Say Hello To The NFL’s Mystery Franchise

In need of character and impeccable nature, the Miami Dolphins drafted offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, aware of the video of him bonging through a gas mask and his various lawsuits. Shortly thereafter he acknowledged getting money from his college coaches. Nice. Anyone see that bus coming? Hey, for 21 he must be very mature.

Tunsil was at one time considered the possible No. 1 pick in the draft. The Dolphins got him at No. 13. Value? Or is he a problem waiting to blossom once (or even before) he cashes that first check?

Perhaps the front office’s judgment (???) can be offset by new coach Adam Gase. Short of predicting a power struggle a year or two hence, we will endorse Gase’s new approach while taking a pass on the front office’s weirdness (see Jonathan Martin).

Gase plans to run an initial minicamp absent of football and long on classroom study and life skills. Can you hear me clapping? The thinking is that the players played long college seasons, trained hard for the NFL scouting combine and their private workouts, and need to have in mind other aspects of their career.

If Gase wins eight games this year but helps these young men build sound futures, he’ll be a gem. If he doesn’t make the playoffs in a year and turn Ryan Tannehill into an All-Pro, he’ll also be a candidate for firing. So we hope he can coach and that he can help this organization overcome its famed nuttiness.

Because the players deserve more than just coaching.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman