The NFL has warned "several teams" that players are not to meet with coaches and receive playbooks during this time in the offseason, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported over the weekend. The league has sent the Dolphins no such warning.
But perhaps it should.
That's because Chad Henne, Miami's presumed starting quarterback, told The Miami Herald today he's been meeting with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll for the last month in preparation for player-organized workouts that would replace any offseason workouts or minicamps lost to a possible lockout or other circumstance related to the uncertain and unresolved collective bargaining contract.
Henne, apparently comfortable with the new playbook, would presumably run the offensive portion of the workouts. To be equiped for that task, Henne had to learn portions of the playbook, or at least significant portions of it. And to do that, he likely had to study the darn thing.
Regardless, even meeting with Daboll to discuss strategy and plays is apparently out of bounds, according to the Plain Dealer. And that definitely happened.
"I took some vacation time, maybe a week or two here or there, but once we signed Coach Brian Daboll, I tried to get into there as quick as I could to learn the offense," Henne told the Herald's David J. Neal. "I've been meeting with him for the last month now. I feel pretty comfortable with what he's teaching and what the offense is going to be about just in case -- who knows what's going to happen this Thursday? -- that I can pass it on to the guys and help the guys out."
Henne is quoted extensively in the story talking about the new offense and how it is quarterback friendly and a mix of the New England and New York Jets offense. The story does not make the conclusion that Henne violated any rules. It does not even consider the topic.
But I do.
According to the Plain Dealer, coaches and GMs at the NFL Scouting Combine were told by league officials that existing rules forbid meetings with coaches and the dispensing of playbooks until the official start of offseason conditioning programs on March 15. The league is saying the offseason rules were a concession to the wishes of the players union, which did not want coaches pressuring players to meet with coaches until the off-season programs kicked off, the Plain Dealer reported.
The Plain Dealer report specifically addressed meetings relative to strategy. Players and coaches are allowed to meet to discuss other matters, such as contract issues and to simply handle introductions and other business until March 3, it has been reported.
An NFL spokesman could not immediately be reached on this matter. A message left with a Dolphins spokesman has not yet been returned.
Update: A Dolphins spokesman declined comment and added he would not even confirm that Henne had indeed met with Daboll -- although the spokesman was present today when Henne said he met with Daboll. I find that amusing for some reason.
Update 2: Whatever advantage the Dolphins gained (if any) is done because the league year ends March 3rd anyway and everyone knows and understands there is to be no contact between players and their teams after March 3rd.
Update 3: Veteran St. Louis scribe and radio host Howard Balzer passed along the portion of the NFL's clarification of the Collective Bargaining Agreement that shows the contact between Henne and Daboll to be out of bounds.
The current collective bargaining agreement, which doesn’t expire until midnight March 3, has strict rules regarding what players can do before the beginning of offseason programs. The NFL has made this clear to clubs by way of written clarification. That clarification reads:
"Prior to the start of off-season programs, players are permitted to use the Club’s facilities on a voluntary basis subject to the following rules: (i) such players may not receive per diem payments or workout bonuses of any kind and may not be paid or reimbursed expenses for travel, board or lodging during this period; (ii) such players are not permitted to participate in organized workouts, practices or meetings of any kind; (iii) the Club’s strength and conditioning coaches may not direct such players’ individual workouts, but may supervise use of the weight room to prevent injury, correct misuse of equipment, etc.; and (iv) such players may not be directed or supervised by position coaches during this period."
Obviously, the quarterback meeting with the offensive coordinator is a meeting of some kind when the CBA clearly states meetings of any kind are out of bounds.
Balzer also tells me via e-mail that in St. Louis, quarterback Sam Bradford has not met with his new offensive coordinator for this reason.
Update 4: Henne didn't just meet with Brian Daboll. Quarterback coach Karl Dorrell was in the room also at Dolphins training camp. That is similarly a violation of the CBA. And this is not just speculation. This is straight from Henne's mouth.
Watch the video:
Henne is dumber than a bag of doorknobs. Just look in his eyes . . . there's absolutely nothing there.
Bad we can deal with. Stupid is incurable.
Posted by: Angry Elf | February 28, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Are you freakin kidding me, really armando, thats what you do with your time. You'll kill a guy for not putting in the time, kill an organization for every miss step but here you clearly have a quarterback and a new offensive coordinator trying to get on the same page in the midst of, shall I say, an unclear labor disagreement where no one really knows for sure what the rules are and you throw them under the bus. You are a small time, minor league wanna be who should be employed by the jets.
Posted by: frank | February 28, 2011 at 08:48 PM
HENNE IS A MAN WHO WILL MAKE 8 MILLION PER YEAR VERY SOON.
Posted by: ALoco | February 28, 2011 at 08:48 PM
The chances of Ireland picking any of the most obvious choices for our first pick is slim. He's the type that needs to show he is smarter than everyone else. We'll probably draft Suno Chupakino from East West Virgnia. He'll sit out the first season with either a broken clavicle or heart transplant, oohhh but he has serious potential.
Posted by: rincon | February 28, 2011 at 08:53 PM
NICE POST FRANK,
WE SHOULD LET THE LEADER OF GANG OF DEFEAT ARMANDO AND DYING BREED KNOW HOW WE FEEL .
Posted by: ALoco | February 28, 2011 at 08:53 PM
Henne will be a back up from 2012 - 2015, and then land a steady gig as a driver for UPS.
Posted by: rincon | February 28, 2011 at 08:54 PM
ARMANDO WILL COME SOON WITH AN ARTICLE ABOUT RELEASING JASON TAYLOR BY THE JETS AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THAT WAS JASON'S CHOICE WHEN HE HAD 2 YEAR CONTRACT AND THEY RELEASED HIM AFTER ONE YEAR .
Posted by: ALoco | February 28, 2011 at 08:56 PM
Sounds like Armando still holds a grudge because the fins didn't allow him into the conference room when Ross, Ireland and Sparano met with the South Florida media. This they did while Hyde and Beradino had front row seats.
Posted by: Rocko | February 28, 2011 at 08:57 PM
way to stand by your team Armando. God u are a moron
Posted by: stephen | February 28, 2011 at 08:58 PM
ROCKO,
IS THAT RIGHT ?LOL
Posted by: ALoco | February 28, 2011 at 08:59 PM
Gholston was the sixth overall pick of the 2008 draft. He was supposed to be a monstrous pass-rusher and entered the league with a contract that included $21 million in guarantees.
But Gholston didn't record a single sack in his three seasons. He started only five games as a Jet, and occasionally was a healthy scratch.
----------------------------------------------
Welcome to the USA, 21 million to be a failure.
Posted by: unreal | February 28, 2011 at 09:01 PM
JETS HAVE RELEASED MR JASON TAYLOR AFTER ONE YEAR AND NOT ALLOWING HIM TO FINISH HIS 2 YEAR CONTRACT .
Posted by: ALoco | February 28, 2011 at 09:01 PM
Nice job Armando. Maybe it would have gotten out regardless but why do I sense some glee from your "reporting"? This article served one purpose and that was to stroke your ego.
Posted by: JB | February 28, 2011 at 09:03 PM
Taylor and Zach together never stopped the opposing team when it mattered. Period. Late 4th quarter teams marched down on them endlessly to win the game. Give Zach an A for heart, Taylor did his part, but they could never get the job done when it mattered most. Two of the most overrated players in fins history. No worries, Taylor won't be back.
Posted by: rincon | February 28, 2011 at 09:18 PM
Petrified wood is more mobile than Henne and is more mentally developed to boot.
Posted by: FlyingFish2 | February 28, 2011 at 09:31 PM
Boycott his show guys...I don't listen to it and neither should you really. He may cover the Dolphins, but he is not on their side. I hope they ban your butt from the facility.
Posted by: The Hen | February 28, 2011 at 09:32 PM
My favorite poster of all time:
Lil' Aloco
My favorite qb of all time:
Chad Henne
My favorite public service group of all time:
GANG OF DEFEAT!
Posted by: DyingBreed | February 28, 2011 at 09:40 PM
It dawned on me why Ross was so obsessed with hiring all the entertaining celebrities, somebody had to do the entertaining for Henne under Henning's offense guided by high school pep rally leader, fist pump Sparano himself were anything but entertaining. Somebody had to create some semblance of amusement for the network telecasts.
Posted by: FlyingFish2 | February 28, 2011 at 09:40 PM
I don't understand the big deal here. It's not like Armando broke this story. It was reported on PFT earlier today, and like he said by the Cleveland Plains dealer. Harbaugh, has been reported to have been meeting with his quarterback Alex Smith since Jan 11th. If a rule was broken in either case, it is not the fault of the reporters.
Posted by: Darryl Dunphy | February 28, 2011 at 09:41 PM
DB,
DO NOT YOU FEEL HOW LOW OF YOU TO ATTACK HENNE ,JUST TO KISS ARMANDO'S BEHIND .
Posted by: ALoco | February 28, 2011 at 09:45 PM
Recipe For A Proper, Basic Caipirinha:
Place 1/2 a lime, quartered in a rock glass
Add 2 tsp of fine sugar
Using a muddler or anything comparable, muddle the sugar and juice from the limes for no less and no more than 15 seconds
Fill glass to rim with ice
Add 2oz of Cachaca
Garnish with lime slice and enjoy! aaaaaah!
Posted by: Bored2TearsHere2 | February 28, 2011 at 09:48 PM
DD,
THE POINT IS THAT ARMANDO DIDN'T BREAK THE STORY BUT HE FOUND IT AS A CHANCE TO STABB THE DOLPHINS .
IS HE GOING TO REPORT ON HASON TAYLOR RELEASE ?
Posted by: ALoco | February 28, 2011 at 09:49 PM
This was also reported on the PBP....
If the Dolphins did break a rule. This doesn't fall on the shoulders of a reporter who was blogging about a story that was already reported. This would fall on the FO. IF, and IF they are punished. It would be another in a long line of questionable choices, and poor leadership. How could the people in charge allow this to be discussed at of all places a golf tourney, with the owner right next to the quarterback? Could you imagine how humiliating this would be to the franchise if we lost a pick because Henne couldn't keep his mouth shut?
Posted by: Darryl Dunphy | February 28, 2011 at 09:49 PM
A patient needs a brain transplant. The brain saleman tells him he only has two left and would be glad to give him a look.
So patients walks into lab with brain salesman. There 2 brains, one in each jar, each with a price tag mark.
Patient looks at both brains. One says Albert Einstien on the outside of the jar and the other says Chad Henne. The guy then looks up at the brain salesman with a very puzzled look.
He says, "Im very confused. The brain that says Albert Einstien goes for only $1. But the one that says Chad Henne goes for $1 million dollars. Shouldnt it be the other way around"?
The brain salesman replies, "Yes you would think that, but the reason the Chad Henne brain is so expensive is because it's never been used."
Posted by: DyingBreed | February 28, 2011 at 09:51 PM
IT WAS REPORTED THE LEAGUE KNEW ABOUT IT BEFORE HENNE SPOKE,HE MAY SMARTLY SAID THAT IN PURPOSS .
Posted by: ALoco | February 28, 2011 at 09:52 PM
2010: ALoc vs Mama Mia. The US Supreme Court rules in favor of ALoco. Antitrust laws stated Mama Mia could not hold back her meatballs just because ALoco preferred to use his "secret" recipe sauce handed down for hundreds of generations.
The US Supreme also ruled ALoco could not have exclusive rights to the "meatball sub" either. ALoco is now seeking US patent rights to the "meatball pizza". GO ALoco!
Posted by: DyingBreed | February 28, 2011 at 09:54 PM
EVERY TIM BLOG HITLER POST A NEW POST ,HE LOSES THE RESPECT OF FANS.
Posted by: ALoco | February 28, 2011 at 09:54 PM
ALoco...I understand. It doesn't bother me though. What if the Dolphins do get punished for this? Should Armando just keep quiet because it is unpopular? Sometimes not all is rosy. I think he was just doing his job. If it offends anyone. That is for them to decide, and I won't argue. I was just giving my point of view.
Posted by: Darryl Dunphy | February 28, 2011 at 09:54 PM
ALoco,
2010: Lil' ALoco vs Mama Mia. The US Supreme Court rules in favor of ALoco. Antitrust laws stated Mama Mia could not hold back her meatballs just because ALoco preferred to use his "secret" recipe sauce handed down for hundreds of generations.
The US Supreme also ruled ALoco could not have exclusive rights to the "meatball sub" either. ALoco is now seeking US patent rights to the "meatball pizza". GO ALoco!
Posted by: DyingBreed | February 28, 2011 at 09:55 PM
ALoco,
When will you introducing your new line of patented meatball pizzas?
Posted by: DyingBreed | February 28, 2011 at 09:57 PM
DD,
IT'S NOT ONLY THIS STORY BUT AFTER I WEEK AARMANDO DIDN'T HAVE ANY NEWS ABOUT THE COMBINE OR OUR DRAFT CHOICES .
HE SEEMS ONLY CARE ABOUT SHAMING THE DOLPHINS AND KISS JASON TAYLOR BEHIND .
Posted by: ALoco | February 28, 2011 at 09:57 PM
Jets releasing Gohlston, Taylor, Kris Jenkins and Woody
Posted by: dishpan | February 28, 2011 at 10:00 PM
DB,
IT'S LOW BELOW WHEN YOU ATTACK HENNE AND HIS MENTAL HEALTH,IT'S SPEAK VOLUME ABOUT YOU .
Posted by: ALoco | February 28, 2011 at 10:00 PM
Cowboys allowing Spears and Sensebaugh to test free agency
Posted by: dishpan | February 28, 2011 at 10:01 PM
ALoco,
I must confess. I had a foot long Subway chicken bacon ranch today. I should have stuck with meatballs. It has made me go astray.
Will you er'er forgive lil' ALoco buddy?
Posted by: DyingBreed | February 28, 2011 at 10:03 PM
Everytime I sit on the toilet I think of Sparano and Henne immediately after finishing my business.
Posted by: rincon | February 28, 2011 at 10:05 PM
Blog hitler
Posted by: 2watt | February 28, 2011 at 10:05 PM
mando,
you must have been a little cry baby hall monitor in school whose mommy made a special lunch to bring in his WONDER WOMAN LUNCH BOX!!!! For once why don't you try and get a SCOOP like who might actually be the FINS next Q.B. By the way lose the pink lacy socks!!!
Posted by: FINS ARMEGEDDON | February 28, 2011 at 10:06 PM
I must confess,i had a foot long subway in my as ss .
Posted by: 2watt | February 28, 2011 at 10:07 PM
mando,
Gone for a week and this is what you come back with. What's wrong...PMSing? I know you hate Henne but really. Take some Pamprin and start over tomorrow.
Posted by: Sullysfins | February 28, 2011 at 10:08 PM
armando is only good for scoop when it comes to bash our team .even it wasn't him who reported the story first .
Posted by: 2watt | February 28, 2011 at 10:09 PM
How many organizations would trade their FO for ours? Ross, Ireland, Sparano. Ummm, less than zero. This team is doomed for another decade.
Posted by: Pum | February 28, 2011 at 10:11 PM
Ia Alex Smith & the 49ers. are in the same page or is only the Dolphins, cause is the Dolphins?
Posted by: tony in miami | February 28, 2011 at 10:12 PM
Mando, panties.com is having a sale.You go girl!!!
Posted by: FINS ARMEGEDDON | February 28, 2011 at 10:18 PM
What if we changed the name of the team to the Miami Bowel Movement and put Ross's wrinkly cheeks on the helmet?
Posted by: Pum | February 28, 2011 at 10:19 PM
Tony in miami.... You could argue that what the Niners did is more of a breach. It was the head coach that made it public that he had meetings with his quarterback. If the rule is no communication, then that is the rule. I'm sure at the Harbaugh Smith meeting they discussed more then Smiths family. The Niner nation did not crazy over this. Why is this an attack on Salguero?
Posted by: Darryl Dunphy | February 28, 2011 at 10:21 PM
I find it interesting that only 1 out of every 17 bloggers here can write grammatically correct English.
Posted by: Pum | February 28, 2011 at 10:23 PM
DD,
B/C HE DEVOITED THE WHOLE POST FOR IT WHEN OTHER TEAMS HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AND NO ONE POSTED IT ON LINE .
Posted by: 2watt | February 28, 2011 at 10:24 PM
2WATT,
CAN YOU WRITE IN NORMAL LETTERS ,NOT CAPS .
Posted by: ALoco | February 28, 2011 at 10:26 PM
Dabol is our new OC. My belly still hurts from laughing. I guess Ronald McDonald wasn't available.
Posted by: Pum | February 28, 2011 at 10:27 PM
Roos, Ireland, Sparano = 2011 version of The Three Stooges. Is there ia more ridiculous sports franchise right now??? Impossible.
Posted by: Pum | February 28, 2011 at 10:31 PM
Pum the troll
Posted by: dishpan | February 28, 2011 at 10:32 PM
Aloco, don't you only write in caps?
Posted by: dishpan | February 28, 2011 at 10:33 PM
dishpan avoids reality, but that is only a temporary state.
Posted by: Pum | February 28, 2011 at 10:34 PM
Pum, you must not be that one grammatically perfect blogger out of seventeen, unless the Dolphins owner is named Roos ...
Posted by: dishpan | February 28, 2011 at 10:35 PM
dishpan, can you name a more dysfunctional or inept sports organization?
Posted by: Pum | February 28, 2011 at 10:41 PM
They say Armando Salguero has a very thick skin, and feels no pain. Could that be true?
Posted by: oscar canosa | February 28, 2011 at 10:42 PM
Actually Pum, I can't
Posted by: dishpan | February 28, 2011 at 10:42 PM
Wait, maybe the cubs
Posted by: dishpan | February 28, 2011 at 10:43 PM
God henne is so damn stupid. He can't run an offense or read defenses and make good decisions. Now the dumb ass can't keep his mouth shut. I guess he's a reflection of our dumb ass front office.
Posted by: john | February 28, 2011 at 10:43 PM