Ronnie Brown's Starting Job In Jeopardy? (1 Viewer)

packersfan said:

The Dolphins' team website implies that Ronnie Brown is facing competition for his starting job from Jesse Chatman.Brown is highly unlikely to lose his job outright, but this situation bears watching because Chatman knows Cam Cameron's offense so well. He's also been big throughout camp and the preseason. There is a chance that Chatman could steal some early-down work from Brown during the year.

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Brown isn't sure what the final plan is going to be when it comes to the regular season, but he doesn't believe returning kicks will impact his ability as the featured running back on Cameron's offense. He pointed to the depth behind him with Chatman, Patrick Cobbs and Lorenzo Booker, as a positive because if he needs to sit out a series now and then either one of those three is capable filling in. As far as any concern over being exposed to being injured on kicks returns, he doesn't see there being any."On this level, anytime, any play, you could not even have the ball and you see a lot of guys get hurt when they're not even involved in the play," Brown said. "So I think if it's destiny for you to get hurt or get an injury then it's going to happen, so you just try to go out there and not even think about the injury aspect of things."

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gregjcross said:

Cam doesnt like Ronnie. As a Brown owner, I dont like Cam, but we'll see what happens, I think the entire Kick Returner deal is Cam asserting his authority as a rookie NFL coach, in line with the firing of RB coach Bobby Williams in April. I think they should be a little more worried about the O-line than their rushers, but who am I.

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gregjcross said:

Cam doesnt like Ronnie. As a Brown owner, I dont like Cam, but we'll see what happens, I think the entire Kick Returner deal is Cam asserting his authority as a rookie NFL coach, in line with the firing of RB coach Bobby Williams in April. I think they should be a little more worried about the O-line than their rushers, but who am I.

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Jon_Moore said:

All I've read is how he plans to use him like Tomlinson.

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Bri said:

roto link?

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Two days after coach Cam Cameron said starting tailback Ronnie Brown would serve as one of the Dolphins two kick returners, the coach backed off the comment by clarifying that he was referring to Brown serving that specific role for Thursday night's exhibition game against the Chiefs, while rookie return specialist Ted Ginn Jr. concentrated on punt returns.

"Maybe it got looked at as something permanent, but those would be the guys returning the kicks for that game, and Ted was going to return punts for the duration of the game," Cameron said.

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Jon_Moore said:

It was posted in the other thread, but fwiw:

Two days after coach Cam Cameron said starting tailback Ronnie Brown would serve as one of the Dolphins two kick returners, the coach backed off the comment by clarifying that he was referring to Brown serving that specific role for Thursday night's exhibition game against the Chiefs, while rookie return specialist Ted Ginn Jr. concentrated on punt returns.

"Maybe it got looked at as something permanent, but those would be the guys returning the kicks for that game, and Ted was going to return punts for the duration of the game," Cameron said.

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LoCoELF said:

As for how close the competition between Brown and Jesse Chatman is getting, Cameron wouldn't say other than to reiterate, "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed." Looks like Rotoworld fishing for a story.

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LoCoELF said:

This is the link there referring too:

http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/news/...?contentID=5321

And I'm guessing this is what Rotoworld is speculating on:

As for how close the competition between Brown and Jesse Chatman is getting, Cameron wouldn't say other than to reiterate, "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed."

Looks like Rotoworld fishing for a story.

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RAIDERNATION said:

LoCoELF said:

As for how close the competition between Brown and Jesse Chatman is getting, Cameron wouldn't say other than to reiterate, "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed." Looks like Rotoworld fishing for a story.

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Might be fishing, but that's also a telling comment.The comment was: "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed."The comment was NOT: "Ronnie Brown is our best running back, so naturally he'll be the one who will play."

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az_prof said:

RAIDERNATION said:

LoCoELF said:

As for how close the competition between Brown and Jesse Chatman is getting, Cameron wouldn't say other than to reiterate, "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed." Looks like Rotoworld fishing for a story.

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Might be fishing, but that's also a telling comment.The comment was: "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed."The comment was NOT: "Ronnie Brown is our best running back, so naturally he'll be the one who will play."

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You believe that? Then draft Chatman in the third round and pass on Brown.

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Joe Bryant said:

az_prof said:

RAIDERNATION said:

LoCoELF said:

As for how close the competition between Brown and Jesse Chatman is getting, Cameron wouldn't say other than to reiterate, "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed." Looks like Rotoworld fishing for a story.

Click to expand...

Might be fishing, but that's also a telling comment.The comment was: "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed."The comment was NOT: "Ronnie Brown is our best running back, so naturally he'll be the one who will play."

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You believe that? Then draft Chatman in the third round and pass on Brown.

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He's not saying he believes that. He's relaying a story from Rotoworld and trying to discuss whether that story has any merit. What Cameron said absolutely raises some eyebrows. As does throwing Brown on kick returns. Laugh it off if you like. Does it mean anything? Maybe not. But that's the kind of stuff we talk about here.J

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az_prof said:

Joe Bryant said:

az_prof said:

RAIDERNATION said:

LoCoELF said:

As for how close the competition between Brown and Jesse Chatman is getting, Cameron wouldn't say other than to reiterate, "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed." Looks like Rotoworld fishing for a story.

Click to expand...

Might be fishing, but that's also a telling comment.The comment was: "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed."The comment was NOT: "Ronnie Brown is our best running back, so naturally he'll be the one who will play."

Click to expand...

You believe that? Then draft Chatman in the third round and pass on Brown.

Click to expand...

He's not saying he believes that. He's relaying a story from Rotoworld and trying to discuss whether that story has any merit. What Cameron said absolutely raises some eyebrows. As does throwing Brown on kick returns. Laugh it off if you like. Does it mean anything? Maybe not. But that's the kind of stuff we talk about here.J

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When the Vikings gave away the franchise to get Hershel Walker they had him return kicks occasionally. It doesn't mean a player isn't valued--it means he is the best player to do the job. Cam also clarified that this isn't a regular thing--so the kick return story, like this one no doubt, is being blown way out of proportion. If Brown had been struggling there might be more to it; but he has had a good camp and looked very sharp in the last game.

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RAIDERNATION said:

az_prof said:

Joe Bryant said:

az_prof said:

RAIDERNATION said:

LoCoELF said:

As for how close the competition between Brown and Jesse Chatman is getting, Cameron wouldn't say other than to reiterate, "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed." Looks like Rotoworld fishing for a story.

Click to expand...

Might be fishing, but that's also a telling comment.The comment was: "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed."The comment was NOT: "Ronnie Brown is our best running back, so naturally he'll be the one who will play."

Click to expand...

You believe that? Then draft Chatman in the third round and pass on Brown.

Click to expand...

He's not saying he believes that. He's relaying a story from Rotoworld and trying to discuss whether that story has any merit. What Cameron said absolutely raises some eyebrows. As does throwing Brown on kick returns. Laugh it off if you like. Does it mean anything? Maybe not. But that's the kind of stuff we talk about here.J

Click to expand...

When the Vikings gave away the franchise to get Hershel Walker they had him return kicks occasionally. It doesn't mean a player isn't valued--it means he is the best player to do the job. Cam also clarified that this isn't a regular thing--so the kick return story, like this one no doubt, is being blown way out of proportion. If Brown had been struggling there might be more to it; but he has had a good camp and looked very sharp in the last game.

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az_prof = Brown owner

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az_prof said:

RAIDERNATION said:

az_prof said:

Joe Bryant said:

az_prof said:

RAIDERNATION said:

LoCoELF said:

As for how close the competition between Brown and Jesse Chatman is getting, Cameron wouldn't say other than to reiterate, "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed."

Looks like Rotoworld fishing for a story.

Click to expand...

Might be fishing, but that's also a telling comment.The comment was: "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed."

The comment was NOT: "Ronnie Brown is our best running back, so naturally he'll be the one who will play."

Click to expand...

You believe that? Then draft Chatman in the third round and pass on Brown.

Click to expand...

He's not saying he believes that. He's relaying a story from Rotoworld and trying to discuss whether that story has any merit. What Cameron said absolutely raises some eyebrows. As does throwing Brown on kick returns. Laugh it off if you like. Does it mean anything? Maybe not. But that's the kind of stuff we talk about here.J

Click to expand...

When the Vikings gave away the franchise to get Hershel Walker they had him return kicks occasionally. It doesn't mean a player isn't valued--it means he is the best player to do the job. Cam also clarified that this isn't a regular thing--so the kick return story, like this one no doubt, is being blown way out of proportion. If Brown had been struggling there might be more to it; but he has had a good camp and looked very sharp in the last game.

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az_prof = Brown owner

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No; AZ_Prof equals a guy who doesn't pay much attention to preseason in general and who doesn't read too much into vague statements made during the preseason. I find more compelling the fact that Cam has produced some great backs and think that he will motivate Brown to become one of the elite backs this year. Creating a "competition" may be part of that plan, but I rest my case by saying who is starting the games? When Chatman starts one of these games then you will something to stand on --until then it is just smoke and mirrors.

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az_prof said:

Joe Bryant said:

az_prof said:

RAIDERNATION said:

LoCoELF said:

As for how close the competition between Brown and Jesse Chatman is getting, Cameron wouldn't say other than to reiterate, "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed." Looks like Rotoworld fishing for a story.

Click to expand...

Might be fishing, but that's also a telling comment.The comment was: "Our best running back will play. That hasn't changed."The comment was NOT: "Ronnie Brown is our best running back, so naturally he'll be the one who will play."

Click to expand...

You believe that? Then draft Chatman in the third round and pass on Brown.

Click to expand...

He's not saying he believes that. He's relaying a story from Rotoworld and trying to discuss whether that story has any merit. What Cameron said absolutely raises some eyebrows. As does throwing Brown on kick returns. Laugh it off if you like. Does it mean anything? Maybe not. But that's the kind of stuff we talk about here.J

Click to expand...

When the Vikings gave away the franchise to get Hershel Walker they had him return kicks occasionally. It doesn't mean a player isn't valued--it means he is the best player to do the job. Cam also clarified that this isn't a regular thing--so the kick return story, like this one no doubt, is being blown way out of proportion. If Brown had been struggling there might be more to it; but he has had a good camp and looked very sharp in the last game.

Click to expand...

az_prof said:

When the Vikings gave away the franchise to get Hershel Walker they had him return kicks occasionally. It doesn't mean a player isn't valued--it means he is the best player to do the job. Cam also clarified that this isn't a regular thing--so the kick return story, like this one no doubt, is being blown way out of proportion. If Brown had been struggling there might be more to it; but he has had a good camp and looked very sharp in the last game.

Click to expand...

tombonneau said:

Pats were using Maroney a lot on KRs last year and even though he was an excellent return guy I cringed every time he was back there. Now that he is the starter, BB has pulled him. I can't think of one full time RB whose coach even flirted with him returning kicks. Bush had to beg Peyton to put him back for kicks this year. And I'm still not sure he would.Bottom line, its not a good sign that Brown was in there in the preseason. You don't subject a guy you intend to take a full game of pounding running the ball to take some extra whacks on a kick. You do however have a guy who is going to split carries back there. Just an idle thought.Either way, this is just one more reason I am avoiding Brown this year.

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Asinine said:

I seriously doubt Ronnie Brown loses his job nor has to return kicks, and this is all about creating competition and motivation. Brown is a proven, durable workhouse who gets positive yardage and wears down defenses.Before you discount Chatman though, actually watch some film of this guy. He's a short, stocky RB with above average vision, agility, and tackle breaking ability. He doesn't have breakaway speed, but he'll slip through the line or move the pile to gain positive yardage. He had a nice college career and has a 5.4 YPC avg from his days backing up LT before Michael Turner came along.

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Lash said:

lemme get this straight, they made an obvious to everyone but themselves reach to get a returner in Ginn at #9 and now they want to subject their most talented offensive player by far to the collisions that take place on kick returns?they are 3-13 waiting to happen

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HYDE: Cameron delivers message, but does Ronnie Brown get it?

Dave Hyde | Sports Columnist

August 20, 2007

Dear Ronnie Brown,

Play better. Now.

Fondly, Cam Cameron

DAVIE That's the story of late. It's the public message the new Dolphins coach has clumsily tried to send and re-send from Dolphins camp.

First, he dispatched Brown to the dregs of kickoff returner in Thursday's exhibition against Kansas City. Then, he made some foggy comments to the media about it being permanent before listening to how that sounded and backing off it.

Finally, on Sunday, Cameron re-re-sent the message and actually hit the intended target with lines like: "The evaluation of Ronnie Brown is far from over." And: "He didn't make himself the second pick of the draft—somebody drafted him." And: "Our best running back will play — I don't care who it is."

Asked who his best running back was to date, Cameron didn't say the obvious, about the only choices being the high-pedigreed Brown and two free-agent pickups, Jesse Chatman and Patrick Cobbs.

"We're not to the point where we'd say that," Cameron said.

On the public calling-out scale, give it 3 1/2 stars. Not exactly five-star, first-degree-burn material you might expect from a protege of Bob Knight and Bo Schembechler. But close enough to feel the singe.

This isn't just any new coach's right. It's his early weapon, too. Inherited players always are asked to reprove themselves, especially ones with questions like Brown. Jimmy Johnson cut most players with Don Shula's imprint. Nick Saban cleared out Dave Wannstedt's roster.

If we've learned anything about Cameron this month, it's that he sends direct messages through playing status. Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor have proved their star status? Fine, they don't have to play. Guard Rex Hadnot isn't working hard enough? Dump him for a while to second string. Tackle L.J. Shelton needs to play better? Bench him till the third quarter.

But for what he cost, and where he plays, Brown is being delivered the loudest message of all. The message is he's no star. It's that he's needs to work. It's that the job isn't getting done.

The question isn't yet whether this public tact will work, considering Cameron can't know Brown's personality well enough to figure how he'll respond to some giddy-up criticism. The real question: Does Brown understand what's at work here?

Asked what he thought of returning kickoffs for the first time in his life this past exhibition game, Brown said Sunday he did, "pretty decent" and how it was "another opportunity to touch the ball."

Asked whether he thought it was a slap in the face, as Cameron intended and most starting running backs would take it, Brown said: "I try to take everything in a positive aspect. I looked at it as an opportunity for Ronnie to make another play and have an opportunity to touch the ball."

Yep, in the wake of being told he's no star, Brown shifted into star-status, third-person gear.

Ted Ginn Jr. should be listening, too. It's not like returning kickoffs takes anything more than speed, which is the commodity that made Ginn the No. 9 draft pick.

Catch the ball. Run as fast as you can. Hope you don't get hurt in the coming car wreck. That's essentially the work order of a kick returner. And you're demoted from that? Can Cameron be any more direct?

But the big flare went up for Brown. The Dolphins can't have him underachieve. Everyone knows Brown wasn't a classic second-pick talent, that his 2005 draft was a low-water class, that the only star from it thus far was San Diego's Shawne Merriman, who went 12th.

But can Brown only be the average running back he was the first two seasons? And shouldn't he be helping a questionable line, the way good backs always do (Ricky Williams leading the league in rushing behind that tepid line in 2002)?

These are the answers Cameron is pushing to find, though typically if you have to push a running back in his third year that's answer enough. Cameron noted how few carries Brown had in high school and that he's still learning. So we'll see.

Cameron also praised Brown's third-and-2 run vs. Kansas City, one where he bounced it outside for a 22-yard gain. Of course, asked if he liked Brown being caught from behind, Cameron said, "That's a loaded question. It's a fair question. Ronnie Brown, beating the ground (after being tackled), I think that spoke for that."

Cameron saw the best in the business work in San Diego the past several years in LaDainian Tomlinson. Now he's seeing Brown at work. And he's pushing. And demanding. And sending, re-sending and, well, re-re-sending messages. Maybe one will get through.

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moleculo said:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-fls...,0,94383.column

Looks like Brown is in the dog house...

HYDE: Cameron delivers message, but does Ronnie Brown get it?

Dave Hyde | Sports Columnist

August 20, 2007

Dear Ronnie Brown,

Play better. Now.

Fondly, Cam Cameron

DAVIE That's the story of late. It's the public message the new Dolphins coach has clumsily tried to send and re-send from Dolphins camp.

First, he dispatched Brown to the dregs of kickoff returner in Thursday's exhibition against Kansas City. Then, he made some foggy comments to the media about it being permanent before listening to how that sounded and backing off it.

Finally, on Sunday, Cameron re-re-sent the message and actually hit the intended target with lines like: "The evaluation of Ronnie Brown is far from over." And: "He didn't make himself the second pick of the draft—somebody drafted him." And: "Our best running back will play — I don't care who it is."

Asked who his best running back was to date, Cameron didn't say the obvious, about the only choices being the high-pedigreed Brown and two free-agent pickups, Jesse Chatman and Patrick Cobbs.

"We're not to the point where we'd say that," Cameron said.

On the public calling-out scale, give it 3 1/2 stars. Not exactly five-star, first-degree-burn material you might expect from a protege of Bob Knight and Bo Schembechler. But close enough to feel the singe.

This isn't just any new coach's right. It's his early weapon, too. Inherited players always are asked to reprove themselves, especially ones with questions like Brown. Jimmy Johnson cut most players with Don Shula's imprint. Nick Saban cleared out Dave Wannstedt's roster.

If we've learned anything about Cameron this month, it's that he sends direct messages through playing status. Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor have proved their star status? Fine, they don't have to play. Guard Rex Hadnot isn't working hard enough? Dump him for a while to second string. Tackle L.J. Shelton needs to play better? Bench him till the third quarter.

But for what he cost, and where he plays, Brown is being delivered the loudest message of all. The message is he's no star. It's that he's needs to work. It's that the job isn't getting done.

The question isn't yet whether this public tact will work, considering Cameron can't know Brown's personality well enough to figure how he'll respond to some giddy-up criticism. The real question: Does Brown understand what's at work here?

Asked what he thought of returning kickoffs for the first time in his life this past exhibition game, Brown said Sunday he did, "pretty decent" and how it was "another opportunity to touch the ball."

Asked whether he thought it was a slap in the face, as Cameron intended and most starting running backs would take it, Brown said: "I try to take everything in a positive aspect. I looked at it as an opportunity for Ronnie to make another play and have an opportunity to touch the ball."

Yep, in the wake of being told he's no star, Brown shifted into star-status, third-person gear.

Ted Ginn Jr. should be listening, too. It's not like returning kickoffs takes anything more than speed, which is the commodity that made Ginn the No. 9 draft pick.

Catch the ball. Run as fast as you can. Hope you don't get hurt in the coming car wreck. That's essentially the work order of a kick returner. And you're demoted from that? Can Cameron be any more direct?

But the big flare went up for Brown. The Dolphins can't have him underachieve. Everyone knows Brown wasn't a classic second-pick talent, that his 2005 draft was a low-water class, that the only star from it thus far was San Diego's Shawne Merriman, who went 12th.

But can Brown only be the average running back he was the first two seasons? And shouldn't he be helping a questionable line, the way good backs always do (Ricky Williams leading the league in rushing behind that tepid line in 2002)?

These are the answers Cameron is pushing to find, though typically if you have to push a running back in his third year that's answer enough. Cameron noted how few carries Brown had in high school and that he's still learning. So we'll see.

Cameron also praised Brown's third-and-2 run vs. Kansas City, one where he bounced it outside for a 22-yard gain. Of course, asked if he liked Brown being caught from behind, Cameron said, "That's a loaded question. It's a fair question. Ronnie Brown, beating the ground (after being tackled), I think that spoke for that."

Cameron saw the best in the business work in San Diego the past several years in LaDainian Tomlinson. Now he's seeing Brown at work. And he's pushing. And demanding. And sending, re-sending and, well, re-re-sending messages. Maybe one will get through.

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Pocket Joker said:

This "chatter" happens every year with someone. The fact is the preseason is really an audition for alot of guys who are trying to make NFL rosters.

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RalphMouth said:

moleculo said:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-fls...,0,94383.column

Looks like Brown is in the dog house...

HYDE: Cameron delivers message, but does Ronnie Brown get it?

Dave Hyde | Sports Columnist

August 20, 2007

Dear Ronnie Brown,

Play better. Now.

Fondly, Cam Cameron

DAVIE That's the story of late. It's the public message the new Dolphins coach has clumsily tried to send and re-send from Dolphins camp.

First, he dispatched Brown to the dregs of kickoff returner in Thursday's exhibition against Kansas City. Then, he made some foggy comments to the media about it being permanent before listening to how that sounded and backing off it.

Finally, on Sunday, Cameron re-re-sent the message and actually hit the intended target with lines like: "The evaluation of Ronnie Brown is far from over." And: "He didn't make himself the second pick of the draft—somebody drafted him." And: "Our best running back will play — I don't care who it is."

Asked who his best running back was to date, Cameron didn't say the obvious, about the only choices being the high-pedigreed Brown and two free-agent pickups, Jesse Chatman and Patrick Cobbs.

"We're not to the point where we'd say that," Cameron said.

On the public calling-out scale, give it 3 1/2 stars. Not exactly five-star, first-degree-burn material you might expect from a protege of Bob Knight and Bo Schembechler. But close enough to feel the singe.

This isn't just any new coach's right. It's his early weapon, too. Inherited players always are asked to reprove themselves, especially ones with questions like Brown. Jimmy Johnson cut most players with Don Shula's imprint. Nick Saban cleared out Dave Wannstedt's roster.

If we've learned anything about Cameron this month, it's that he sends direct messages through playing status. Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor have proved their star status? Fine, they don't have to play. Guard Rex Hadnot isn't working hard enough? Dump him for a while to second string. Tackle L.J. Shelton needs to play better? Bench him till the third quarter.

But for what he cost, and where he plays, Brown is being delivered the loudest message of all. The message is he's no star. It's that he's needs to work. It's that the job isn't getting done.

The question isn't yet whether this public tact will work, considering Cameron can't know Brown's personality well enough to figure how he'll respond to some giddy-up criticism. The real question: Does Brown understand what's at work here?

Asked what he thought of returning kickoffs for the first time in his life this past exhibition game, Brown said Sunday he did, "pretty decent" and how it was "another opportunity to touch the ball."

Asked whether he thought it was a slap in the face, as Cameron intended and most starting running backs would take it, Brown said: "I try to take everything in a positive aspect. I looked at it as an opportunity for Ronnie to make another play and have an opportunity to touch the ball."

Yep, in the wake of being told he's no star, Brown shifted into star-status, third-person gear.

Ted Ginn Jr. should be listening, too. It's not like returning kickoffs takes anything more than speed, which is the commodity that made Ginn the No. 9 draft pick.

Catch the ball. Run as fast as you can. Hope you don't get hurt in the coming car wreck. That's essentially the work order of a kick returner. And you're demoted from that? Can Cameron be any more direct?

But the big flare went up for Brown. The Dolphins can't have him underachieve. Everyone knows Brown wasn't a classic second-pick talent, that his 2005 draft was a low-water class, that the only star from it thus far was San Diego's Shawne Merriman, who went 12th.

But can Brown only be the average running back he was the first two seasons? And shouldn't he be helping a questionable line, the way good backs always do (Ricky Williams leading the league in rushing behind that tepid line in 2002)?

These are the answers Cameron is pushing to find, though typically if you have to push a running back in his third year that's answer enough. Cameron noted how few carries Brown had in high school and that he's still learning. So we'll see.

Cameron also praised Brown's third-and-2 run vs. Kansas City, one where he bounced it outside for a 22-yard gain. Of course, asked if he liked Brown being caught from behind, Cameron said, "That's a loaded question. It's a fair question. Ronnie Brown, beating the ground (after being tackled), I think that spoke for that."

Cameron saw the best in the business work in San Diego the past several years in LaDainian Tomlinson. Now he's seeing Brown at work. And he's pushing. And demanding. And sending, re-sending and, well, re-re-sending messages. Maybe one will get through.

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looks like my second round pick (*17 overall) is getting tougher by the hour ...to me it looks like R. Brown is a player to stay far away from-

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SKOLNICK: Cameron Crazy -- Coach's view makes sense

Ethan J. Skolnick | Sports columnist

August 13, 2007

Tom Peters doesn't play fullback or cornerback, doesn't dream of making an NFL roster at age 64, and doesn't even like the Dolphins, calling the San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl XIX drubbing of Dan Marino and pals "one of the best days of my life." Peters doesn't know Cam Cameron, didn't see Saturday's exhibition opener against Jacksonville and didn't hear the booing of Trent Green's struggling first-team offense.

So what is he?

The co-author of the business bible In Search of Excellence, the nation's most widely held library book from 1989 to 2006. Someone who sprinkles the philosophy "fail forward fast" into presentations to the world's major corporations. And someone who, after hearing some unusual quotes explaining an unconventional approach, came away a fan of the new Dolphins coach.

"I love that application," Peters said from Vermont. "Love it. I could not have said it better."

Here's what Cameron said: That he welcomed rookie punter Brandon Fields getting his first punt partially blocked. That he would keep calling pointless routes so that Green gets "stuck with the ball," as if giving Green three rookie offensive linemen, no shifting and no third-down preparation wasn't already akin to playing Pebble Beach with only a six-iron, bent putter and range ball. That the coaches had "run the receivers right into the ground" and hoped they wouldn't have their legs for another two weeks. That Saturday's foibles were "a lot of fun."

You, pining for progress after years of frustration, might wonder what kind of sadist and masochist H. Wayne Huizenga has hired, or is. What could anyone could have found fun about the first half's sloppy offensive display? The line? Leaky. Green? Rusty. Ronnie Brown? Shaky. You call it kooky that Cameron seemed so cheery about what his team had not accomplished.

Maybe you'll be right. Maybe everything that occurred Saturday night is a sign of what will transpire during Cameron's tenure. You know, just as Ray Lucas' 110.1 preseason passer rating was a precursor for his Pro Bowl performance during the 2002 season, and just as 2005 preseason receiving co-leaders Maurice Mann and David Boston started rewriting the Dolphins' record books that fall.

Or maybe everybody should just wait until the fake games conclude, and the new coach is giving his real plays to his real players.

Boo the NFL for serving this slop at full price. Don't dis the Dolphins for treating these like limited practices, forums for nothing more than failure and growth.

"I know you guys thought I lost my mind on Thursday when I said we were going to fail forward fast," Cameron said Saturday night. "How's about the guy gets the first punt of his career blocked? I was glad when I saw that, because now we've experienced it. I mean, it was all day getting that punt off. ...You've got to fail forward fast, and he failed right off the bat, and then he came out and banged one out of there and knocked a couple inside the 15. I love watching young players grow."

So, yes, Peters loved hearing the coach's comments. While often credited for "fail forward fast," Peters actually heard it first from a Philadelphia high-tech executive two decades ago.

"I use it routinely," Peters said.

If Peters, who did some consulting with the late Bill Walsh, was coaching an NFL team, he would use it regularly before exhibitions.

"The whole damn purpose is to test stuff, try stuff," Peters said. "And whether you're shooting pool, playing golf or playing violin, the only way you learn is if you're screwing up. My major argument in the world of business is there's too much planning and too much talking, and not enough doing. The only way you grow, for God's sake, is go out and do it, and then correct quick."

So Peters endorses failure, calling it "not only normal but good," so long as that failure is achieved by trying something "with incredible vigor" and not through laziness. He endorses sticking employees in adverse situations, especially employees like Green, who trust the boss enough to understand — so long as you can recognize when an employee needs confidence and you can respond by creating a more favorable situation. He even welcomes the booing of fans, sport's shareholders, since no coach worth anything is coaching for cheers in the first exhibition.

"Because of what he said, the first game is for trying any darn thing," Peters said. "All kinds of things. Crazy things."

Call us crazy, but maybe Cameron and the Dolphins didn't fail Saturday night after all.

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moleculo said:

"I know you guys thought I lost my mind on Thursday when I said we were going to fail forward fast," Cameron said Saturday night.

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