share one.
Mike E. says:
May 20, 2016 at 1:29 pm
Make sure you get some pizza. Best pizza in the world….Oh, and when Hulk from CT comes on in a few and says CT’s pizza is better, he’s effing wrong! lol
—————
Since as a guy from Florida, figured I’d put in an objective opinion on this. Did a lot of research and the answer was debatable at least. From all the critics the answer was one of these three.
For South Florida folks the answer was indisputable, but then the Za ain’s as good down here.
I love this debate. Those of us in NJ look to NY for Pizza and we have NY style Pizza everywhere here. It’s like CT doesn’t exist. LOL
Cold by the time it would get to you, but think about it this way. New Haven has like three of the top twenty joints in the country and has like a 150,000 people…..NYC has nine million. Who knows pizza better?
LOL, it’s all good fun. I’m sure you’re right and there is great pizza in CT. It’s never been an easy ride to get there for us NJ peeps though. In fact getting to CT through Westchester NY via the Tappan Zee Bridge kind of sucks. LOL
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tappan+Zee+Bridge/@41.0700804,-74.0035829,11z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x1a46ce3fa0deab12!8m2!3d41.0700804!4d-73.8810167
Jetssuck,
It’s easy to trash Tunsil’s character given you had it nice growing up and weren’t in a position of power to command it from someone else.
Tunsil, as one of the best players on the team, used his position to leverage some money to pay for his mom’s bare minimum living expenses (electric/water bills).
It’s not ‘right’ for some but to me he’s in a tough situation and many of us probably would have done similar things instead of watch someone live without basic living conditions.
As for your story on your friend, this goes on everywhere and even at the HS level.
I grew up in an lower side of middle class area of Miami and knew baseball guys in my block who got equipement and new shoes often from coaches who used it as means to get those guys to play at their High School (the gifting process I saw started in Khoury League which is like up to 13-14 years old).
It’s not right but the NCAA is a big money making machine and they are pretty hypocritical about promoting “student”-atheletes but at the same time keeping the athletics in FSB profitable to only the biggest schools (they screw over schools like Boise State who as public institutions have as much right to play in major bowl games as any other big school).
Just read this on Ohio State’s money making
http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2015/07/ohio_states_giant_athletic_dep_1.html
Stanger
One day we’re going to hit Pepe’s, before Brian graduates. I love a the way they a call it Apizza.
Not sure if it is to your taste but Pepe’s white clam is always rated as one of the very top single pies in the country. Even if doesn’t sound that good…..maybe get like a medium of that and another with whatever toppings sound better just to say you’ve tried it.
Yeah, I’ve seen that their white clam is their signature pie. Not sure that’s my deal, but I’d try a slice of it.
My dad’s 1st cousin lives in Ridgewood. Nice area.
Her husband is an exec for Time Warner in one of their divisions.
Very nice wealthy town. Bergen County is one of the wealthiest counties in the country. NYC is just across the river.
Stanger, however my friend and I who is also a Phins fan used to drive to Stamford back in the day hoping to see Marino and the Phins play the Pats – hoping we were far enough into NE for that feed. It was. 🙂
And that is about where you started to get it, And it was from a Hartford station……depended on the weather if it came in. Makes you a good fan though for making the trip.
We also knew a guy from town who was a Pats fan even earlier than that who used to drive to Stamford, that’s where we got the idea from – he would park in a Burger King parking lot eating and listening to the game on the radio, before bars had those big dishes. You do what you gotta do. LOL
Speaking of traffic and NYC….
I still have horrific memories of driving into the city from the turnpike….sometimes it takes 1 hr just to go 1.5 miles to the entrance of the tunnels
There’s a Hulk picture for everything. lol
stangerx says:
May 20, 2016 at 3:03 pm
Not sure if it is to your taste but Pepe’s white clam is always rated as one of the very top single pies in the country. Even if doesn’t sound that good…..maybe get like a medium of that and another with whatever toppings sound better just to say you’ve tried it.
i always found the small white clam more meeting my needs.
They’re going to take down the Tappan Zee soon, building a new one right next to it.
They have to, that thing was deemed structurally unsafe at one point no? LOL
Yep, they just did the same thing with the LBI bridge.
I was never into the tomato pies but livining next to Trenton, I was able to make it to DeLorenzo’s (both Tomato Pies and the other pizza place by same name that is owned by a different family) original locations before they closed down (re-opened in other towns).
Stanger,
Isn’t Coal Fired pizza more common in CT? I think Brooklyn has some famous joints too no?
To me coal fired > brick oven or other cooking methods. I love Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza (only coal-fired option for me where i live).
Coal fired and brick over they are cept for for the new fangled “Modern Apizza,” wich is oil fired….but then that was born as the Yuppie alternative.
Never ate at Anthony’s even if I have one a few miles away…..but you know where they got their method from (although by that just Northeast). And yeah Brooklyn has a few New Haven wannabees as well. 🙂
Speaking of New Haven…
I went there a few times but that place that claims to be the first burger place in the US was always closed when I went through New Haven LOL.
FFR,
LMAO at your sexual innuendos
State minimum wage is around 8 bucks a hour.
WOW! That much huh? $320.00 per week before taxes. a whole $240.00 per week after taxes! Why cant these irresponsible fuckers pay their bills? SMH
Man! dumb shits can’t make ends meet on 960.00 per month!
OH and “around 8 dollars” is more like 7.65, but who is counting?
Laremy, Mom, Beau and Alex will be just fine now. LOL
Do you know why NYC folks come to NJ on Saturdays to shop? No sales tax on clothes and Bergen County which has a ton of shopping has blue laws – no shopping on Sundays except for food and a few other essential products. So Saturday becomes a shit show on the main roads and highways. Those of us who grew up around it always said stay away from there midday anywhere near Paramus.
Then they all retire and move to Miami cause their is no state income tax, among other reasons. Only thing they leave behind is the pizza.
Much of the time it is tired of the cold weather and snow. When’s the last time you shoveled? LOL
Answer would be 2006……but that was one of the reasons I ditched my house for an apartment where people shoveled for me. Did a lot of push outs during the 3+ feet DC got in Snowmaggedon 2010 though.
Pepe’s Pizza rules
Ken — this from the Man v. Food guy might be enough to get you to go to Modern Apizza though. Have you been?
http://www.travelchannel.com/shows/man-v-food/video/new-haven-s-pizza-paradise
Louie’s Lunch makes an awesome burger but don’t ask for ketchup
Why, they throw is at you? LOL
Tim Knight says:
May 20, 2016 at 3:31 pm
Do you know why NYC folks come to NJ on Saturdays to shop?
alex, what is they are lost.
Unfortunately they know exactly where they’re going and why. It’s all the malls and shopping all along the way. Paramus the town is basically a mall. LOL
They have nice neighborhoods as well and pay low property taxes because of that industry.
Pittsburgh has some really good Italian food as well. Certain parts of that town is very heavy and old school Italian. I remember visiting there once and a friend took me to a part of town that was densely Italian and we went to this restaurant for what they considered some of the towns best Italian food. When we go in to the restaurant its old and dimly lit, and there was a big long table in the back part of the restaurant and people sat around it with one large man at the head of the table. Swear to god i thought i was in a remake of the godfather, and the Italian food was the best ive ever had anywhere.
Go where the folks who eat the food eat. Used to walk through China town looking through the windows for the eating spot with the most Asian faces in it. It’s a good rule of thumb.
I spent 3 hours on the Tappen Zee bridge this last October!
It can be the worst. 287 to 95 NE.
I used to drive up to the Tappen Zee to avoid the GW…….can’t see worse than that, especially when the Bruckner is clogged all the way through the Bronx.
Gase looks like Tunsil just shook him down for some money…
Stanger, 10 years, I rest my case. 😉
You got me Tim. I moved down here cause both the taxes are lower and the weather is better.
But just to be fair, the cost of living is lower too and the girls know that bikini weather is all year round and act their lives accordingly.
So yeah — shouldn’t have just gone to the taxes.
The three hours wasn’t what it took to get across the Tappen Zee bridge. That is the amount of time I sat stopped in one place in the middle of the bridge. I never found out why. Traffic sucked but was moving stop n go and then just stopped. 3 hours later it started moving again. Stop stop n go. I tell you, I thought I95 sucked here with ass holes changing lanes, cutting people off, etc. Pffft! Amateur hour compared to driving with the meat heads up there! You better know where your bumper is within 4 inches because that is all the room people up there need to see, their car length plus 4 inches, to slam their cars over in front of you! I aged 10 years in a day driving up there!
Rock — been in the same on that bridge……and that is the one I went too to get less traffic (you hit one of the meltdowns though). NYC area wins on traffic too…….we can’t compete with that.
But just to be fair, the cost of living is lower too and the girls know that bikini weather is all year round and act their lives accordingly.
CAN I GET AN AMEN BROTHERS!?
Although, living in SF most of my life I was not prepared for Charlotte, SC. I was there visiting a job 5-6 weeks ago and OMG did that city have BEAUTIFUL women and the ratio of women to men was like 5 – 1. Not kidding. I asked the Engineer what the hell is going on? and he said what do you mean? I was like the women!! He laughed and said, oh that, I’m married man, but if you are single this is probably the best place in the US to live. He went on to tell me how, for whatever reason, the ratio of women to men is actually higher than 5-1. There was a stunning lady every where I looked.
If we get the project up there I’ve requested to my boss to take a break from estimating and to go and run that project as the Superintendent. Even if I have to take a pay cut for 2 months while the project is being built! LOL
And while I was up there I didn’t get one snooty / snotty look from any of the women like i get down here or in other parts of the country. they all smiled and said hello.
Where is Charlotte, SC?
It’s probably right near Charlotte, NC.
D says:
May 20, 2016 at 3:46 pm
Pittsburgh has some really good Italian food as well. Certain parts of that town is very heavy and old school Italian.
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Yea that metropolis produced a couple of pretty good NFL eh? Joe Montana & Dan Marino
GDP,
LOL @ at that pic.
Gase looks like he just got done wearing Tunsil’s gas mask 🙂
Oooops fucking auto correct! Charleston SC I didn’t even notice it had changed it.
I probably misspelled it or had fat finger syndrome on my little phone touch board and it changed it up on me.
I just looked it up on the census and the ratio of men to women is only .9 : 1 but it seemed a lot more where I was at!
Charleston is suppose to be one of the South’s jewels (no pun intended FFR).
Architecturally, it is very nice.
I was in Charleston, SC a year + ago. It was cool, nothing I would strive to go to again. I have to say racism still exists there. I saw it with my black sister-in-law. They didn’t like the mixed race thing. I felt bad for her and all she said is I’m used to it.
Stanger:
Modern Pizza is very good but not as good as Pepe’s and I think the quality has gone down in recent years.
Tim:
If you ask for ketchup at Louie’s Lunch they will yell at you and they don’t have any
best pizza ever
So now you’re suddenly ok with killing your peeps to garnish good pizza…SMH!
Better with Bacon …. Oh wait a minute
Video of the Chicago Bears O-line with Adam Gase’s offensive philosophy. Trench play.
https://youtu.be/jPipcoWXyKc
stangerx says:
May 20, 2016 at 4:07 pm
Go where the folks who eat the food eat. Used to walk through China town looking through the windows for the eating spot with the most Asian faces in it. It’s a good rule of thumb.
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Stanger looking into an Asian restaurant
Random guy inside Asian restaurant looking back at Stanger wondering “wtf is that creep doing?”
Ken says:
May 20, 2016 at 5:13 pm
Tim:
If you ask for ketchup at Louie’s Lunch they will yell at you and they don’t have any
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Tim,
From what I’ve seen on TV (a show about the origins of the US hamburger), Loui’s doesn’t believe ketchup should go on a burger and thus does not offer it. They are philosophically against it.
The only toppings are a light cheese sauce and tomatoes
Ken, the Italian sub shop I grew up with – ask for mayo on an Italian sub and they would look to kill you. LOL
Speaking of subs..
As a guy from Florida, I always found it funny that people debated the differences between subs, hogies, heros, etc… All the same shit to me 🙂
Grinders
Ken,
I haven’t had a chance to eat at Louie’s Lunch as every time I have gone into New Haven, they have been on closed (they take a month I believe at some time of the year and also it appears on random days).
I want to try Ted’s Restaurant as well (home of the famed steamed hamburger).
Rockphin says:
May 20, 2016 at 3:22 pm
State minimum wage is around 8 bucks a hour.
WOW! That much huh? $320.00 per week before taxes. a whole $240.00 per week after taxes! Why cant these irresponsible fuckers pay their bills? SMH
Man! dumb shits can’t make ends meet on 960.00 per month!
OH and “around 8 dollars” is more like 7.65, but who is counting?
————————————————————
I don’t think Gov’t takes 25% out of their paychecks we have no state income tax. They are from lake city,fl. Two family members working for minimum wage will bring in at least $1920 a month if we go by your calculations. It’s a livable wage if they make livable choices concerning rent, utilities,food and basic necessities. If they still can’t survive then they could make choices to lower expenses such as getting roommates to share expenses. Oh and this conversation was about Tunsil not about me.
———————————————————–
Here’s something for you arrogant people who think Tunsil has only once did anything wrong. I gave you guys several times to look it up but you were stuck on only 1 time he asked for money.Take your team loyalty blinders off and you will see clearly. Mike E can only help with your physical eye sight not what you see through your team illusions.
http://www.olemisssports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101215aae.html
OXFORD, Miss. — On Monday afternoon, the University of Mississippi was notified by the NCAA that Laremy Tunsilwill be suspended for a total of seven games and will return to competition on October 24.
The University initially withheld Tunsil from competition at the start of the season as both the NCAA and the University examined several alleged improper benefits. During the course of the process, it was determined by the NCAA that Tunsil received impermissible extra benefits that included the use of three separate loaner vehicles over a sixth-month period without payment, a four-month interest-free promissory note on a $3,000 down payment for purchasing a used vehicle, two nights of lodging at a local home, an airline ticket purchased by a friend of a teammate, and one day use of a rental vehicle. In addition, it was determined that Tunsil was not completely forthcoming when initially questioned by NCAA investigators regarding the loaner vehicles. He later corrected his account and since apologized.
The incident of Tunsil’s lawsuit against him is from father in law and he states it was because he was trying to discipline him with reason about hanging with agents.Two different stories. The HC coach is wanting immunity while testifying. Uhm. The money loan everyone is talking about is only the tip of the iceberg. I guess he didn’t do anything wrong and it was only his first time. Thousands of articles about the guy and you choose not to look into any.
Video of the Chicago Bears O-line with Adam Gase’s offensive philosophy. Trench play.
https://youtu.be/jPipcoWXyKc
Jetssuck,
The bottom line is that I don’t care about those things Tunsil did.
The coaches gave it to him 🙂
The NCAA organization is far more crooked than the things you think Tunsil is crooked for.
I wipe my ass with anything the NCAA organization does in the rules department because generally speaking they are very hypocritical in their actions to many universities in the name of profit.
Central Catholic High school in Pittsburgh produced two NFL QB’s, Bulger and Marino.
Jason Taylor, another of our greats, also from Pittsburgh, not the same school though.
Jetssuck,
“Two family members working for minimum wage will bring in at least $1920 a month if we go by your calculations. ”
—
Let’s start with what is generally the largest expense on a monthly basis (rent/mortgage)…
Federal model says the max anyone should be paying for rent/mortgage is 25% of GROSS pay.
1920*.25 =480 ….480 a month gets you an efficiency in Miami that’s it.
Sorry, it’s .30% not 25%… that’s 576 a month…still wont get you a comfortable safe place for a family in most places.
People in S.Florida pay more I heard on a report. I think it was 40 percent. It’s still workable. Being poor doesn’t give them the right to more, people who want more can get more by getting it through more work or education. Who’s to say the 2 were not making more?
Crap…I’m off
Oh, btw, it’s my birthday tomorrow …good ole 39 LOL last year of 30ssssssssssssssssss
Happy birthday early, hope its a great one, and in case i dont see ya, good afternoon good evening and good night as well.
happy birthday.Look on google first thing tomorrow. I’m baking you a cake right now.
Tunsil payed for the improper benefits, he was suspended for several games for it. It wasnt until later that it came out whom he received the benefits from and thats what stirred this up again. Tunsil asked for it, the coach could have said no.
Its in the past. This should be over and done with, when being concerned about things you look for things that might re-occur and continue to be an issue. So to be concerned, you have to think that he might ask the current coaches to pay his momma’s bills and that in some way might get our coaches, the team or him in trouble. First, the NFL, i dont think, would give two shits if they gave his momma money, i dont know of any rules they have against it. Secondly im not guessing that a new millionaire would really need them to.
So either way, my question is, do you think it says things about is character that indicates he will be a problem in the NFL? I dont see it, he tried helping out his momma. Todd Gurley took money for signing autographs, and it was for him. Most these guys asks for a little something and sometimes they get it, sometimes they dont, but they are asking it for them. In this case Tunsil did what a lot of them do, but knowing it was for something like keeping his mothers electricity turned on, makes me feel like his character is just as good or potentially better than a lot of these other guys that damn near everyone has wanted on our team. Give the guy a break, the true test of if he is worthy of criticism will be if he fucks up in his profession, this college shit is behind him, let it be behind him.
new millionaire in S.Florida. No structured life like college program where he is accountable. No friends. Possible train wreck with this guy. The tweets show coach was confused whether it was for water or electric. Tunsil was not on the up and up during the tweet and the coach questioned him about it. Read the tweets
Tim:
Those grinders you brought for the Jets game were damn good
Should have been, they were baby squirrel the friggin murderer!
Nothing like fresh road kill on the grill
All this talk of pizza and now I am sitting at my local pizza joint waiting for my take home order
Nice!
Happy birthday to Al
Pies up
Ken says:
May 20, 2016 at 5:12 pm
Stanger:
Modern Pizza is very good but not as good as Pepe’s and I think the quality has gone down in recent years.
——-
Sorry to hear that……no wonder it has dropped out of the top ten in the country and now clinging onto to the top 20.
LOL @ I wipe my ass with anything the NCAA organization does.
Random guy inside Asian restaurant looking back at Stanger wondering “wtf is that creep doing?”
————-
Al — who cares what the dudes think?
Will explain the base Asian look-in strategy and tactics at the Fest. Hope you get the chance to meet my wife as well…..think you two would get along.
here’s a sauce the Family can’t get enough of.
Huy Fong
Huy Fong Chili Garlic Sauce, 18 Oz
Size: 18 oz
It has a mild flavor then after a while it brings some heat and then bang it double dips with a mild flavoring after taste.
JS — this is the one you want to buy, just trust me. Not a sauce but it is the one I could only find in specialty stores (but now on amazon). Not so much a sauce as a marinade base/mix, but this is the real deal. You will not regret.
your the second person to recommend this. Thanks
have you ever been to food town off of stirling road and around 64ave. I go sometimes just to watch the butchers cut up live ells,snakes and other stuff. Place is always packed in meat dept and fish dept plus they have lots of rare foods that you don’t find in regular supermarkets.
Video of the Chicago Bears O-line with Adam Gase’s offensive philosophy. Trench play.
https://youtu.be/jPipcoWXyKc
GDP — interesting. Sure doesn’t look like zone blocking……you think those days are done?
Thanks Ken, we order from there often when we become a lazy family. LOL
Stanger:
Modern is still a good pie
YOUNG STANGER:Saw your comments on pizza up the page. In north Tampa, the best Pizza I’ve had is BEST NY PIZZA. There’s one within walking distance of my office. They put so much meat on the “meat pizza” you can barely see any cheese (altho’ there IS plenty of cheese below the sausage, pepperoni, ham, bacon, etc., etc.). My wife DESPISES BACON (HEAR THAT, PIGGY?) so, sometimes when we go out for breakfast, I get a second serving from her. POMPANO PIZZA, which I hit every time I’m in South Florida, has above average pizza but they have so many outstanding menu items I seldom order pizza there.
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WELL, gotta get ready for hockey night in Tampa Bay. The underdog Lightning MUST win tonight’s game!! A loss puts them down 3 games to 1, with 2 of the last 3 games in Pittsburgh. Both their top scorer (Stamkos) and their all-star goalie (Bishop) are still injured and unable to play. Tough to beat a solid team like the Penguins minus your top 2 players!
PS:–KEN and MIKE E.; Are you guys following baseball yet? Looks like the NL East is going to be quite a race this year.
Happy Birthday Al !! Enjoy man!