The Dolphins begin Training Camp on Friday, July 30.

Much like the Dolphins over the past off-season we’ve undergone some personnel changes at PhinPhanatic. We now have a staff of specialized writers, as Brian Miller has already explained, someone will be covering the offense, the defense and the special teams units. As you’ve probably noticed we’ve already posted a training camp look at the offensive and defensive side of the ball, even a few predictions, well today we’re going to summarize and give you a comprehensive look at the Dolphins heading into the first day of camp.

There are a number of different elements to consider when looking at Miami this preseason. There are camp battles, young players vying for spots held by departed veterans. The team installs a new defense, several new high profile pieces join the team and there are still some big questions on the offense. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Hopes are still high, almost nobody is injured yet and everyone is just dying to get some football. Practice reports will actually matter in the coming weeks, we’ll get to know players based on a few good write-ups from position drills in pads and some will actually question the team when they get cut. Remember JR Tolver? Will Poole? Marcus Vick? The truth is we’ll only know as much as the teams want us to know, but that doesn’t stop everyone from talking about it. So let the talking begin…

The Miami Dolphins are stepping into the internet world of blogging and internet radio…sort of.  On Monday, the Phins are set to announce their 2nd team website, TheFinsiders.com. 

This new format will try and bridge a gap between fans and the members of the team by allowing fans to have a bit more interaction.  The site will feature blogs from their radio show hosts from WINZ AM – 90.  The weekly show will feature a simulcast of that radio show on the new website. 

Fans will be able to “tweet” and email questions to the hosts and there will also be a live chat room availbable for fans as well.  According to a Miami Herald article, the show will have audio only until September when they will add video feed of the live shows as well.

WINZ will be the home for Miami football this season as the team left former radio station WQAM.  The Dolphins are billing this site as a “24 hour a day community of Dolfans”.

We will have more on this next week as we are expecting to recieve more detailed information available following a conference call I will be on this coming Monday so stay tuned.

Also, do not forget that single game tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10:00 AM fr0k the Dolphins ticket office.

As promised yesterday, here is a look at the defensive side of the ball for the Miami Dolphins as they head into training camp in less than 12 hours. 

For the first time in almost 12 years, it’s the offense that seems settled in to carrying the team while the defense tries to positively answer the questions surrounding it.

From a young mix of LB’s to a unproven safeties and a switch for Randy Starks, the Dolphins will enter the 2010 season with more questions than answers on a unit that saw the Phins add the top LB in free agency, Karlos Dansby.

Here is a look at the defense.

Jared Odrick was the 4th first rounder to sign.

The Miami Dolphins have inked their first round pick Jared Odrick. Odrick is the 4th first rounder to sign, moments later the Dolphins signed second rounder Koa Misi. Odrick is a Defensive End out of Penn State and will reportedly receive a 5 year deal with a max package of 13 mil over that duration and has 7.133 mil guaranteed.

This is one of the perks of picking back so far in the first round. When Jake Long was the first overall pick, Miami had to make him the highest paid offensive tackle before he’d ever played a snap. Jared Odrick’s deal will end up being a steal if he turns into a stud 3-4 end by the time he gets into the final years. Hopefully next season the Dolphins are picking around 28 because they earned it, but this is reasonable money to spend on a first rounder.

This is also good news because it gets Odrick into camp on time. Right now, with the recent season-ending injury (and legal issues) of Phillip Merling, Odrick enters camp as a favorite to start. Nothing sets rookies back like a hold out. I think Jason Allen is still recovering from his.

Jeff Darlington now reports the Dolphins have also signed Koa Misi. Misi is a second round pick out Utah who will factor heavily into the mix at outside linebacker. Many believe he will win one of the starting jobs and Peter King of SI even has him as one of his top five preseason rookies to watch.

According to the Herald it should be a four-year deal with approximately $2.7 million in guaranteed money. Extremely reasonable terms for a guy who could potentially start outside at linebacker for the foreseeable future.

The Miami Dolphins have added former 1st round pick and New Orleans Saint DE Charles Grant to the roster.  The 32 year old DE has never played in a 3-4 scheme but is expected to battle for the spot left vacant by Phillip Merling who is lost for the season.

The Dolphins apparently were not scared away by Grant’s history that includes a league substance abuse violation and an involuntary manslaughter charge that left a pregnant woman dead.  The charges were eventually dismissed but Grant, who was stabbed in the neck, pleaded guilty to public fighting.  Grant maintained that he had nothing to do with the start of the fight or with the death of the woman and her unborn child.

Last season, Grant had 5 1/2 sacks before suffering a season ending triceps injury in week 17.  He did not play in the playoffs or the Super Bowl.

The Dolphins, since losing Phillip Merling have signed 3 DE’s to compete for his spot.  Grant, Montavious Stanley, and Marques Douglas.

The Miami Dolphins are set to kick-off their 2010 season on Friday morning regardless of whether their two top rookies are under contract.  With that in mind, there are a lot of questions going into this season.  Will this offensive unit be a high-scoring machine or their typical grind it out meat and potato offense?  Time will tell for sure, but even on the offensive side of the ball, position battles are being set up and on a team full of youth, the slightest hiccup could cost you your job.

Here is a look at the offensive positions and the players who may or may not make the roster.  

UPDATE: The Miami Dolphins are close to signing both of their outstanding rookie’s.  1st rounder Jared Odrick is close to finalizing his deal tomorrow as is Koa Misi the 2nd round LB.  Both are expected to be at camp on Friday morning.

Tomorrow, I will be talking with Butch Stearns of “The Buzz” on The Pulse Network.  This new television “VIA” internet show will be talking about the Miami Dolphins starting at 10:00 AM Eastern time on Thursday, July 29th.  They have asked if I would come on and answer a few questions regarding the upcoming training camp.  Of course I obliged.

So, tomorrow morning, head on over and give it a listen.

Here we are two days away from the start of Miami Dolphins training camp and the unofficial start of the 2010 NFL season. Fans of every team are full of hope for what the new season will bring. Soon Sunday’s will be a day of praise at the football altar. With this the third season in the legacy of the Trifecta the Miami Dolphin fans and the organization are looking for big things from this team. The excitement around this team is at it’s highest since number 13 was barking out signals. Everybody likes to make predictions and this is the time of year for them, so I figured I would join in the mix and put eight predictions out there for fans and readers of this site to discuss. 

Prediction #1; Mike Nolan will turn this defense around and make them a top 10 defense. Last year Miami’s defense looked lost with no leadership, this year Nolan will give this defense direction and it will become Karlos Dansby’s team. Last year Miami ranked 22^nd in

I am going to run a contest here. It’s quite simple but you need to do a little bit on your end to get entered.  First, go to page two of this and simply vote on who you believe will be on the final 53.  I have even added “other” slots to the poll in case you think someone isn’t on the roster now that will be on final cut day.

What will you win? An un-edited advanced copy of a new book titled, NFL Unplugged:  The Brutal, Brilliant World of Professional Football, written by Anthony Gargano.

What is this book?

Well simply put it’s what you don’t get on ESPN.  A unique first hand account of life behind the television camera’s.  From the opening limo conversation with a pro player to the training camp of Andy Reid in Philly and so much more.  This is a book you will want to read.  Culed from over 31 professional athletes, the book takes you into the locker-rooms, the huddle, training camp, and more.  This is an unaltered reality that fans of the NFL don’t get to see.  (I read this book over the 4th of July weekend and can say that is an eye-opening account of NFL life)

The edited version will not be available at your local bookstore until October, but like I said, this is and advanced copy and is unedited, making it a lot more rare than most books.

What you need to do! As stated above, go to page two and predict the final 53.  Take a screen shot of your selections and Email them to me at Phinphanatic23@yahoo.com with the title, 53 Contest. Your name must be on the Email.

Because I am expecting a lot of entries, when the final roster is made, you will then Email me IF you think you came close to the final roster.  I will review those entries only and the person coming closer to the final 53 will win the book.

Now, I realize that it’s entirely possible to have ties so, we are going to do this, in addition to the final 53 Email, add these two answers in the text body.  What will the “TOTAL” combined points for be for the Phins this pre-season and who will score the most TD’s.  That should break any ties.

Make sure you have a screen shot of your choices.  If you don’t have a way to take a screen shot...type them out.

One submission for each person will be accepted and the closing date for this contest entry will be this Saturday at 9:00 AM.  Any Emails after that time will NOT be accepted.  In the event that there are discrepancies in the Email process, it will be my decision alone to rectify them.

The poll is based on the pre-camp roster according to the MiamiDolphins.com official roster found at the preceding link.  Any roster changes prior to the start of camp should be included with the “other” option.  You will not be voting for IR, PUP, or practice squad players.  53 man roster only.

In the event that a name has been mistakenly left off the poll, use the “other” option for that player…it is not a write in vote.

Click PAGE 2 to cast your vote on the final 53 and submit your predictions.

O.k. so over the last month we have built the AFC Beast team.  We have watched other Fan Sided sites build their all-pro division teams.  We then launched an all-out voting campaign for the best of each conference.  Sadly, the AFC East narrowly got outvoted by the AFC West 212 to 190.  I cry foul, but what else would be new…”BIG SMILE”.

In any case, we still need to knock off the NFC so head over Fansided.com and vote for the AFC West (still wondering how they figure to be better than the East) and make sure that AFC is the best conference in the NFL.

CBS Sportsline has decided to give us an additional 30 percent off the Commissioner league price bringing the total savings for you, to 50 percent off the 179.00 price.  By clicking on any of the links below, you will receive 50 percent off the CBS price.  While this deal comes a little late to the show, for those of you who have yet to set up your leagues and “PAY” for them, you can still take advantage of this offer.

For the 2nd year in a row, Phinphanatic.com has partnered with CBSSportsline to bring you a major discount on this seasons CBS Fantasy Football League Commissioner.  Regularly $179.00 per league entry, we are offering you the opportunity to save almost 50% by offering you a deal that will save you $80.00 bucks off the price.

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Simply follow the banner link above or click this line and register for your team today. You must do it through this site in order to get the discount. Not sure if this is right for you?  No sweat, there is a 14 day free trial if you act now.  That will allow you to get in there and make your scoring count and if you don’t like it, quit it.  Make sure you read the terms and conditions on CBSSportsline regarding the “14 day trial”.  While we are promoting their leagues through this partnership, it’s still their product.

This is what fantasy football should be.  Fun, exciting, and well, it’s here.  It’s time to get your game on, time to start your prep, and it’s time to set up your league.

GET CBSSPORTSLINE FANTASY LEAGUE COMMISSIONER now and save 80 bucks off the price…and then concentrate on what really matters…your winning team!

The Miami Dolphins have yet to ink 2nd round pick Koa Misi or first rounder Jared Odrick.  They have however completed a special teams “trifecta” today by inking place kicker Dan Carpenter to a 3 year extension.

Earlier this off-season the Dolphins management made it a point to lock down long snapper John Denney and Punter Brandon Fields.  The question that made it’s rounds was when would the Phins 2009 Pro-Bowl kicker get his reward.

Today that came in the amount of 6.5 million over 3 years putting Carpenter among the better paid kickers in the league.  With only 3 days remaining until camp opens, the Dolphins will need to focus their energy on getting the two unsigned rookies into camp.

The Miami Dolphins are a short four days away from kicking off their 2010 season but the organization is morning the death of former offensive guard Harry Galbreath.

Galbreath was working in Mobile Alabama when he suffered a heart problem. He was 45 years old.

Galbreath, an 8th round pick of the Dolphins in 1988 spent 5 seasons in Miami and was a member of the all rookie team following that first season.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

In other less somber news, the Miami Dolphins will put single game tickets on sale starting this Saturday, July 31st, at 10:00 am. The Dolphins will face their 3 division rivals in addition to the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steeelers, Tennessee Titans, Chcago Bears, and Detroit Lions.

For seating charts and price information, go to Miami Dolphins tickets

Earlier today I got an Email from from one of our readers who asked me a couple of questions regarding my thoughts on fantasy football.  Of the questions he asked, one really made me stop and think because frankly, it’s happened to us all.  It doesn’t matter how well you game plan, how well the pieces fall into place, sometimes, a fantasy draft can all of a sudden get away from you.

So what do you do if your draft gets away from you?

First of all, don’t panic, and second of all, don’t throw in the towel.

A couple of years ago I remember a league member completely wigged out because he hit the wrong button and drafted a player he didn’t want.  Suddenly, he felt the need to immediately draft another player at the same position to fix the error…and in the process suddenly got away from his game plan.  After his two quick picks, he was so frazzled that logged out and let the computer make his picks for him, while he came back later after he cooled off, his draft and his season were over.

Most cases of draft day runaway’s are far less dramatic but they do happen.  You hit the wrong button and draft the wrong player, etc…, but there are ways to get out of it.