When looking at the AFC, there are quite a few question marks. There are 2 teams in my mind that are clearly at the top, that’s the AFC West Kansas City Chiefs and the AFC North Cincinnati Bengals. Both of these teams have been getting elite QB play from their starters. Mahomes is a proven winner, and although Burrow has played in almost half the amount of games Mahomes has, I think he’s on his way to being one as well. After those teams, I think it’s just a fight between everyone else.
I look at the Jaguars in the AFC South as a team on the rise. The Jags were a top 10 scoring team and just out of the top 10 in defense at #12. The Baltimore Ravens with a healthy Lamar Jackson will be a much more competitive team, and this organization is always is in the hunt, with an excellent, long tenured Head Coach in John Harbaugh. Our division rival NY Jets went for broke acquiring veteran QB Aaron Rodgers, and this year’s Hard Knocks participants have a “Super Bowl or Bust” mantra this year. The Chargers with strong armed QB Justin Herbert are always a dangerous offensive team with a healthy Austin Ekeler at RB. The Chargers defense took a step back last season, so they have work to do to be considered a SB contender. Our Dolphins of course made a lot of moves in the offseason and this past season as well, and are primed to be a contender as long as our QB is healthy.
The Denver Broncos are a team you have to expect to be a better team. Russell Wilson combined with new Head Coach Sean Payton sounds too good not to be. RB Javonte Williams turned out to be that nasty slasher RB we all expected but he went out early with a knee injury during game 4, so he should be ready to go. The Raiders let long time QB Derek Carr walk, and then picked up oft injured QB Jimmy Garoppolo. The Browns should have QB and massage girl nightmare DeShaun Watson playing a full season and they could be a tough team with a talented roster, led on defense by DE Myles Garrett and on offense by quality RB Nick Chubb. The Browns also added DT Dalvin Tomlinson from the Vikes.
The Tennessee Titans may be looking to make a QB change this season after drafting QB Will Levis. Our old friend Ryan Tannehill is getting a little long in the tooth and had a mediocre season last year playing in just 12 games. The Pittsburgh Steelers are banking on a big step up from their young QB Kenny Pickett. Pickett managed a winning record (7-5) despite throwing only 7 TD’s against 9 INT’s. The Steelers also picked up our former starting MLB Elandon Roberts as well as a few marginal pick ups as the Steelers notoriously don’t spend money in Free Agency. RB Najee Harris will look to have a bounce back season after a disappointing 2022 season. The Steelers last year sported a top 10 defense in points allowed (10th).
In the AFC East, the Bills could potentially take a step back, while our division rival Jets and our Dolphins move up. The Patriots were active in Free Agency, signing our own TE Mike Gesicki, WR Juju Smith-Schuster, S Jabril Peppers, T Riley Reiff and CB Jalen Mills. They also drafted one of the top DB’s in the ’23 NFL Draft, CB Christian Gonzalez. In fact, the Patriots first 3 picks were defense. The NY Jets added a trio of veteran WR’s in Free Agency to satisfy every whim that Aaron Rodgers requested, signing Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb. The Jets also signed our last year’s punter, Thomas Morestead. I wouldn’t be surprised if 3 teams emerged as playoff teams from our own AFC East division, our Dolphins, the Bills and the Jets. Our division should be a tough one to win, you can’t count the Bills out with Josh Allen and the Jets should be considerably better on offense with Aaron Rodgers, and our defense should be much better with Vic Fangio and a healthier secondary, as well as growth from OLB Jaelan Phillips, a full season with Bradley Chubb, the addition of Jalen Ramsey, and the potential of our first draft pick CB Cam Smith, and the healthy return of S Brandon Jones.
The teams with a lot of work to do are the Indianapolis Colts, who drafted QB Anthony Richardson (RD1 Pick #4) and the Houston Texans, who also spent their 1st RD pick (#2) on a QB, C.J. Stroud. The Texans and Colts were at the bottom of the AFC at 3-13 and 4-12 respectively. Their rookie QB’s will have to shine bright to change the fortunes of both of those teams. I like the Bengals in the North, the Jaguars in the South, the Dolphins in the East, and the Chiefs in the West. I believe two of the three Wild Cards will be the Bills and Jets, with the Ravens taking the other WC spot. The Browns should be right there in the WC hunt and potentially more if everything goes right.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Steve, some guys are better as coordinators. But Fangio didn’t have a QB as a HC. Good or great coaches look better with good or great QBs. Belichick looks middle of the road right now.😉
What I thought too, but he had some good Ds and inconsistent Os, 2 of his 3 years all winning games the D gave up 19 pts, most wins was much lower
He certainly didn’t over achieve, like Flores’ first year
Guess he’s more of an Xs and Os guy, than a motivator
Tua #82 in the top 100? It is such an arbitrary list to begin with but…
Not too arbitrary as it comes from the players
I always find it funny to see who “likes” the articles. Very often it is people who don’t even post here. Who is Jim Everette Table Toss?
I copied it from Twitter. So I assume those likes come from twitter not here
No, I’m talking about THIS site. Look right above where the blog posts start, under the “Share this” section. There is a like button for the articles.
Didn’t know that existed, so now I’m famous😜
LOL You are “now famous” because we will see our avitar at the top of the page as we scroll past? Not the 500 times you post down below..the one time your avi shows up above is what will do it huh? LOL
So Armstead had his knee scoped last month, that is why he’s on PUP
I’m not worried about Armstead, he doesn’t need much practice to get ready for season, he’ll be out there in camp at some point
Andy Slater
@AndySlater
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Miami Dolphins tackle Terron Armstead, who was placed on PUP list, had his knee scoped about a month ago, sources tell me.
He’s been training and is expected to be fine for the regular season.
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
Day 1 is a wrap. Highlight of the day was a 40-plus yard completion from Tua to Waddle. Tua let it fly early but Jevon stayed close enough to make a play, but Waddle out-jumped him, tipped the ball to himself and pulled it down. Jevon dapped him up after the play.
10:57 AM · Jul 26, 2023
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Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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8m
Didn’t really see the ball hit the ground that much with QB1 in. Had a nice timing rip during 7 on 7 that fed Waddle perfectly into the window. I thought he was decisive and found the open man. He pumped the ball to Ezukanma with chances to create after the catch a few times.
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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8m
I thought that was Skylar Thompson’s best practice since his arrival. He looks to be significantly ahead of where he was as a rookie and had a handful of timing throws between coverage. Had a nice lob that took Tyreek into space at one point.
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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8m
Cam Smith had an excellent day. Drove on two balls in 7 on 7 getting one PBU. In team, he drove on a throw outside from Skylar and had a chance to pick it, but didn’t survive the ground. Xavien Howard got the D sideline fired up with good coverage and a PBU on a throw to Tyreek.
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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8m
Raekwon Davis and Brandon Pili had impressive run stops and David Long made what would’ve been a big TFL. But I thought the running game found good space. Salvon Ahmed had an explosive run and play in the passing game. Mostert had a big run, too.
Travis Wingfield
@WingfieldNFL
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8m
We’ll have media from Tua and others, plus a written story on podcast all coming your way later today for more coverage on practice.
does it look like that ball is “fluttering”? That is how Omar described it.
From Omar:
Top Performer:
1. Offensive Tackle Kendall Lamm
If you told me Kendall Lamm was Terron Armstead and I didn’t know better I would have believed you based on day one. Lamm, who the Dolphins signed to a one-year deal worth $1.16 million this offseason, which included a $100,000 signing bonus and a guarantee of $100,000, repeatedly stonewalled Miami’s top pass rushers one-on-one during team sessions. There’s a possibility that Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb took their foot off the gas a little at the end of rushes because this wasn’t a padded practice, but Lamm impressed me on the first day.
Its Omar so take it for what its worth
LOL
The reason why I started with “From Omar”
I wish people would stop talking about Lamar Jackson this way
His mvp was 2019
He threw 17 TDs and 7 ints in 2022
And 16 and 13 in 2021
His performance is not what it used to be since that mvp
And the 2019 year was one year before Burrows, Herbert, Tua and Hurts were drafted and each of them IMO have surpassed him
So has Trevor Lawrence
Lamar Jackson hasn’t come close to equaling what he did in 2019
A running back who throws the ball playing quarterback is of course lower rated than MANY who play the actual position they are supposed to.
Fuck Lamar. Geno Smith is rated higher than Tua?
RIP
RIP, Sinead
Oooooooh, surprise here!
Baldy’s got Xavien ahead of Ramsey!
JMO, but if our Safeties (Holland, Brandon Jones, and DeShon Elliott) pick up this Fangio Defense fast and well (and I see no reason why they can’t), this Defense is going to be SICK.
Look how low his release point is! He will never be able to throw deep he can’t get it over the line. He will never be a top 10 QB!
I miss busting the chops of a certain ignorant someone on here. 😉
Mostert looks wide open 👀
LOVE IT!!!
Christmas Eve?
I’m gonna spill lechon and frijoles all over my throwback!
Do not be spilling lechon!
This seems a bit strong but I’ll take the compliments
I mean I thought it was more likely people would say we have the best secondary in 🏈
^
100% agreed, Pigster. I’m not yet sold on our LB corps, but I’ll take it.
Wow, it does seem a bit strong, but FnA I’ll take it!
LOL
LOL
Damn it! They should have picked the Fest game!
I wish they’d do a tribute to Zach and where his uni with the little bit of blue in it. They can wear those for the Fest game. 💪 54 🐬
In case y’all aren’t aware, Zach is scheduled to be the first speaker on induction day. That’ll make the whole thing a lot better. I’m good for 2 speeches tops, they’re really all the same.
This happened in nyc this morning
FYI I’m nowhere near this area. It says Hell’s Kitchen but this area is also calling itself hudson yards these days
This is the area that Stephen Ross invested in revitalizing
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/02/stephen-ross-hudson-yards.html
He’s a big part of its develop
Tons of new buildings like this one being built – probably Ross’ work…lol
So slightly Dolphins related
I hate this area of the city. Hells Kitchen is generally gross IMO
If you ever read or watched daredevil comics – that’s his home turf
And back in the day it was accurate to describe this part of nyc as at a minimum junkiville
but Hudson Yards is actually beautiful – and there’s a ton of new construction and new buildings etc which Stephen Ross is one of the key proponents of developing
Another crane collapsed semi-recently in New York year or two ago
Maybe Ross sees stej fans congregating 🤷♂️
Thank God I just fly over the cranes
Howard and Ramsey and Hill and Waddle
What I’m pumped about is those four guys specifically are competitors that want to win in the worst way and want to be the best version of themselves. So what the gives you a chance to do is dictate the competitiveness of your entire team, but it’s also a burden because if you don’t come to play one day, it affects a lot of people.
Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel
I too, am pumped about it Coach!
Did you hear him say “did you see the collective paychecks of those guys? Yes I’m interested.
I’m pumped too man.
Yeah he’s always throwing out witty one liners.
It’s official
A ring or two lol give me a break 🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕
If we are being honest, he’s starting to look like Sméagol too
I can see it
94-15-2-91
What’s that you ask?
The combination to Rodgers ruin
Hard to tell what’s going on but Tyreek looks pretty wound up so I’m glad the guy went inside (according to the report not this video). Saved 🐆 from himself.
Dirty Cop
That’s great! Loved that!
I hope Aaron Rodgers has two concussions this season ….
And I hope Wilkins gives him one of them.
Props to BBMike
Film Breakdown: Why Xavien Howard Will Bounce Back in 2023
Does anyone else think Rogers looks a little thin?
Maybe it’s just the jests uniforms or something
He looks fragile
I agree… I don’t see the reports of A-Rod gaining 10 pounds of muscle.
I mean, I don’t agree with the reports of A-Rod gaining 10 pounds of muscle. He isn’t showing it, IMO.
I’ve actually heard reports that A-Rod has put on 10 pounds of muscle… just like our Tua. The other guy? The Stealer’s* QB Kenny Pickett.
No way he 10 pounds heavier
If anything he’s thinner
MF13 mentions Pickett. I don’t follow the Stealers. Has there been any “OMG WHAT EVER WILL THE STEALERS DO!?!? THEIR QB HAD TWO CONCUSSIONS LAST SEASON, WHAT IF HE CAN’T PLAY THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF IT?” ? Or is that reserved only for Tua? Is it because Pickett isn’t really a starter? or what?
One of my best friends is a Steelers fan and he has no such worries about Pickett. He also thinks Pickett is going to be a great QB. He also thinks like many football fans that Tua won’t last.
Let the Wailing begin! 😉
Bad Dad Joke of the day:
What is the difference between an oral thermometer and a rectal thermometer?
Answer: The taste!
Boy things have changed since my summer job working at the theater as a kid.
This is the he 70mm IMAX film for Oppenheimer. It is 11 miles long and weighs 600 pounds. No more wheel swaps! HOLY SHIT! 600lbs!?
Fingers crossed that Ramsey is alright.
Damn!
▪ Linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who appeared to injure his ankle slightly during Wednesday’s practice before returning to team drills, did not participate in team drills on Thursday. He was seen walking on the field early in practice on Thursday but then moved into the training facility
Double damn!
M thanks for the props last night but give that to Ryder.
Hey Phelon,
The Associated Press
Cases of tick-borne illnesses are on the rise. Some experts believe climate change is the cause
I didn’t read the article.
Dang climate change… Tick lives matter!
IICC
This is the only thing I have heard about him other than he has been invisible….
– Second-year linebacker Channing Tindall also was more noticeable, though he did drop a would-be interception from Thompson in the middle of the field.
Disappointing!
Stock down:
I keep waiting for Channing Tindall, a 2022 third-round selection, to make plays that show there’s some upside. But it’s been a long wait. Because there are only five inside linebackers on the roster he got plenty of opportunities to impress on day one, and the only thing that stood out to me was how slow his reaction time was, and how many false steps he took. One of my contemporaries made an excellent point about Tindall that I I’d love to take credit for, but can’t. He said if Tindall were drafted three rounds lower he wouldn’t still be on the roster. The former Georgia starter needs to pick it up.
————————-
Does he get cut after just 1 season? It would clear 934K off the cap and about the same next year.
Stock up:
1. Offensive Tackle Kendall Lamm
2. Tailback Salvon Ahmed
3. Fullback Alec Ingold
Doesn’t save anything off of the cap, it costs us money
Not good news about Ramsey.😩
Sucks!
We all hope it’s not serious obviously, but the Cam Smith pick just became more important.
Jeez can’t they wrap these guys in bubble wrap at least till week one?
I know they need to learn the D and O, but can’t they just go half speed and save balls to the wall for the playoffs?
Injuries can happen at any speed. These guys have to get into football shape.
Let em get in shape with pool aerobics or Peloton sessions.
Is that how they play the game?😉
I thought the video of Hill was even milder than I expected.
A lot milder, like if was average Joe the guy wouldn’t even have mentioned it to anyone
Well Phelon, I’m old enough! 😉
Makes you wonder when the Sahara will turn back into an ocean.
I don’t think this gives us any information but here is the latest
Best hope is not season ending.🤞
I’m not overlooking Rodgers with the Jets. He seems rejuvenated with a new chapter.
Not sure I like this.
Miniscus/ knee surgery 6-8 weeks so far
As per garrafolo
Possible he only misses week 1
damn … better than an ACL tear
but still SUCKKKKKSSSS
Burrow carted off practice field today
I’m at my corner Tavern to get dinner and on the TVs I have the option of slam ball which appears to be a combination of basketball with trampolines built in the floor and or pickle ball. Please please please please please football arrive already.!!!
Do Not look directly into the pickle ball
Do they have one of those Fail channels? Those are fun to watch
I asked if they could put something else on and I look up to find cornhole. God save us! 😂
Step up from pickle ball but that ain’t saying much
Speedy recovery Jalen. 🙏🤞💪🐬
He’s plug and play so the bright side is other guys get reps and he dodged a bullet so not a chance of anything more serious going forward
I just saw a commercial I’m not sure what it was for, not sure for what company, not sure what it was about but they were the official whatever of the national professional pickle ball league why can’t I find the 🤯 oh fuck, thank you, Siri
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Sonny – I think pickle ball requires more athleticism than cornhole
Part of the problem lol
Fuck, Ramsey out at least 6-8 weeks
Reports are likely until December. They’ll know for sure after surgery. Meniscus tear.
Sucks so fucking bad. Cam Smith is gonna have to ball much earlier than expected
Exactly.
Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
·
Follow
More info and clarity on #Dolphins star CB Jalen Ramsey: Sources say while no firm determination will be made until surgery, the likely outcome is a full meniscus repair, bringing Ramsey back in December if all goes well. The best and healthiest option.
Crap that sucks
6-8 weeks is October
Not December
I read something that said 6-8 weeks. Must have meant of the season
Piggy – if he has minor surgery, he can be back as quickly as 6-8 weeks from tomorrow. If he needs the meniscus replaced, he won’t be back until December
6-8 weeks is the best case scenario, but likely he’s out until December. These are just the reports I’ve read. Rappaport is using pretty reliable.
Then there’s this:
Jalen Ramsey
@jalenramsey
·
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That end of the season push gon be legendary! 🙏🏾🧡🩵
Sucks, but at least he’ll be back in December. Hopefully we’re in the middle of a playoff push.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported it’s likely Ramsey will require a full meniscus repair, which would put his return date all the way back to December. Ultimately, doctors will determine how severe the injury is, and therefore what course of action they must take to fix it. If the ligament can just be trimmed, Ramsey could be back as soon as six weeks, setting him up to return just around the Dolphins’ season opener versus the Chargers on Sept. 10. But if they must remove the meniscus, that would increase the cornerback’s recovery timeline, per Pelissero and Garafolo.
Ugh! Young corners have an opportunity to make a splash.
Sounds to me like half the season for Ramsey. 6-8 weeks or a few more isn’t December. That’s 16 weeks.
Tim, AT LEAST 6-8 weeks, likely out until December is what’s reported.
It’s reported he needs a full repair
But 6-8 weeks not even in August yet is October/November. So don’t say 6-8 weeks. Say 1o-12 weeks minimum. Nobody knows yet but he won’t be there for start of the season for sure.😩
Well, everyone wants to reports first, so that’s what they said. They knew it was a meniscus, and a minor repair is 6-8 weeks. Then the word came out it was a full repair, hence the December return date.
Kohou, Smith, Iggy, Williams or someone else has to step up.
Kohou or Smith. Iggy isn’t going to be anything but depth in this league.
I agree but he’s still on the roster to compete and fill a void. We have Needham too but not sure where his health is at. He seems to need more time.
Cam Smith might have been the best pick for us this year. We didn’t see it happening but depth is now very important. It sucks but it happens every year.
If Ramsey is putting out December, don’t you think that’s the more likely time-line? He’s talking to the doctors, not the reporters…lmao.
There are orthopedic tests you can do and MRI that more fully evaluate the degree of the injury so…..
The best scenario, I believe, is there was minimal ligament damage….fastest recovery
NCC….lol. Report in USA Today is, “July will end up as the Earth’s hottest month on record, and quite possibly the hottest single month in some 120,000 years, scientists reported Thursday.”
Hmm…They’ve only been collecting “Earth” temps for about 40 years
Also, measure (guesstimate) Earth temps through ice analysis….so there’s that
Here in the States, the 1930’s were hotter than anything we’ve had
And, it’s been 100 degree days since end of June here and I predict it extends through August. We’ve been here before in ATX. Now it’s hotter, they’re saying.
I know pp…just riding the NCC thread…and trying to have fun. I have no point either….lol
Thought it was interesting too
Ramsey surgery today….that’s good news and indicates not a lot of swelling….
….less damage. We shall see.
I didn’t know student loan debt carried 5.5% to over 7% interest these days….oh my. Mine was never above 3, thinking it was 2.5 and at most 2.75%.
I think that’s a lot!
Fwiw
Not imo…lol.
Crap! Bad news on Ramsey! Damn it!
Climate change deniers are idiots. The climate absolutely is changing. It always is and always will. The debatable part is the amount of impact human activity has on said change. So in closing YES IFICC! finis!
Lol…agree
Exactly.
But not everything that happens in the world can be attributed to climate change.
My house is under contract, I’ll be moving to Sebastian FL end of August, if the deal goes thru
Should be able to make the Fest activities this year, as for a ticket, might have to buy one at one of the ticket sites
Stanger, any extra tickets?
you can ALWAYS scalp one in the parking lot. I have never been to a tailgate where there wasn’t someone trying to sell them. (If there are none left through Stanger’s sales guy) We usually have some empty seats around our group every game too and they don’t check your ticket so much in the nose bleed seats.
Good ideas, thanks
From PFF:
Miami Dolphins
Jaelan Phillips quietly emerged as one of the best pass rushers in football last season. In fact, his improvement was unprecedented. Jaelan Phillips improved his overall grade by 35.1 points in 2022, a PFF record for a second-year edge defender (minimum of 100 snaps played in each of a player’s first two seasons).
Phillips was one of the breakout stars of 2022 after a rough rookie season in 2021. He posted an 88.8 overall grade and a 90.1 pass-rush grade while racking up the seventh-most pressures among all players in the NFL. Phillips could be a sleeper candidate to lead the league in sacks this season.
You generally don’t get big sack numbers in the D we played under Flores, but with Fangio’s D the sky is the limit
Didn’t he get 8.5 sacks as a rookie and then go down to 7 the second year?
wow I guess his run support and setting the edge and pass coverage all improved a bunch.
re-sign Byron Jones
j/k
however, several good FA CBs on this list:
https://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/lists/dolphins-free-agent-cornerbacks-jalen-ramsey-injury/
We’ll be fine, and Cam Smith has looked good early
From Omar, got your salt?
5. Mitchell Agude continues to flash
I have a firm policy of not learning an undrafted rookie’s name or number until he starts making plays in practice.
Agude, a product of the University of Miami, was so good during Miami’s offseason program, I learned his name and number the second week of OTAs. And to my surprise, he hasn’t taken his foot off the gas yet.
I’m hard not to overhype what I’m watching, but his movement skills are sexy. I’m trying hard to be patient, waiting till the team puts pads on, but the plays he made Thursday — a sack and tackle for loss — after being elevated up the depth chart because Jaelan Phillips was shelved with a lower-leg injury, has me back on the Agude hype train.
I got a chance to look at Agude up close after practice and he’s jacked, and has stout legs. Agude, who is listed at 6-4, 242 pounds, doesn’t look like an undrafted rookie, and he plays like someone who has been mentored by Jason Taylor, the Hurricanes defensive line coach and former Dolphins great.
Agude said Taylor consistently taught his players “the mindset of being a winner.”
Makes sense because Agude is trying to win every rep.
Keep him around in case we have to let Ogbah walk as a cap casualty.
You could’ve just said how Omar really feels, he’s hard and thinks Agude is sexy😝
Looks like once they get in there today to do surgery, they’ll figure out what type to do
Ultimately, doctors will determine how severe the injury is, and therefore what course of action they must take to fix it.
Fingers crossed for a trim and not a removal! I have a torn meniscus that I never had stabilized. It will roll up on me on occasion and cripple me for a day or two until it works itself flat again. Crunk Crunk Crunk pop ahhhhhhhh!
For some reason I’m not worried about Ramsey
Maybe I like our depth, maybe I don’t think he’ll be out long or maybe I think it isn’t that important in a Fangio D
The D won’t be as shutdown without Ramsey, but should be good enough
I bet Fangio and McDaniel are more depressed than you are.
I know I am.
NEW BLOG UP!!!