AFC Notes: Dolphins, Patriots, Raiders

Dolphins

New Dolphins RB Jordan Howard said helping “turnaround” their organization was a big reason why he signed with Miami. 

“I just liked the opportunity it presented,” Howard said, via Sean Pitts and Mike Stocker the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “I felt like we’re turning things around down here, I just wanted to be a part of that. I was part of a turnaround in Chicago, so I embrace those type of things.”

Howard feels that he must prove to himself that he is still “one of the top backs in the game.” 

“I really don’t have anything to prove to anybody, just to myself that I can still be that type of player,” said Howard. “[I] just feel like I’m one of the top backs in the game, even [if] people don’t give me respect or credit or anything like that. I’m still out here trying to show what I can do.”

As for adjusting to a new team amidst the global pandemic, Howard admitted that this offseason “definitely different” but thinks the program is still “in good shape.”

“It’s been definitely different,” Howard said. “Just not getting to be around the guys, especially being on a new team and stuff like that and only doing Zoom calls and learning the playbook – just through online meetings and stuff like that. It’s definitely been different, but I feel like we been making the best of our circumstances, just getting in as much work as we can. I definitely feel like we’re in good shape, but good shape and football shape is different. So, it’s gonna be a little bit of an adjustment period.”

  • The Dolphins pushed back the report date for their rookies two days from July 21 to Thursday, July 23. (Adam Beasley/Barry Jackson)

Patriots

  • While the one-year, $14.78 million franchise tag for G Joe Thuney isn’t the typical value the Patriots are associated with, ESPN’s Mike Reiss says the team is content with it for 2020 given how little they’re spending on other positions like quarterback. 
  • Reiss believes the odds are low another team parts with a high enough draft pick to get New England to trade Thuney because of that cap hit. 

Raiders

After attending the Raiders’ workouts in Las Vegas as spectators, rookie receivers Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards finally started working out the past two weeks and have been impressing their new teammates.

“Henry and Bryan look really good,” TE Derek Carrier said in a telephone interview with Vic Tafur of The Athletic. “Their ability to be able to contribute right away is very clear. I am so excited to see them on the field. This draft class definitely has the ability to do some serious work in its first year. Ruggs is just as advertised. He is so fast, it’s unbelievable.”

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