A little off topic, but someone said they aren't staying in NYC...does anyone know where the team is staying? If I'm close I might go see if I can meet any players. I wonder if any will be going to "Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza" in White Plains in the suburbs. FYI, I just read an article about the Giants allowing the Dolphins to use their practice facility, and it mentions Ross attending the premiere of the show and saying he might get tickets for the team to see it later in the season. Ross didn't just spring this upon the team now. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/sports/football/09jets.html When Mara ran into Stephen Ross, the Dolphins’ owner, at the premiere for the Broadway show “Lombardi,” Ross told Mara that when the Dolphins played the Jets late in the season, he might bring them early to see the show. Mara joked about Ross’s chances of selling that to then-team executive Bill Parcells. A few weeks ago, Ross called Mara and said the Dolphins were indeed coming early, and after Mara agreed to let them use the Giants’ facility for their Saturday walk-through, he also agreed they could use the indoor facility for Friday’s practice. In the same situation, Mara said he believed the Giants would receive the same response from another team. That depends. During his news conference, Ryan said he would not want another team using the Jets’ facilities. “I don’t want anybody using our facility except us,” he said. “I would feel funny.” Lombardi premiered 2 months ago, so that's when Ross first got the idea and when he first talked with the Giants owner about the Dolphins coming early.
Anybody know if Henning has been invited?? With less time to sit around and think about stupid little trick plays to call maybe we will see a better game plan.
Or you could say it's right at where a top 12 talent slides b/c the teams immediately before you don't have a positional need for them. You can spin that all day long. It all depends on the draft year and who the players are based on what the team's needs are. 15-20 could have gotten Dez Bryant last year. I love the 15-20 range. the players available the past 3 years:[/U] 2010: #2 & 3 DEs (Pierre-Paul & Morgan), top Guard (Iupati), top Center (Pouncey), top TE (Gresham), 1st WR taken (Demaryius Thomas), and 2nd LB (Weatherspoon). 2009: a top LB (Cushing), QB (Josh Freeman), top TE (Brandon Pettigrew), top C (Alex Mack), and 2 WRs (Harvin & Maclin), LT (Michael Oher), best CB (Vontae Davis), best OLB (Clay Matthews) 2008: Top G (Branden Albert), best CB (Cromartie), 2nd best QB (Flacco), top RT (Otah), starting LT (Baker), CB (Aqib Talib), COP RB (Felix Jones), RB (Chris Johnson), RB (Rashard Mendenhall)
GREAT MOVE by Stephen Ross. More camaraderie and less "football". a little distraction was needed, and the Owner provided it. again...nice move.
Maybe the show's director can ask him how to make the whole experience less productive. There's gotta be some value there.
I just heard that Liza Minelli is doing the pregame speech... hehe I like Ross...I think hes gonna be a player in this league..
we're 5-1 on the road. why in hell would we want to break our road routine? if anything ross should recommend having one of these bonding nights when we're at home where we are 1-5.
There is a difference between "Sparano had no say" (what was reported) and "Sparano was not consulted." It may be Ross just said, "I want to take the team to Lombardi" and Sparano just said, "OK, no problem, good idea." I don't really have a huge problem with it. They have all their film and will do their meetings. They would still need to travel. I don't think an extra day or so away from sleeping at home will make a difference for the players. It's not like Ross is saying, "Start this guy ... run this play ... draft player X ..." then that would be a real problem, imo. I think Sparano's job is in question to a degree, but I also think there are so many variables next year plus there isn't a sound replacement (unless he goes with Mike Nolan to HC); however, the only way I see Sparano losing his job, imo, is if the DOlphins go 0-4 the next 4 games or 1-3 and the other 3 are blowouts. Of course, with three division games - two away against teams fighting for playoff life and position, and a third against an improving Bills team (and, the disadvantage of having to play the Bills at home!), it could be a rough stretch.
Sparano explained his decision to take the team up to New Jersey a day early, with a practice scheduled Friday afternoon at the New York Giants’ practice facility. This is something he has done on West Coast trips before to adjust to the time change and to climate changes. “I just thought this would be a great opportunity to get them out here and get them together down there and get right down there where we need to be and get focused,” Sparano said. “We’re going to put everything that we possibly can into winning this football game and if that means we got to leave a couple hours early to do that, it’s no big deal. As I said to the team the other night, what else do you have planned? Something better?” Starting quarterback Chad Henne supports his coach’s decision and added some more perspective. “It’s good to experience the new stadium there and get accustomed to the weather,” he said. “We’ll get our Friday climate in that climate so I think that’s a good idea.”
I cant believe how this story is getting blown up or blowed up as Emmitt Smith would like to call it. Isnt like the only thing they are going to be doing on Friday is see some play. They still are going to practice and prepare on Friday. Besides, this is on a Friday night, not the night before the game.
That is very true, however this is still ok.. Sparano needs to address his home preparations immediately, if he doesnt win both, he's burnt toast...
You know, IMO Ross has been the perfect owner so far. I personally do not have a problem with him doing this at all.
Really? 'Cause what I got out of it was that Ross was paying for his employees to see a play. Everytime it rains do you start building an Ark?
Count me in with the group who thinks this is an excellent idea. They get to bond as a team away from the field, and hopefully watching a play about Vince Lombardi will motivate them when they take the field against the damn Jets.
It's his team. He can do what he wants. If we were playing meaningful football right now, I'd be of the mind to say "Owner, don't tinker with good things." The fact is that we're not playing meanigful football right now, and, that can trace all the way up. Good on Ross. Maybe this team will grow a heart.
am i the only one that thought the opening post was like reading chinese? i dont have a clue what this is about
Could be Ross's way of dissin the Jets. We're bringin it to your house, but we're also gonna treat it like a mini vacation as well. Superceding Sparano also relieves the sense that although they're in NY, playing their despised rival, in what could boost the Jets farther toward the post season, while denying the Dolphins even the meager dignity of a numerical chance in hell, it says they won't be under the microscope of a possibly cyniical corporate office, and an owner that could only be growing more annoyed. It instead tells the team he's taking the heat on this one, that he's relieving Sparano's culpability, by intruding upon his format, and that he's puttin them before the outcome of this game, win or lose.
The Verdict http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/10/1968345/ross-hopes-night-out-on-broadway.html Looks like the players enjoyed and appreciated it. Like I've said from the jump, my thing was whether or not the coach had any say. If the coach was involved, I've got no problem with it. Hopefully this will have an effect on Sunday's performance!
My goodness Ross: -paid for a nice steak dinner in NYC for the entire team and staff, maybe 65 or 70 people at 300 bucks a head -paid for tickets for a broadway show for the entire team and staff, those tickets if they are good can go for 10k each -paid for an extra night at the Team Hotel This sounds very much like Stephan Ross sprung for a day trip to NYC for the entire team which is unheard of in the NFL, that is a good 300k or more out of pocket for the team which is all class on his part. And best of all, got to become acllimated to NY in mid December.
I love this. On top of that, I'm sure using the Giants facility wasn't gratis either. All in all this sounds like a great evening. First class all the way by Stephen Ross. I included a link within the blurb to Porter's, where they ate. And this wasn't like taking your 105-pound date out to eat. Ross took several dozen 200-350 pounders out to a high end steakhouse.
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/porter-house-new-york/menu Not sure about the Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese though..
Appetizers Classic Caesar Salad 14.00 Prime Cowboy Rib Steak creekstone farms black angus cut on the bone 55.00 Sides $10 Buttermilk Onion Rings Baked Idaho Potato Strawberry Shortcake strawberries in elderflower liqueur, flaky biscuit, vanilla whipped cream 12.00 Bottled Beer Guinness Thank you Mr. Ross. See ya Sunday!