Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Biegel ready to roll
2nd-year linebacker juggling parenthood, workouts as he seeks a long-term extension
Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Vince Biegel is like a lot of NFL players preparing for the upcoming season that will be affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Biegel has obvious concerns about COVID-19 and hopes he can remain healthy, and not take the virus home with him to put his wife, Sarah, and their 14-month-old daughter, Willow, at risk.
Biegel also enters his second season with the Dolphins looking to secure long-term stability. He’ll earn $2.13 million on one-year deal after re-signing his restricted free agent tender with the Dolphins in April. He will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
“As a player, you always want security. But at the same time, I love having a chip on my shoulder. Every year, for everybody, it’s a one-year deal for everybody — unless you’re Patrick Mahomes,” Biegel said with a laugh, making light of the recent $503 million extension the Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback agreed to earlier this month.
Biegel and his family have split their time this offseason with family in his home state of Wisconsin and in South Florida, preparing for Dolphins training camp as veterans will report for COVID-19 testing on July 28.
Biegel’s days begin with an early-morning workout with Pete Bommarito’s Training Performance in Davie, where many Dolphins players have trained this offseason.
Without offseason team activities in May, Dolphins players convened to practice together with hopes of not being too far behind when training camp workouts begin in August.
“Practically, the whole defense [participated],” said Biegel.
“It’s been awesome to be able to do that with some of the free agents and some of the rookies,” Biegel said after a workout last week.
But once his workouts end around 11 a.m. during the week, Biegel quickly transitions to another role he is playing this offseason.
“Then, it starts ‘Daddy Day Care’ in the house,” Biegel said with a smile.
Spending more time with his daughter, who was born in April 2019, has been one of the bright spots for Biegel as a stayat-home NFL father during the offseason affected by COVID-19.
Biegel even participated in some of his Dolphins virtual team meetings with his daughter sitting on his lap.
“It’s kinda awesome because my daughter is just one year old and I’m able to be home more. I’m able to watch my daughter grow up,” Biegel said.
“Myself, like many others, we got to work and we miss out on those little moments of your kid growing up — the first step, some of their first words. To be able to have some of that time back has been amazing to spend with my daughter, watch her grow up and be a dad.”
When training camp begins, Biegel will find himself in a more crowded competition for playing time than he experienced while starting 10 of 15 games for the Dolphins a season ago. He had 59 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one interception.
The Dolphins added outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and edge rushers Emmanuel Ogbah and Shaw Lawson in free agency and rookie defensive ends Jason Strowbridge and Curtis Weaver in the draft to help boost Miami’s abysmal pass rush, which ranked last in sacks last season.
Biegel will also compete with fellow linebackers Raekwon McMillan, Elandon Roberts, Andrew Van Ginkel, Trent Harris, Kamu Gregier-Hill and Sam Eguavoen for roles to play alongside standout Jerome Baker as Miami often deploys just two linebackers in its defensive sets.
As much as Biegel knows COVID-19 could affect training camp, he is optimistic about the Dolphins’ plans to keep players safe as they prepare for the season.
“I’m optimistic. I’m optimistic that things will get rolling. I’m excited to get rolling. I’m looking forward to seeing the guys again and doing what I love to do,” Biegel said.
“I know the players want to get back out there and start playing. Especially as a young guy, I’m ready to roll and I’m anxious to get back. Big year for me, too. So I’m anxious and excited to get back to work as soon as we get back.”