DeVante Parker’s Chance to Revitalize Dolphins
By Sean Denison
Is bad luck rearing its ugly head within the Miami Dolphins? Well, on the surface, no…
Everything seems to be on the up and up: Ryan Tannehill has been awarded the keys to the driver’s seat, the addition of Ndamukong Suh puts the finishing touches on a defensive line that should be one of NFL’s best, the team has washed their hands clean of the financial strain and emotional baggage brought on by numerous “under-performing” players, and they have replaced that squad with an impressive youth-movement that appears to be just as talented—and a tad bit cheaper.
Everything seems to be great. There seems to be a halo of optimism hovering over this team and expectations are at an all-time high.
However, remember the news that broke earlier this month? Unfortunately, I do. And I can’t seem to shake it. It’s like a bad dream that continues to haunt you and all you can do is talk the ear off of anyone willing to listen about it—so much now that your friends and family refrain from even being in your presence because their eyeballs hurt so bad from the strain put on by all the eye rolling.
This nightmare of mine might not seem like a big deal to most, but to me it’s horrifying. This bad dream has a name: DeVante Parker.
After all the excitement subsided from being picked 14th overall in the 2015 NFL draft, it was time for Parker to prove his worth in offseason OTA’s; he didn’t disappoint. Parker was the talk of the town—he performed very well in drills and had everyone in attendance wide-eyed and smiling from ear to ear.
But then, out of nowhere, news broke that Parker was undergoing surgery on the same foot that was responsible for him missing a big chunk of his senior season at Louisville.
On June 5th, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Parker had undergone successful foot surgery. Per Rapoport, the surgery was to replace a screw that doctors inserted last year during Parker’s final season of his college career.
The consensus was that the surgery was only precautionary, and, if the season had already started, Parker would be playing this week—so basically, nothing to worry about…
Well, I’m worried. For what seems like forever, the Dolphins just can’t seem to catch a break—or even a deep pass, for that matter. Now, because of the lingering headache of what it is to be a Dolphins fan, we have to deal with this news—waiting with apprehension, expecting the worse.
What else do you expect us to do? It’s an historic recurrence that seems to have plagued this franchise for far too long.
Remember the last time the Dolphins drafted a wide receiver with their first pick? His name: Ted Ginn. And he too was coming off an injury that affected a lower extremity. Besides a few spectacular kickoff and punt returns, Ginn is nothing more than an afterthought in South Florida.
How about Brandon Marshall? Remember that dumpster fire? Now with the Jets, Marshall has the ability to haunt the Dolphins and coach Joe Philbin—who was ultimately responsible for his departure.
And finally, to put the final nail in the coffin, Parker decided to choose to wear #11—Mike Wallace’s #11. Yeah, like there’s no bad juju with that thing… Who wants another immature player in their locker- room on the sidelines, and in the huddle with them?
What if DeVante Parker ends up becoming any of the aforementioned problems that has most recently pestered the Dolphins? What if he doesn’t? Could this be the end of a long road that has only led the Dolphins in and through treacherous peril?
Any fan of South Florida’s NFL franchise hopes for the best, but expects the worst. Maybe what seems to be a minute, precautionary decision is in fact just that, i.e., not a big deal.
What if the tables have turned for the Dolphins and DeVante Parker becomes the stud that Dolphins fans expect him to be? What if one of the sexiest picks in this year’s draft is just that: sexy as hell—shimmering and flaunting his excellence in the simmering South Florida sunset.
Yeah, that sounds better.
Look, this very well could all work out for this team and an offense that flashed its potential last year—responsible for the most red-zone appearances in the league and Tannehill’s best season as a pro. Parker could be what this offense was missing last year.
I was very optimistic and excited for the chance to watch Parker—who some people say is a clone of A.J. Green—work with Tannehill and this fast-paced offense.
But after the news broke of his foot surgery, I was a little worried. Maybe I’m just a worry-worm; maybe I’m just used to the feeling of what it’s like to be a Dolphins fan—unhappily soaking my pillow with tears of sorrow, anger, annoyance and shamefully calling myself just that: a Dolphins fan.
I’ll try to start looking more on the bright side. Heck, for what it’s worth, we’re currently tied for first place, right?
Ah, the hell with it… I’m hoping for the best—screw the worst.
It’s our time.