Dolphins In Deep Trouble As Bengals Come To Town
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Dolphins had high hopes that 2013 would be the year the team finally turned the corner and became a contender in the NFL. After seven weeks and armed with a 3-4 record, the Dolphins aren't a contender and are teetering on the edge of falling apart.
In just the last week, Dolphins center Mike Pouncey was served with a subpoena to testify before a Massachusetts grand jury hearing evidence related to gun charges against his friend, accused murderer Aaron Hernandez.
Pouncey and his brother, Maurkice, got in hot water earlier in the year when they wore hats saying "Free Hernandez." Maurkice apologized for his actions, but the Fins kept Pouncey from saying anything in the wake of the hat fiasco.
The Fins, as was the case with the hat, have forbidden Pouncey from discussing the subpoena, according to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald, and the team is not commenting on the issue either.
There was also an incident earlier this year when defensive tackle Randy Starks gave his coaches the finger while celebrating a sack. According to the Herald, while he denied it publicly, Starks was aiming it at coaches after he lost his starting job.
Wednesday, reports emerged that right tackle Jonathan Martin had left the team after having an "emotional breakdown" after teammates pulled a prank on him in the lunchroom. The Fins have not acknowledged the story and didn't officially rule him out of the game until Thursday afternoon.
Thursday, Dolphins guard Richie Incognito went public with questions about offensive coordinator Mike Sherman's play calling. Sherman, who has been with quarterback Ryan Tannehill since he started playing at Texas A&M, has deviated from the running game and leaned more heavily on the pass in recent games.
"I think we should just keep running the football, 30, 40 times a game," Incognito told the Herald's Armando Salguero. "That's our blueprint for success. We have to run the football for four quarters."
Another high-ranking source told Salguero that Sherman misses fundamentals with his offensive scheme as well.
The growing problems inside the Dolphins' organization come as the team tries to right the ship in the midst of a four-game losing streak. The Fins were in full command of last weekend's game against the New England Patriots before completely collapsing in the second half.
The Dolphins play a tough Cincinnati Bengals team Thursday night led by AFC offensive player of the month Andy Dalton. The Bengals quarterback made four starts in October and completed 89-131 passes for 1,246 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions.
In addition, the Bengals have arguably one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL in Geno Atkins. The Pro Bowler has dominated at the line of scrimmage and has 18 total tackles and five sacks during the 2013 season.
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