Kids summer camps lift disparaged Dolphins.
Blocking the noise
DAVIE — Dolphins cornerback Tony Lippett hasn’t heard all of the dark rankings and prognostications related to his for the 2018 season. Offensive tackle Eric Smith has heard some of them, and cornerback Xavien Howard has heard almost all of them.
“You see stuff that’s a lot of negative stuff,” Howard said. “I try to keep a lot of positive around me.”
But the grim predictions are everywhere. Coach Adam Gase is the 21st-ranked coach in the league, vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum was ranked among the league’s worst executives by Sporting News, the over/under betting line on Dolphins’ wins is around 6.5. On and on it goes, which is to be expected after Miami finished with a disapteam pointing 6-10 record last season.
Howard, Lippett and Smith were far from that type of noise
“I stay away from it. That way you never get boosted up or get your feelings hurt.” Eric Smith, Dolphins tackle, on prognosticators
Wednesday as they helped about 160 kids go through football drills and flag football games at Junior Dolphins Summer Camp at the team facility in Davie.
The camp allows kids to play any and every position they desire on offense and defense, which lets them learn the basics of every job or focus on one position.
The Junior Dolphins program is intended to give kids access to football fundamentals using NFL resources and grow the game by educating parents and youth on health and safety with an emphasis on character.
Dolphins players laughed with the kids, showed them football fundamentals and signed autographs during Wednesday’s six-hour session.
“It’s about giving back to the community and seeing the kids out here competing, and trying to teach the kids fundamentals of the game,” said Howard, who had a career-best four interceptions last season. “It’s a lot going on in the league right now and in youth football with
the fundamentals that they’re going to have to learn going on in their careers. But I really came out here to give back and see the kids come out here and compete.”
And get his feet wet. Howard is sponsoring his first youth football camp Saturday in his hometown of Houston. Registration is full with about 100 registrants. Howard is getting help at his camp from fellow defensive backs Lippett, Bobby McCain and Walt Aikens.
Smith, the second-year undrafted player from Virginia who battled a knee problem as a rookie, blended effortlessly with the kids at the camp.
“I’m out here smiling with the kids, having fun, dancing, signing autographs, using my platform, and not talking at them, but talking with them,” he said.
The affable Smith, who will likely battle Zach Sterup for a backup tackle job alongside Sam Young and behind starters Ja’Wuan James and Laremy Tunsil, estimates he’s worked more than 20 charity/community events in the 12 months he’s been with the Dolphins ranging from Hurricane Irma relief to golf tournaments and events to feed the homeless.
But the Atlanta native, who is assisting with the Believe in Me Foundation football camp Saturday at Traz Powell Stadium, said he’s interested in possibly working more closely with kids in the future.
“I genuinely love being out here with kids,” he said. “I think I’m a big kid myself. That’s what it is. I just naturally know how to have fun with them.”
As for the unflattering outlook on the season, Lippett, who had a team-leading four interceptions in 2016 but missed last season with an Achilles injury, said he wasn’t even aware such grumblings are out there.
“All that stuff you just said is kind of new to me,” he said.
Lippett, expected to battle for a starting job this season, said he tries to ignore the talking heads and media.
“I don’t pay attention to it,” he said. “All we can control is what we can control.”
Smith, who was a fouryear starter at Virginia, said he never paid attention to prognosticators in college and he’s followed the same path in the NFL.
“I stay away from it,” he said. “That way you never get boosted up or get your feelings hurt.”