AFC Notes: Colts, Dolphins, Jets

Colts

New Colts CB Xavier Rhodes spoke with Andrew Walker of Colts.com about what it was like to learn that his former team, the Vikings, were moving on from him.

 “The last two years, it’s been a battle, especially with injuries,” Rhodes told Walker. “So, you know, with that, it moves on. Eventually — I didn’t know from the beginning that the Vikings were going to move on, but then it hit me later on. I eventually figured it out and found out, but like I said, it’s a new chapter. I’m with the Colts now, and I’m willing to work with this organization and fight and try to win the team a championship and lead the DBs to let them play to the best of their ability.”

Rhodes also responded to the criticism that his best playing days are behind him.

“You can’t really pay attention to people. Football is football, man — you’re going to always face challenges in this game. Each and every week you’ve gotta prove yourself, to someone and to yourself, because each and every week is a new challenge. You can’t be settled in this game. So, by that, that comes with the territory, that comes with the game at the same time. So I don’t feel like I need to prove myself to anyone but myself.“

• Rhodes’ deal includes a $1 million signing bonus $1.5 million base salary, up to $500,000 in per-game active roster bonuses along with $250,000 in incentives. (Joel Erickson)
• LSU CB Kristian Fulton has spoken to or scheduled to meet with several teams including the Colts. (Justin Melo)

Dolphins

Dolphins’ recently signed DE Shaq Lawson feels he is “making strides” each season and is continuously improving. 

“I’m at a point of my career where I’m just only getting better — making strides each year,” Lawson said, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “Each year I’ve gotten better, improved. Getting more comfortable in the game. I feel like these next coming years, I’ve got a lot of juice. I’ve got a lot to bring to the table, and I showed glimpses of it last year with only just playing on the amount of snaps I was playing. I’m just ready to go get it and just [try] to be a double-digit sack guy.”

Lawson believes that the Dolphins are building a strong defense after also adding OLB Kyle Van Noy and DE Emmanuel Ogbah. 

“We’ve got guys,” Lawson said. “They came from programs that had successful numbers last year. Kyle had a great year. Ogbah — I don’t know how to pronounce his name, but I know that’s my teammate — had a great year. So putting us all three on the field, we can be something special; but that’ll take time. We’ve all got to be on the same page because we’ve got to think about it. We’ve never rushed with each other and things like that, so it’s going to take time; but we’ve got three great guys to go rush the passer. It could be special.”

Lawson said the Dolphins quickly showed interest in him as a free agent and mentioned that he has a “great relationship” with DL coach Marion Hobby. 

“I didn’t know how the free agency thing worked because this is my first rodeo, but I found out Miami had interest in me from the time everything opened up,” Lawson said. “I just had a great relationship with Marion Hobby down there. He coached me for three years of college football, and he developed me into the football player I am, so that made my decision easy to go down there.”

Jets