MIAMI GARDENS – The 2024 NFL draft is coming up in Detroit and the Miami Dolphins have a first-round draft pick for the first time since 2021. They select 21st and then again in the 2nd round at pick number 55. General manager Chris Grier and his staff, barring trades, will then have to wait until the 5th round to get involved again. The Dolphins have one 5th-round selection, two 6th-rounders, and a 7th for a total of six draft picks. Grier has a history of wheeling and dealing, so it would not be a surprise at all if there were trades before the draft to move up or down to get more picks.
Grier Hits Before the last two drafts where the Dolphins did not have a first-round draft pick, Chris Grier had a solid first round run. Going back to 2019 with a selection of Christian Wilkins and continuing over the next two years, the Dolphins picked Tua Tagovailoa, Austin Jackson, Jaylen Waddle, and Jaelan Phillips. The one ‘miss’ was Noah Igbinoghene, but the Dolphins knew he would be a project at the 30th overall selection.
Cap Crunch The salary cap makes it imperative that the Dolphins hit on that 21st pick and their second-round pick at number 55. After not having those first-rounders the last couple of years, it is important for the team and its salary structure to have productive players on their first professional contracts.
Need or Best Player It is the age-old debate in professional sports drafts. Do you draft for a position of need or simply take the most talented player? Luckily for the Dolphins, this year it appears some of the best players are also at the positions they need to fill. The first-round pick being used on an offensive lineman would make sense. Standout guard Rob Hunt left in free agency and left tackle Terron Armstead may not play beyond this season. Getting an offensive lineman who could perhaps play guard this year and then slide out to left tackle at times during this season or permanently down the road would be a great fit. Wilkins Void Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins had a career year and got paid that way by Las Vegas. The Dolphins moved quickly to sign a handful of veteran defensive tackles in free agency, but there is a good possibility of selecting an interior defensive lineman early in the draft. It would make sense for them to bring in a young player who can eventually slide in as the starter next to Zach Seiler.
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Chubb and Phillips Question Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are both rehabbing from season-ending injuries. When they will be available this season is a question mark. Add in Andrew Van Ginkel leaving for Minnesota in free agency, and it is very possible the Dolphins use one of their first two draft picks on an edge rusher.
Receiver Depth Tyreek Hill and Waddle form one of the best wide receiver duos in the league. The Dolphins have looked into veteran free agents to slide into the third receiver spot. Braxton Barrios returns, and the hope is that Erik Ezukanma will be back from injury. The strong thought is that Waddle will get a long-term deal, and it is unknown how many more years Hill will play at his high level. At some point in this year’s draft, you would think the Dolphins would select a receiver. And you know the head coach loves the speed of his offense so a receiver and/or other offensive playmakers are a distinct possibility.
What to Expect When the Dolphins go to the podium to make their early selections, adding a defensive tackle, outside pass rusher, or an offensive lineman is likely. But it’s the NFL draft and the Dolphins, so always expect the unexpected.
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Steven Goldstein
Steven “Goldie” Goldstein is a sports broadcasting veteran and trusted voice in South Florida. He joined CBS4 as a sports anchor/reporter, commentator and occasional news anchor in 2015.
Video shows bright orange flames still burning at a warehouse in Northwest Miami-Dade on Friday, almost 24 hours after crews first responded.
The flames broke out before 11 a.m. Thursday, sending towers of thick black smoke into the sky, and crews have been attempting to put the fire out since.
Officials said the structure located just east of Red Road and south of Florida’s Turnpike Extension is more than twice the size of a Costco warehouse and contains hazardous materials inside.
More than 200 firefighters from both Broward and Miami-Dade counties have been fighting the blaze, which officials say could burn for days.
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The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Lives spared, livelihoods lost
Miami-Dade Deputy Fire Chief Danny Cardeso said no injuries were reported.
The driver of an 18-wheeler told NBC6 he was at the warehouse, which stores inventory for shipments, when the fire alarm went off.
He said everyone immediately evacuated, no one was hurt, and everyone inside was accounted for. Still, some workers and business owners fear they lost their livelihoods.
Benny Monción, who owns DBenny Sazón, one of the food trucks parked at the facility, was in tears when she spoke to NBC6 at the scene.
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She said a friend of hers who also owns a food truck called to tell her how he fared.
“He called me just now, we were watching the news, and my truck was still intact, but his, the fire got it,” she said, her voice breaking as she put her head in her hand. “It burned it all up.”
She said she wasn’t sure what had happened to her truck, which normally operates on 50 North University Drive in Pembroke Pines, as the fire raged.
“I ask God that mine at least can be OK, but I feel so bad [that his didn’t make it], because these are hardworking people, looking to earn their daily living that in this country is too hard,” Monción said. “It’s so many things.”
Air quality concerns
A public safety alert was issued at one point Thursday due to the heavy smoke. The alert recommended those with respiratory problems and medical conditions to shelter in place if possible.
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Dr. Donny Perez, a medical director at Memorial Regional Hospital South, said fires like this can send fine particles into the air that can irritate the lungs and cause coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, sore throat, chest pain and palpitations.
“Even their eyes can get irritated, the sore throat. So the best thing is to stay indoors with the windows closed, avoid outdoor exercise. Wear an N-95 mask if you must go outside. Use your rescue inhalers as prescribed if you do have lung disease,” he said.
Resident Gloria Downey said the smoke was concerning, especially with the uncertainty about what materials could be burning.
“I mean I don’t know what’s in that building, but I have lived here since before that building was built off and on, and God knows what’s in there,” she said. “We have the house completely sealed. We have air filters running in both rooms. The air condition is off. It’s a little hot in Miami, but we’ll be all right.”
Drought and wind may hinder firefight
Winds on Friday are blowing consistently at 10-20 mph toward the northwest, pushing the smoke over a nearby landfill and out over the Everglades.
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“Just a couple of spotty little showers here, not enough to really help with the fire,” NBC6’s meteorologist Adam Berg said. “But the winds certainly don’t help.”
Traffic impacts
Officials asked people to avoid the area while they worked to put out the fire. Northwest 47th Avenue is closed between Honey Hill Drive (Northwest 199th Street) to Northwest 207th Drive.
A mother in Miami Gardens has been sentenced to five years of probation after her 2-year-old son accidentally shot himself with a gun he found in her purse.
According to police, the incident happened last summer at an apartment complex in Miami Gardens. Authorities say the toddler grabbed his mother’s firearm from her purse and accidentally pulled the trigger, shooting himself in the leg.
Video captured at the scene showed the child being rushed to the hospital on a stretcher. The boy survived and has since fully recovered.
The child’s mother, 35-year-old Christina Monique Doyle, was arrested and charged with child neglect and culpable negligence for allowing easy access to the weapon. Prosecutors said those charges carried a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
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During a court hearing, the presiding judge, Alberto Milian, emphasized the responsibility that comes with gun ownership.
“I am a very pro-gun person, but along with the right and the privilege of having a gun comes responsibilities,” Milian said.
Doyle ultimately accepted a plea deal where she pleaded no contest, allowing her to avoid jail time. Instead, she was sentenced to five years of probation.
Her attorney, Dustin Tischler, said Doyle has no prior criminal record and described the incident as a mistake.
“She’s 35 years old, never been in trouble whatsoever in her life,” Tischler said. “She’s a very good mother, a very caring mother to several children. This has been a nightmare, and she’s happy to get it behind her.”
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Tischler also said the case should serve as a warning to gun owners about keeping firearms secure around children.
“Even though she had it in her purse and thought it was secure, the child was able to get to it when she was distracted,” he said. “If you have a firearm, it’s important to keep it locked away.”
Tischler said Doyle has completed a parenting program through the Florida Department of Children and Families and how she is allowed to have contact with her children, including her son who is now doing well after recovering from the injury.
NBC6 reached out to DCF about the case but we haven’t heard back yet.
Miami’s own pays tribute to former teacher on SNL Miami’s own Marcello Hernandez brought a piece of home to SNL for his latest performance, giving a tribute to his hometown and a special teacher in that classic Miami accent.
NEW YORK CITY — Miami’s own Marcello Hernandez brought a piece of home to SNL for his latest performance, giving a tribute to his hometown and a special teacher in that classic Miami accent.
During his performance, Hernandez definitely brought the character of “Mr. Fronzi” to life.
The over-the-top teacher with a big heart was a character inspired by his real-life theology teacher at Miami-Dade’s private Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, Angie Fernandez.
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And Hernandez even flew her up to New York City to see the skit live in person.
“When I saw the skit, I was flabbergasted. I laughed from here to eternity. It was so good,” Fernandez said. “I am so honored that he chose to imitate me. That’s the best compliment you can give somebody!”
Fernandez said that while Hernandez drove her crazy in her classroom, he was also always humble, honest and she calls him one of her favorite students.
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Jenise Fernandez
Jenise Fernandez is a six-time Emmy award winning anchor and reporter at Local 10 News. Currently, she anchors the 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. news, Monday through Friday.
