Top Story

Jimmy Johnson going to College Hall of Fame

Wed, 16 May 2012 03:17:15 GMT

Jimmy Johnson was asked if he ever considered getting back into college coaching and responded by taking out his phone and scrolling through his pictures.

"There's where I live on the ocean," he said. "What I spend my time doing is ..."

And Johnson showed the small crowd gathered around him a photo of himself and a 250-pound blue marlin he caught one morning, fishing by himself off the coast of Florida.

"They realize now I'm not coming back," said Johnson, who went 52-9 and won the 1987 national championship in five years at the University of Miami before leaving to become coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

That's OK, Jimmy. You've done enough to be a College Football Hall of Famer.

Johnson was part of a class of 17 former players and coaches selected for the hall by the National Football Foundation and announced Tuesday at the Nasdaq stock exchange in Times Square.

"While winning back-to-back Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys was rewarding, the most fun I had in football was in college," Johnson said.

The other coaches to be inducted in December are Phillip Fulmer, who won the first BCS title in 1998 with Tennessee, and R.C. Slocum, the winningest coach in Texas A&M history.

Ty Detmer, the record-breaking 1990 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback for BYU, led a group of 14 players heading to the Hall of Fame.

Steve Bartkowski, who played quarterback at California from 1970-72, joined Johnson at the news conference in Manhattan. He said the call he received from NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell to let him know that he had been selected to the Hall of Fame caught him totally off guard.

"When Steve called last week to inform me, I thought he had the wrong number," said Bartkowski, who led the nation in yards passing as a senior and was drafted first overall by the Atlanta Falcons. "It's absolutely an honor."

The rest of the class includes receiver Art Monk of Syracuse; tight end Dave Casper of Notre Dame; tackle Jonathan Ogden of UCLA; running backs Charles Alexander of LSU and Otis Armstrong of Purdue; quarterback Tommy Kramer of Rice; defensive backs Scott Thomas of Air Force and Greg Myers of Colorado State; split end Hal Bedsole of Southern California; defensive end Gabe Rivera of Texas Tech; linebacker Mark Simoneau of Kansas State; and guard John Wooten of Colorado.

Johnson spent five seasons at Oklahoma State before replacing Howard Schnellenberger at Miami in 1984. He coached two College Football Hall of Famers — defensive tackle Russell Maryland and defensive back Bennie Blades — and at least one more eventual honoree in 1986 Heisman winner Vinny Testaverde.

He left Miami after the 1988 season for the NFL.

"It was a challenge," Johnson said. "I think that's why coaches leave college to give professional football a shot. The challenge. Their own egos. And that's what it was for me.

"I told the team this is not really something I want to do. This is something I have to do just for my own ego."

It worked out just fine, of course. He's got the sparkling Super Bowl ring to prove it. Johnson built another dynasty in Dallas and had some success with the Miami Dolphins, but it wasn't the same in the NFL.

"You're more than a football coach (in college)," he said. "I was in my office with young kids ... being homesick. Young kids that had financial problems. Young kids that had academic problems.

"They thought they came there to get ready for pro football, but then they realized they had to get ready for life. It's a lot more than Xs and Os."

Johnson's teams won with attitude. The Hurricanes were a brash, trash-talking bunch that became the team everybody loved to hate in the 1980s and '90s.

"A lot of people didn't like our approach because they had what we called a swagger," he said. "Our guys were disciplined. I didn't let our guys get away with being penalized. They were confident and maybe they were free-spirited but they were good kids. Our guys got their diplomas."

Johnson said his best Miami team was the 1986 squad with Testaverde and defensive tackle Jerome Brown that lost the Fiesta Bowl and national championship to Penn State.

The Hurricanes arrived in Arizona wearing camouflage and talking tough, but they turned the ball over seven times and lost 14-10 to Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions in a game they dominated from the line scrimmage.

Johnson called it the most devastating loss of his career — college or pro.

"It probably gave me the determination to be a better coach," he said.

The next season Miami ran the table and won the title. The following year Miami lost only once, at Notre Dame 31-30, when Johnson went for 2 late instead of a tying extra point that might have given Miami another national title. The game was also famous for a controversial fumble call at the goal line involving Miami running back Cleveland Gary.

Johnson said he's happy to see college football heading toward a playoff system.

"If we would have had playoffs at Miami, I probably would have had another couple national championships," he said. "If we would have had replay, we'd probably had another one that Notre Dame won, but that's another story."

Rookie T Andrew McDonald signs with Dolphins

Mon, 14 May 2012 21:22:58 GMT

Undrafted rookie tackle Andrew McDonald of Indiana has signed with the Miami Dolphins.

The 6-6, 316-pound McDonald was a four-year letterman for the Hoosiers and helped them rush for 1,374 yards last year in Big Ten play, their highest total since 2001.

McDonald took part in the Dolphins' recent rookie camp, and his signing was announced Monday.

Brother of Dolphins star charged with murder

Thu, 10 May 2012 20:46:59 GMT

The brother of a star player for the Miami Dolphins has been charged with murder.

The Washington Post reports that police said that Michael Davis, 19, bludgeoned a man to death in Washington, D.C., with a hammer.

Michael Davis is the younger brother of Dolphins cornerback Vontae Davis. Another brother, Vernon Davis, plays tight end for the San Francisco 49ers.

According to the Post, police said Michael Davis committed a series of hammer attacks in his neighborhood, including the April killing of Gary Dederichs, 66, from Denver.

Michael Davis is charged with first-degree murder in Dederichs' death.

Davis faces two other counts of assault with the intent to kill for other alleged hammer attacks.

Police told the Post they are investigating a total of five hammer attacks.

Bush to Co-Host "LIVE! With Kelly"

Tue, 08 May 2012 04:16:37 GMT

Dolphins running back Reggie Bush will make another appearance on "LIVE! With Kelly."

Bush will co-host the show on May 18.

It will be his second stint sitting in the chair once occupied by Regis Philbin.

The guest that day will be actor Tom Selleck.

Dolphins star to co-host Live! with Kelly

Tue, 08 May 2012 02:12:51 GMT

Dolphins star running back Reggie Bush has the good looks and smile that seem to be made for TV. Bush will now get the chance to showcase that to a national audience next week.

Bush will co-host Live! with Kelly on May 18th with Kelly Ripa. It is not the first time co-hosting the show for Bush. He filled in with Ripa before and said he enjoyed the experience.

Don't worry Dolphins fans, Bush isn't planning a career change yet. You can watch the show on Local 10.

Dolphins new 49 million dollar man

Sun, 06 May 2012 16:33:14 GMT

Cameron Wake has been the Dolphins biggest star on defense over the last three seasons. Now, he's getting paid like it.

Wake and the team have reportedly agreed to a new four-year contract extension that will pay the defensive end 49 million dollars. 20 million of that is guaranteed.

ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report the deal, which the team has yet to officially announce. Wake tweeted this morning, "guess what" to his Twitter followers.

The former Penn State stand-out went undrafted and had to fight his way onto an NFL roster. He was signed and then released by the New York Giants. Wake went on to become a star in Canada in the CFL before the Dolphins signed him.

The move has paid off for Miami. Wake has 28 sacks during his first three NFL seasons with the Dolphins. The Fins are now paying him for his effort.

The 30 year old was set to become a free agent after the 2012 season and make a little over $600,000 for the year.

Will: Dolphins honor a legend with classy move

Sat, 05 May 2012 02:51:01 GMT

The late Jim Mandich spent most of his adult life doing all he could for the Miami Dolphins organization.

He played for them, did the team's radio broadcasts, emceed functions for fans and was a big force in helping Dolphins alumni after they retired.

Now, the team is making a classy move by inviting his youngest son, Nick, to the rookie orientation for a try out.

Nick was not drafted, and he was a long shot to get an invite to any NFL camp. But, the team reached out to invite him to this weekend's rookie camp to showcase his skills.

It's still unlikely he'll make the Dolphins roster, but it does give him a chance to show Miami and other NFL teams he can potentially develop long term.

He's the ultimate long shot, but it's a great move by the Dolphins to allow him the opportunity to go on the Dolphins field wearing his dad's old No. 88.

I asked Nick how his family was dealing with the exciting weekend. He told me he sent his mother a text with a picture of his locker with the Mandich name on it and his number. His mom returned a text saying she was crying.

Jim Mandich passed away a little over a year ago after losing a battle with bile duct cancer. Since then, the Dolphins have inducted him into the team's ring of honor and now they've let his son get the chance of a lifetime.

That dream chance may end here, but if there's one thing I know about the Mandich family; they'll fight until the end.

Dolphins 1st round pick hits the field

Sat, 05 May 2012 01:37:08 GMT

Miami Dolphins first round pick Ryan Tannehill knows the hopes of a fan base and organization hinge of his development. Yet, after his first day on Miami's practice field, the 8th overall pick in the draft said he's more concerned about learning the playbook quickly.

“Since the first time this morning, it’s not a quick turnaround to see some of the offense and three hours and come out here and run the plays," Tannehill said after day one of the Miami rookie's orientation.

This is just a weekend camp filled with mostly players who will not make the Dolphins roster, but the former Texas A & M quarterback said it's still a vital time for his development as an NFL quarterback.

"I hope I’m looked as the leader of the team. I want to come in and especially these rookie minicamps. Quarterbacks are the leaders of the team and I want to try to get guys going," Tannehill said.

Tannehill makes debut with Dolphins

Sat, 05 May 2012 01:21:13 GMT

First round draft choice Ryan Tannehill made his debut with the Miami Dolphins as the team opened their minicamp on Friday.

Tannehill was the 8th overall pick in the recent NFL draft and the first quarterback taken in the first round by Miami since Dan Marino.

With the pressure on, Tannehill appeared cool, calm and collected. Tannehill showed he can throw deep and accurately.

Former University of Miami quarterback Jacory Harris was also invited to camp. And Nick Mandich, son of the late Dolphins legend Jim Mandich, worked out for the team as well.

The Dolphins minicamp continues this weekend.

Son of Dolphins legend gets shot

Sat, 05 May 2012 01:10:12 GMT

He lined up at tight end wearing a Dolphins uniform No. 88. The name on the front of his helmet had a familiar ring to it; Mandich. Yes,the feel good story of the Dolphins rookie orientation on Friday was that Nick Mandich was on the field trying out.

Nick is the son of Dolphins legend Jim Mandich, who passed away last year after losing a battle with bile duct cancer.

It wasn't hard to do a double take when looking out on the Dolphins practice field today. The youngest of three Mandich sons knows what this opportunity means to his family.

"I sent my mom a picture of my locker and it had Mandich 88 on the top and she sent a text back saying that she's crying, Mandich said, "it means the world, it really does."

It also means that Mandich gets a real chance to prove he deserves a shot at making the Dolphins, and it is a long shot. He knows that.

Mandich attended tiny Southern Connecticut University, a division II school. It's unlikely he can do enough to impress Miami coaches, but he's ready to do all he can, including on special teams.

Mandich says this isn't some gimmick or goodwill gesture by the organization that meant so much to his dad.

"This is professional football. This is no joke, so I've got to do the best I can and work hard," Mandich said.