Mixed reviews for Cowboys-turned-Dolphins

[DolFan619]

http://www.miamiherald.com/1262/story/556992.html

Mixed reviews for Cowboys-turned-Dolphins

By BARRY JACKSON
Miami Herald

Everyone who plays under this new Dolphins regime assuredly wants to be branded a ''Parcells guy.'' But five established veterans acquired from Dallas already are.

Dolphins executive Bill Parcells doesn't hide his affection for them. He interrupted my conversation with Akin Ayodele to joke, 'Don't listen to [Ayodele]. When he's done playing, he's going to be a male model.' '' (OK then.)

Said defensive tackle Jason Ferguson: 'More than anything, he's always saying he's proud of me. I'm like, `What you talking about, dude? Stop this! What you want, a hug?' ''

One NFC personnel director calls the five ''solid pickups, but I don't know if any are standout players'' at this point. Feedback on what Dolfans should expect:

• Tight end Anthony Fasano: A Cowboys insider said his development was considered slow for a second-rounder who caught 92 passes at Notre Dame. Fasano, 24, improved last year, primarily in two-tight-end sets with All-Pro Jason Witten, but not enough to convince the Cowboys, who dealt him and Ayodele for a fourth-rounder. Still limited by offseason shoulder surgery, Fasano will have every chance to beat out David Martin.

''He's better than Martin,'' said former NFL scout Chris Landry, a Fox Radio analyst who consults for 11 teams. ''He's a little spotty getting open, but he'll become more productive as a receiver.'' Said espn.com analyst and former Browns scout Matt Williamson: ``He won't stretch the field as much as Martin can. But Fasano is a better blocker.''

• Ayodele: A Cowboys insider said coach Wade Phillips didn't like him because he wasn't a playmaker. After four seasons as an outside linebacker for Jacksonville, he had just one sack in two years as an inside LB in Dallas, and his tackles dropped from 84 in '06 to 57 in '07.

''Ayodele is not a long-range guy,'' Landry said. ''Not real fluid or great in coverage,'' Williamson said. But his size (6-2, 250) fits the Parcells prototype and he likely will start here. Ayodele, 29, said he pushed for a trade -- he would have been unhappy playing behind Zach Thomas.

• Ferguson: After missing all but one '07 game but with a torn biceps, the question is how much he has left at 33. He will start at defensive tackle, and talent evaluators expect he will be an upgrade over Keith Traylor, who was cut. ''He can still be pretty effective on early downs,'' Landry said. ``He's got a better motor than Traylor and plays the game with more energy.''

• Safety Keith Davis: An underdog in the battle to start, Davis, 29, has the most colorful story of the five. Parcells cut him before training camp in 2003, a month after stray gunfire struck his hip and elbow in the parking lot of a strip club. He sat out 2003, returned to the Cowboys in '04, became a special teams ace and started 15 games at safety in 2005 (but just six in '06 and once in '07).

Then he was shot again in July 2006 -- this time bullets grazed his head while driving on a Dallas highway, but he avoided serious injury. He played the run well but wasn't a playmaker in the passing game and has no career INTs and just five passes defended. ''He's not a starting-caliber safety, but he's [a elite] special teams player,'' Landry said.

• Cornerback Nate Jones: A seventh-round pick, Jones, 25, excelled on special teams but has no careers INTs and one start in four years. (He did knock Brett Favre out of a game on a blitz last year.) In recent closed practices, Jones and Travis Daniels have been the second-team corners. The first-team corners have been Will Allen and Andre Goodman, with Michael Lehan playing nickel.

''Jones is going to be the fourth or fifth corner,'' Landry predicted. ``Daniels is better technique-wise, and Goodman is a better athlete. He doesn't play the ball as well as Goodman.''

CHATTER

• Speaking on WQAM Tuesday, coach Tony Sparano said he told Jason Taylor that, ''We as an organization and certainly me as a head coach want to see [Taylor] back here with the Miami Dolphins in uniform.'' Sparano said the rest of their conversation would remain confidential and that Charlie Anderson and Quentin Moses have been playing Taylor's outside linebacker spot in practice.

• Dolphins rookie guard Shawn Murphy said Ikechuku Ndukwe, the former Baltimore practice-squad player, continues to get the first-team practice snaps at left guard opposite Justin Smiley. . . . GM Jeff Ireland said the team is ''evaluating'' whether to add another receiver, but ''at this time of the year, it's hard to find a lot of guys that can really help you.'' (There's not much left -- Koren Robinson, Eric Moulds, Chris Henry, Keenan McCardell, Eddie Kennison and Tim Dwight are the biggest names.)

[ethurst2]

David Martin is a goner. I'd have to say he is the biggest bust since Eric Green and his reputation proceeded him before he got here. If you can't be an effective tight end with Brett Farve heaving the ball to you then you're pretty much toast.

[Brian Fein]

Koren Robinson, Eric Moulds, Chris Henry, Keenan McCardell, Eddie Kennison and Tim Dwight

Of these guys, I'd be happy having any of them on the team (not named Chris Henry).  I'd love to see Eric Moulds sign up and help us torch Buffalo twice.  I think McCardell, K-Rob, or Kennison could still be stop-gap contributors.

[Doc-phin]

I'd love to see Eric Moulds sign up and help us torch Buffalo twice. 

I agree, this guy was awesome not that long ago.  If there is any chance we could revive his career, I would be in favor of picking him up.  I had no idea he was let go by buffalo.

[Philly Fin Fan]

I agree, this guy was awesome not that long ago.  If there is any chance we could revive his career, I would be in favor of picking him up.  I had no idea he was let go by buffalo.

Boy, are you out of the loop! Not only was he "let go" by Buffalo (he was actually traded by them to Houston), he was then let go by Houston after the 2006 season, signed a one year deal with Tennessee for 2007 and then was not re-signed by them!

[StL FinFan]

We do not need guys on the decline taking up roster spots at this point.  There is no quick fix, let the young guys get playing time.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

We do not need guys on the decline taking up roster spots at this point.  There is no quick fix, let the young guys get playing time.

Agreed.  With what Parcells is trying to accomplish, bringing in aging vets as a stopgap needs to be kept to a minimum. 

[Sunstroke]

Koren Robinson, Eric Moulds, Chris Henry, Keenan McCardell, Eddie Kennison and Tim Dwight

...I think McCardell, K-Rob, or Kennison could still be stop-gap contributors.

In Koren Robinson's case, I think the term would have to be "drop-gap"

I think Miami should go with youth, youth and more youth at WR this season, and see which of the young pups has the heart to be a big dog.

[IowaDolfan]

 I would love to have the Dolphins pick up Eric
But for Tim Dwight he is well past prime take it from me I have been watching him since he was in Jr. High and as fast as he is he is VERY injury prone (he is just a little guy)
 But I will say this for him he is very active in the development of young players here in Eastern Iowa.