Good news! Center expected back for Oakland

After starter Joe Berger missed Thursday night's game and backup Cory Procter left the game with a knee injury, the Dolphins might on the surface seem to be dealing with something of a crisis at the center position today.

Relax. They are not.

Berger, who started Miami's first nine games of the season after beating out Jake Grove for the spot, is expected to return to the lineup against Oakland when the Dolphins visit the Black Hole Nov. 28. It's not so much that Berger is expected to recover in time from the knee injury the team listed for him in declaring him out last week, although that apparently should be the case.

It's that, according to a club source, the "personal issue" that Berger is attending to should be sufficiently resolved by the week of the Oakland game. 

The source declined to specify what issue Berger is dealing with but it seems clear that it as much as the knee is the reason the player missed Thursday's game. And again, the club expects the issue to be handled when Berger, who has been away from the team for a time, returns to work.

So the Dolphins don't necessarily need to go shopping for a starting center. They don't have to worry about continuing to play left guard Richie Incognito at the center position as he did much of Thursday night.

The team should be fine once Berger handles his business.

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Comments

[#1 Dolphin Fan in Montreal]

The most important decision this regime had to make was the very first one back in 2008. Draft day. Matt Ryan or Jake Long. Now no offense to Jake, I love him to death and he's on the top 3 LTs in the NFL. No question. But in the NFL, the most important position is QB. That's it. You need a QB to win. You're not going to win a SB with Jay Fiedler, A.J.Feeley, Cleo Lemon, Joey Harrington, John Beck, Trent Green, etc etc... Matt Ryan is a franchise QB and we passed on him. Just like we passed on Drew Brees. We passed on Michael Vick. We passed on many great QBs over the years. Look at the list of QBs who won the SB in the last decade and they all have one hting in common. They're pretty darn good. Does anyone remember who the LT for the Steelers was when they won a SB? Or the Patriots? How about the Saints? Or the Bucs? LT is an important position, but you win with a QB. Miami's front office obviously misses on a lot of that. Pittsburgh drafted Roethlisberger. New England drafted Brady. Baltimore drafted Flacco. Atlanta drafted Matt Ryan. New York drafted Eli Manning. Detroit drafted Stafford. We'll still be looking to draft a QB next draft. And the story never ends.

[T. Martin (Burbank, CA)]

Mando, since it's obvious that Dan Henning is mailing it in and won't be back next year (we can agree on that right?) Are the Dolphins better served to promote David Lee to OC or hire a big name? The risks of hiring Lee is a) you lose his ability to be heavily involved with the young QBs, Henne, Thigpen and whoever they draft (Ryan Mallet?) b) by hiring from within would they risk the perception of small changes to the offense when big changes are needed? (would Ricky and Ronnie both bolt for greener pastures and somebody nay ANYBODY that might actually call their numbers?)

Lastly, do any of the players feel that Henning has sabotaged the offense this year? I'm sure they do (see exhibit a) R. Brown and exhibit b) R. Williams) but may feel they can't verbalize it which is ironic the way Sparano threw Thigpen under the bus by saying he audibled out of running plays against the Bears. Funny, I always thought the good teams impose their will on both sides of the ball rather than letting the other teams dictate.

[jrljr2]

# 1 fan, you hit the nail on the head. However, i will take it one step further. RThe one to blame about this whole mess is that big coward, the egomaniac , Parcells. He saw the fact that he created a mess and failed, and what did he do? HE QUIT. HE Is A COWARD!!! I cant believe that Mando or any other scribes havent addressed this in the proper light. He walked away after he realized je swung and missed more than he hit. After 2008, he and the FO thought they accomplished something, but in reality that team was a byproduct of many things, most notably an easy schedule. He would be tarred and feathered in the old days for his cowardess.

[dolphin77]

breaking news! this just in, dolphins still suck! oh thats old news. miami's goal for the rest of the season is to start 20 different qbs since marino. sparano says he expects them to compete well against oakland, what happend to competeing well against chicago?

[Utdolfan]

Sparano expects them to play at a higher level now because their backs are against the wall.

Wow, too bad, as a head coach, you can't get them to play with that same drive for the other games that count every bit as much.

[Utdolfan]

I guess no news is good news????

[bobbyd12]

I`m a freaking aszwipe!

[snikoom]

playoffs.... playoffs.... you got to be kidding!! another lost season with no hope for next year baring miracle draft. we need QB, RB, Safey, CB, ILB, and DL. they should let the fans pick 1-4 rounds. we cannot do any worst than these yahoos running the show for the past 15 yrs!!

[The Hot Mermaids @ Weeki Wachee]

For the Fifteenth Time....

THEY HAVE NO PLAYERS LEFT ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE
.....SO DON'T EXPECT ANY MIRACLES!!
.
.

[The Hot Mermaids @ Weeki Wachee]

Also...

GRUDEN IS
N O T
BETTER THAN SPARANO!

(...just ask Tampa bay...he won with Dungy's players and then he destroyed the team with his own draft pics and free agents)
.
.

[Cuban Menace]

What do the Miami Dolphins and The Miami Hurricanes have in common?????

[Yazzi]

JIMMY (...My Ego is bigger than planet earth).. JOHNSON
.
.

[Cuban Menace]

That's one of many Yaz.....

[Home 4 Gruden 2011]

I wanna blow Chuckie Gruden

I want his large load in my throat

On 11 13

Home 4 Gruden 2011

[Home 4 Gruden 2011]

This just in, dolphin77 is still the biggest AHole Here

Oh, that's old news, but still relevant

Home 4 Gruden 2011

[dolphin77]

hell yeah! who sucks more the dolphins or canes? it's a tie. no wait home 4 gruden sucks more than both of them!

[dolphin77]

no homos allowed!

[Cuban Menace]

Lot of hate going on.... I'am outta here....

[odinseye]

Homes,

Come on now. I haven't passed out, puked and pissed myself since I was touring with Rare Earth back in the Eighties. MAN, those we're GREAT TIMES!

I know, I know, us dumbed down Musicians should have been huddled up in the corner of a basement with our tin foil helmets worrying about the end of times.

Oh well, I guess when you have a life, it tends to give you some perspective.

You should try getting a little of both weather BOY!

[Yazzi]

Yeah....thats about what you'll get with Gruden.

By the way...
when Bill Cowher (The only GOOD coach currently on the market) came down this spring to watch a couple of the Dolphins practices....He praised them as being very similar to the way Pittsburg used to practice.

PLEASE CONSIDER T-H-A-T BEFORE YOU START TO ASK FOR THE TRIFECTA'S HEADS!!!

also...

It takes 21 Starts to determine if a Quaterback will make it in the NFL.

It takes 3 or 4 Seasons on the Sideline to tell is a Head Coach should be one.

Teams who turn over their Staffs every 2 or 3 years NEVER WIN.

You can't blame a Coach for a team decimated by INJURIES.

The 2010 Dolphins are STILL a work in progress...
They need a FAST Receiver,
an 'elite' Nose Tackle
and a MEAN and NASTY Inside Linebacker.

Most of this team is still VERY YOUNG,
and (here's what many of you had better start to realize...) there is obviously MUCH MORE Talent here than there has been in a very long time. (The problem is that most of them are injured at the moment.)

I know that we're all disappointed...
but...
Try to remember....
THE GRASS AIN'T ALWAYS
GREENER !
.
.

[cowkilla]

Im waiting for the next story to come out Armando...it should be titled Great News! Henning Fired!

[Yazzi]

Henning will retire at the end of this year...

If the team looses more than 9 games,
Then Ross will hire more Singers and Dancers to drown out the Football!

[odinseye]

If you're beating me at chess, I'll tip over the table!

I can't beat you at Madden, I'll smash your x-box!

The wheels fall of my war wagon, I'll grab the gun out from under the seat and chase you down the street!

I run out of bullets, I'll use my gun like a hammer and split yo wig!

This season goes under, I'm still the biggest Dolphin Fan out there.

I'll be right here in front of the flat screen rooting for them to take down as many teams as we can!

[Yazzi]

That how
John D. Rockefeller
did business during his 'Standard Oil' days...

He would BLOW UP the Drill-sites and Mines of all his Competitors!
.
.

[Andy NJ]

Miami has is a mediocre organization. They have holes at every single unit on offense and defense. Here are the gaping holes.

QB - Henne, Thigpen and Pennington (most likely retiring). There is not a legit starter among them. Henne is spot starter at best but all of you who say you can't judge a QB after 21 games must not be watching that statue back there. He is a poor man's Drew Bledsoe. He can throw for a ton of yards when behind but makes 0 clutch throws and will never win a big game.

RB - I HATE Ronnie Brown. He is such a bum. He runs so soft. You would never know he was 230 lbs. He isn't worth any extension and if they do or franchise him just to keep him I am done with this team. Ricky thanks for giving a damn and effort but your best days are past.

WR - Outside of Marshall and a nice non-starter but slot WR in Bess they have nothing. Hartline is a backups backup. Has either undrafted rookie Wallace or Moore even caught a pass?

TE - Fasano has 1 good game in two seasons and they give him a 2 year extension LMAO. Classic!

OL - what a disaster this organization has made it. They missed at this spot more then any other. Isn't this supposed to be Sparano's specialty. He is an idiot that has mis-managed, mis-coached, mis-shuffled and mis-remembered what he is doing. Freaking moron.

[Andy NJ]

Defense plays hard but are missing a fews spots.

Free Safety - The Clemons experiment is over. He looks awkward and a guy known for being a hitter in college has delivered none. His play making skills are non-existent. He has none and 0 instints. Let the Reshad Jones experiment begin.

Strong Safety - Bell is really pathetic in coverage sometimes but if he had a better free safety he wouldn't be relied on as much to cover. He is good in the box and a solid tackler even if not fleet of foot.

Linebackers are pretty solid. Again, where oh where is Crowder in games? He makes 0 plays, horrible is the passing game and takes the worst angles. Misi has been decent in spots and is a rookie learning so he gets a pass for average play and like most rookies not being able to play the run. Dansby he is pretty close to being as good as advertised. He hasn't made the big INT or fumble this year but has made plays coming up with key tackles. ThE Minnesota game comes to mind. Cam Wake is a beast. Mike Nolan has been able to do with what he did for Elvis Dumervil. He puts him in the best spot to rush the passer.

Cornerback - disastorous for anyone not named Vontae and even he seems to have let all the big talk about him go to his own head. Sean Smith is a P. He is a joke. Al Harris is like 40 and so slow that he got outrun by Jay Cutler on a 3rd and 15. Benny Sapp thanks for a gimme int from Cutler other then that I would much rather have Camarillo.

[Yazzi]

Andy NJ:

So I guess you like Channing Crowder??

Cause...
(in my humble opinion)
THAT Guy is NOT an NFL Starting Linebacker.

He NEVER knocks anyone back when he collides with them!
...and a rarely see him make a solo tackle for no gain.

I doubt he could play much for the TOP 10 Teams in the League.
.
.

[Yazzi]

Andy: Didn't see your second post...WE AGREE.
.
.

[Darryl Dunphy]

WTF... Cats 21 Griz 16. 18 degrees, 20 mph winds out of Hellgate canyon. Friggin froze, and ran out of Rumplemintz at half time. Not a good week for my favorite teams.

[Andy NJ]

No problem Yazzi. This team is a mess bro. I have lost faith in this team. I'd rather lose out then finish 8-8 or 7-9 again. I want a top 10 draft pick that they won't blow. Last year Miami has a chance to completely revamp their WR corp and get Marshall and have Dez Bryant and what do they do they trade back for meat and potatoes except meat and potatoes Odrick has a history of leg problems. So Jeff Ireland next time don't ask and worry if someone's daddy was a pimp and mom a street hooker. Ask them about their health and do your homework with a player's medical history.

[Steve]

Does anyboby realize that sean smith cant catch a football and he cant tackle worth crap. He keeps leaving his jock strap on the field game after game..Am I the only one who sees this.

[Andy NJ]

Let's get it going fellas. Remember last March and April all the fun we had talking about should we go Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Brandon Graham, Earl Thomas?

Miami has zero face to the franchise. I am sick of this crap fellas. I can't take the incompetancy of this coaching staff and front office anymore.

[Andy NJ]

No we all see it Steve, Sean Smith is a straight up P**** A** MotherF*****!

[Home 4 Gruden 2011]

Andy NJ Would you like a little cheese with that whine?

You crying little Biatch

Please post your NFL GM resume for everyone to see

Home

[LAPhinsPhan]

I just watched NFL Films' documentary on the legendary Dolphins vs. Bears game in '85. Didn't know that Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryan were fighting, yelling, and shoving each other everyday that season. If Sparano can't/won't fire Henning, then I wish he would get into Henning's face and demand smarter game plans. Grow a spine Sparano and maybe I'll believe in you again.

[Steve]

Well Andy, I dont see alot of people commenting on Seans inadequacies on the field. Everyone still thinks Brandon is great.. I think he is a liability. I have never seen so many dropped passes by a superstar than this year with marshall. And lastly, fins brass has to stop looking for the diamond in the rough draft picks and spend the money on quality starters, we did pretty good with Jake Long. We should have taken earl thomas and we be off the field more often than not on 3rd and long...

[clancy]

Sean Smith and Clemons will turn out to be solid starters. You fickle fuckle fans expect every draft pick to be a pro bowler in less than 2 seasons. Give them a freakin chance to develop knuckleheads.

[Home 4 Gruden 2011]

Wonder why teams started throwing at Vonte

When Smith replaced Allen?

Maybe cause Smith is better then Vonte?

But you GM Biatches know it all

Home

[Home 4 Gruden 2011]

Steve and Andy, Nice Couple

Have you two geniuses considered playing each others skin flutes?

Home

[Gruden and 'Home' are both CREEPS]

John Gruden...

is a DILUTED MANIAC
who Back Bites most of the guys who play for him.
Most of his OWN PLAYERS DON'T TRUST HIM.

If you don't believe me then pull up ARCHIVES from Tampa's News Media!

You People have NO IDEA who you're asking for.
.
.

[Steve]

when I watch sean smith, benny sapp and chris clemons play i find myself saying where is gibril when we need him......I would like to see somebody in our secondary (YBell)start batting passes down instead of tackling after 10 yard completions .Hey I am a fins fan since 1970...I am tired of the crap teams we have put on the field since Marino retired.

[jrljr2]

Andy, i agree with every one of your points, especially Sparano and the Oline. Now to the D, CB- one, only one that can cover man to man and thats davis. The rest are nivkel and dime backs at best. LBs-wake a stud, Dansby good but not great Misi is and will be average and not a playmaker, Crowder is a loud mouth punk that cant back it up. No where near enough talent to be a good to gteat D. This team as a whole doesnt havre enough playmakers or depth. Truth is that they are the same team they were two years ago and they have the cowardly quitter Parcells to thank.

[Home 4 Gruden 2011]

Steve says "where is Gibril when we need him"

Home says, "Steve mainlines crack cocaine"

While sniffing Chemtrails

Home

[Home 4 Gruden 2011]

"Back bites?" Could you mean "back stabs"?

You must be related to Steve and Andy

Nice Couple, just illiterate

Home

[Someone who has lived in Tampa]

I'M TELLING YOU...
YOU DO NOT WANT GRUDEN COACHING THIS TEAM.

HE MIGHT BE MORE ATTACK MINDED WITH HIS VERTICAL OFFENSE,

BUT HIS LOCKER ROOM
IS
AN
ASYLUM!

HE MAKES JOSH MC DANIEL LOOK LIKE THE POPE!

NONE OF HIS PLAYERS TRUST ANYTHING HE SAYS.
MANY BELIEVE THAT HE WILL SCR_W THEM
TO SERVE HIS OWN PURPOSE.
.
.

[clancy]

The oline has been reduced to nothing. With only Long being a keeper. That is why we have no run game. That is why we can't score in the redzone.

We need, LG, RG, Center, TE and another NT. No OC is going to make bacon with these current clowns.

[Jersey Forever]

"Backbiting " IS an "actual Word".
(Google it...Freak.)

Anyway...
DON'T HIRE GRUDEN.

He NEVER Won with ANY of the players HE Drafted.
.
.

[Home 4 Gruden 2011]

When is that stinkin shithole of a State New Jersey

And it's ignorant fans gonna be wiped out

By a disaster? Not soon enough I see

Home

[Darryl Dunphy]

This years draft class has made little if no impact on our team. A lot of it is injury related, some of it is development. We need our draft picks to make a bigger impact next year. It isn't reasonable to think that we wil hit on all of our choices. We need to be smart about where we need help. I haven't done any scouting, or looked at prospects and their value to where we pick so it's hard to say where to start. Just from our teams deficiencies I'll start where I think we are in the most trouble(This order will change once I know how our draft sets up, and how we finish) 1- Nickel corner 2- Tight End 3 Right tackle, 4 running back,5 Saftey

[clancy]

Darryl, don't you think Center, RB should be 1 and 2? Remember we will have Edds and Odrick back. We NEED a serious center and an RB with some speed.

[jrljr2]

i think we need PLAYMAKERS at any position. Playmakers with speed. We have very few.

[Darryl Dunphy]

Clancy- your right about needing both of those spots. But I haven't done enough homework on the next draft class to really evaluate any players, and how they may fit into our system. Also I'm taking actually praying that we have a new coordinator, so I did not list running back at priority 1-2 until we know who that will be. As far as center, I forgot about that one. It should take priority over right tackle.

[clancy]

My guess is Henning retires or moves on. I don't expect any drama, and I really don't expect him to be here next season.

[ALoco]

to BE OR NOT TO BE.

WITHOUT A GREAT QB WE WILL BE IN THE CELLAR FOR A WHILE .

NO COACH DOESN'T MATTER.
STAR PLAYERS IN THE DL AND OL WON'T MATTER .LOOK WE HAVE MARSHALL,DANSBY AND WAKE ,STILL WE R BACK RENTING A CELLAR SPACE .

[Jersey Forever]

Home: (@ 8:51 PM)

Obviously you haven't researched our Per Capita Income.

...and for some reason you're in Denial that we (along with New York, Connecticut and the rest of the Northeast) either FUND or MANUFACTURE...

A L L
T H A T
S U R R O U N D S
Y O U.

Oh..by the way...Just so you don't talk like a DOPE for the rest of your life...
There is a 40 square mile area (near the Meadowlands,) that was set up during the first Half of the 20th century, for Industry.

THE REST OF THE STATE HAS
GRASS, MOUNTAINS, AND TREES !!!!
.
.

[woa]

I'm pretty much in agreement with Darryl and Clancy. It's really troubling how they invested so much in the oline and it still isn't together. I think it's time to invest in a serious RB, and at least one QB with serious starter potential. And Berger seems like a 2nd string center. We are a terrible running team this year. Whats changed? Interior line. We probably ran so little last night because they knew it was useless with the oline in shambles.

[ALoco]

THE CELLAR WE THE MIAMI DOLPHINS RENTING HAS 2 LARGE WINDOWS AND 4 LARGE PICNIC TABLES PLUS ONE LARGE BATHROOM FOR ALL THE PLAYERS TO SHARE .

[Darryl Dunphy]

ALoco.. What did you make Taylor Swift for dinner?

[Yazzi]

ALoco/Shakespeare

Agreed.
We need a great Quaterback...
Maybe we can buy one of the 'Chinese' models that are sold at Walmart.
.
.

[woa]

Jersey, don't even waste your time responding to Home...it just feeds his pucker to write more. He is just bored and wants to rile you or anybody up. Ignore him and the world will be a better place.