CB McCain becomes key part of secondary

DAVIE — Dolphins slot cornerback Bobby McCain, who has been having a “great season,” according to defensive coordinator Matt Burke, sat at his locker Thursday talking about appealing the fine that goes along last week’s ejection for throwing an elbow/ punch at New England wide receiver Danny Amendola.

It was an unusual scene. Behind McCain was a football, the one that was in play when he intercepted Patriots legend Tom Brady. The Dolphins gave the ball to McCain on Wednesday. It was a heck of a play. Thousands saw it. McCain’s phone blew up with text messages after the game.

“But mostly for the ejection,” McCain said, “not so much the interception.”

Nevertheless, Burke likes what he’s seen from McCain. The 2015 fifth-round pick has 30 tackles, two interceptions and three passes defended in his second season as a starter.

“He’s emerged as one of our leaders, I think,” Burke said of McCain, later adding, “I think he’s just taken to, ‘Hey, this is really my role and the world that I’m going to live in,’ and he’s really tried to become an expert at that role. He’s done a really good job for us as our nickel player and I think he continues to trend upwards.”

McCain thinks he has a good chance of success for his appeal.

“Just the fact it was a lot going on,” he said. “It was harm by both of us done. It was a lot of pushing and shoving, a lot of grabbing, now am I wrong, yes because it was after the play. I completely understand that. There’s a lot of subjects that we can touch.”

McCain said he got the interception thanks to film study.

“We were in a manmatch coverage,” McCain said, “and honestly I just broke on the ball. I was underneath him. I saw him he tried to give a head fake, I didn’t honor and I ended up beating him to the spot.”

McCain said he puts the most value on his play, and his plays, when the Dolphins win. But last week’s interception might be an exception. McCain will likely value that ball.

“It is Tom Brady,” he said with a smile. to practice after Wednesday’s rest day, and center (hip) also practiced. Wide receiver (knee) was limited, which was also the case for safety

(knee). Williams, safety

(abdomen),

Mike Pouncey Michael Thomas Smith Matt Moore Jermon

quarterback (back) and right guard

(foot) didn’t

Bushrod

practice.

Jarvis Landry Maurice

JIM RASSOL/STAFF FILE PHOTO Cornerback Bobby McCain (28) had this late interception against the New York Jets that set up the winning field goal.