Miami Dolphins Partners with Broward Sheriff’s Office for Football Unites Community Building and Ride Along for the Third Consecutive Year
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September 26, 2018
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#TeamworkAtWork #FootballUnites
Miami Dolphins Partners with Broward Sheriff’s Office for Football Unites Community Building and Ride Along for the Third Consecutive Year
MIAMI – As part of the Miami Dolphins Football Unites program, Miami Dolphins players Leonte Carroo, Connor Hilland, Jamiyus Pittman, Quentin Poling and Kenny Stills spent their day off with the Broward Sherriff’s Office (BSO) to discuss community policing and take part in youth engagement activities. This marked the third consecutive ride along for the Miami Dolphins in an effort to show a unified front in Broward County between Dolphins players and law enforcement.
The players started the afternoon with a visit to the BSO Deerfield Police Athletic League (PAL). The group also attended a BSO roll call and addressed a local youth football team together.
“Spending time with the kids and trying to help foster relationships between law enforcement, the community and ourselves, it’s really important that the Dolphins do this,” Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver Kenny Stills said. “It’s been three years now and I just see the effect that it has on the community, on the kids, on myself and all the officers just to spend this time and Its so valuable just to be around and mentor. The message is not to be afraid of the police; the police are here to serve. Thank them for their service when you see them, wave, shake hands, introduce yourself and try to have a relationship with them outside of when you’re just talking to them when you’re in trouble. I didn’t have any experiences of NFL guys coming to my practice when I was younger. I think that is part of the reason why it’s so important that we are out here.”
“It shows the youth optimism that the Miami Dolphins along with the Broward Sheriff’s Office are united. It strengthens and provides trust because the young people look up to the players and when they see us together it kind of eases their mind in order for them to be open to us and come to us with whatever problems they have,” Captain of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Audrey Jones added. “With the Dolphins putting in the effort, it’s commendable of them to show that they are in fact caring about the community and what goes on within the community and they are here to try to build a bridge with us.”
“Meeting with police officers and just helping kids understand we are a team, the whole area, the Miami Dolphins, the Broward Sheriff’s county, everyone has to work as a team in the community to make things as good as they can be here,” Miami Dolphins Linebacker Quentin Poling said. “With the platform that athletes have, it’s a good way to show others to look at people in a positive light don’t look at the police officer and think negatively towards them. Especially with how things are portrayed in the media today it’s easy to have a negative connotation, just approach people with respect and authority and help kids realize that police officers are here to help you at the end of the day. If they can grow up and have that kind of perspective on things maybe it will help them in situation later in their life and avoid a bad conflict.”
Miami Dolphins Running Back Frank Gore Surprises Coconut Grove Cowboys of Greater Miami Pop Warner with Equipment Donation
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September 26, 2018
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Miami Dolphins Running Back Frank Gore Surprises Coconut Grove Cowboys of Greater Miami Pop Warner with Equipment Donation
Coconut Grove, Fla. – Miami Dolphins running back Frank Gore yesterday surprised the Coconut Grove Cowboys of Greater Miami Pop Warner at Armbrister Park with new football equipment for their program. Growing up, Gore played for the Cowboys and also practiced at Armbrister Park. The donated equipment included Junior Dolphins branded shirts, Dolphins branded footballs, Gatorade bottles, cones, end zone pylons, tackling dummies and a chain set and down markers. The team also had the opportunity to hear from Dolphins alum Tony Nathan about the importance of working hard in school and getting good grades.
“It’s real big, because that’s where I’m from,” Gore said. “We’re big on football and I’m one of the big names that come from out that neighborhood, so every time I come back, I let them know it’s possible and you can do the same thing.“
This year, as part of the Junior Dolphins Donation Program, donations were made to Booker T. Washington High School in August, Miramar High School in May, Pompano Beach High School in July, Spanish River High School, Key West High School, Marathon High School and Coral Shores High School in September.
The Junior Dolphins program encourages youth players and coaches to learn, teach and play football in a fun and safe environment. The Junior Dolphins program is designed to give kids access to learn the fundamentals of football using the NFL’s top resources. To grow the game, the Junior Dolphins program will work to educate coaches, parents and youth on the health and safety of football with a strong emphasis on character development. Junior Dolphins is building the next generation of Dolphins Fans.
Miami Dolphins make roster moves
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September 26, 2018
Miami Dolphins make roster moves
MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have signed linebacker Martrell Spaight and promoted defensive end Jonathan Woodard from the practice squad. The team also placed defensive end William Hayes on injured reserve and waived wide receiver Tanner McEvoy.
Spaight has played in 30 career games with seven starts, all with Washington (2015-17). He’s recorded 87 tackles (54 solo), one interception and one fumble recovery. Spaight also has 17 special teams tackles (12 solo). He originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick (141st overall) by Washington in the 2015 NFL draft. Spaight was a consensus first-team All-SEC season as a senior at Arkansas in 2014, leading the conference with 128 tackles, the most by an Arkansas player since 2003.
Woodard originally signed with the Dolphins practice squad on Dec. 5, 2017. He spent the 2018 offseason and training camp with the Dolphins before he was waived on Sept. 1, 2018 and signed to the practice squad on Sept. 3, 2018. Woodard also spent time on Atlanta’s practice squad in 2017 and spent the entire 2016 season on Jacksonville’s physically unable to perform list. Woodard originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick (226th overall) by the Jaguars in the 2016 NFL draft.
| Name |
Pos. |
Hgt. |
Wgt. |
Birthdate |
Exp. |
College |
Hometown |
Acq. |
| Martrell Spaight |
LB |
6-0 |
243 |
8/5/93 |
4 |
Arkansas ’15 |
North Little Rock, Ark. |
FA, ‘18 |
| Jonathan Woodard |
DE |
6-6 |
271 |
9/19/93 |
1 |
Central Arkansas ’16 |
Brentwood, Tenn. |
FA, ‘17 |
Miami Dolphins Honor SAVE Executive Director Tony Lima at Home Game with The NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award
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September 25, 2018
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Miami Dolphins Honor SAVE Executive Director Tony Lima at Home Game with The NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award
Miami – The Miami Dolphins honored SAVE Executive Director Tony Lima as the recipient of the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award with an on-field pregame presentation at their home game against the Oakland Raiders as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. The award, in conjunction with the NFL and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) recognizes the contributions of Hispanic leaders in each NFL market. Lima was accompanied on the field with 25 guests representing the 25 years of SAVE and received a trophy along with a $2,000 donation to which he also granted to SAVE. The Miami Dolphins announced their selection at a Business Equality Network luncheon Sponsored by SAVE and the Miami Dolphins on August 23, 2018.
“This award from the Miami Dolphins is thus far the absolute highlight of my career,” SAVE Executive Director Tony Lima said. “To have my home team recognize me for my work towards making South Florida a more equal place for its LGBTQ citizens at their home football game with 70,000 people in the stands, sends a strong message. As both a Cuban American and openly gay leader, this award exemplifies that the Dolphins are truly inclusive and dedicated to its entire fan base regardless of their ethnicity, who they love or their gender identification.”
Born and raised in Miami, Lima is a first generation Cuban-American. As Executive Director, Lima oversees SAVE, South Florida’s leading organization dedicated to protecting people of the LGBTQ community against discrimination. Since 1993, SAVE has advocated for equal rights for persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Under his leadership, SAVE has had the biggest wins towards LGBTQ equality in the organization’s 25-year history: in 2015, SAVE successfully sued the state of Florida to legalize same-sex marriage, in 2014, SAVE passed comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for transgender individuals at the Miami-Dade County Commission. During his five-year tenure, the organization has endorsed and helped elect a record seventy-five pro-equality leaders at all levels of government. In 2016, the organization created and implemented a groundbreaking deep canvassing model that was scientifically proven to have a lasting effect on reducing prejudice against the LGBTQ community. It has since become a national model for helping change hearts and minds.
Prior to his tenure at SAVE, Lima was Vice President of External Affairs for Frost Science Museum and was an account director for global marketing firm Golin’s national social justice team, developing marketing and communication strategies and campaigns focused on social justice issues and multicultural outreach.
Lima has a Bachelors of Arts degree in English from Florida State University and has a Masters of Science in Integrated Communications at Florida International University. In 2012, Lima completed the prestigious Miami Foundation Fellows program and also was named a Top Latino Leader by Latino Leaders Magazine. In 2013, he was named to the renowned “Top 20 Under 40” by Brickell Magazine. Most recently, Lima completed the Rockwood Fellows Leadership Program. When he is not working, Lima enjoys spending time with his partner and family, especially his four nephews and niece, the reason why he has dedicated most of his career to social justice.
SAVE is a grant recipient of the Miami Dolphins Football Unites program, created by Owner Stephen Ross and players and designed to create opportunities for South Florida-based individuals and organizations to strengthen and expand their impact around community engagement, education and criminal justice reform. Through the launch of the Football Unites Grant Program, the Dolphins are supporting SAVE’s campaign to reduce anti-LGBT prejudice and to identify and build a list of supportive community members.
About the Hispanic Heritage Foundation
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation – a nonprofit established by the White House in 1987 – inspires, prepares, and connects minority leaders in the classroom, community, and workforce to meet America’s priorities. HHF also promotes cultural pride, accomplishment, and the great promise of the community through public awareness campaigns seen by millions. HHF is headquartered in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles with satellite workspaces in New York, Silicon Valley, San Antonio and Miami (visit www.HispanicHeritage.org).
Miami Dolphins Host Football Unites Tailgate Funded by Stephen Ross and Miami Dolphins Players Against Oakland Raiders
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September 24, 2018
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#TeamworkAtWork #FootballUnites
Miami Dolphins Host Football Unites Tailgate Funded by Stephen Ross and Miami Dolphins Players Against Oakland Raiders
MIAMI –Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross and Dolphins players hosted its’ second Football Unites Tailgate to strengthen relationships between community leaders, youth and law enforcement. Leaders and youth from the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, Albert Wilson Foundation, Pridelines, SAVE, Trayvon Martin Foundation and YWCA Miami attended the second tailgate of the season, which took place Sunday against the Oakland Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium.
The tailgates featured giveaways, games, food and a live DJ with educational components designed by the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) to create dialogue and foster positive relationships and unite groups of different races, genders, sexual orientation and identities to help level the playing field in South Florida.
The tailgate initiative stems from a solution-oriented town hall hosted in the fall of 2016 by the Dolphins and RISE during which players and local leaders discussed actionable steps that could be taken to address issues of racial inequality and unite the community. Founded and created by Ross in Oct. 2015, RISE harnesses the unifying power of sports to improve race relations and drive social progress. To learn more about RISE, visit risetowin.org.
Miami Dolphins Announce Week 3 PlayFootball Award Winners
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September 24, 2018
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#TeamWorkAtWork #JuniorDolphins #LetsPlayFootball
Miami Dolphins Announce Week 3 PlayFootball Award Winners
Miami, FL – The Miami Dolphins announced their PlayFootball Week 3 award winners in a program designed to celebrate youth football in South Florida. For each home game, the Dolphins will identify a high school coach of the week, high school player of the week, youth player of the week and team mom of the week. Award recipients will receive tickets to a Dolphins home game, be presented with a plaque on the field at Hard Rock Stadium and receive acknowledgement of their accomplishment in the game program and through the Dolphins’ social media platforms. The Dolphins also will recognize a team of the week who will be on field during the national anthem.
The program concludes at the Dolphins-Jaguars game where the Dolphins will honor yearly award winners in all categories with the exception of the team of the year.
Week 3 Winners:
- High School Coach of the Week: Nate Hudson from South Dade High School. The Bucs are 5-0 this season and came up with a huge win, defeating last year’s defending 6A state champion Miami Northwestern 20-18 in their third contest.
- High School Player of the Week: Nik Scalzo from Cardinal Gibbons High School. The University of Kentucky bound senior quarterback threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-8 win over Stoneman Douglas last Friday.
- Youth Player of the Week: Jamarie Hostzclaw from the Weston Warriors of Gold Coast Pop Warner. Hostzclaw had 10 carries for over 150 yards, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries for touchdowns and seven tackles for loss in a win over the Jupiter Mustangs. Hostzclaw also understands what it takes to succeed in the classroom, delivering an “A” average report card.
- Team Mom of the Week: Laurie Richardson from the Boca Braves Peewee of the Gold Coast Pop Warner. Richardson organizes her team’s schedule for the season, serves as her team’s main resource for communication between coaches and the league and takes an active role in helping local charities and businesses that support her league. She has taken her own personal time and resources to set up a pool party and luncheon for the kids on a recent day off so the team could bond and get to know each other better.
- Team of the Week: South Miami Senior High School. The Cobras are 3-2 on the season after defeating Barbara Goleman Senior High School 42-6 last Friday.
The Junior Dolphins program encourages youth players and coaches to learn, teach and play football in a fun and safe environment. The Junior Dolphins program is designed to give kids access to learn the fundamentals of football using the NFL’s top resources. To grow the game, the Junior Dolphins program will work to educate coaches, parents and youth on the health and safety of football with a strong emphasis on character development. Junior Dolphins is building the next generation of Dolphins Fans.
Miami Dolphins in Partnership with Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Kickoff First Football Unites Cultural Tour
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September 19, 2018
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#TeamworkAtWork #FootballUnites
Miami Dolphins in Partnership with Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Kickoff First Football Unites Cultural Tour
MIAMI—The Miami Dolphins in partnership with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau kicked off the first Football Unites Cultural tour experiencing historical locations throughout Miami. Miami Dolphins players Jerome Baker, Leonte Carroo, Matt Haack, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Jamiyus Pittman and Jason Sanders, alumni Eddie Hill and Sam Madison, as well as Dolphins staff spent the day with local youth, community leaders and law enforcement to experience the richness and diversity of the area.
“I’m new to Miami so it’s cool just learning the different history, all the different parts of Miami, the different cultures, the different backgrounds, talking to different people and enjoying it,” Miami Dolphins Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said. “Understanding how people think, how they operate – I think is a big part of that is their culture and their background. The Dolphins do a real good job of trying to express the importance of going out into the community and understanding people’s culture.”
As part of these educational tours, the group made stops at the Lyric Theater in Overtown with lunch provided by Jackson’s Soul Food and later visited Freedom Tower and Cuban restaurant Café Versailles.
“Today was a great opportunity to really learn about the city of Miami. A lot of the rookies came out, hung out with us alumni and we had a group of young talented youth from around South Florida to take through the city of Miami to give them the opportunity to understand the rich history that we have here and how it really began,” Miami Dolphins Alumni Sam Madison said. “When you talk about football, we always talk about have pride in your job and what you do, you need to have pride in the city you grew up in. And that’s what we are trying to show, give back, and the Miami Dolphins definitely going above and beyond to do that and show that.”
Youth of the Football Unites grant programs were selected to accompany these tours, which included 5000 Role Models, North Miami Beach PAL, North Miami PAL, Pridelines, SAVE, YWCA and NOBLE.
“What we did today in partnership with the Miami Dolphins is absolutely amazing. It is so unbelievable how we’ve come together to unite these organizations together with the youth of our community that’s going to carry on everything that they’re learning from today forward,” Executive Director North Miami Beach PAL Lynda Roberts said.
This tour marks the first of four Football Unites Cultural Tours scheduled throughout the year. These unique experiences are a result of a joint partnership with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. The team is scheduled to visit locations throughout Miami-Dade and Broward County, including the African American Research Library, Holocaust Memorial and Jewish Museum, Liberty City, Little Haiti, Seminole Tribe and South Beach Palace.
“What a day of education and connection within Miami’s multicultural communities of Historic Overtown and Little Havana. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau is happy to partner with Football Unites and the Miami Dolphins Football team on tours connecting the cultural jewels of Miami with our players, youth and community stakeholders,” Vice President of Multicultural Tourism & Development for the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Connie Kinnard said.
Miami Dolphins promote Smith
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September 18, 2018
Miami Dolphins promote Smith
MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have promoted safety Maurice Smith to the active roster.
Smith played in six games with the Dolphins in 2017 after he signed on May 5, 2017 as an undrafted college free agent. He made one solo tackle before he was placed on the non-football illness list on Dec. 2, 2017, ending his season. Smith spent the 2018 offseason and training camp with Miami before he was waived on Sept. 4, 2018 and signed to the team’s practice squad on Sept. 5, 2018.
| Name |
Pos. |
Hgt. |
Wgt. |
Birthdate |
Exp. |
College |
Hometown |
Acq. |
| Maurice Smith |
S |
6-0 |
194 |
6/14/95 |
2 |
Georgia ’17 |
Missouri City, Texas |
FA, ‘17 |
