Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 8:06 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2011

Posted: 6:18 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2011

DAVIE — New York Jets coach Rex Ryan is likely to have no more success enticing the Dolphins into a war of words this week than he did the New York Giants last week.

Ryan became the center of attention before the Jets-Giants battle last week, crowing that the Jets were the better team and were done playing the “little brother” in the crosstown rivalry. Giants coach Tom Coughlin’s response of “talk is cheap, play the game” resonated when the Giants won 29-14.

Ryan, who had a profane on-field exchange with Giants running back Brandon Jacobs after the game, admitted he had been humbled. The Jets are just 8-7, and their faint playoff hopes will end if they lose Sunday against their old rivals at Sun Life Stadium.

Still, history says Ryan will be back on his high horse in no time. The handful of Dolphins who showed up in the locker room Monday seemed unfazed by whatever is to come.

“It would be nice (to shut him up),” defensive end Jared Odrick said. “But I don’t think our objective is to shut Rex Ryan up.

“You can respect his talking to a certain extent. He’s always supportive, always boosting his team, wants his team to win. But when you’re on the other side of the fence, if you believe you can beat his team, you do kind of want to shut him up. So you can see where he’s coming from, but, yeah, it’d be nice to go out and get a ‘W’ and shut him up.”

Not exactly bulletin-board material, though it seemed like it compared to interim coach Todd Bowles’ response.

“I don’t get into that at all,” Bowles said. “I know he is a good football coach. That’s all we’ve got to prepare for.”

Ryan, of course, generates headlines wherever he goes, predicting a Super Bowl victory three years running. He came close to backing it up the first two, as his team reached the AFC championship game both times, but this year’s squad is a long shot to even make the playoffs.

So is the opportunity to put the Jets out of their misery an incentive?

“That would be a good way to end it,” wide receiver Davone Bess said with a shrug.

Truth be told, neither team has had the kind of season to sustain their fans’ interest. Miami started out 0-7 before coming on in the second half, but the Dolphins are sure to finish with a losing record for the fifth time in six years.

The Jets have been even more enigmatic. Their only win over a team that currently has a winning record came in their season opener against Dallas, and after putting themselves in playoff contention with a three-game winning streak, they’ve been badly outplayed in losing their last two against Philadelphia (45-19) and the Giants.

Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer doesn’t go a day without being ripped for his play-calling, and NBC’s Mike Florio reported late Sunday that the team is considering searching for a replacement for inconsistent quarterback Mark Sanchez this off-season.

Sanchez, in his third season, has improved his completion percentage from 54.8 to 56.2 from last year and increased his touchdown passes from 17 to 24. But he has also been sacked 10 more times (37) and his passer rating of 79.0 ranked 22nd in the NFL through Sunday, behind Arizona’s Kevin Kolb and Seattle’s Tarvaris Jackson.

The Jets have been unbalanced statistically, ranking 27th in yards gained and seventh in yards allowed.

“The tradition and rivalry will always add a little extra,” Bess said. “But they know us and we know them. They’re the Jets, and the more prepared team, the more physical team, the more determined team will win the game.”

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 6:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2011

Posted: 6:03 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2011

DAVIE — The Dolphins could set a franchise record Sunday against the New York Jets, but it’s not one that would make them proud.

After allowing five sacks Saturday at New England, the Dolphins have given up 51 this year, just two shy of the team record set in 1969. The Dolphins allowed 52 sacks in 1968 and 2004.

The offensive line will get a break in the season finale in that the Jets have a mediocre pass rush. New York’s 34 sacks this season are 17th in the NFL.

The 51 sacks allowed by Miami are third-most in the NFL this year. The Dolphins have allowed four or more sacks in eight games (all defeats) and yielded a franchise-record nine to Philadelphia on Dec. 11.

Veteran right tackle Marc Colombo has allowed nine sacks this year, tied for fifth-most in the league among 76 offensive tackles. Left tackle Jake Long has, surprisingly, allowed five.

But interim coach Todd Bowles said everyone – from the linemen to the running backs to the receivers to quarterbacks Matt Moore and Chad Henne – is responsible.

“It’s never just one person involved,” Bowles said Monday. “There were a couple of them (Saturday) where Matt held the ball a little bit. Couple of them they got good pressure. Couple of them nobody was open. It kind of mixes in.”

Long left Saturday’s game in the first quarter, reportedly because of a torn right biceps.

Bowles said he has been “hearing rumors” about Long’s diagnosis (first reported by ESPN) but wouldn’t discuss details.

Bowles said “we won’t know anything until Wednesday,” when the Dolphins return to the practice field and are required to release an injury report.

While some players have played through a torn biceps, Long likely will sit out and be replaced by John Jerry.

The Dolphins are 5-2 when they allow three or fewer sacks, and figure to try to upgrade the right tackle and right guard spots in the off-season, when Colombo and Vernon Carey become free agents.

Meanwhile, Bowles said, the Dolphins won’t hesitate to pass even if it means pressure on Moore.

“You’ve got to throw the ball in this league,” Bowles said. “You just can’t win with running the football.

“We’re not worried about the sack record. We’re worried about protecting the quarterback.”

No word on Fasano, Davis: Tight end Anthony Fasano, who missed Saturday’s game, was not allowed to speak with the media because he still has not cleared all of his concussion tests. He was hurt Dec. 18 at Buffalo.

Bowles also had no update on cornerback Vontae Davis, who left Saturday’s game because of an elbow injury.

Bowles said the Dolphins won’t be extra-cautious about who plays in the finale.

“Everybody that’s healthy, and we can win with, we’re going to play with,” he said.

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

DAVIE — Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore is a laid-back Southern California kid at heart, and plays the role well.

“He’s a cool dude, always calm and collected,” receiver Brian Hartline said.

“He fits right in with the beach crowd, that’s for sure,” said Danny Langsdorf, Moore’s offensive coordinator at Oregon State.

It’s an attitude that has served Moore well throughout a football life that has taken unexpected turns.

“Don’t get too high, don’t get too low,” as Moore puts it.

Today, Moore is an unexpected leader of the Dolphins, one of a handful of positive developments in a 5-9 season that cost coach Tony Sparano is job. Moore is 5-2 in his last seven games and his 88.7 passer rating (on 12 touchdowns and six interceptions) is 12th in the NFL.

His signing in July created only a small ripple of interest among Dolphins fans, but Moore now is the favorite to lead the offense next year – and maybe beyond.

“He’s been the backbone of this team,” running back Reggie Bush said.

Moore, 27, hasn’t found it easy to find his place.

• He spent two seasons at UCLA but transferred after losing his starting job to Drew Olson.
• Despite two excellent seasons at Oregon State, he wasn’t selected in the NFL Draft.
• After a solid pre-season as a rookie free agent with Dallas, he was cut.
• And despite a four-year stint in Carolina that saw him progress from a third-stringer to starter with a 7-6 record, he was cut this summer after the Panthers drafted Cam Newton.

“This game has really forced him to grow up in a lot of ways,” said his agent, Joe Aloisi. “I never doubted for a minute that Matt had the ability to play in the NFL. It was whether or not he was going to get his shot.”

His journey landed him in Miami this summer. Moore signed a two-year, $5 million contract but was an afterthought in training camp.

“I don’t think he had any high expectations,” said quarterbacks coach Karl Dorrell. “He knew his role was to provide depth.”

Moore took the field only when starter Chad Henne suffered a separated shoulder in Week 4.

Moore was mediocre in his first three starts – losses to the New York Jets, Denver and the New York Giants. But in his last seven starts he has 11 touchdown passes, two interceptions and a 104.6 passer rating, fifth-best in the NFL in that span.

He has developed a strong relationship with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and Dorrell, the coach at UCLA who chose Olson eight years ago.

“I have a lot of respect for Matt,” said Dorrell, who landed with the Dolphins in 2008 after being fired by UCLA. “Our perspectives are very similar, and the experience that he and I are having together, it’s really been positive. There’s no question, the harder he’s worked, the better player he’s become.”

Hartline likes the way Moore keeps his teammates “calm and collected” in the huddle. Rookie quarterback Pat Devlin appreciates the way Moore has taken him under his wing, whether it’s breaking down defenses in the film room or inviting him over for dinner.

“He really knows his stuff, and he’s been great about teaching me,” Devlin said. “It’s great to have that type of guy, who’s not going to just shut you out because you’re a rookie.”

Moore has never had much of a wild streak off the field – his college bio listed his favorite activities as ping pong and video games – but he learned a valuable lesson from Oregon State coach Mike Riley about keeping his composure on the field.

“I used to get so worked up and fired up – naturally as a kid, you just do that – and he’s the one who kind of instilled the attitude, ‘Be as calm as possible in any situation,’ and it really changed my game,” Moore said. “I would tell myself before games – this sounds totally cheesy – just be as cool as possible.”

Off the field, Moore thrives on long-held connections. Aloisi is the father of his best friend from junior high. His wife, Tara, is his high school sweetheart, and they have a 9-month-old daughter, Aubrey.

Moore attends Oregon State’s team banquet and Pro Day each spring. His off-season residence is in his hometown of Santa Clarita, and he is a frequent visitor to the football offices of his alma mater, Hart High.

“Every time he comes back into town, I think he stops at his in-laws first, and then he comes right over to Hart,” said his former high school coach, Mike Herrington.

Moore, whose current contract goes through 2012, is hoping to develop roots here, too. He has decided to keep his rental home in Weston year-round so he can attend the Dolphins’ off-season workouts.

Moore also knows he shouldn’t get too far ahead of himself. The Dolphins might draft a quarterback in the first round or even try to sign Peyton Manning if he becomes available.

For now, Moore is enjoying the moment and trying to build on his record as Miami’s starter.

“Obviously, we want more wins, but this year has been an unbelievable experience,” he said. “But I know I signed a two-year contract, and that’s all I can go off of.

“You just have to be able to adapt and adjust. It’s about being humble, doing whatever I can in the situation I’m in, and knowing that all of this can be over.”

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

The Dolphins on Tuesday signed former Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman to replace back-up Sage Rosenfels, who joined the team three weeks ago but isn’t healthy enough to continue.

Rosenfels, 33, was hospitalized multiple times for a blood infection during training camp with the New York Giants. He signed with the Dolphins after starter Chad Henne was lost for the season because of a separated shoulder.

“When I first joined the Dolphins, all tests showed that I was healthy and ready to go,” Rosenfels said in a statement Tuesday. “But after practicing for a few weeks, especially in the heat, some new indications made it obvious that I need to rest and allow my body to regain all requisite strength.”

Losman, 30, was the Bills’ first-round draft pick in 2004, but didn’t pan out in four-plus seasons. His record as the starter was 10-23 while throwing 33 touchdown passes and 34 interceptions with a completion percentage of 59.1. He eventually lost his job to Trent Edwards.

Losman threw one pass for Oakland in 2009 and signed with Seattle in 2010 but did not throw a pass. Also in ’09, he led the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League to the league’s inaugural championship.

The Dolphins might need Losman soon. Starter Matt Moore suffered bruised ribs in Sunday’s loss to Denver.

A league source said the injury is nothing that will prevent Moore from playing Sunday against the Giants, but he has taken a beating in his two games as a starter. Moore has been sacked eight times in two games and hit a total of 25 times in losses to the New York Jets and Denver.

The Dolphins initially worked out Losman after Henne’s injury in Week 4, but they opted to sign Rosenfels.

The Dolphins’ third quarterback is rookie Pat Devlin, a member of the practice squad.

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

DAVIE — As bad as things have been for the Dolphins this season – and at 0-5, it’s been impossible to avoid comparisons to the 1-15 debacle of 2007 – there are reasons for their fans to anticipate a breakthrough Sunday when the Denver Broncos visit Sun Life Stadium.

Like the Dolphins did last week, the Broncos (1-4) are giving a backup quarterback his first start of the year.

The Dolphins have lost six consecutive home games, dating back to last year, but the Broncos have lost 10 of their last 11 road games.

And despite the Broncos’ one win this season – 24-22 over Cincinnati – they’re statistically behind Miami in most categories.

“(They’re) nothing we can’t handle,” Dolphins tight end Anthony Fasano said. “We’ll have a good game plan; it comes down to executing.

“People try to point their finger at what’s wrong here or there and it just comes down to what we do well. And not just for a half.”

The Dolphins have had their moments. They hung tough against New England into the fourth quarter in the opener. They might have beaten Houston if not for a Daniel Thomas fumble in Week 2, and led Cleveland into the final minute in Week 3.

Monday night, the Dolphins outgained the New York Jets 173 yards to 10 in the first quarter and 215-100 in the opening half only to have dropped passes and turnovers doom them yet again.

“It’s really more about what we’ve been doing than what other teams have done to us,” guard Richie Incognito said. “It’s tough when you have a lot of mental errors; those are tough to overcome.”

The Dolphins have been better than the Broncos the last couple of years, but not by much. Since the start of the 2009 season, Miami is 14-23 and Denver is 13-24. But the Broncos are just 7-24 since their 6-0 start in ’09.

The team’s three offensive stars of 2008 – quarterback Jay Cutler, running back Peyton Hillis and wide receiver Brandon Marshall – were eventually shipped out by coach Josh McDaniels, who himself was dumped after a 3-9 start in 2010.

After interim coach Eric Studesville finished out the 4-12 campaign, John Fox, who oversaw Carolina’s 2-14 debacle last year, got the full-time job.

Some job. While Miami is 16th in total offense (14th running and 19th passing), Denver is tied for 26th overall (22nd running and 27th passing). The teams are very close defensively, the Broncos having allowed five fewer yards per game.

When the Broncos’ offense sputtered in their last outing, they benched Kyle Orton and turned to Tim Tebow, the University of Florida hero who made three starts for Denver last year. The Dolphins’ Matt Moore will start again in place of the injured Chad Henne.

While Miami has been just as bad at home as Denver has been on the road, Dolphins running back Reggie Bush said they recognize the need to treat their fans to a victory.

“It’s extremely important to go out and win a football game for our home crowd,” Bush said. “We owe them more than we’ve been putting out. We owe ourselves more, we owe this team more, we owe this organization more. We owe the players who came before us more of an effort than we’ve been putting out.

“We should be ashamed of ourselves with this record we have now.”

Linebacker Jason Taylor said he has confidence in his team.

“I believe in the guys,” he said. “I believe in what we’re trying to do. It’s hard to have faith sometimes when you’re not seeing the results. But that’s the definition of faith: believing without seeing it.”

Taylor and his teammates have heard fans and pundits discuss the “Suck for Luck” scenario – that the Dolphins should tank the season in hopes of getting the No. 1 draft pick and the right to select phenom quarterback Andrew Luck of Stanford.

Taylor said the idea is ridiculous and that coach Tony Sparano and his players would never let that happen.

“Everyone in that locker room would walk out before we did that,” Taylor said.

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

DAVIE — Dolphins coach Tony Sparano today defended a couple of conservative decisions made in the first half of Miami’s 24-6 loss to the New York Jets on Monday night.

He was asked about decisions to punt on a fourth-and-1 from the Jets’ 40 on Miami’s first possession and to run out the clock after getting the ball with 1:10 left in the first half.

“No, I wouldn’t say those were (conservative),” he told reporters. “You have your opinion and I have my opinion.”

On the punt, he explained, “Field position down there was critical, and Marlon Moore knocked it down at the 1-yard line (actually the 2). The defense stopped them there, and we got the ball back with field position.”

The Dolphins did hold the Jets to 3 yards in three plays and began their next drive at the Jets’ 47, then drove to a field goal for a 3-0 lead.

After the Jets drove 81 yards in 11 plays to take a 14-6 lead late in the half, Clyde Gates took a knee on the kickoff and Miami started at its own 20.

Sparano said an “either/or” play was called, giving quarterback Matt Moore the option to go with a run or a pass.

“It could have been a pass (but) the nature of the defense said no, and then Reggie (Bush) took off for 9 yards,” Sparano said.

At the end of the play, linebacker Aaron Maybin jarred the ball loose from behind and it rolled out of bounds.

That was enough for Sparano, who called another Bush run up the middle and then headed for the locker room with a timeout unused.

Sparano said many of the 0-5 Dolphins’ problems at this point are self-inflicted.

“There’s times we can get in our own way a little bit, and we need to get out of our own way,” he said. “I’m not being critical, it’s just a fact.”

As proof, he cited the team’s five fumbles – only one, by receiver Davone Bess, was lost – two interceptions and several dropped passes, at least two of them by normally reliable Brian Hartline.

“When you add those up it’s a dozen,” he said of the errors. “And those are (momentum) swings. We have to take care of the football. That’s not a winning formula.”

Big plays on defense were another problem. Sparano said the Jets gained 166 yards on seven plays, meaning they managed just 130 yards on their remaining 49 plays, an average of 2.6 yards per play.

“But third downs on both sides, the red zone offensively and the big plays (were problems),” he said.

Sparano had no update on Bush, who carried the ball only once in the second half and was seen getting a neck massage on the sideline. The team’s first injury report for Sunday’s game against Denver at Sun Life Stadium will be released Wednesday.

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Brandon Marshall is a good wide receiver, but he’s not a great one.

That’s just truth in advertising.

He once upon a time not so long ago was great as a Denver Bronco, but not anymore. He’s been a numbers guy as a Dolphin for going on a season-and-a-half. But he’s not a play-making difference-maker.

More proof came Monday night as Miami lost 24-6 to the New York Jets. Marshall produced pretty statistics (six catches for 109 yards) but couldn’t deliver the goods when the goods needed delivering.

His first failing came on a 46-yard gain of all things. He had gotten himself clear of defenders, caught a pass from Matt Moore down the left sideline and appeared to have an unimpeded path to a touchdown. Instead, Marshall – unable to maintain his balance or hit full and natural stride upon making the reception – somehow tilted out of bounds untouched at the Jets’ 19-yard line before sliding to a stop on his knees.

The Dolphins eventually settled for a field goal on the possession after Marshall dropped a pass in the end zone. Moore’s throw on the quick slant was to Marshall’s back shoulder rather than to his leading one, but great receivers make the catch.

What coulda/shoulda been a 10-7 lead for Miami was a 7-6 deficit. (Oh, and the Jets’ touchdown at that point had come on a 100-yard interception return by Darrelle Revis of a pass intended for … Marshall.)

The game soon enough dissolved into the Dolphins’ fifth loss in five starts.

“We owe it to ownership to play better,” Marshall said. “This is embarrassing.”

It is, indeed, and hardly is it all or even mostly Marshall’s fault. But if he’s supposed to be the team’s best offensive threat, then he deserves the majority of the blame for an offense that has posted just six touchdowns.

It’s worth mentioning that the Dolphins might have been wise to consider sending Marshall elsewhere before Tuesday’s trade deadline if, say, they could have retrieved the two second-round draft picks they gave Denver for him.

But there’s still something to be said about the potential of a 27-year-old, 6-4, 230-pound receiver.

He might not be the hundred-catch guy he was during each of his three full seasons as a starter for the Broncos, but Miami’s unimaginative offense certainly has something to do with that. And he is on pace for almost 90 catches and a career-high 1,350 yards.

Again, though, the glittery statistics smack of style rather than substance when a guy has scored four touchdowns for Miami – a skimpy one this season – after having scored 23 in those three full seasons as a Denver starter, which included two Pro Bowl honors.

Perhaps Sunday’s home game against his former team will motivate Marshall, who’ll have something to prove whether or not he admits it.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano insisted after the loss to the Jets that he’s “not frustrated” with Marshall’s performances, but then offered an explanation as to why he should be.

“Obviously, we want to finish things in the red (zone),” Sparano said in apparent reference to a certain dropped ball. (But) the thing that I’m the most frustrated about coming out of this thing is the third downs.”

The Dolphins’ miserable 2-of-13 conversion rate, he meant.

Well, there were five throws to Marshall on third down, and here were the results: incompletion, Revis’ interception and touchdown return, incompletion, incompletion and incompletion.

Marshall has to be better than that if the Dolphins are to pull themselves out of their current mess to any appreciable extent. He has to play as big as he is, which, for example, Marshall didn’t when New York cornerback Antonio Cromartie won a confrontation against him and broke up a pass.

Otherwise, he’ll never be great again.

Which might be the saddest truth of the new Brandon Marshall advertising.