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Could Dolphins Go for Jaelan Phillips 2.0?

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Could Dolphins Go for Jaelan Phillips 2.0?


Could it be déjà vu all over again for the Miami Dolphins in the 2024 NFL draft?

Could they spend a first-round pick on a star college pass rusher whose career was stopped by medical concerns before it restarted? Whose college career included a stop at UCLA? And lastly who wore number 15 during that stint with the Bruins?

Yeah, the similarities between Jaelan Phillips and Laiatu Latu are pretty fascinating, and it just so happens the Dolphins could use a pass rusher in the 2024 draft — in large part because of Phillips’ current health status, more specifically his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon he sustained last November.

LATU’S COLLEGE JOURNEY

Before he ended up at UCLA, Latu began his collegiate career at the University of Washington, but he sustained a neck injury during fall practices before his sophomore season in 2020 and would miss the next two seasons after UW doctors red-flagged him.

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With Phillips, it was a couple of concussions that led to him quitting football after playing at UCLA and before transferring to the University of Miami.

Latu played the past two seasons at UCLA and in 2023 he was a unanimous All-American selection and won the Ted Hendricks and Lombardi awards. He also was the collegiate Polynesian Football Player of the Year on defense, while the offensive award when to Tua Tagovailoa’s younger brother, Taulia (Tua won that award in 2018 and 2019, along with winning the professional award in 2022 for offense and 2023 overall).

WHY LATU WOULD BE A GREAT CHOICE FOR THE DOLPHINS

There is zero question that Latu would be a great fit for the Dolphins, but he would be a great fit for many teams, which is why it’s questionable whether he’ll be available with the 21st overall selection where the Dolphins have their first pick.

The Dolphins not only have to worry about Phillips’ recovery, but also those of fellow edge defenders Bradley Chubb and Cameron Goode from severe knee injuries sustained late in the season.

Latu’s NFL.com draft profile includes a quote from an anonymous AFC executive calling him “easily the most skilled (pass) rusher in the draft,” but perhaps concerns about his neck injury could cause him to slide.

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If he does end up being available at 21, the Dolphins could do worse than going for Jaelan Phillips 2.0.



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Miami, FL

Friends, family, community pay tribute to Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes

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Friends, family, community pay tribute to Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes



Friends, family, community pay tribute to Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes – CBS Miami

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Memorial services on Wednesday paid tribute to Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes who passed away earlier this month at the age of 80.

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New video shows Hungarian man charged in 2 Miami-Dade murders

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New video shows Hungarian man charged in 2 Miami-Dade murders


MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – New video evidence has come to light showing the man who detectives say is a confessed brutal murderer.

Police say Zsolt Zsolyomi is seen in surveillance video near the scene where one of his two suspected victims was found gruesomely killed.

Officials believe the video shows the 26-year-old outside the Miami Beach apartment building on Pennsylvania Avenue back in November, the night before 66-year-old Carlos Villaquiran was found face down in six inches of bathtub water, strangled to death.

Zsolyomi is first seen at 11:08 p.m. dressed in black with a ball cap on, walking back and forth.

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About 20 minutes later, he’s seen smoking a cigarette.

Another 15 minutes pass and the man in the video is seen opening up a dumpster and appearing to drop something in it.

Months later, his second suspected victim in Little Havana, Rodolfo Fernandez de Velasco, was found dead in the driver seat of his crashed car, also strangled with both front seat-belts wrapped around his neck.

Police say Zsolyomi was recorded walking out of the vehicle and leaving the scene before officers arrived.

Investigators say both victims were older, gay and disabled.

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Zsolyomi is from Hungary and was in the country illegally at the time of the murders after overstaying his visa.

He was arrested on Feb. 19 for the murders of the two men.

And while he was put on an immigration hold, he has not been deported.

Jail records show he is still behind bars in Miami Dade on a no bond hold, waiting for his next day in court which is scheduled for May.

If convicted, Zsolyomi could also be one of the first to fall under a new Florida law calling for the automatic death sentence of undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes like murder.

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Miami Heat Have Put Bad Habits On Display in 0-3 Run vs. Chicago Bulls

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Miami Heat Have Put Bad Habits On Display in 0-3 Run vs. Chicago Bulls


The Miami Heat have come up short in each of the last three months when facing the Chicago Bulls. As a result, they’ll open the postseason at the United Center as the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference play-in round. 

In order to play one more game beyond Wednesday’s 9-10 matchup, the Heat must find a way to secure a different result. Erik Spoelstra has won head-to-head matchups in play-ins against Billy Donovan in each of the past two years, but is just 13-16 against his coaching counterpart after his Heat has suffered three losses to the Bulls in a 70-day span. 

An inability to hold leads or get a handle on Bulls star Josh Giddey has hindered Miami, and if you don’t study history, you’re doomed to repeat it. Spoelstra will be reminding his team of how they’ve come up short, so we’ll do the same here. Below is a snapshot at how the meetings between these teams unfolded:

Feb. 4 – Bulls won 133-124 at United Center

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Miami had a couple of days to prepare for this game after opening February with a win in San Antonio but fell despite a 70-point first half and a 12-point lead with just over 10 minutes remaining. Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis shot 10-for-10 to share top scoring honors with Giddey (24 points). 

Ayo Dosunmu and Lonzo Ball, each out for the year, were in Chicago’s starting five. Miami was two days away from moving Jimmy Butler, who was banished from the team, so its bench consisted of the currently injured Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Terry Rozier and Alec Burks. Only Burks is expected to see extensive action in this play-in game.The teams combined to hit 36 3-pointers, firing up 85. 

March 8 – Bulls won 114-109 at Kaseya Center

This marked the third loss during the Heat’s 10-game skid last month, but was the first game they were favored in. After strong performances against the Cavs and Timberwolves, Miami was expected to handle Chicago at home, led 36-24 after a quarter and entered the fourth up 89-78. The Heat again fell apart in the fourth, lost the rebounding battle and were caught from behind despite the Bulls shooting 13-for-43 from 3-point range.

Andrew Wiggins led Miami with 22 points, but Kyle Anderson was still catching DNPs from Spoelstra and Rozier remained a key reserve, scoring 15 points and hitting five 3-pointers. Giddey finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, while Zach Collins added 18 points and 15 rebounds. Nikola Vucevic sat, but the Bulls did have their trade deadline acquisitions, Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter. Jones had a huge steal and bucket in the final minute, while Giddey knocked down a huge 3-pointer late to help seal the comeback win.

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April 9 –  Bulls won 119-111 at United Center

In a game Miami needed to give itself a chance to claw out of the No. 10 seed, it again led after a quarter but were terrorized by Giddey, who finished with 28 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. Vucevic also shined with 20 points, 11 boards and eight assists, while Huerter added 22 points and seven assists. Coby White missed all five of his 3-point attempts but picked it up in the fourth quarter and finished with 18 points. Buzelis added 17, so all five Chicago starters scored in double-figures. 

Wiggins returned from a lengthy absence due to hamstring issues for the Heat and played well, but wasn’t as explosive as he had been before his injury. Adebayo shot just 6-for-15 and will need to be better. Tyler Herro scored 30 points but was criticized for pulling up for a 3-pointer instead of taking a wide open layup following a steal with Miami down five in the game’s final minute. Davion Mitchell was the Heat’s best player, finishing with 17 points, eight assists and four steals.

Tony Mejia is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at tnyce1414@gmail.com



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