July 18th, 2019 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
– 4-Minute Offense: 00:50
– Positional Breakdown: 2:51
– Hunt’s Playbook: 7:52
– Fantasy Focus: 13:03
– Best Bets: 15:13
– Training Camp Surprises: 15:44
– Road to the Super Bowl: 16:23
Dolphins DT Kendrick Norton Being Released from the Hospital
There’s good news in regards to Dolphins defensive tackle Kendrick Norton, as his agent reports that he’s getting out of the hospital.
Norton had a sixth surgery earlier this week after losing his arm in a car crash on the 4th of July following a car crash.
The car wreck early on the morning of July 4 that resulted in the amputation of his left arm.
According to the accident report obtained by CBS-4 in Miami, Norton was cited for an improper lane change.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Norton was on a northbound expressway when he apparently made a sudden turn in an effort to get into a lane that was heading toward a southbound ramp.
As he made the turn, Norton’s F-250 hit a Maserati, which caused his truck to hit a concrete barrier before flipping over.
The accident took place just after 1 a.m. ET.
Check Out the Madden 20 Rankings for All the Dolphins Players
Monday was a day that many gaming fans wait for each year, the day that the most popular sports series of all-time puts out their player rankings.
That game of course is Madden football, and this year Madden 20 is once again going to be a game played by millions who are into the NFL and video games.
One aspect of the game is player rankings, and the top Dolphins list is wide out Kenny Stills, who has a mark of 84, but he’s not alone left tackle Laremy Tunsil, also comes in with a ranking of 84.
Corner Xavien Howard is next on the list for the Fins, his ranking is at 83.
Check out all the Dolphins Rankings by clicking HERE.
Dolphins Assistant Jim Caldwell Takes Medical Leave from the Team
Dolphins assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell is stepping away from the team for health reasons according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.com.
“I will be stepping back due to some medical complications that require my full attention,” Caldwell said. “I want to thank Stephen Ross, Chris Grier, Coach Flores and the rest of the organization for the support they have given me and my family.” The exact nature of the health issues was not disclosed.
The 64-year-old Caldwell was one of the first hires by rookie head coach Flores and Flores says he supports Caldwell’s decision to focus on his health. “Our focus is on Jim’s health and supporting him in every way that we can,” Flores said. “With his knowledge and experience, Jim has been an invaluable member to our coaching staff and will continue to serve as a sounding board for me throughout the season.”
Caldwell is one of the best-liked and most respected coaches in the NFL. He was the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2009-11 and the Detroit Lions from 2014-17.
Three Questions About the Dolphins as Training Camp Gets Closer
Following a season in which the Dolphins went 7-9 and struggled to score points, the team made a change at the top with a new coach to hopefully generate some excitement.
Now that the calendar has turned to July, the start of training camp is closing in and things are ramping up for the franchise to get ready for 2019.
Today we take a quick look at three questions about this team as they get set to embark on what they hope will be a better season with new energy on this team.
1. Can Brian Flores Steer the Ship in the Right Direction?
After dismissing Adam Gase after the season, the team went after top assistant Brian Flores, who comes over from the champion Patriots.
“Two things that stand out immediately when you meet Brian are his football intelligence and leadership skills,” General Manager Chris Grier said. “Brian is widely respected throughout the NFL.”
The team needs to get the taste of Gase out of its mouth after a couple poor seasons, and they are hoping that Flores is the guy to get them there.
If he can remains to be seen.
2. Who Starts Under Center?
The team has rid itself not only of Gase, but also of quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who went 5-6 as a starter and the team dealt to the Titans in the offseason.
The club will start the year with veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, acquired QB Josh Rosen, and likely third-string QB Jake Rudock.
In OTA’s Fitzpatrick was the better QB, and he’s got the inside track to be the opening day starter. Rosen has plenty to prove but the team did felt he was worth making a deal for.
The likely way it will go is that Fitz starts the season, and if he falls apart the team will look to Rosen to pick up the slack.
3. Can the Defense Find Its Voice?
The Dolphins last season were not very good in holding teams down when it came to scoring points, as they ranked 27th in the league allowing 27.1 points per game.
After the somewhat surprising 3-0 start, the team allowed games of 38, 27, 28, 32 and 42 points in losing four of the next five games.
The team is hoping that Flores can inspire this defense and give them some energy. The team will look to Kiko Alonso, Raekwon McMillan and Jerome Baker to turn this D around in 2019.
Dolphins DT Kendrick Norton Has Arm Amputated After Car Crash
A tragic car accident as cost Dolphins defensive tackle Kendrick Norton his arm.
Reports say that Norton has his arm amputated and remains hospitalized after a car crash in the Miami area early Thursday morning, his agent said.
Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Alex Camacho said the Ford F250 driven by the 22-year-old Norton crashed into a concrete barrier on State Road 836 near Miami. The truck overturned and came to a rest on its roof.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews rendered aid to Norton, who had severe injuries to his left arm and was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where he remains.
“With sadness, I can confirm that Kendrick Norton was in a car accident last night and suffered multiple injuries, including the amputation of his arm,” his agent Malki Kawa tweeted. “We ask that you continue to pray for him.”
His medical status is not considered life-threatening. The Sun Sentinel reported that Norton is in critical condition.
“We were made aware this morning of a serious car accident involving Kendrick Norton,” the Dolphins said in a statement Thursday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Kendrick and his family during this time.”
Dolphins GM Chris Grier Says Hiring Brian Flores Bucked the NFL Trend
The Dolphins’ hiring of Brian Flores as their new coach earlier this year bucked NFL trends by at least two counts, Jarrett Bell of USA Today reports.
Flores was the only African-American hired for any of the eight head coaching vacancies, and the former Patriots linebackers coach is the only new coach who didn’t ascend from a role as perceived offensive whiz/quarterback whisperer.
“I was looking for the best leader,” Dolphins GM Chris Grier said on Monday night during a general manager panel discussion that kicked off a two-day NFL coaching summit.
Grier added that the other finalist sitting in the audience, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy, is a “dynamic personality.” But apparently Bienemy’s work with MVP Patrick Mahomes wasn’t a big enough swing factor for Grier and other NFL decision-makers.
Flores, 38, rose to prominence as the defensive play-caller and de facto coordinator for the Super Bowl champions.
The summit, by the way, was built around the premise of bolstering the pipeline of minority offensive coaches to be better positioned for head-coaching jobs.
“For me, it wasn’t a matter of offense or defense,” Grier said. “It was a matter of finding the right guy that we felt was going to be a leader of men, that was going to interact with this generation.
“This generation is different. When I grew up, I couldn’t talk back to my mom and dad. These kids, you see it out on the field, they’re talking back to coaches. It’s a different world. It’s a hard job, coaching these kids.”
Dolphins Feel Wide Out Albert Wilson Will Be Ready by Opening Day
Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson is “on track” to be ready to play by Week 1 according to Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald.
“Every test they’ve wanted me to take I’ve been right on track so there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be out there Week 1,” Wilson added. “I’m 100, I’m ready to go in when they give me the OK.”
Originally an undrafted free agent out of Georgia State, the 26-year-old Wilson spent four years with the Kansas City Chiefs before signing a three-year, $24 million contract which included $14.45 million in guaranteed money to join the Dolphins last offseason.
He was on track for a career year, tallying 407 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on 34 touches, before suffering a serious hip injury in Week 7 and ending up on injured reserve. The injury did not require surgery but Wilson has not practiced since, missing the entire offseason program, and could start training camp on the PUP list.
But if Wilson has anything to say about it, he will be in uniform and on the field come September.
