QB Pennington will stay with Dolphins with one-year contract

According to latest reports, quarterback Chad Pennington will continue wearing the Miami Dolphins jersey for at least another one year, proving the veteran’s wish to stay with the team to be true even if he is to be used as a backup in 2010 season.


Pennington is recovering from the third operation of his career on his throwing shoulder. Twice he has returned from injuries to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year, most recently in 2008, when he led the Dolphins to their first playoff berth in seven years. However, after he was sidelined last year, second-year quarterback Chad Henne did such a good job as replacement that he was rewarded with the starting job for 2010 season. And Pennington along with Tyler Thigpen and Pat White will be his backups.

White the contract with Pennington is said to be signed on Monday, the Dolphins has already signed linebacker Karlos Dansby a $43 million, five-year contract on the first day of free agency. By so far, there has been no visit of other free agents to Miami yet.

Former NFL RB Phillips will have stay in prison for 31 years

Lawrence Phillips, formerly a man who played football in NFL jerseys as running back, has been sentenced to more than 31 years in prison for attacking his girlfriend and driving his car into three teens, deserving it.


The 34-year-old ex-NFL player was sentenced Friday in San Diego for assault and other crimes. Choking his girlfriend twice in 2005 in San Diego and aiming his car and striking three teens after a pickup football game in Los Angeles later that year, he still told the judge he didn’t get a fair trial and he’ll appeal.

A Los Angeles judge gave him 10 years for that attack but he was re-sentenced to seven years on Friday.

Phillips was once one of the nation’s top college football players at Nebraska. He joined the St. Louis Rams in 1996 but got released for insubordination in 1997. He also used t o for the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers from 1997-1999.

Tom Brady returned with injury but did not help Patriots win

When the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady went off field without taking off his No. 12 Patriots jersey, he meant to return as soon as possible to contribute as much as he could to help the team. However, he failed to save the team and the Patriots still lost Sunday’s game to the Miami Dolphins at 22-21.


The narrow win caused me to guess the Patriots should have won the game only if Brady did not get injury on arm and was able to stay on field for all the time. And it is just hard for any Patriot to accept that the 7-4 team could lose the game to previously 5-6 Dolphins just one week after they were beaten by unbeaten New Orleans Saints.

Brady already had injuries on right shoulder and finger before the game. Those injuries together with the arm injury suffered during game were supposed to be the main reason to explain why Brady threw two interceptions in the last ten minutes, although the quarterback himself did not acknowledge that.

Dolphins starting guard Smiley remains sidelined with shoulder injury

The Miami Dolphins starting guard Justin Smiley was sitting out for a second consecutive day with his shoulder injury. In fact he was sent to a doctor and would unlikely be able to play this week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.


Having started all eight games for the Dolphins this season, Smiley could not keep the streak for the second half of the season. Not the first time did he have such experience. In 2007 season, he missed a whole half of season because of shoulder problems while he was playing in the San Francisco 49ers jersey.

According to Dolphins Coach Tony Sparano, the team has been ready for Smiley’s absence. And Joe Berger, Nate Garner and rookie Lydon Murtha are preparing for starting at left guard in case Smiley will not play.

Along with Smiley, three other injured Dolphins were sitting out for the second straight practice Thursday. Outside linebacker Joey Porter was still struggling with a hamstring injury, nose tackle Paul Soliai had ankle problem and special team contributor Erik Walden had hamstring injury.

Dolphins LB and NT to be doubtful for Sunday game with injuries

After being limited in practice all this week, it is very doubtful that the Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder and nose tackle Jason Ferguson will be able to play against the New England Patriots this Sunday.


Both are with injuries. Crowder suffered a left shoulder injury and has already missed last week’s win over the New York Jets, and Ferguson has an elbow injury. Coach Tony Sparano declined to predict if Crowder would play, instead he said that he has been satisfied with Crowder’s replacement, Reggie Torbor, who tied for the team high with seven tackles against the Jets.

As for Ferguson, there also has been already good replacement. Paul Soliai would take over the job and make the first start since he put on NFL jersey three years ago if Ferguson is confirmed not able to play.

Dolphins RB Cobbs to be out for season with knee injury

“A tremendous, tremendous warrior,” the Miami Dolphins Coach Sparano said Tuesday about running back Patrick Cobbs’ injury. “But that’s how this game goes.” Indeed, injuries are inevitable for those who play in football jerseys, what the coach can do is only to express his regret.


The reserve running back has been considered to be an important contributor to the team’s wildcat package. He was hurt on a carry in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s victory over the New York Jets, and tests results showed that he has torn an anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Thus Cobbs will have to miss the rest of the season to recover from the injury.

As a mainstay in the wildcat, which uses three running backs, Cobbs had a 53-yard touchdown catch and a 44-yard run from the formation last year and led the Dolphins with 16 kickoff returns for a 22.6-yard average this season. His leaving will force the team to find another runningback to take over his position, and rookie Lex Hilliard may be the choice.