Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Down on golf game, but high on roster changes
McCain over last season’s tussle with ex-Patriot Amendola
AVENTURA — Dolphins cornerback Bobby McCain and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux admitted they were in over their heads Friday. In fact, both used the word “terrible” to describe their game.
Regardless, smiles and good vibrations were as abundant as the sunshine at the Dolphins Cancer Challenge Third Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament at Turnberry Isle in Aventura.
“It’s a great event we hold,” McCain said. “The Dolphins take great pride in the Cancer Challenge. They’ve raised over $20 million in their support to cure cancer. It’s worldwide, and it touches everyone.”
A host of Dolphins players attended the event, including safety Reshad Jones, right tackle Ja’Wuan James, offensive tackles Sam Young and Eric Smith and guard/ tackle Jesse Davis. Florida Panthers defenseman Mike Matheson also attended to represent his organization.
The Dolphins, who finished a disappointing 6-10 last season on the football field, open the offseason workout program Monday at their facility in Davie.
The team has undergone a substantial facelift, with the loss of Pro Bowl talent such as center Mike Pouncey, wide receiver Jarvis Landry and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and the loss of veteran contributors such as safety Michael Thomas and running back Damien Williams.
“Gase ... brought the guys that he brought in, and let go of the guys he let go for a reason.” Kenyan Drake, Dolphins running back
But on Friday, Dolphins players were optimistic about the 2018 season and the path coach Adam Gase has chosen.
“I feel like it’s obviously going be a change,” running back Kenyan Drake said of the loss of Pouncey, Suh, Landry, Thomas and Williams, “and like I said before it’s a business, so it’s rare in the league you’re going to have the same team for two, three, four, five year in a row.
“But I feel like Gase has a plan, and he’s brought the guys that he brought in, and let go of the guys he let go for a reason. And I feel like now it’s just kind of the people that are in position to step up, this is their opportunity to do that. And I feel like people are going to do that.”
Godchaux, who contributed 40 tackles and made five starts last year as a rookie, said the defensive tackles — himself, Jordan Phillips, Vincent Taylor and Gabe Wright — must be better to account for Suh’s loss.
“Most definitely,” he said. “Got to. To replace his shoes, got to, [you’ve] got to pick up your game. What, a five-time Pro bowler? Got to. Got to pick your game up.”
On a humorous note, McCain said he’s seen newly acquired wide receiver Danny Amendola at the facility. McCain was ejected from the New England game last year after he and Amendola got into a scuffle after a reception.
McCain was amused, and short for words, when asked whether he’d seen Amendola.
“I have,” he said with a smile. “I have. Me and Danny, we chalked it up. We chalked it up and, um, yeah, we chalked it up.”
Asked about their relationship, McCain said everything is OK.
“We’re teammates,” he said. “We’ve got one goal in mind and that’s a championship. We’re happy to have him on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, whatever day it is we’re happy to have him on our sideline.”
As for how the loss of Pouncey, Suh, Landry, Thomas and Williams might change the locker room or team chemistry, McCain didn’t seem worried, saying the 2018 squad would “stand strong.”
“I know they’re going to do well in their next endeavors,” McCain said of the departed players, “and I know at the end of the day, we have who we have. We’re all we’ve got at the end of the day. In the locker room, we’re all we have.
“And we’re looking forward to the season. Chemistry, we’re still going to bond; we’re still close, we’re still tight. There are still guys that were there last year, and guys that are going to come in have a great support staff from us.”