Miami Dolphins Make Organizational Changes
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December 31, 2018
Miami Dolphins Announce General Manager Chris Grier to Oversee Football Operations, Relieve Adam Gase of Duties, Reassign Mike Tannenbaum
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins announced today that general manager Chris Grier will oversee football operations reporting directly to owner Stephen Ross. The team will immediately conduct a search for a new head coach that will report to Grier. In addition, head coach Adam Gase has been relieved of his duties and executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum has been reassigned within the organization.
“I am excited about having Chris lead our football operations going forward,” said Ross. “I want to build a championship organization and I’ve fallen short of that so far. I know I need to take a different approach and I’ve learned that we need a more streamlined structure for accountability and a longer term view on our decision-making. Chris is highly respected throughout football and is an unselfish, team-first leader who knows the game. We need to add to our core of young players and build something special over the long-term and I believe in Chris.
“I want to thank Adam for his hard work and dedication to the Miami Dolphins. These decisions were not easy as he gave everything he had to the organization. I wish him and his family the best going forward.”
Grier recently completed his 19th season with the Miami Dolphins and third as the club’s general manager. Grier was appointed general manager on Jan. 4, 2016 after spending the previous nine years as the team’s director of college scouting. Prior to being the team’s director of college scouting, Grier served as an area scout with the club from 2000-02, before being promoted to national scout/assistant director of college scouting in 2003. Miami won the AFC East during his first season with the team.
Grier started with the New England Patriots as an intern in 1994. He joined the club on a full-time basis the following year, and served as a regional scout until joining the Dolphins in 2000. In 1996, Grier was part of a New England staff that won the AFC Championship. He helped scout several players for a Patriots roster that went on to win Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX.
Grier attended the University of Massachusetts-Amherst where he majored in journalism and played football for two years before injuries ended his career. He spent his final two years there as an undergraduate assistant.
Gase was named the 12th head coach in team history on Jan. 9, 2016. During his tenure, the team held a 23-25 record (.479). In 2015, Gase was the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. Prior to joining the Bears, Gase spent six seasons (2009-14) with the Denver Broncos. Gase spent the 2008 season as an offensive assistant for the San Francisco 49ers and held several roles for five seasons (2003-07) with the Detroit Lions. Gase began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at LSU in 2000.
Tannenbaum completed his fourth season as the team’s executive vice president of football operations after he was named to the role on Jan. 6, 2015. He originally joined the organization as a consultant in August 2014 and has more than 20 years of NFL experience at various levels of NFL personnel departments and front offices.
Miami Dolphins Announce PlayFootball End of Year Award Winners
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December 26, 2018
Image Credit: Miami Dolphins
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#TeamWorkAtWork #JuniorDolphins #LetsPlayFootball
Miami Dolphins Announce PlayFootball End of Year Award Winners
Miami Gardens, FL – The Miami Dolphins announced their PlayFootball end of the year award winners in a program designed to celebrate youth football in South Florida. Winners included a high school coach of the year, high school player of the year and team mom of the year.
Each award recipient received tickets to the Dec. 23 Dolphins home game at Hard Rock Stadium against the Jacksonville Jaguars, were presented with a plaque on the field and received acknowledgement of their accomplishment in the game program and through the Dolphins’ social media platforms.
- High School Coach of the Year: Aaron Feis from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Feis, who tragically lost his life protecting students during a mass shooting on February 14th, is the Dolphins 2018 George F. Smith High School Coach of the Year. The Dolphins posthumously honored Aaron along with his wife, Melissa, and daughter, Arielle, on the field during their home opener against the Tennessee Titans. Feis is now a nominee for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award, which honors high school football coaches that demonstrate the integrity, achievement, and leadership exemplified by the winningest coach in NFL history, Don Shula. The winner will be announced at the 2019 Pro Bowl in Orlando.
- High School Player of the Year: Malcolm Ray from Miami Carol City Senior High School. Ray is one of Florida’s standout defensive football players in 2018. With his 28 solo tackles, 15 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 2 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery, Ray helped led his team to a national ranking and committed to the University of South Florida.
- Team Mom of the Year: Eida Rodriguez from the Kendall Hammock Warrior 10U of the Miami Xtreme Football League. Rodriguez has been a rock for her team for several years, but recently, she further demonstrated her willingness to give when her mother lost her battle with cancer. Rodriguez continued to orchestrate the team from hospitals and her mother’s bedside to ensure the team had everything they needed. By witnessing Rodriguez’s unrelenting love for her family, the Kendall Warriors 10U team saw the meaning of family, team, and love and dedicated their season to Rodriguez’s mother.
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 announce team award winners
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December 26, 2018
Miami Dolphins announce team award winners
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins today announced their team award winners for the 2018 season. Cornerback Xavien Howard was named the Dan Marino Most Valuable Player, running back Frank Gore earned the Don Shula Leadership Award, quarterback Ryan Tannehill was named the team’s Ed Block Courage Award winner and wide receiver Kenny Stills earned the Nat Moore Community Service Award. It marks the third consecutive season that Stills has won the Nat Moore Community Service Award.
Howard is a first-time winner of the Dan Marino Most Valuable Player award and the third cornerback to earn the honor, joining Sam Madison (1999) and Brent Grimes (2013). Entering Week 17, Howard is tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions despite missing the past three games due to injury. He has helped the Dolphins rank second in the NFL with 20 interceptions and third with 27 turnovers forced. His eight turnovers (seven interceptions and one fumble recovery) are most in the NFL this season. Several of Howard’s interceptions this season have been notable, such as flipping momentum with an end zone pick in the second half at the N.Y. Jets in Week 2. He intercepted a pass in the end zone with less than 3 minutes remaining to preserve a win vs. Oakland in Week 3. Then, at Indianapolis in Week 12, he picked off Andrew Luck on back-to-back offensive snaps in the second quarter. Howard is the 16th defensive player to win the team’s MVP award and just the fourth defensive back, joining Madison, Grimes and safety Reshad Jones (2015). This award is voted on by South Florida media and the organization and was re-named the Dan Marino Most Valuable Player Award in 2000 to reflect the achievements of Hall of Fame quarterback and 12-time team MVP Dan Marino.
Gore earned the Don Shula Leadership Award in his first season with the Dolphins. He’s the fifth player to win the award in his first season with the Dolphins, joining Fred Barnett (1996), Junior Seau (2003), Chad Pennington (2008) and Karlos Dansby (2010). Gore is just the second running back to win the award after Jim Jensen won the inaugural Don Shula Leadership Award in 1989. The Don Shula Leadership Award is voted on by the players and is given to the teammate who exhibits leadership on and off the field. It was re-named the Don Shula Leadership Award in 2005 to reflect the accomplishments of Hall of Fame Head Coach Don Shula.
Tannehill is a first-time recipient of the team’s Ed Block Courage Award and only the second quarterback to earn the honor in team history after Dan Marino (1995). He bounced back from knee injuries that cost him the final three regular-season games of the 2016 season and all of the 2017 season for a total of 19 missed games. He faced adversity again by missing another five games this season with a shoulder injury. Tannehill has started 10 games in 2018, passing for 1,831 yards, 17 touchdowns and posting a 99.0 quarterback rating. His rating is 11th in the NFL this season and he’s posted a rating of 115-plus in four of his 10 starts. Each year, players from all 32 teams select a teammate to receive the Ed Block Courage Award. The recipient symbolizes professionalism, great strength and dedication. The honoree also is a community role model.
Stills is the second player in team history to win the Nat Moore Community Service Award in three consecutive seasons, joining Brandon Fields (2011-13). He also joins Fields and John Offerdahl (1989-90, 1993) as the only three-time recipients of the award.. The team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Stills has become a pioneer among NFL players in addressing societal issues. He has done this by helping move the social justice discussion to unity and humanity through the Dolphins’ FOOTBALL UNITES™ program and by continuing to improve relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Stills also traveled throughout the country on a social justice tour that he organized himself in an effort to see first-hand and participate in work to fight for equality and social justice. He has been recognized throughout the South Florida community and was named a “Luminary Icon” by the LGBTQ-rights group SAVE for his social justice work in the community. The Nat Moore Community Service Award is given each year to a Miami Dolphins player recognized for his involvement in the South Florida community. Moore spent 13 seasons in a Dolphins uniform, culminating by his placement on the Dolphins Honor Roll in 1999.
Miami Dolphins promote Smith
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December 21, 2018
Miami Dolphins promote Smith
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have promoted safety Maurice Smith to the active roster and waived center/guard Hroniss Grasu.
Smith has spent his entire career with the Dolphins, originally entering the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with Miami on May 5, 2017. He’s played in 11 career games with four solo tackles and two passes defensed. Smith has appeared in five games this season and totaled three solo stops and one pass defensed, all coming at New England on Sept. 30, 2018. Smith was waived most recently on Oct. 29, 2018 and signed back to the Dolphins’ practice squad on Oct. 31, 2018.
Grasu (pronounced huh-ROW-niss grass-uu) signed with the Dolphins on Dec. 12, 2018 but did not appear in a game. He is a four-year veteran who played three seasons in Chicago (2015-17) and one in Baltimore (2018). Grasu played in three games with one start at left guard for the Ravens this season. In his career, he has played in 17 games with 13 starts with 12 of his starts coming at center. Grasu originally entered the NFL as a third-round pick (71st overall) by Chicago in the 2015 NFL draft.
| 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 |
Miami Dolphins in Partnership with Petland Host 150 Kids for Holiday Toy Event
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December 19, 2018
Image Credit: Miami Dolphins
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Miami Dolphins in Partnership with Petland Host 150 Kids for Holiday Toy Event
DAVIE – Miami Dolphins players Cornell Armstrong, Kalen Ballage, Jalen Davis, John Denney, Mike Gesicki, Connor Hilland, Mike Hull, Jamiyus Pittman, Jason Sanders, Kenny Stills, Durham Smythe and Vincent Taylor, cheerleaders, T.D. and the Miami Dolphins Women’s Organization hosted 150 students for their annual holiday toy event presented by Petland. Elementary school students from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties received holiday toys and participated in activities including creating teddy bears, decorating cookies, playing games, taking photos as well as petting puppies provided by Petland.
“I remember going to events like this when I was a kid and it really made my Christmas special,” Ballage said. “It’s my favorite part of the year every year. We try to get out there and reach the kids and have them look up to us as role models. Seeing the kids’ eyes get all big when we pulled the presents out the back seeing them get whatever it is they asked for, I think that was the most important thing.”
More than 1,000 kids from the Dolphins partner schools in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have participated in the event over the years. This year, Dolphins players, coaching staff and Petland purchased holiday toys for preselected students from Bel-Air, Pinewood, Rolling Green, Sunshine and Scott Lake Elementary School.
“It was a privilege and pleasure to team up with our Miami Dolphins to make the holidays a little brighter for children and families in our community,” Petland Florida Owner Luis Marquez said. “Like the Dolphins, Miami is our home. We care very much about our neighbors, but especially about the kids who wait all year for the holidays to arrive.”
“My favorite part is everything specifically the bounce houses, this has been really awesome and thank you for the presents,” Scott Lake Elementary Student London Wright added.
Miami Dolphins sign Norton
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December 19, 2018
Miami Dolphins sign Norton
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have signed defensive tackle Kendrick Norton and placed running back Frank Gore on injured reserve.
Norton has spent the past 15 weeks on Carolina’s practice squad after he was a seventh-round pick (242nd overall) by the Panthers in the 2018 NFL draft. He played collegiately at the University of Miami, where he was an honorable mention All-ACC selection as a junior in 2017 and a third-team All-ACC honoree as a sophomore in 2016. Norton played in 38 career games with 25 starts at Miami and totaled 84 tackles (45 solo) and five sacks.
Gore started all 14 games this season for the Dolphins and totaled 156 carries for 722 yards (4.6 avg.). He’s the NFL’s fourth all-time leading rusher with 14,478 yards and is fifth all-time in career scrimmage yards (18,544). Gore will see his consecutive games played (126) and consecutive games started streaks (122) come to an end. His 126 consecutive games played was the longest active streak by any NFL offensive skill (RB, WR, TE) player while his 122 consecutive games started streak was the longest by an NFL running back since Eddie George started 130 straight games from 1996-2004.
| Name |
Pos. |
Hgt. |
Wgt. |
Birthdate |
Exp. |
College |
Hometown |
Acq. |
| Kendrick Norton |
DT |
6-3 |
315 |
6/7/97 |
R |
Miami (FL) ’18 |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
FA, ‘18 |
Howard selected to Pro Bowl
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December 18, 2018
Howard selected to Pro Bowl
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The National Football League today announced that Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard has been selected to start for the AFC team in the 2019 Pro Bowl.
It is the first Pro Bowl selection of Howard’s career.
His selection extends Miami’s streak to 21 consecutive seasons with a defensive player elected to the Pro Bowl. Miami has had at least one representative in the Pro Bowl in all but two seasons of the team’s 53-year history. The only seasons in which the Dolphins did not have a Pro Bowl representative were following the 1980 and 1997 campaigns.
Howard is tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions. His seven interceptions are tied for ninth-most by a Dolphins player in team history despite two games still remaining. He also has 12 passes defensed in 2018, tied for 12th in the NFL. Howard has 11 interceptions in the past 17 games he’s played dating back to the 2017 season. His 11 interceptions since Week 13 of the 2017 season are two more than any other NFL player in that span.
Howard becomes the seventh player on the Dolphins current roster with a Pro Bowl selection to his name. He joins long snapper John Denney (following the 2010 and 2012 seasons), running back Frank Gore (2006, 2009, 2011-13), safety Reshad Jones (2015, 2017), defensive end Robert Quinn (2013-14), guard Josh Sitton (2012, 2014-16) and defensive end Cameron Wake (2010, 2012-14, 2016).
Howard is only the fourth cornerback in Dolphins history to earn a Pro Bowl selection and third to be chosen as a starter, joining Sam Madison (1999-2002), Patrick Surtain (2002-04) and Brent Grimes (2013-15). Madison started the Pro Bowls following the 1999-2001 seasons while Surtain started the Pro Bowls following the 2002-03 seasons. This marks the fifth time in the past six years the Dolphins have had a member of the secondary earn a Pro Bowl selection as Jones made the team in 2015 and 2017.
The 2019 Pro Bowl presented by Verizon kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 27, and will be televised live from Camping World Stadium in Orlando on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Disney XD and simulcast on ABC. Tickets to the game are on sale at NFL.com/ProBowlOnSale. New this year, tickets will also grant fans special benefits on game day, including AFC & NFC seating sections, player red carpet viewing, special kid zone activities and postgame fireworks.
Miami Dolphins sign Grasu
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December 12, 2018
Miami Dolphins sign Grasu
MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have signed center/guard Hroniss Grasu and placed center Jake Brendel on injured reserve.
Grasu (pronounced huh-ROW-niss grass-uu) is a four-year veteran who played three seasons in Chicago (2015-17) and one in Baltimore (2018). He played in three games with one start at left guard for the Ravens this season. In his career, Grasu has played in 17 games with 13 starts with 12 of his starts coming at center. Grasu originally entered the NFL as a third-round pick (71st overall) by Chicago in the 2015 NFL draft.
Brendel played in four games with three starts for the Dolphins this season. He began the season on injured reserve before being activated off the list on Nov. 2. Brendel played in all 16 games for the Dolphins in 2017 and has appeared in 21 NFL games with three starts. He joined the Dolphins as a practice squad acquisition on Sept. 4, 2016. Brendel originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with Dallas on May 6, 2016.
| Name |
Pos. |
Hgt. |
Wgt. |
Birthdate |
Exp. |
College |
Hometown |
Acq. |
| Hroniss Grasu |
C/G |
6-3 |
301 |
8/12/91 |
4 |
Oregon ’15 |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
FA, ‘18 |
