The 2012 NFL draft will be remembered mostly for the Andrew Luck vs. Robert Griffin III debate, but there was a third quarterback taken in the top 10 that year: the Miami Dolphins chose signal caller Ryan Tannehill with the No. 8 pick. Tannehill came out as an athletic-but-raw prospect, but has developed in three years with Miami. Though he remains an unfinished product, Miami now wants to sign him to a long-term deal, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Dolphins and Ryan Tannehill work on long-term deal, Tony Dorsett battles CTE and other NFL news
Meanwhile, the league names its first “chief health and medical advisor.”
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Tannehill's tenure with the Dolphins hasn't always gone swimmingly. At one point last season, head coach Joe Philbin declined to name him the starter in advance of a game against the Oakland Raiders. Tannehill struggled at times and was averaging just 5.03 yards per pass attempt early in the season, among the very worst in the league. However, he turned things around during the second half of the campaign and finished with more than 4,000 passing yards, a career-high 27 touchdowns, and a career-low 12 interceptions. Given his talent and his age (turns 27 in July), it's not difficult to understand why Miami wants to continue the Tannehill experiment.
Tony Dorsett accepts CTE diagnosis
CTE, the degenerative brain disease linked with concussions and repeated head trauma, has become an issue for a number of retired NFL players. One such player is Tony Dorsett, who received that diagnosis in November 2013. While dealing with the challenges of the disease has occupied much of his time and concern, Dorsett told the Washington Post it's something he signed up for when he started playing football.
“I signed up for this when, I guess, I started playing football so many years ago. But, obviously, not knowing that the end was going to be like this. But I love the game. The game was good to me. It’s just unfortunate that I’m going through what I’m going through. I’m in the fight, man. I’m not just laying around letting this overtake me. I’m fighting. I’m in the battle. I’m hoping we can reverse this thing somehow.”
Dorsett said he wouldn’t keep his kids from playing football. Rather, he’d be more careful about handling head injuries when they happen.
NFL names first “chief health and medical advisor”
The biggest issue facing the NFL today is player safety. In addition to the physical injuries that many incur, such as torn ligaments and muscle strains, players risk long-term concerns related to brain function. Part of the solution is getting teams to better handle these injuries as they happen. In pursuit of that goal, the league named Dr. Elizabeth G. Nabel as its first “chief health and medical advisor.”
“We are excited to have Dr. Nabel’s insight as we continually seek ways to make our game better and safer,” said Commissioner Roger Goodell. “The game is safer than it has ever been, but not as safe as it will be with advisors like Dr. Nabel providing expertise.”
According to the NFL’s press release, Dr. Nabel will work directly with the commissioner to advise on all matters related to player health. She previously served as the president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School.
Jaguars' owner wants to extend stay in London
The Jacksonville Jaguars have spent the last two years playing one regular season game in London. The London games are part of the NFL’s effort to expand the footprint of the sport outside North America. While shipping games off to Europe infuriates some fans, it has been a success in the eyes of Jaguars’ owner Shad Khan. According to the SportsBusiness Journal, Khan aims to extend their stay in England.
The Jaguars’ current deal for London expires after two more seasons. So far, the games have contributed to the team jumping from 32nd in the league in revenue to a projected 22nd for the 2015 season. Given such a significant spike in revenue, Khan’s interest in remaining in London makes plenty of sense.
Seahawks add Pete Carroll's son to coaching staff
Since playing in Super Bowl XLIX, the Seattle Seahawks have endured an open season on their coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was poached by the Atlanta Falcons, bringing along assistant Marquand Manuel to coach the defensive backs. Ken Norton Jr. departed to become the defensive coordinator in Oakland. Now the Seahawks have pilfered some coaches of their own, landing Pete Carroll's son Brennan from the Miami Hurricanes, per Ian Rapoport.
Brennan becomes the second Carroll son on Seattle’s staff, as his younger brother Nate currently serves as the team’s assistant wide receivers coach. Brennan also coached receivers at Miami, though it’s unclear whether that will continue to be his role in Seattle. Regardless, the Seahawks have become quite the family affair moving forward.
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