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Latest Dolphins Player Notes

Sep 1 2010 - Reshad Jones
FS Reshad Jones was viewed as an underachiever in college and failed to overtake fellow fifth-rounder Chris Clemons, in his second season out of Clemson, as the successor to the departed disappointment Gibril Wilson.

Sep 1 2010 - Nolan Carroll
CB Nolan Carroll has been one of the surprises of camp. He's a speedy and cerebral late bloomer bidding strongly for a spot in the nickel defensive package as well as the role of primary kickoff returner.

Sep 1 2010 - John Jerry
RG John Jerry, the younger brother of Falcons DL Peria Jerry, is a country-strong farm boy who has reshaped his body and quickly claimed the starting job that used to belong to Donald Thomas and the injured Nate Garner.

Sep 1 2010 - Koa Misi
OLB Koa Misi will be counted on as the replacement for Jason Taylor on the strong side. The converted 4-3 defensive end has struggled to set the edge against the run in the preseason.

Sep 1 2010 - Nolan Carroll
CB Nolan Carroll took all four kickoff returns last week against the Falcons but Sparano cautioned against reading too much into that. The rookie is still competing with holdover KR Patrick Cobbs, who has averaged 20.5 yards on 29 career kickoff returns (long of 60 yards) the past three seasons.

Sep 1 2010 - David Martin
TE David Martin will serve as the backup long snapper after franchise great Jason Taylor held that role last season. Martin, who missed last season with a knee injury, is "one of the better backup long snappers in the league," Tony Sparano said. John Denney is the primary long snapper and has been since 2005.

Sep 1 2010 - Quentin Moses
OLB Quentin Moses, a former third-round pick of the Raiders who has been with the Dolphins since October 2007, may be running out of time. Moses missed last week's game against the Falcons with an injury to his right thigh area and hasn't impressed this preseason.

Sep 1 2010 - Micah Johnson
ILB Micah Johnson, an undrafted rookie who was released out of Giants camp in June, has made an impression since signing with the Dolphins during the first week of training camp. The former Kentucky standout has battled knee problems but impressed the coaching staff during a 56-play audition (17 on special teams) in the third preseason game.

Sep 1 2010 - Nate Garner
OL Nate Garner was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday in light of a second offseason surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. The Dolphins' most versatile offensive lineman, who saw time at five different line spots last season (including tackle-eligible), wasn't expected to be ready until early October at the soonest and the staff decided it couldn't wait that long.

Sep 1 2010 - Will Allen
CB Will Allen remains out following Aug. 12 cleanup surgery on his rebuilt left knee. Tony Sparano says there is no timetable for his return, forcing the team to trade veteran WR Greg Camarillo to the Vikings for seventh-year man Benny Sapp, who has significant experience in the nickel.

Sep 1 2010 - Channing Crowder
ILB Channing Crowder hasn't played since the first quarter of the preseason thanks to an undisclosed injury that is reportedly to his upper leg or abdominal area. Dolphins coach Tony Sparano has admitted to a "level of concern" over the injury, which could keep Crowder out of the Sept. 12 opener at Buffalo and forced veteran reserve Tim Dobbins, acquired from San Diego on the first day of the draft, to start in his place.

Sep 1 2010 - Kendall Langford
DE Kendall Langford had the help of at least one dozen teammates in his search for a 2.5-carat diamond earring he lost on the practice field Tuesday afternoon. Some toted rakes, as Langford did, while others walked in circles or got down on their hands and knees after practice in the fruitless search. Said second-year DL Ryan Baker, who was out there for nearly an hour: "He's a teammate. That's what you do."

Sep 1 2010 - Karlos Dansby
LB Karlos Dansby signed to a five-year, $43 million free-agent deal in March (including $22 million in guaranteed money). The rugged playmaker who helped the Arizona Cardinals reach their first Super Bowl hopes to do the same in South Florida. Dansby also has been saying he believes he is "by far" the best all-around linebacker in the NFL.

Sep 1 2010 - Jared Odrick
DT Jared Odrick, the first-round draft pick out of Penn State, has been thrust into the starting lineup after holdover Phillip Merling suffered a season-ending injury to his Achilles tendon. Odrick was held without an official tackle through the first three preseason games, but the coaching staff has been pleased with his progress overall, which has included a fumble recovery and a quarterback hit.

Sep 1 2010 - Yeremiah Bell
S Yeremiah Bell, the longest-serving active Dolphin in terms of uninterrupted tenure, already leads the franchise in career sacks by a defensive back. Under Nolan's creative blitz packages, Bell needs to add to that total significantly if this season is to work out as planned.

Sep 1 2010 - Brandon Marshall
WR Brandon Marshall, trying to become the first player in NFL history with four consecutive 100-catch seasons, has shown no ill effects from minor offseason hip surgery. However, he has endured a case of the drops this preseason and must make sure he doesn't let the ghost of Ted Ginn Jr. (who also wore No. 19) seep into his game.

Aug 31 2010 - Phillip Merling
DE Phillip Merling was placed on the non-football injury list. He was injured running sprints prior to the start of training camp.

Aug 31 2010 - Nate Garner
OL Nate Garner was placed on injured reserve and is out for the season with a foot injury. Garner was expected to be out eight weeks after a second operation on his left foot.He broke the foot in practice. Garner had surgery on the same foot in the spring.

Aug 30 2010 - Channing Crowder
LB Channing Crowder is still out with an unspecified leg injury. As of Tuesday, he'll be on the sideline for two straight weeks. The Dolphins are planning to have him seek a second opinion, coach Tony Sparano said.

Aug 30 2010 - Joey Haynos
TE Joey Haynos was waived/injured by the Dolphins. Haynos left the locker room on crutches and wearing a walking boot on his injured right foot after Friday's loss to Atlanta. Haynos said he would undergo an MRI on Saturday to determine the extent of the injury. Haynos had 19 catches last season for 192 yards and two touchdowns, but he appeared to have lost ground to David Martin, brought back after spending last season on injured reserve with a knee injury.

Aug 29 2010 - Channing Crowder
LB Channing Crowder, who was supposed to be paired with Dansby at inside linebacker, sat out his second straight preseason game with an unspecified injury. Crowder essentially missed four games last season with shoulder and foot injuries, and he is coming off foot surgery, so this preseason was more important for him than usual.

Aug 29 2010 - Karlos Dansby
LB Karlos Dansby received a scare when he took a shot on the knee during Friday's game. He went in for postgame X-rays but downplayed the injury afterward. Dansby had a fumble recovery in the second quarter after cornerback Vontae Davis caused it with his hit on Falcons running back Michael Turner.

Aug 29 2010 - Micah Johnson
LB Micah Johnson was paired with Karlos Dansby on several plays and came away with the tackle on two of them. Johnson also stood out on special teams. The ex-Kentucky standout, who was released by the Giants in June after they signed him as an undrafted free agent, seems to have moved ahead of seventh-rounders Austin Spitler (2010) and J.D. Folsom (2009) in the battle for an inside linebacker spot.

Aug 29 2010 - Benny Sapp
CB Benny Sapp saw action on special teams and at nickel corner despite missing all practices but Thursday's walk-through. Sapp said he arrived in South Florida after 10 p.m. on Wednesday and spent part of Thursday morning taking his team physical. The Fort Lauderdale native came over from the Vikings in a trade for receiver Greg Camarillo. With rookie Nolan Carroll struggling at slot corner and veteran Will Allen still on the mend from Aug. 12 clean-up surgery on his left knee, Sapp could be thrust into the lineup come Sept. 12 in Buffalo.

Aug 29 2010 - Jake Grove
C Jake Grove appeared to take the upper hand in his battle with journeyman Joe Berger for the starting job, which Berger held down for the final six games last season after Grove was injured. Grove started Saturday's game and played the first three series and four of the first five but was injured seven plays into the second half. Grove left the game flexing his left shoulder, which is where he had an ice bag strategically placed after the game. Grove did not return but Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said he could have gone back in if needed.

Aug 29 2010 - Joey Haynos
TE Joey Haynos left the locker room on crutches and wearing a walking boot on his injured right foot after Friday's loss to Atlanta. Haynos said he would undergo an MRI on Saturday to determine the extent of the injury. Haynos had 19 catches last season for 192 yards and two touchdowns, but he appeared to have lost ground to David Martin, brought back after spending last season on injured reserve with a knee injury.

Aug 25 2010 - Benny Sapp
CB Benny Sapp, acquired from Minnesota for WR Greg Camarillo, provides depth for the Dolphins' secondary. "I think you get a guy that has some position flexibility. I think that he's played corner and started games at corner in this league," said coach Tony Sparano. "Played a large number of plays last season. Played in some playoff games and also plays inside in the nickel. So, I think he has a little bit of position flex (flexibility) that way and special teams player as well." Sapp enters the mix behind starters Sean Smith and Vontae Davis along with Will Allen, Nolan Carroll and Kevin Hobbs. Allen has yet to return from Aug. 12 arthroscopic knee surgery.

Aug 25 2010 - Will Allen
CB Will Allen, bidding to regain his starting job and nine months removed from reconstructive surgery on his left knee, underwent an arthroscopic procedure to clean up the knee on Aug. 12 and coach Tony Sparano said on Wednesday he still doesn't have a timetable for his return.

Aug 25 2010 - Benny Sapp
CB Benny Sapp was traded to the Dolphins for WR Greg Camarillo. Sapp had been competing for the right cornerback spot and was the favorite to win the team's nickel CB job.

Aug 23 2010 - Pat White
QB Pat White is likely playing for his roster spot. Coach Tony Sparano said he doesn't expect White to play in Friday's game against the Falcons. He's currently fourth on the QB depth chart behind Chad Henne, Chad Pennington and Tyler Thigpen.

Aug 22 2010 - Tim Dobbins
LB Tim Dobbins continues to work through a right ankle sprain that has bothered him for the past two weeks. Dobbins started at Jacksonville and made two tackles for loss.

Aug 22 2010 - Nolan Carroll
CB Nolan Carroll struggled in pass coverage in the last game, moreso on the boundary than at nickel corner, but he remains the leading option to replace veteran Will Allen in the nickel package if Allen's return from arthroscopic knee surgery is delayed. Carroll also returned four kickoffs for an average of 25 yards, with a long of 36 yards, against the Jaguars.

Aug 22 2010 - John Jerry
OG John Jerry started his second straight preseason game at right guard, shaking off a right knee issue that bothered him early in the practice week.

Aug 22 2010 - Jared Odrick
DE Jared Odrick continues to hold down the starting role at right defensive end. He failed to produce any tackles at Jacksonville but was active in the pass rush.

Aug 22 2010 - Pat White
QB Pat White didn't take a single snap in Saturday's 27-26 preseason win over Jacksonville. This came on the heels of White taking just three snaps � one handoff and two kneeldowns � in the preseason opener against Tampa Bay. Coach Tony Sparano said there are no plans to try White at other positions such as wide receiver or kick/punt returner. At this rate, White could be cut if Tyler Thigpen or Chad Pennington isn't traded.

Aug 19 2010 - Jake Long
OT Jake Long left practice early Thursday, but coach Tony Sparano said Long had experienced cramps, not an injury.

Aug 18 2010 - Brandon Marshall
WR Brandon Marshall is one of the Dolphins' training camp standouts. "I think his approach to the job is tremendous, I really do," coach Tony Sparano said. "As I said before, this guy prepares like a pro, goes hard in practice all the time. I think more than anything is just you guys see the couple that he drops; I see the ones that he catches, and I see what he does away from the ball, when he doesn't have the ball. Some people talk about that in basketball. I remember having a conversation one time with, well (pausing), I had a conversation with somebody in the know that is telling me about this whole thing about what you do when you're away from the ball that matters, okay. Well this guy when he's away from the ball and the attention that he draws out there when he's away from the ball even here in practice when we're practicing against the same people 27 times. You can see the difference when you're watching it on the tape. I think that those are some good things that this guy brings to the football team right now. Now how people are going to approach us, (I have) no idea. I'm sure that, I'm sure we'll see a little bit of all those things out there in game situations."

Aug 18 2010 - Yeremiah Bell
S Yeremiah Bell has had a very good camp, coach Tony Sparano said. "I think an interesting thing is happening back there with he and Chris (Clemons)," he said. "I did this math yesterday, but, they've played 945 plays right now in this training camp and they have four total mental errors between the two of those guys. So, he's very good at it right now and I think it's helping Chris (Clemons) -- that communication. Now early on our first year here (you know) that thing was�I couldn't tell you the number of problems we were having in the early part of this thing, so, with the two of those players back there right now there's a pretty good common influence going on back there with the young people around them."

Aug 18 2010 - Ricky Williams
RB Ricky Williams would like a one-year extension from the Dolphins, he told ESPN. His current contract expires at the end of the 2010 season. Williams, 33, is scheduled to make $4.5 million this season.

Aug 17 2010 - Lydon Murtha
OL Lydon Murtha and Andrew Gardner are competing for a top backup spot on the line with Nate Garner (foot) out until October.

Aug 17 2010 - Andrew Gardner
OT Andrew Gardner will compete with Lydon Murtha for a top backup spot with Nate Garner (foot) expected to be sidelined until early October.

Aug 17 2010 - John Jerry
OG John Jerry injured his right knee in Monday's practice and was not on the field Tuesday.

Aug 17 2010 - Nate Garner
OL Nate Garner is expected to be out eight weeks after a second operation on his left foot.He broke the foot in practice last week. Garner had surgery on the same foot in the spring.

Aug 16 2010 - Ikaika Alama-Francis
LB Ikaika Alama-Francis signed a one-year contract extension, according to the Sun-Sentinel. Alama-Francis has been moved from defensive end to strong-side outside linebacker as an experiment. "I kind of felt like this guy's movement, and to be honest with you, (linebacker coach) Bill Sheridan's a guy that kind of jammed this down my throat a little bit too, but to watch him move in some of the drills and some of the things that we were doing, for the size," coach Tony Sparano said at the beginning of training camp.

Aug 15 2010 - Nate Garner
OL Nate Garner, who had worked his way to the starting left guard spot, suffered a setback in his surgically repaired foot and is out indefinitely.

Aug 15 2010 - Tim Dobbins
LB Tim Dobbins, acquired on draft day from the Chargers, suffered a sprained right ankle on Monday night and missed the rest of the week, including the preseason opener.

Aug 15 2010 - Patrick Cobbs
RB Patrick Cobbs, coming off October knee surgery, did not play in the preseason opener. He also has battled a right hamstring issue that has kept him out of several practices.

Aug 15 2010 - John Jerry
OG John Jerry (Ole Miss) started at right guard, a spot he has held down since early in camp. Jerry also saw some time with the second unit at the position as he played the whole first half.

Aug 15 2010 - Austin Spitler
LB Austin Spitler, regaining his strength after a bout with salmonella that caused him to spend two nights in the hospital, had a team-high four tackles in a reserve role against the Bucs. The seventh-rounder from Ohio State is competing for a backup job.

Aug 15 2010 - Nate Ness
CB Nate Ness, a converted safety from Arizona who has spent time with the Browns, Jets and Seahawks before landing on the Dolphins' practice squad last year, stood out in the preseason opener. Ness, working with the third unit, had four tackles, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles, including a game-saving swipe against Bucs receiver Chris Brooks at the end of a 31-yard reception to the Dolphins' 9. Said Sparano: "I was happy to see Nate bounce back a little bit. He had a couple plays earlier in the game that weren't exactly done the right way fundamentally. One of the things I thought he did a really good job of today, never mind the defense, is he was one of the gunners that was able to get off the jam and get down the field and cause some problems. To see him get involved in a couple coverage things and come up and make a tackle, that was good."