With our legitimate reporter Alex moving to California I recently reached out to Dolfans NYC member Ross Barnes who often posts mini opinion pieces on our Facebook group to see if he wanted to start writing for DolfansNYC.com. He was excited for the opportunity so enjoy the first article by Dolfans NYC’s own British ex-patriot Ross Barnes. 

To echo the sentiments that followed Reggie Bush’s exploits in last Sunday’s game, I want Bush! As I look down the Dolphins schedule I can see many winnable games, and for a team that many pundits had written off at the start of the season (I myself was/am reticent to get too excited just yet) there is a lot of promise on the horizon for this team. However, I do not believe that promise will translate into success without the continued play of Reggie Bush as he is currently performing. The Dolphins in 2012 are a far outside bet right now, but don’t write them off just yet. This team is a dark horse in the race and, if nothing else, we could play spoiler to a few other teams. The worst thing an opponent could do right now is underestimate what this unit is capable of, and to some extent the pressure will be on them, not us. But Bush will be key to our success.

In Week 1, Tannehill made some costly mistakes. He turned the ball over three times, twice of which came off of tipped balls at the line of scrimmage where Houston’s big defensive linemen were able to read and anticipate Tannehill’s throws as he stared down his receivers. In Week 2, Tannehill did not make these same mistakes. Sure, the Oakland Raiders are not on the same level as opponents like the Texans, but this is the kind of progression that is encouraging to see nonetheless – now we look to consistency. Tannehill was able to score on a run, this is something that we need to see more of him doing. One of the key factors of his game that did draw praise was his athleticism, his ability to get out of the pocket, extend the play and to bust open huge gains scrambling.

Week one was a huge success for Dolfans NYC but not so much a success for the Miami Dolphins. We had a packed house at Third and Long(sadly we had to send a few fans next door until we could sneak more people in) and we raised some money for the Miami Dolphins Foundation with another raffle. A lot of the regulars won the prizes so I was happy about that. If you didn’t win you will have more chances. We plan on doing a bunch of raffles this year. We won’t be doing one this Sunday but we will have a new batch of t-shirts for sale.

The Dolphins on the other hand did not play so well. They teased us with great defense and better than expected offense for about 25 minutes. They couldn’t get in the endzone but they looked good against a VERY good team. And then they fell apart. They had four turnovers in four possessions and got scored on three times in the last three minutes of the half making a 3-3 game a 24-3 game by the time they went into the locker room. Aside from a special teams touchdown they couldn’t get in the endzone in the second half and lost 30-10.

It took me two days to get over the game but in the end I came out feeling pretty okay about it. Yes, it was painful to watch but if you think about it there were a lot of positive signs. The Dolphins run defense was dominant and the secondary did okay. Andre Johnson is one of the best players in the NFL and the Texans have a very good offense. They scored 24 points off of turn overs and ended up scoring only 30 points. That’s impressive.

The offense couldn’t score in the red zone and gave up four turnovers which you don’t want to see. But it’s not very often that a team gives up four turnovers in four drives. Tannehill looked pretty good aside from throwing passes into the defensive line and I think that stuff is correctable. Some of the missed passes that looked like over throws or under throws were mostly to Armstrong and Hartline, two players that have only been practicing with Tannehill for a week. Their timing will get better and Hartline looked very healthy. The right side of the o-line struggled and we clearly need better receivers, but the run game looks awesome, the o-line should get better as the year goes on and when Hartline and Armstrong play with Tannehill for a bit longer the passing game could improve significantly.

The Dolphins are not going to be a good team this year and we know it. But there were a lot of good signs against the Texans that were over shadowed by a few minutes in the second quarter. If Tannehill turns out to be a pretty good QB in this league this year won’t even matter. But that being said I think the Dolphins are going to be a lot better at the end of the year than they are now. And for the record I think they beat the Raiders on Sunday. Go Dolphins.

Check out the slideshow of pictures from Third & Long below. If you want to save a photo double click on it and it will take you to Flickr.

[tylr-slidr userID=”” groupID=””]http://www.flickr.com/photos/dolfansnyc/sets/72157631522370553/[/tylr-slidr]

Last season, Vontae Davis claimed that he was one-half of the NFL’s best cornerback tandem. Today, the Dolphins traded the 24-year-old to the Indianapolis Colts for a second and a conditional sixth round draft pick, according to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports.

“We appreciate all the contributions Vontae has made to the Dolphins since we drafted him in 2009 and we want to wish him the best of success in Indianapolis,” said GM Jeff Ireland in a press release.

Davis, drafted 25th overall in 2009, had started 36 games of 44 games for Miami over three seasons, racking up 143 tackles, nine interceptions — including a team-high four in 2011 — and one sack, but never seemed to get on the right track with the new coaching staff, who questioned his maturity and conditioning. Davis had already lost his starting job to free agent pickup Richard Marshall, and the Hard Knocks cameras showed Coach Joe Philbin pulling No. 21 aside for his unprofessional behavior during training camp.

Having already dealt Brandon Marshall for a pair of third-round picks and released Chad Johnson during the offseason, the front office and coaching staff have shown a commitment to high character, but have also done little to replace three of their most skilled players on the field in the short-term (Terrell Owens, anyone?) while starting a rookie quarterback who has been up-and-down in the preseason.

While picking up future assets is essential for a rebuilding team, in Davis, the Dolphins are giving up on another young player with Pro Bowl-caliber talent, while also losing significant depth at cornerback, where Marshall, Sean Smith and Nolan Carroll are the only players with veteran experience.

After losing their first seven games to begin last season, there might be a sense of déjà vu in South Florida in 2012.

Best of luck to Davis, who will get a chance to face his former team in Week 9 at Indianapolis.

Short Michelle and I founded Dolfans NYC a couple years after becoming friends at a thing called Web Weekend. Web Weekend is an event the Miami Dolphins host every year bringing together people who run Dolphins fan blogs. I used to run a site called Bored With Losing and Michelle and her friend Tall Michelle ran a site called 2 Michelles. After Tall moved away from NYC we started doing Dolfans NYC as our full time Dolphins project. During the Web Weekend we also met a great guy named Tom Eddie. Sadly Tom passed away from Cancer and we come together every year and remember him. The best Dolphins website of the year is now called the Tom Eddie award.

For the second year in a row we are raising money for cancer research in Tom’s name. The Dolphins do a Cycling Challenge ever year and last year Dolfans NYC donated 200 dollars. I would like to beat that this year. To help get the ball rolling I found a sponsor that in exchange for mentioning them on the site will be donating $100 to the cause. So check out NFL betting on Top Bet and thank them for helping the cause.

Now I know times are tough but donating would not only be a good thing to do but it would help Dolfans NYC’s relationship with the Dolphins. When we donated $1000 to the Miami Dolphins Foundation a couple years ago the Dolphins organization really took notice of our little club. Since then they have done a lot to help us and hooked us up with things like autographed memorabilia for our game day raffles.

When Michelle and I started this club we knew there were opportunities to make money with the club but we also knew we didn’t want to turn this into a money making venture. We do this for the love of football and we decided to put any money we made back into the club and then to donate the rest to charity. So this club from the beginning has been about helping others and I hope you guys can donate a little bit to the Dolphins Cycling Challenge.

So DONATE NOW and make sure when you mention Dolfans NYC in the comment section so the Dolphins organization knows it came from us. Thanks and Go Dolphins!

On Wednesday, the Miami Dolphins hosted a live chat with linebacker Gary Guyton, the third call set up exclusively for the fan websites invited by the team to attend the annual Web Weekend.

Guyton — who went undrafted in 2008 despite having the fastest 40-yard time at his position at the NFL Combine (4.47) — spent his first four seasons with the New England Patriots, starting 32 games, including all 16 contests in 2009 when he had 85 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Over the last two years, the 6-foot-3 LB recorded 110 total tackles, three sacks and three interceptions, including one pick-six. Following him on Twitter: @GaryGuyton59.

In addition to talking about his transition to a new coaching staff and defensive scheme, Guyton, as well as a member of the Dolphins Cycling Challenge staff, encouraged everyone to get involved in the third annual DCC, a two-day, 170-mile charity cycling event to benefit the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, on November 3 and 4. Both of Guyton’s parents are cancer survivors and he recently lost his grandmother to the disease, making the support the DCC gives to cancer research — $1.6 million raised over the last two years, with a goal of doubling that amount this season — a very important cause to him.

Please go to RideDCC.com to register as a rider, volunteer or a virtual rider; click here to help raise money in memory of our friend Tom Eddie.

On the football field, Guyton has been pleased with the continued growth and development of the Dolphins while putting in the long hours in preparation for the upcoming season. Coming over from New England, he talked to DolfansNYC* about the  difference in coaching styles between the two organizations.

“(They’re) great coaches – all of them on both sides of the ball are very knowledgeable in the game,” he said. “Getting in here, learning other things you may not have picked up from other coaches, it all helps you be a better player.

“I think right now, (Kevin) Coyle and (Joe) Philbin, we’re all here just working together. It’s a first step for us on defense, just to get in here and learn the defense. We’re all here to learn together and just (be) the best we can.”

No. 59 also told us that all of the Dolphins’ tight ends, led by the veteran Anthony Fasano, have been tough to cover.

“They all do certain things differently – all are good,” he said. “Any one of those guys can come in and do a good job for us to be a good role player.”
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Hey DolfansNYC!

We hope everyone is having a great summer! Hard to believe that football season is only 5 weeks away. Can’t wait for it all to start again and for everyone to get together at Third and Long!

We have GREAT news — as you know, every year we organize a large group of Phins fans to invade the Meadowlands to see Miami take on the Jets. And every year we do our very best to get everyone sitting together, at least in neighboring sections.

This year will be our best effort to date as we’ve been in touch with the Met Life Stadium Ticket Office and they have FOUR back-to-back rows (all seats in all 4 rows TOGETHER) available for us if we want them!! The game is at 1:00pm on Sunday, October 28th.

That’s a possible 111 Dolphins fans sitting ALL TOGETHER!

This is ONLY possible in one section of the stadium. All other group seats are more scattered, so we wouldn’t all be together.

The seats are in Section 323, Rows 16 – 19 (Click here for the stadium seating chart).

HERE’S THE DEAL AND WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:

-The price of the tickets will be NO MORE THAN $75 per person. NO TAXES. NO FEES. $75. That’s it. (For the record, this is the LOWEST that DolfansNYC has ever paid for their group tix!)

-Please e-mail us ASAP at DolfansNYC@gmail.com and tell us if you are interested in attending the game as part of our group. I HAVE TO CONFIRM WITH THE TICKET OFFICE IMMEDIATELY SO THEY HOLD THE SEATS.

-Please ONLY respond if you are sure you can be there and if you are able to get the money to us within the next week.

-In order to reserve the seats we have to put down a deposit and I can’t put that all on my credit card. 🙂

In addition to attending the game, we are definitely looking into the cost of organizing a bus to take us to and from the stadium so we can travel together and tailgate. More details (times, costs, etc) on that to come later.

Right now we really just need to know who is in for this group of tix so we can reserve them before we lose them. Please e-mail us at DolfansNYC@gmail.com and let us know how many tix you want.

Thanks everyone!!!
-Michelle & Igor

On Friday, the Miami Dolphins hosted a live chat with cornerback Sean Smith — the second call of the offseason exclusively for the fan websites invited by the team to attend the annual Web Weekend.

Smith, the 61st overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, has started 40 of the 47 games games he’s played during his three seasons in Miami, coming up with three interceptions. Last season, No. 24 tied for second on the team with a career-high two picks and registered 51 tackles. Make sure to follow Smith on Twitter: @SeanSMITH24.

Over the course of the 10-minute call, the 6-foot-3 CB discussed the impact of new defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle on the secondary, his new role as a mentor and leader, and, like Richie Incognito last week, told DolfansNYC that he takes great pride in seeing fans clad in aqua-and-orange in New York New Jersey and other opposing stadiums.

“It means a lot, because we definitely appreciate the fan support,” said Smith. “Whenever you’re on the road, you’re always the villain — you’re getting booed no matter what you do — so it’s always good to have that one section you can look up to (where) you get the fans screaming in aqua-and-orange.

“When you can only hear your crowd at their place, you know you’re doing something right.”

With long-time veteran Yeremiah Bell no longer on the team, Smith told us he has taken on the role of mentor to not only the younger players, but some of his more-established teammates.

“I’m always trying to pull guys to the side, whether it (is) the young guys, or the older guys like Vontae (Davis) and Richard Marshall,” he said. “We’re always out there trying to help each other get better.”

Smith explained that he doesn’t just want to give himself the title of being the leader of the secondary, but rather earn it on the field.

“I just go out there and do my job the best way I can and try to show the guys the right way to do things,” he said.

Smith also touched on numerous key topics, including his offseason routine, his expectations for the up-and-coming Phins wide receivers, and adjustments to the new defensive scheme.
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This morning, the Miami Dolphins hosted a live chat — exclusively for the fan websites invited by the team to attend the annual Web Weekend — with left guard Richie Incognito.

Entering his eighth NFL season (third with Miami), Incognito, a third-round draft pick by the St. Louis Rams in 2005 out of Nebraska, has started all 31 games he’s played for the Dolphins. Make sure to follow him on Twitter: @68Incognito.

During the call, No. 68 touched on everything from playing for new head coach Joe Philbin in the new west coast offense to his favorite beer (Coors Light), and also told DolfansNYC what it means to him to see aqua-and-orange represented in opposing stadiums.

“That’s great, and it’s a really unique deal for the Miami Dolphins — everywhere we go, there’s always aqua-and-orange in the stands and there’s always a strong following and that’s really special to us,” he said. “I like playing on the road, I like going into hostile territory, and I like (having an) “us against the world” mentality. So it’s really cool to see fans up there, especially when we score and the whole stadium’s quiet and you see the aqua-and-orange up there rocking. It’s always a delight to see the fans out at visiting games.”

During the offseason, Incognito, who owns an event planning business, took classes at the Harvard Business School as part of the NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program, which he feels will allow him to remain competitive in a new field once he hangs up his cleats.

“The Harvard experience was great — it was just geared for NFL players and they really gave us the tools to move forward with confidence in the business world,” he said. “I’m a small business owner myself, and it’s kind of hard to take care of the business while I’m on the field, so I have to trust people to help me run it while I’m busy with football.

“Harvard gave me great confidence moving forward, and it actually inspired me — I’m actually going to go for my MBA once I get done playing.”

During the 15-minute call, Incognito also offered plenty of insight on his expectations for the upcoming season after concluding the third day of training camp.
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Miami Dolphins fourth-year wide receiver Brian Hartline, as well as CEO Mike Dee, held a conference call with the team’s season ticket holders tonight, and DolfansNYC had the chance to listen in on their thoughts and expectations with the 2012 season on the horizon.

Over the course of his career, Hartline has caught 109 passes for 1,670 yards and five touchdown passes in 44 games (23 starts). The Ohio State product’s 15.32 yards per catch ranks 15th among all WRs with at least 100 receptions over the last three seasons, ahead of Miles Austin, Hakeem Nicks and Andre Johnson.

During the 40-minute call, Hartline discussed a wide array of topics, including the unique way in which he mastered tip-toeing the NFL sidelines and which Dolphin he’d pick in the first round of a fantasy football draft.

*No. 82, who recently underwent an appendectomy, stopped short of calling himself 100 percent ready to go, but said his rehab from the surgery has gone well.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I think 100 percent is  kind of a lost thing at this stage,” he said. “(I’m) healthy from all of the offseason fun. Life just happens sometimes.”

*Hartline expressed confidence in the team’s coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, and explained the West Coast offense relies on quarterbacks and wide receivers being on the same page.

“There’s a lot going on — there’s a lot on the table for the quarterbacks, like usual,” he said. “I think our job is really to try and make it easier for the quarterbacks. Timing is big. They’ve got enough going on — they expect us to be in certain spots at a certain time.”

*Asked about his daily routine, Hartline said he typically works out in the morning, keeps his mind focused on improving and tries to eat healthy “from time to time.”

“I”m pretty much a normal guy,” he said. “(I’m) just tying not to be normal on Sundays.”

*Hartline reiterated several times that he anticipates carrying a large role on offense and being used all over the field, and revealed his personal goals are to be a veteran leader on a young team and to hit a major milestone.

“Most of my personal goals revolve around the team,” he said. “I firmly believe that if you win football games, you play at a high level, the rest of it takes care of itself.

“With that being said, I want to be a 1,000 yard receiver — that’s my goal.”

*Hartline believes that other teams with rookie quarterbacks are not as fortunate as the Dolphins, who have two talented veterans capable of carrying the load until Ryan Tannehill is ready, but confirmed that if the eighth overall pick shines in training camp, it won’t be long until he is named the starter.

“You’re going to play the best guy, and if (Tannehill) really does separate himself and he’s the best guy, then he’s going to play the game,” he said.

*Hartline said the coaches have a very difficult decision to make on the Week 1 starter, which he expects to come towards the end of training camp in order to give the players a chance to work on their timing and communication.

*Hartline acknowledged that while the NFL is a team sport, he has taken some of the criticism the Dolphins WRs have faced in the media on a personal level, and believes the underrated corps will change the negative perception.

“I know what I think of our guys, and I’m impressed with where we’ve come to where we’re at now,” he said. “Definitely, I feel like this  is the best overall group we’ve had.

“I’m not living under a rock and I understand people like the flashy names and numbers, but I think there’s more involved to that than just personnel. Our room is ready and excited.”

*Hartline said that Chad Ochocinco Johnson brings knowledge, experience and familiarity with a lot of defenses, and will help the young receivers react to different schemes.

*When he was asked which player, other than himself, he would choose in the first round of a fantasy football league, Hartline jokingly (I think) asked if Jake Long produces a lot of points, before saying Charles Clay, Anthony Fasano and Davone Bess would be his picks and that Reggie Bush “will be very important with catching the ball out of the backfield.”

*Hartline said the two players who have the most break-out potential are fellow WRs Julius Pruitt and Roberto Wallace.

*Hartline declined to reveal whether he would be one of the main subjects on the “Hard Knocks” cameras, but said he is “excited to see what it’s going to be like.”

*One of Hartline’s most interesting answers came when he was asked about how he learned to tip-toe the sidelines and make his patented spectacular down-the-field catches.
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I could not be more excited for this! We will have to do a party for the premiere on August 7th!