Salvation from a Glove: Remembering Oronde Gadsden’s Epic Catch

Remember Oronde Gadsden?

If you don’t, here’s a refresher: 6’2″, 215 lbs, bald and all hands.

The man had hands about the size of baseball mitts. In fact, I think the MLB might use his hands as the prototype for all of their current gloves.

Which makes sense, since when you are a wide receiver trying to catch balls from Jay Fiedler, you might as well be an outfielder trying to catch a pop fly or an errant ball.

OG’s mitts came in handy on one monumental catch that even landed him in the Hall of Fame (if only as a still photograph, and not as a bronze bust).

The year was 2002, and this was the Dolphins’ chance to break the dreadful curse of the New York Jets.

For those who don’t remember, the Jets had mounted an impressive win streak against the Dolphins spanning several seasons. Dolphins players at the time came to view the Jets as a sort of boogie man which came to snatch victory away from them in the most crushing of ways.

Perhaps the best known example of the curse and the enduring legacy of the streak is the infamous “Miracle in the Meadowlands.”

The Dolphins just couldn’t seem to figure them out. Even with the newly acquired Ricky Williams to trample all over the gang green, the Dolphins still could count on much-maligned quarterback, and often deservedly so, Jay Fiedler to botch the game for them.

And he came damn close on this day…

Things began as most Jets/Dolphins matchups began—hard fought and competitive. The Dolphins fans believed this was their day, and things were looking up. Williams was running scatter-shot, and Fiedler wasn’t throwing pick sixes for once.

But then, Fiedler, Dave Wannstedt’s favorite son, went back for a pass and heaved the ball right into the awaiting arms of a NY Jets’ defensive back.

Mouths dropped agape across the orange-hued stadium. It was happening again. The boogie man hath returned.

But suddenly, a gargantuan arachnid-like appendage sprung forth and snatched the football from the clutches of certain tragedy. A single hand had spanned a seemingly impossible distance from its owner’s torso to bring overwhelming joy to thousands who had gathered in the stadium that day.

Oronde Gadsden: Hero.

The Miami Dolphins went on to win the game and finally break the curse of the New York Jets.

While Gadsden’s catch was not the sole reason for the Dolphins’ victory that day, it was one of the major turning points. As was customary in the Wannstedt Era, the Dolphins tended to fall apart before your eyes in the face of any form of adversity.

A psychological block would filter out from the coach and onto the players, making any mishap almost impossible to overcome.

If it were not for Gadsden’s incredible reception, the curse might have lived on for another day.

[To see an animated gif of Gadsden’s catch, click here]

Miami Dolphins Approach Ronnie Brown about Contract Extension

According to the Miami Herald, the Miami Dolphins have approached Ronnie Brown’s agent Todd France in an attempt to get the Pro Bowl running back and wildcat specialist signed to a contract extension, which would keep him in the aqua and orange for several more years.

As mentioned previously, Brown’s rookie contract expires at the conclusion of the 2009 season.

Getting Brown signed to an extension before the season makes sense on a couple of levels.

For one, he would likely come at a cheaper price now than he would after the season.  All signs point to him building upon the Pro Bowl season he had last year, now that he is two seasons removed from ACL surgery and is more comfortable with the current offensive scheme.

If Brown mounted yet another Pro Bowl effort this season, he would automatically become the No. 1 target by teams looking for help in their backfield via free agency.

In such a scenario, the Dolphins would be unlikely to outbid other teams for the services of a running back, since history shows that the Parcells regime tends to skimp a bit when it comes to that position.

Secondly, it would allow Brown to play fast and loose right from the start. While often times it is said that players play their best and their hardest in a contract year in order to secure a big pay day in free agency, this might not be the best strategy for a player with a serious injury in his past.

If Brown were to get injured again in 2009 without a long term commitment from the team, it would be a major blow to his chances of securing a lucrative contract during free agency.

Could these kind of thoughts hinder his effort in some circumstances?

It is possible, but Brown doesn’t appear to be the kind of player who is thinking of finances first. He appears to be a true team player and gives his best effort on every play.

When you see a man of his size hurdling over defenders and dragging multiple players across the turf for several yards, it is difficult to ever accuse him of not giving it his all.

While this might not have been a problem in any case, a long term commitment by the Dolphins toward Brown would allow him to simply focus on football without the spectre of free agency looming in the distance.

And that is better for everyone.

[NOTE: For all the Ronnie Brown fans out there, celebrate this good news by downloading a new Ronnie Brown Wallpaper and Desktop Schedule!]

Awakening the Beast: Jason Taylor Sees Potential in Cameron Wake

The Dolphins just might have a new Disney tale to tell to follow up last year’s Cinderella season. The Beauty and the Beast might be rolling into town in 2009.

Jason Taylor, the Miami Dolphins’ resident heart throb and authority on the art of sacking opposing quarterbacks, has been giving much praise to teammate (and hopefully eventual successor) Cameron Wake in recent weeks.

“He’s quick, he’s fast, he’s sudden. He’s a strong guy, so you know the explosiveness is going to be there. It’s just a matter of learning this game and the nuances,” Taylor said.

If there is one thing that Taylor knows (other than the cha-cha), its what it takes to be a successful pass rusher in the NFL. In his opinion, former CFL standout Wake has that ability in spades.

“If anybody looked at me as a 22-year-old kid coming out of Akron and looked at Cameron with where he is right now, they’d say he has a better chance to make it than I did,” Taylor reflected.

Given Wake’s current age of 27, it makes sense that he would be ahead of a 22-year-old skinny rookie out of a small school. He is more physically prepared for the rigors of an NFL season given his training and experience running down the fleet-footed signal callers of the NFL’s younger, cooler, yet noticeably weaker little brother: the CFL.

At 6’3″, and with the physical build that would make a Yeti feel meek in comparison, Wake took the Great White North by storm–amassing an incomparable 39 sacks during his two years with the British Columbia Lions.

He won various honors and awards and became the first player in CFL history to win Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.

But that was the CFL, Wake has already failed to latch onto an NFL gig once before, being cut by the New York Giants during his rookie season.

Can the skills he honed and displayed north of the border translate to the quicker and more brutal version of the game down south?

There is some reason for optimism. Warren Moon, Jeff Garcia, Joe Theismann, and Doug Flutie are just a few of the former CFL standouts to make a name for themselves in the NFL. Of course, they tend to share something that Wake does not. A position on the offensive side of the ball.

Miami fans can even look to their own players for an example of CFL to NFL success. Ricky Williams had a largely forgettable season with the Toronto Argonauts following one of his many NFL suspensions, but came back strong for the Miami Dolphins a season after his Canadian exile.

The CFL is more well known for its wide open offenses than bone crushing defenses, which makes Wake’s success and monstrous statistics all the more impressive.

Bill Parcells and GM Jeff Ireland certainly saw enough potential in Wake to give him a contract with the Dolphins. Given their extensive track record of success when it comes to finding and developing pass rushers, I would say that is a glowing endorsement of his potential in the NFL.

However, Ireland and Parcells instituted a backup plan in order to ensure that their investment was in good hands, picking up a giant acorn of pash-rush wisdom in Taylor to provide additional firepower to the defense, and to serve as a mentor to the young guns.

If Taylor can impart even a fraction of the pass-rushing knowledge he has acquired over the years onto Wake, I believe that he can use his abundant physical gifts to finally become the beast in the NFL that he always dreamed he would be.

For Miami Dolphins fans, that would be a thing of beauty.

[Click on the link below to see a great video feature on Cameron Wake]

Dread in Miami?: Mike McKenzie Meets with Dolphins

Perhaps in an effort to lead the league in players with dreadlocks, the Miami Dolphins have spoken with former Packers and Saints cornerback Mike McKenzie, according to ESPN and the Miami Herald.

McKenzie, a 10-year veteran, had been one of the league’s best cornerbacks during his time in Green Bay and New Orleans, but he suffered a devastating knee injury at the end of the 2007 season. He recovered in time for the start of the 2008 season, but he suffered yet another knee injury after seven games.

In 2008, he amassed a grand total of 22 tackles and 1 INT.

He was released by the Saints in March.

The Dolphins were thought to have solved their troublesome situation in the secondary earlier this year when they signed veteran free agent Eric Green and drafted young cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Sean Smith in the first two rounds of the 2009 NFL Draft.

However, if the Dolphins brain trust is putting a feeler out to McKenzie, it must have seen something during the OTAs that it didn’t like in regard to the overall makeup of the group. Bringing in another veteran like McKenzie would appear to be a bad omen for Eric Green, as an older, injury-prone veteran such as McKenzie would likely pose no threat to the two roster spots now occupied by Davis and Smith.

If McKenzie were to sign with the Dolphins, that would bring the total of dreadlocked players on the squad to seven. Davone Bess, Chris Clemons, Ernest Wilford, Channing Crowder, Erik Walden, and Randy Starks are currently Dolphins players sporting the distinctive hairstyle.

It is said that dreadlock style of hair growth received its name due to the sense of dread that came over those who encountered people wearing them. If this is the case, perhaps the Dolphins’ strategy is to fill the roster with dreadlocks in an effort to paralyze the opposing team with fear and awe.

There is a precedent to this.

In 2002, Dolphin fans were witnesses to one of the most prolific seasons in dreadlock history. It was during that season that Ricky Williams’ signature dreads wantonly slapped opposing defenders out of his path as he bulldozed his way to 1,853 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns.

In 2003, Ricky shaved his dreads off, and the rest is history. Like Samson before him, Ricky never quite achieved the same level of awe-inducing power as he displayed with the full head of locks churning all about the field.

Then again, Ernest Wilford wears dreads… The only dread he induced in others in 2008 was in Jeff Ireland for spending millions of dollars on 25 yards of production.

Ronnie Brown Packing Up to Leave Miami Dolphins After 2009?

When Ronnie Brown came into the league back in 2005, the TV airwaves were consumed with ads featuring the ubiquitous question, “What can BROWN do for you?“

While this phrase was originally meant to display how a cargo company with a monotone color scheme could outperform its flashier rivals, the phrase also became a motto of sorts for Brown during the 2005 draft and beyond.

Like UPS, Brown also had to compete to elevate himself above the flashier names of the 2005 draft class. One of those names was none other than his Auburn teammate and close friend who came equipped with a hell of a catchy nickname: Carnell “Cadillac” Williams.

While the Cadillac was consistently spinning his wheels onto the highlight reels, Brown’s consistent, workman-like, and oftentimes pounding style of play provided the fuel to a dynamic and dominant rushing attack which helped drive the Auburn Tigers all the way to an undefeated season in 2004.

Brown also had to eclipse the heir to Ricky Williams’ Texas throne: Cedric Benson. Although, Dolphin fans wanted no part of any Ricky Williams protege’ given the situation at the time.

Brown began to separate himself from the pack at the 2005 NFL combine, where he posted a 4.45 40-yard dash time. His speed along with his size helped push him toward the top of the (at the time) strong running back crop.

Nick Saban (the backstabbing, Lil’ Debbie-eating, conniving, lecherous, deceitful, pint-sized control freak from the Boonies that every fan in Miami thought was God incarnated in the flesh at the time) used his extensive knowledge of the SEC to select Brown with the second overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft.

This would be Saban’s first decision as head coach of the Dolphins, and it would remain his best following his short-lived, disappointing reign as Miami Dolphins’ dictator.

So what did Brown do for the Dolphins? Well, just about everything.

He has conquered the cries of “bust” from the loyal (and sometimes delusional) fans—and not just once, but several times, as the cries of “bust” rear their ugly heads during almost every season.

He has crawled his way out of the early-season doghouse that each coach had placed him in for some mind-numbing reason each preseason.

He has returned punts for Cam Cameron’s preseason fail forward fast All-Stars.

He has broken tackle after tackle after tackle after tackle after tackle after tackle after tackle.

He has made safeties wish they were never born to receive the level of national embarrassment that comes with being absolutely demolished and tossed to the ground like Raggedy Andy.

He has racked up astronomical stats and still managed to go winless over a span of several games (Thanks Cam!).

He has at times been the team’s best blocker, best runner, and best receiver.

He has torn his ACL, and proceeded to kick rehab’s ass into submission, returning to the field at full strength and with no lingering issues in just a few months.

Oh, and he also became the poster boy for the league’s hottest new craze in the ferocious Wildcat Formation. He was the first player to actually make Bill Belichick (The New England Variety) look like a chump, and send thousands of Boston fans fleeing in shame out of Gillette Stadium for the first time in a decade.

Four years, 3,433 yards, 23 touchdowns, 137 receptions, 1,151 yards receiving, a Pro Bowl berth, and a whole lot of ass kicking later, Brown might be preparing for his last year as a Miami Dolphin.

Yes, another UPS, the United Parcells Service might be getting ready to send Brown packing at the end of the season.

Brown’s contract expires at the conclusion of the 2009 season, and the team might be willing to part with the All-Pro.

It mostly comes down to money. I am sure Sparano and Co. would love to keep a football player of Brown’s caliber on the squad, but not at the cost he might come at.

Bill Parcells has always been one to take a blue-light special approach to running backs. He believes that as long as you have the hogs up front to do the dirty work, you can find a serviceable enough running back just about anywhere.

If you look at his history, he never takes running backs in the first round of the draft, nor does he often pursue big name, big money backs in free agency.

He looks for the young and hungry in the later rounds, a la Marion Barber, or the old and forgotten with something to prove in Ottis Anderson.

The lone exception to this rule that I can conjure up at the moment was when he traded for notorious Dolphin-killer Curtis Martin. Parcells sent a third round pick to his former employer in exchange for the services of the future Hall of Famer.

While Jeff Ireland is the real Dolphins’ General Manager, one can assume that he shares a similar philosophy with his boss on this matter.

Brown is likely to remain a big ticket name during the 2009 season. With his multi-faceted talents and mastery of the now popular Wildcat Offense, Brown should command big money out in Free Agency in 2010.

Given that the Dolphins are unlikely to want to tie up such a huge sum of money on a running back nearing the end of his 20s, He will probably try to see what kind of value awaits him out on the market.

And if Brown disappoints in 2009 and fails to reach the level of play that fans and the Dolphins expect of him, he will also likely be gone.

As was previously stated, the organization believes they can get solid play at that position at a bargain price, either through the draft or by rummaging through the heaps of discarded backs around the league. Case in point: Patrick Cobbs.

So who will replace the dynamic Ronnie Brown if he leaves in 2010?

Well, there is already a replacement for one of his jobs on the roster: Pat White, Wildcat Specialist.

Perhaps the drafting of White was a sign that the Dolphins have no plans to keep Brown, the current king of the Wildcat, past this season. They will get White prepared to usurp the role by having him become Brown’s 2009 Wildcat understudy.

As for who the Dolphins might pick up to take over for Ronnie Brown’s other, more important role in the offense? A tandem of Ricky Williams and Patrick Cobbs could be serviceable, but I doubt they would be content with an ancient (yet enlightened, and for once, trustworthy) Williams and a supplementary guy like Cobbs (regardless of the spark he provides to the team in spots) as their only rushing options on what they hope will be their first legit shot at the Super Bowl in 2010.

If you want to find the future of the Dolphins’ backfield, start looking at the unheralded, yet tough and consistent, workhorse running backs in the college ranks.

Brown, should he leave after the 2009 season, will have entrenched himself as the best running back that the Miami Dolphins have fielded since the 1970’s (Ricky’s 2002 masterpiece excluded).

Fortunately, fans still have a full season of Brown’s South Beach smack downs to enjoy before he might be off to his next stop on the NFL delivery route.

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