Miami Dolphins Waive Benwikere
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November 8, 2016
Miami Dolphins Waive Benwikere
MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have waived cornerback Bené Benwikere.
Benwikere (pronounced Ben-ay Ben-WICK-urr-rhee) was claimed off waivers by the Dolphins on Oct. 10, 2016 but was inactive for the three games he was on the roster. Prior to joining Miami, he started four games this season for Carolina and totaled 10 tackles (eight solo), one interception and four passes defensed. Benwikere played three seasons (2014-16) for the Panthers, appearing in 27 games with 14 starts before he was waived on Oct. 7, 2016. He originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick (148th overall) by Carolina in the 2014 NFL draft after playing collegiately at San Jose State.
Miami Dolphins and Publix Partner for Kids and Fins Thanksgiving Shopping Spree
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November 7, 2016
Photo credit: MIAMI DOLPHINS
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Miami Dolphins and Publix Partner for Kids and Fins Thanksgiving Shopping Spree
Ft. Lauderdale – The Miami Dolphins players, alumni, cheerleaders, mascot TD and Miami Dolphins Women’s Organization members will pair up with Publix to host students from our partner schools in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties to shop for Thanksgiving meals.
Every year we look forward to teaming up with our partners the Miami Dolphins and local school districts for this special shopping experience,” Publix Media and Community Relations Manager Nicole Krauss said. “It’s a unique and memorable way for these students to kick off the Thanksgiving holiday and we are proud to be a part of it.”
The students, ages 6-18, attend Title I schools and were selected by their principals to participate in the event. Students will receive a Miami Dolphins and Publix branded Kids and Fins T-shirt, enjoy food, drinks and shop to fill their families’ pantries for the Thanksgiving holiday.
“It’s always really fun for Lauren and me to come out and be able to interact with people of the community, all of my teammates and former players,” Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. “It’s just a really special event.”
Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves
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November 7, 2016
Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves
MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have activated cornerback Chris Culliver from the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List (PUP) and promoted cornerback Lafayette Pitts to the active roster from the team’s practice squad. The Dolphins have also waived defensive tackle Chris Jones and waived/injured cornerback Chimdi Chekwa.
Culliver has played in 52 career games with 26 starts with San Francisco (2011-12, 2014) and Washington (2015). He has totaled 217 career tackles (119 solo), seven interceptions, 34 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Culliver was signed by Miami on Aug. 10, 2016 and placed on PUP on Sept. 3, 2016. He originally entered the NFL as a third-round selection (80th overall) by San Francisco in the 2011 NFL draft.
Pitts joined the Dolphins as an undrafted college free agent on May 5, 2016. He was waived by the Dolphins on Sept. 3, 2016 and signed to the team’s practice squad on Sept. 5, 2016. Pitts was a four-year letterman at Pittsburgh (2012-15) and played in all 52 career games with 51 starts. He recorded a total of 152 tackles (118 solo), one sack, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries and 25 pass breakups at Pittsburgh.
Jones played in seven games for the Dolphins in 2016 and totaled six tackles (four solo) and one quarterback hit. He re-joined the Dolphins as a free agent on Sept. 14, 2016. He had spent the 2016 training camp with Miami before he was waived on Sept. 3, 2016. Jones originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round selection (198th overall) by the Houston Texans in the 2013 NFL draft and played two seasons (2013-14) with New England.
Chekwa played in three games for the Dolphins this season, making two solo tackles. He was signed on Oct. 11, 2016 and previously spent the 2016 training camp with the Dolphins but was released on Sept. 3, 2016. Chekwa has played in 35 career games with four starts and began his career in Oakland (2011-14). He has career totals of 34 tackles (30 solo), four passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He was originally selected by Oakland in the fourth-round (113th overall) of the 2011 NFL draft.
| Name |
Pos. |
Hgt. |
Wgt. |
Birthdate |
Exp. |
College |
Hometown |
Acq. |
| Chris Culliver |
CB |
6-0 |
199 |
8/17/88 |
6 |
South Carolina ’11 |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
FA, ‘16 |
| Lafayette Pitts |
CB |
5-11 |
196 |
9/24/92 |
R |
Pittsburgh ’16 |
Duquesne, Pa. |
FA, ‘16 |
Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves
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November 5, 2016
Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves
MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have activated linebacker Zach Vigil off the Reserve/Non-Football Injury (NFI) list and promoted tight end Thomas Duarte from the practice squad to the active roster. The team has also placed tight end Jordan Cameron on injured reserve.
Vigil played in all 16 games and made two starts during his rookie season with the Dolphins in 2015. He totaled 11 tackles (eight solo) and made seven special teams stops. Vigil entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with the Dolphins on May 8, 2015. He played collegiately at Utah State.
Duarte spent the first seven games of the season on Miami’s practice squad after the Dolphins selected him in the seventh round (231st overall) in the 2016 NFL draft. Duarte was a three-year letterwinner (2013-15) at UCLA and played in 38 career games with 22 starts at receiver. He totaled 97 receptions for 1,626 yards (16.8 avg.) and 17 touchdowns in his collegiate career.
Cameron started three games for the Dolphins in 2016 before he suffered a season-ending injury vs. Cleveland on Sept. 25. He caught eight passes for 60 yards (7.5 avg.) and one touchdown. Cameron has started 19 games for Miami in the past two seasons (2015-16). He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2013 as a member of the Cleveland Browns. Cameron originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick (102nd overall) by Cleveland in the 2011 NFL draft. He signed with the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent on March 12, 2015.
| Name |
Pos. |
Hgt. |
Wgt. |
Birthdate |
Exp. |
College |
Hometown |
Acq. |
| Zach Vigil |
LB |
6-2 |
240 |
3/28/91 |
2 |
Utah State ’15 |
Clearfield, Utah |
FA, ‘15 |
| Thomas Duarte |
TE |
6-2 |
241 |
3/30/95 |
R |
UCLA ’16 |
Fullerton, Calif. |
D7b, ‘16 |
Miami Dolphins and Bank of America Partner in Honor of Veterans Day to Repair Retired Service Member’s Home
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November 3, 2016
PHOTO CREDIT: Miami Dolphins
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Miami Dolphins and Bank of America Partner in Honor of Veterans Day to Repair Retired Service Member’s Home
Opa-Locka, Fla. – In honor of Veterans Day, Miami Dolphins alumnus Lorenzo Hampton and Special Teams powered by AARP Foundation volunteers partnered with Bank of America community volunteers for a Miami-Dade Rebuilding Together project at the home of U.S. Army veteran Joe Reddick. The home was in need of repairs and the work included replacing flooring, interior and exterior painting, replacement of his stove, washer, dryer and landscaping.
“We’re pleased to again partner with the Miami Dolphins and Rebuilding Together Miami-Dade to make a difference in the lives of veterans in our community like Mr. Reddick and his family,” Bank of America Miami Market President Gene Schaefer said. “From housing to providing access to financial education, wellness programs, recruiting and hiring events, Bank of America is making a difference for our military men and women transitioning back to civilian life.”
Joe Reddick, a 65-year-old U.S. Army Veteran, lives with his wife Shonda in their Bunche Park home. Reddick was honorably discharged as a Staff Sargent after serving 21 years in the Army. While in the Army, he served in the Vietnam War and during parts of the Gulf War. During his time of service, he helped deliver supplies and worked with Mechanized Infantry.
“I served for my country. I love this country and I would gladly do it again,” Reddick said. “Today is a real pleasure. The Miami Dolphins are my team. I love the organization and I appreciate what they and Bank of America have done for me.”
Miami Dolphins Announce Week Nine Youth Programs Awards With Partner Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE)
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November 3, 2016
***Photo Credit: Miami Dolphins***
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Miami Dolphins Announce Week Nine Youth Programs Awards With Partner Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE)
Miami – The Miami Dolphins and the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) recognize the week nine youth football players, coach and parent who have demonstrated their commitment to being leaders on and off the field:
- High School Player of the Week: Kevin Oliver from Western High School. Oliver is a senior defensive end and had seven tackles, three tackles for a loss and two sacks last week. His performance helped the Wildcats take down Miramar High School and earn their first playoff berth in 10 years. Oliver also leads both Miami-Dade and Broward County Schools with 16 sacks.
- High School Coach of the Week: Adam Ratkevich from Western High School. Coach Ratkevich has been instrumental in the program’s turnaround over the last three years. When he took over as head coach, the team had just come off of a 0-10 record and did not score a touchdown in the first seven games of the season. The Wildcats are now playing with a newfound confidence as they defeated Miramar High School last week for their first playoff appearance in 10 years. Up until last week’s win, Western High had never defeated Miramar High in the school’s 35 years of existence.
- Youth Player of the Week: Zamarion Lawson from the Palmetto Bay Junior Bandits (75 pounds) of the Greater Miami Pop Warner. Lawson rushed 10 times for 109 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-18 double overtime thriller over the Little River Saints.
- Team Mom of the Week: Cassandra Figueroa from the Dick Conley (DC) Steelers 7U of the Florida Youth Football League. Figueroa is a great team mom, because she always motivates the team to do their best during practices and games and reminds her players to be true student athletes – school first, football second. She is very passionate about the game of football and how it teaches kids to work together. Figueroa also helps the coach keep the team’s paperwork in order and coordinates the players’ game-time snacks with parents. She goes above and beyond to help the team and the league be the best youth league in Florida and she always lends a helping hand wherever she is needed.
Today, Officer Brittany Assam from the Davie Police Department was on hand to present the awards to High School Player of the Week Kevin White and High School Coach of the Week Adam Ratkevich at Western High School.
Each award recipient will be presented with a plaque on the field during the Nov. 6 Dolphins home game at Hard Rock Stadium against the N.Y. Jets, and receive acknowledgement of their accomplishment in the game program and through the Dolphins’ and RISE’s social media platforms. They also will receive a pair of tickets to a Miami Dolphins home game and a Dolphins/RISE T-shirt.
As a newly added component of the program and part of the Dolphins/RISE partnership, winners will be empowered to make a difference by participating in a RISE training program where they will learn how to use the unifying power of sport to promote the importance and benefits of unity, equality and inclusiveness as well as address racial tensions their teams, schools and communities might experience.
Awardees also will be encouraged to take a pledge, committing to stand up to racial inequality and share how they plan to affect change by creating a “How I RISE” video message, which will be posted on RISEtoWIN.org.
About Miami Dolphins Youth Programs
The Miami Dolphins Youth Programs’ mission is to emphasize the importance of education, physical fitness and positive choices for kids in a safe and fun environment. The Miami Dolphins Youth Programs’ vision is to prepare the next generation of leaders in staying physically active through our Junior Training Camps (JTC), Youth Football Clinics and Youth Football Camps. The goal is to promote Youth Football in the South Florida community.
About the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE)
Founded in 2015 by Stephen M. Ross, the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the unifying power of sports to advance race relations and drive social progress. Supported by an unprecedented alliance of sports leagues, organizations, educators, media networks, sports professionals and athletes, RISE uses sports as a vehicle to promote understanding, respect and equality. Through public awareness campaigns and educational programming, RISE aims to spark enduring action. To learn more, visit RISEtoWIN.org.
Dolphins Cancer Challenge Hosted Halloween-Themed Fall Family Fests presented by The Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation
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October 29, 2016
#CancerFighters
***Photo/Video Credit: Miami Dolphins***
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Dolphins Cancer Challenge Hosted Halloween-Themed Fall Family Fests presented by The Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation
Coral Gables & Fort Lauderdale – The Dolphins Cancer Challenge today hosted two Halloween-themed Fall Family Fests presented by The Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation at Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale and in Coral Gables. Children ages 3-16 came dressed in their Halloween costumes to participate in a kids ride in a car-free, safe location with their families – from short loops up to 3-5 miles. Miami Dolphins Wide receiver Kenny Stills awarded DCC-themed medals to ride participants in Fort Lauderdale and Wide receiver Rashawn Scott presented medals in Coral Gables.
“The Fall Family Fests are designed to provide families with an opportunity for kids to ride their bikes in a safe environment with no cars and get them started early raising money to help fight cancer,” Miami Dolphins President & CEO Tom Garfinkel said. “Everyone can be a cancer fighter. You don’t have to have cancer to fight cancer, and we want to get more families involved in that effort.”
The festivities continued with activities for the entire family, including a kids’ zone with bounce houses, an animal exhibit, face painting, food trucks, an adult beer garden, Dolphins Youth Programs football drill stations, a science show and a costume contest.
“We’re so grateful to see so many kids and families come out to support cancer research at Sylvester,” Director of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Dr. Stephen Nimer said. “What a wonderful partnership between the Dolphins and Sylvester, working together to save lives.”
This event precedes DCCVII, starting with the Kickoff Party on Friday, Feb. 10, followed by the DCC signature event on Saturday Feb. 11 that will include five bike routes through South Florida, a run/walk 5K, a finish line celebration concert, as well as the addition of a Dolphins Youth Ride and a Youth 5K for kids ages 14-17 – extending the opportunity for cancer fighters to be of all ages and all capabilities.
About Dolphins Cancer Challenge
The Dolphins Cancer Challenge (DCC) was founded in 2010 by the Miami Dolphins organization as the signature initiative of the Foundation’s health pillar. In part inspired by Dolphins alumnus and long-time radio voice Jim “Mad Dog” Mandich’s courageous battle with cancer, the DCC’s mission is to improve people’s lives through financial support for innovative cancer research at South Florida’s only academic-based cancer center – Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami. Since its inception, the DCC has raised more than $16 million, donating 100 percent of participant-raised funds to Sylvester. For additional information, call (305) 943-6799 or visit www. DolphinsCancerChallenge.com. DCC can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/RideDCC and on Twitter at @TackleCancer.
Miami Dolphins Return from Travels to Islands of The Bahamas, Haiti with Renewed Commitment to Hurricane Matthew Relief
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October 28, 2016
Photo/Video Credit: MIAMI DOLPHINS
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Miami Dolphins Return from Travels to Islands of The Bahamas, Haiti with Renewed Commitment to Hurricane Matthew Relief
Miami –The Miami Dolphins on Friday returned from travels to The Bahamas and Haiti for Hurricane Matthew relief efforts.
On Friday, Oct. 28, current player Terrence Fede and cheerleader Amina, both of Haitian descent, along with Senior Vice Presidents Nat Moore and Jason Jenkins and Dolphins staff flew to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to deliver medical supplies, safe water solutions and generators to help rebuild homes. The visit was arranged in conjunction with the City of North Miami and the North Miami Police Department.
The Dolphins on Thursday, Oct. 27 visited Freeport in the Grand Bahamas. Dolphins player Michael Thomas, his wife Gloria, Dolphins President & CEO Tom Garfinkel, Moore, Jenkins, alumnus Dwight Stephenson along with staff delivered supplies building supplies, met with local officials and visited some of the impacted areas.
This followed the Miami Dolphins Foundation presentation on Wednesday, Oct. 26 of a $20,000 check to The Miami Foundation Give2Cuba Fund with proceeds directed towards those impacted by the widespread devastation in Cuba.
For additional information about the team’s community programs, please visit http://www.dolphins.com/community.
