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Dolphins' Porter off injury list, back to work

BY DAVID J. NEAL
Miami Herald

Nobody had to tell the offense Monday afternoon that linebacker Joey Porter was off the nonfootball injury list and back where he wants to be in a 3-4 defense. Porter's two sacks and swift pursuit made it apparent that whatever ankle injury gave Porter Saturday and Sunday off had gone with the weekend.

''I told you it was just something minor,'' Porter said. ``But there wasn't any use in me rushing out there in the first day with my ankle still tender.''

Porter was cleared for practice after conditioning tests earlier in the day. Monday afternoon's practice was a pads and shorts practice.

''I just wanted to see how I was going to run around with my pads on,'' Porter said. ``I haven't put these things on in a while. I was watching my teammates die out there in the heat. I got the easy practice in the bubble. I knew I'd be all right. I still want to see how I was going to feel after practice. I feel pretty good.''

Earlier in the spring, defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni emphatically stated he would use Porter in the manner he gained fame during eight seasons in Pittsburgh -- as a pass-rushing, 3-4 outside linebacker. Last season, Dolphins defensive coordinator Dom Capers felt Porter's training camp injuries hurt him in picking up Capers' scheme, but Porter believed the defense didn't maximize his abilities.

''This scheme, I'm familiar with, this 3-4 scheme,'' Porter said. ``It's what I've been waiting for. We've got it now. We've got to go out there and put pressure on a lot of different offenses we've seen.''

'NO EXCUSES' FOR BECK

During Monday's practices, quarterback John Beck had less a bounce back than a hop back from his disastrous Sunday. Beck still had accuracy problems, especially in the second practice, as did rookie Chad Henne. Henne made perhaps the best throw of the day, a rainbow down the right sideline to fullback Boomer Grigsby just beyond the coverage of Vonnie Holliday.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, while saying a big-picture look at Beck's entire Sunday practice and his progress would paint a much less dark picture than just Sunday's team drills, didn't let Beck completely off the hook.

''The one thing and we spent time talking about [Sunday] night as a team, no excuses,'' Sparano said. ``At the end of this we need to make the right decision. You have to run the right route. We have to block the right guy. No excuses, OK? You make the mistake, take ownership of the mistake. That's the way it is. There are a lot of elements that go into one play. And I think when you're out there and you're playing the quarterback position you're kind of driving the bus a little bit. But there's a bunch of different things that can happen on one play.''

Glad to see Porter back so quickly.  We need him.  I know we can't expect much from this team this season, but I want to see them at least be competitive.