Finsmob Unleashed

I’ve never hated Stephen Ross like so many people in South Florida do. I think most of the people who hate him, hate him for the wrong reasons. They hate him because he’s a New York guy first and foremost. Cracks me up how much people from Florida hated him for that reason from the get-go. How many people who live in Florida are actually Florida natives? Florida is littered with transplants, littered! If he came from South Carolina he’d have been fine. I always saw Ross as a guy who just wants to win, and would do anything, even things outside the rules to win. I think a lot of rich, billionaires feel that way, they’ve been doing that their whole lives. On the other hand, the NFL has 32 billionaires all in the same boat, and there are rules that have to be followed or there are consequences for breaking those rules. Well, now as Dolphins fans, we have to eat the shit sandwich of losing one of our TWO 1st round picks in next year’s draft, and then another 3rd round pick in 2024. It sucks, it definitely does, but do I hate Stephen Ross? He’s done everything he could to make Hard Rock Stadium a great place to come for Dolphins fans. While we haven’t won a Superbowl or been perennial playoff contenders, no other Dolphins Owner in the last 30 years did that either! So I still don’t hate Stephen Ross, but I wouldn’t hate if he sold the team either. Then you have to worry about who takes over.

To be clear, I’m not defending Ross. I hate what he did tampering with Tom Brady of all people. I tell you with all honesty I could not watch Tom Brady play on the Miami Dolphins. Whatever we would possibly accomplish with Tom Brady as QB would only be another feather in the cap of Tom Brady and our team would be on Brady’s coattails, just as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were. He went to a very talented Bucs team, and then he recruited other NFL talent (Sound like the NBA anyone?) to put them over the top. The Bucs that previous season were 7-9, but their QB Jameis Winston turned the ball over a historically high 45 times, 33 interceptions and 12 fumbles. He also threw for over 5000 yards and 30 TD’s because that team had talent. Brady didn’t go to the Detroit Lions and win the Super Bowl, no, he went to a team on the cusp and then brought in a few extra great players to get them over the top. If having Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown, and Leonard Fournette on your team all due to Brady recruiting, and winning the Super Bowl with those guys make you feel good, so be it. It would do nothing for me and the entire season would be tainted and unwatchable for me.

So, on to training camp. It’s been a competitive camp so far, but it’s hard to glean important information until they get the pads and helmets on, which just recently happened, and even then, it’s not that easy. Guys that are training camp stars sometimes get cut, and sometimes guys don’t get exposed or ball out until the real games start. Undrafted WR Braylon Sanders is getting a lot of hype right now, but who knows if this guy even makes the roster. 4th RD pick Erik Ezukanma is also getting positive hype, and is a more likely candidate to make the roster. Then again, undrafted WR Wes Welker is the WR Coach now in Miami, so maybe I’m off on that. There’s also a lot of hype going to TE Durham Smythe. Plenty of talk that he will be getting more reps. Well, he’s the better blocker, that much is clear, and he’s a decent receiver as well. Doesn’t matter who starts, but if you think Durham Smythe is going to get more targets than TE Mike Gesicki, you’re crazy. My hope is that Gesicki becomes a more balanced NFL TE under McD, but if not, he’s clearly the better receiving TE with speed, agility, the ability to high point the football and catch anything near him, and of course make a contested catch.

It’s impossible to gauge the running backs right now so we’ll have to wait some for that to develop. It seems Raheem Mostert is healthy and feeling good, so that’s a plus. LT Austin Jackson is having a strong camp so far, but it’s too early to get real excited. Let’s hope the injury bug stays away, it has so far, and that’s one of the most important things. Get through training camp healthy, and get ready for the season. There’s always feel good stories in training camp, but often times they don’t amount to much. One of them is Noah Igbinoghene, and how this may finally be his year. That would be great, just don’t bet on it. Tua is throwing the ball well, his best passes are touch passes because he doesn’t throw frozen ropes like Justin Herbert. If he’s going to do that, it’s going to be within 20 yards, he doesn’t have elite arm strength, he has elite accuracy with average NFL strength. He makes good decisions most times, has a quick release, and sees the defense well. I think he’s going to have a great year, can’t wait to see it!

#stangerstrong

GO DOLPHINS!!!!