Jeff Uhlenhake: Only Rookie Starter

Satele may be rarity: Rookie starting at center

By GREG A. BEDARD

July 25, 2007

DAVIE — Jim Langer was lying on a trainer's table 35 years ago this month when offensive line coach Monte Clark walked in and told him he would make his first career start in the Dolphins' season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.

"My reaction was, 'I hope I'm ready,'" Langer said today. "Fear is a great motivator."

Langer said he was also thankful he was entering his third season.
Samson Satele will likely have no such luck. The Dolphins' second-round pick enters training camp as the odds-on favorite to become just the second rookie to open a season as the Dolphins' starting center.

The other guy obviously wasn't Langer. And it wasn't Dwight Stephenson, either. No, the two greatest centers in Dolphins history, both Hall of Famers, didn't get their chances until their third seasons.

The only rookie to start a season at center was Jeff Uhlenhake, a solid, though often-injured player from 1989-93.

Spotlight on Matt Spaeth

TE Miller To Lose Reps To Rookie Spaeth?

July 24, 2007
By Paul Eide

With news circulating of Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians plan to use multiple receiver sets in 2007, and with the team investing a third round pick on a tight end, speculation has arisen about third year player Heath Miller's role in the offense. Miller was largely a forgotten man in 2006 and failed to reach expectations in his second year.

After opening the NFL's inaugural game of the 2006 season with 101 yards and a touchdown versus the Dolphins, Miller had only 292 yards over the next 15 games. To further emphasize how statistically underwhelming Miller was consider this: aside from his opening day game performance he failed to total more than 35 receiving yards in any other game. This is especially troubling considering quarterback Ben Roethlisberger set career highs in attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns in 2007.

Matt Spaeth (6-7, 270), out of Minnesota, was selected by the Steelers in the third round of this year's NFL Draft. He is the all-time career leader for the Gophers in receiving yards (1,291) and receptions (109) by a tight end breaking the records set by current Colts tight end Ben Utect. As a senior, he won the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end after finishing with 47 receptions for 564 yards (12.0 avg.) and four touchdowns.

A two-time All-Big Ten first-team honoree, Spaeth finished his career with 12 receiving touchdowns. For all the accolades he received thanks to his work as a target in the passing game, Spaeth established a reputation as one of the best blocking tight ends in the country.

Nicknamed "Big Money" for his ability to gain first downs and touchdowns, Heath Miller was a three-year starter at tight end for the University of Virginia. He led ACC tight ends in receiving every year of his college career and he was the 2004 recipient of the John Mackey Award. He finished his career holding ACC records for most career receptions (144), yards (1703) and touchdowns (20) by a tight end.

After a promising rookie season that culminated with the Steelers winning the Super Bowl, many felt Miller took a step backward last season. Miller was called upon to block more last year than in his rookie season but that alone does not account for his lack of production. Miller's statistics declined across the board and he accumulated less catches, yards and touchdowns than in 2005.

Regardless of who gets the most work, the Steelers have solidified the tight end position with two players who contribute to an offense in multiple ways, something head coach Mike Tomlin is willing to utilize.

"I am a three tight end guy. We value the tight end without a doubt," said Tomlin. "You can get in a two-tight end set or multiple tight-end sets, it creates problems because of the number of gaps along the line of scrimmage that you have to defend. Matt's a big guy. He's got very good hands, and good route savvy. When it came time to pick Matt specifically, he was clearly the highest rated guy on our board. We really think that Matt can come in and give us another dimension at tight end."

Donte Whitner's Charity Event

Whitner Hoping For Strike Against Cancer
by Chris Brown, BuffaloBills.com
July 18, 2007

Bills safety Donte Whitner isn't all that different from anyone else when it comes to family. Growing up in a household with a mother and grandmother as his main role models along with four other siblings, Whitner learned quickly that family comes first.

Whitner is fortunate to still have all of his immediate family members in his life, but his grandmother Rosetta Whitner is currently battling lung cancer. Diagnosed close to a year ago Ms. Whitner is undergoing chemotherapy treatments at the Cleveland clinic.

"My family has never lost a family member this close to us," Whitner said. "So it gets kind of tough."

The illness with which the eldest Whitner is afflicted has prompted Donte to take action against the disease in the form of a charitable bowling tournament to be held this Saturday (July 21) at the Corner Alley in downtown Cleveland.

"My grandmother's condition has compelled me to do this," said Whitner. "I love my grandmother dearly and I hope that she can beat this, but there are a lot other families across the country and around the world that are battling cancer as well. I really think if a lot of people can come together and raise money with events like this that it can really help to speed up the cancer research process."

The tournament has been aptly titled 'Cancer Strike' and Whitner has already gained the support of several current NFL and former college teammates that will be attending the event.

"Lee Evans is coming out and I really reached out to all of my teammates and asked them to come up," said Whitner. "I know a majority of them will be here. Some former teammates too like Takeo Spikes and Nate Clements will be in for the event as well. Troy Smith will be here as will Ted Ginn. We've got a number of guys coming."

Whitner made bowling the sport of choice for the event for a couple of reasons.

"I like to bowl," he said. "I go down to the alley in my spare time and release some stress. One night I was at the alley and I was thinking I should do a bowling event that benefits cancer and it grew from there."

"It's something that a lot of guys in the locker room do. Not all of them may be very good at it, but a lot of them do like to bowl. We just want to come out and have a good time at this event and talk a little trash and ultimately raise some money to benefit cancer research."

Already getting some corporate support for the event, Whitner also hopes fans turn out to have fun with some NFL players, raise some money and take part in a chance to win some quality items up for auction.

"We'll have a Terrell Owens jersey, my jersey, Troy Smith and Ted Ginn jerseys," Whitner said. "We'll have some signed footballs and bowling pins. We have a lot of good auction items here for fans."

The grand prize for the winning six-member team is $5,000, half of which will be donated to cancer research.

Rosetta Whitner, the motivation for the tournament's creation, is not expected to attend the event since she's scheduled for a chemotherapy treatment the day before the event.

Her grandson however, is planning on his grandmother and his newly formed charity venture to both be around for a long time.

"I think it will be fulfilling and I plan to do this annually," said Whitner. "Hopefully my grandmother will beat it and can be an advocate for beating cancer and cancer research."