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In the latest edition of “News to Me,” Dan Leberfeld looks into a couple of topics – including an enticing prospect for the Jets, and the Miami Dolphins’ front office quagmire . . .
Another wide receiver, with first round ability, entered the draft today, and his name is Kelvin Benjamin.
He is 6-5, 235 pounds.
He became a household name when he caught the game-winning touchdown for the Florida State Seminoles, in their last second win over Auburn.
He’s quite a weapon in the red zone. He had 15 touchdown catches this past year.
Benjamin is a match-up nightmare with his great size and long arms.
And he’s yet another NFL prospect from Belle Glade, Florida, a hotbed of talent.
He went to Belle Glade Central, a football power that has produced so much talent over the years, including Santonio Holmes.
We will see how he tests and interviews over the next few months, but he’s a name to keep an eye on.
He could be a good fit for the Jets at 18.
But once again, they should not reach for a receiver at 18. It has to be the right value for how their draft board is stacked.
While 40 time isn’t everything at receiver, it will be interesting to see what Benjamin runs. If he runs 4.6 or worse, it could make him slip. We will see at the combine.
But one thing that scouts love is how he was clutch not only in the ACC Championship Game against Duke, but the national championship game against Auburn. He shined on two national stages.
I don’t think any of us would be surprised if when the Jets hand in their card for the draft, the name is Kelvin Benjamin or Texas A&M wide out Mike Evans – both 6-5, with huge wingspans who excel in traffic . . .
What a dysfunctional scene in Miami.
And a former Jets employee, Dawn Aponte, a Staten Island-native, is at the center of the storm.
She started out with the Jets, worked in the league office as attorney, worked with Eric Mangini in Cleveland, and then joined Bill Parcells in Miami.
She’s become a very powerful figure with the Dolphins. Let’s put it this way – she doesn’t fly to road games on the team plane, but on the owner’s private plane.
And Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald had the following nugget on her –
“During those final two games, while the Dolphins underperformed on the field, Jeff Ireland watched from the press box or a club suite and complained about the job the coaches were doing. And executive vice president of football administration Dawn Aponte heard Ireland’s complaints.
“And Aponte told Philbin of Ireland’s complaints word for word.”
Ireland was fired after the season.
Ireland and Aponte couldn’t stand each other.
And just to show you the level of dysfunction – Aponte reported to Joe Philbin, not Jeff Ireland.
Considering Aponte is a cap guru and a contract negotiator, don’t you find it strange she would be reporting to the coach, and not the GM? The GM handles the contracts.
Some have speculated that Aponte could be a candidate for the Dolphins’ GM job.
But how are they going to sell that to the public after what Salguero reported?
And then again, if they hire somebody else, how will that person deal with Aponte who has the owner’s ear and the head coach’s ear. On top of that, she is close with Jay Cross, another confidante of Ross. Yes, that Jay Cross, the former Jets executive. She is very powerful in Davie.
That dynamic is certainly going to make the new GM a little uncomfortable.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Aponte, if she doesn’t become the GM, gets a powerful job in the league office, perhaps replacing VP Ray Anderson.
January 10, 2013
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