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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

The Miami Dolphins’ 2024 Regular Season Schedule

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The Miami Dolphins’ 2024 Regular Season Schedule


The Miami Dolphins’ 2024 NFL regular season schedule was officially released Wednesday. Fans already knew who the opponents were — now they know the dates and times of the contests.

Miami will open the season at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The matchup pits quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Lawrence against each other for the second time since they first met in the 2019 CFB National Championship game between Alabama and Clemson. Lawrence’s Tigers won the contest.

The last time the two met was in 2021 when Lawrence helped Jacksonville pull out a 23-20 last-second victory.

Miami plays division rival Buffalo in the comfort of Hard Rock Stadium in a Week 2 Thursday Night Football matchup on Sept. 12. It will be the first of five prime-time games that include a home Monday Night Football matchup against Tennessee on Sept. 30, a trip to Los Angeles for Monday Night Football against the Rams on Nov. 11, a Thanksgiving Thursday Night Football matchup in Green Bay Nov. 28, and Sunday Night Football in Cleveland on Dec. 29.

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The Dolphins will be well-traveled in 2024 — with nine road games and trips out west to Los Angeles and Seattle, the Dolphins will cover 25,869 miles. Miami will travel to Indianapolis, Houston, Cleveland, and Green Bay as well, among others.

A notable game on the schedule is the return game for former defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who will be coming to Miami with the Las Vegas Raiders on No. 17.

Overall, the Dolphins will play seven games against six different playoff teams from the 2023 season, including four against division champions from a year ago. Five of those seven contests will be played on the road as the AFC plays nine road games in even years.

The Dolphins have a Week 6 bye week and seven road trip afterward, including right out of the bye, when they go to Indianapolis Week 7.

The Dolphins will face the New York Jets twice in the final five weeks, including the season finale at MetLife Stadium on either Jan. 4 or 5.

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Sept. 8, Jacksonville at Miami, 1 p.m.

Sept. 12, Buffalo at Miami, 8:15 p.m. (Thursday night)

Sept. 22, Miami at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

Sept. 30, Tennessee at Miami, 7:30 p.m. (Monday night)

Oct. 6, Miami at New England, 1 p.m.

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Oct. 13, Bye week

Oct. 20, Miami at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Oct. 27, Arizona at Miami, 1 p.m.

Nov. 3, Miami at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Nov. 11, Miami at L.A. Rams, 8:15 p.m. (Monday night)

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Nov. 17, Las Vegas at Miami, 1 p.m.

Nov. 24, New England at Miami, 1 p.m.

Nov. 28, Miami at Green Bay, 8:20 p.m. (Thursday night, Thanksgiving)

Dec. 8, N.Y. Jets at Miami, 1 p.m.

Dec. 15, Miami at Houston, 1 p.m.

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Dec. 22, San Fransisco at Miami, 4:25 p.m.

Dec. 29, Miami at Cleveland, 8:20 p.m. (Sunday night)

Jan. 4 or 5, Miami at N.Y. Jets, TBD



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Green Bay Packers to host Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving night on TMJ4, report says

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Green Bay Packers to host Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving night on TMJ4, report says


GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers will host the Miami Dolphins at Lambeau Field on Thanksgiving night on TMJ4, according to reports.

The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman reported the news on X.

Last season, the Dolphins finished 11-6 and lost in the Wild Card Round against the Kansas City Chiefs.

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The Packers finished 9-8, defeating the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round before narrowly losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.

The full 2024-2025 NFL schedule will be revealed at 7 p.m. CT Wednesday on NFL Network and ESPN 2.


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ASK IRA: Does the math on the Terry Rozier trade still work for the Heat?

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ASK IRA: Does the math on the Terry Rozier trade still work for the Heat?


Q: So, didn’t the Heat really handicap themselves by taking on the final 2 1/2 years of Terry Rozier’s contract? It significantly decreased the chances of us signing any free agent above a minimum contract this summer. Then, because of this move we probably also have lost Caleb Martin going forward. I know hindsight is 20 /20, but should the Heat have given it a lot more thought before making this move? Would you still have made it? – Bob, Davie.

A: I can guarantee you the Heat gave it plenty of thought. But let’s also consider the context: The move was made by a team coming off an NBA Finals appearance with hope at the time of another deep playoff run. Isn’t that what fans want, a team willing to go for it? From the outset, there was no issue here with taking on the contract of Terry Rozier. Foremost, if the options were instead adding a player at the mid-level exception this coming summer, retaining Caleb Martin or having Rozier, most would say the Heat got the best value out of those options. Plus, from the moment Terry was added, it was with the thought it also was a traceable/packagable contract. Had the Heat allowed Kyle Lowry’s contract to expire without swapping it out for a replacement contract, the Heat would have lost a high degree of trade flexibility. All of that said, I said at the time and would say again, that attaching the first-round pick, particularly a pick that ultimately might not be lottery protected, was too risky and swung the deal toward one that could be questioned. But not because of Terry. But because of the pick.

Q: I think the strategy should be to think of teams like Indiana, maybe New York, maybe Orlando: Enjoy the season, enjoy the youngsters as they develop, and remember the joys of a surprising run to the second round. Watch Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. and, yes, even Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson continue to improve, see if Cole Swider and Alondes Williams can stick, see if Caleb Martin can regain his form, appreciate Kevin Love’s twilight, hope we find minutes for Haywoof Highsmith and go from there. I’m always grateful to Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra and the rest of the front office for keeping us so competitive year after year after year. I’d like to see us win a championship in the next few years, especially because it would be great for Jimmy Butler. But I can also envision us not getting there, too. And that’s OK. Sometimes you swing and miss. – Phillip, San Francisco.

A: Which is all well and good. But if that truly is the belief among the team’s followers, then I wonder how many would actually sign off on what you propose and agree to not then start complaining at the first sign of the Heat not being championship contenders? Saying it is all well and good; living it is another story. It’s almost as if we need to create a Google Document to sign off on agreeing to support a fun, competitive team, and that being good enough to sate, to merely enjoy a hard-working, enthusiastic team that shows up every night.

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Q: Any chance of Giannis Antotokounmpo forcing his way out of Milwaukee?  – Ron, Margate.

A: I’m not sure players are rushing to be a part of eighth-place teams. Even those on teams that came up short in the playoffs, most did as well or better in the postseason than the Heat, and started from a higher seed. If anything, the Heat have planted a seed of doubt with free agents and those seeking trades. And not necessarily a good one.



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