South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Page 35

South Florida Sun-Sentinel DOLPHINS NWS Wednesday, August 2001 7C NOTEBOOK 'Galyon makes 1st practice since siugesy sion. "The only frustration is every day he doesn't practice he falls behind It's really kind of up to him now." Fletcher was projected as the Dolphins' nickel back, but Ben Kelly is expected to fill that role against the Rams. son. "We want to look at Minor and Chambers and maybe another young player like reserve wide receiver Albert Johnson and Ben Kelly and see if they bring a different dimension and how well they stack up against the guys we have." A NEW RETURN SCHEME STOMACH PROBLEMS ach in order I'm fine," he said. Tight end Hunter Goodwin has a bone bruise on his left knee as well as bone bleeding and a slightly strained medial collateral ligament stemming from an injury in the mage.

But Goodwin, who is wearing a knee brace, said the problems aren't serious. NEW RADIO DEAL The Dolphins have signed an agreement with Radio Unica (WNMA-1210AM) forit to become their exclusive Spanish-language radio station for games for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. The station also will have a one-hour live call-in show from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturdays beginning this week. Tests confirm Greenwood has a sprain BYALExMARVEZ noSTAFF WRITER davie The Dolphins received some good news concerning the injuries plaguing ii i rtheir strong-side linebacker po--cJsitioa be Scott Galyon, who was the seiv projected starter entering the fil 10 team's offseason minicamps, re-o-tfii turned to practice Tuesday for the first time since undergoing rii arthroscopic knee surgery in May.

1 i The Dolphins also received confirmation the diagnosis of a win sprained left foot for rookie line- lo backer Morion Greenwood was iv accurate. A CT scan taken day on Greenwood's foot revealed he hadn't suffered any broken bones, which was con- sidered an outside possibility by the team's medical staff Greenwood will be out for as long as three weeks, but Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt is optimistic Galyon can play as a backup behind Twan Russell in Monday's exhibition season opener against St. Louis in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. "The biggest thing on Scott is not whether he can play or not," said Wannstedt, who removed Galyon from the team's active physically unable to perform list before practice. "It's whether he's going to be OK health-wise." Galyon knows the Dolphins have waited on pursuing any veteran help at outside linebacker until determining whether he can be counted on to contribute this season.

But Galyon also says his left knee isn't completely healed. "You just deal with the cards you're dealt," said Galyon, who also is coming off a torn right anterior cruciate ligament that prematurely ended his 2000 season. "It's not exactly the way I would like it right now. But injuries are part of football. "I wish I could have somebody put their hand on it and heal it, but it doesn't work that way.

All I can do is continue to do the rehab, work on the field and hopefully day by day it will get better." NOT AT FULL SPEED Wannstedt is trying to show patience with rookie corner-back Jamar Fletcher, who missed another day of full-speed practice Tuesday with a sore hamstring. Fletcher, who worked in individual drills Tuesday morning, has battled leg injuries since being selected in the first round of April's draft. "I trust Jamar. If he could go he would go," said Wannstedt, who had hoped Fletcher could participate in the afternoon ses Wannstedt said new special-teams coach Keith Armstrong is changing his team's kickoff return scheme. Instead of two returners positioned in the end zone, the Dolphins will use one primary returner with an up-man serving as a blocker.

Rookie wide receiver Chris Chambers is listed as the first-team kickoff returner on the depth chart entering the Rams game, but rookie running back Travis Minor also will see action. "I know Brock Marion and Autry Denson can do it," said Wannstedt, referring to his top kickoff returners from last sea- Defensive end Lorenzo Bro-mell was scheduled to see a doctor Tuesday to determine the source of his recent stomach problems. Bromell, who is competing with Kenny Mixon to replace Trace Armstrong in pass-rushing situations, said he has been getting sick almost every day since reporting to training camp. Bromell was sick during last Sunday's intrasquad scrimmage and in Tuesday's practice. Bromell said he has lost some weight but not a significant amount and he has been eating regularly.

"If I could just get my stom Staff writer Chris Perkins contributed to this report Alex Marvez can be reached at '1iky-. or DOLPHINS CAMP r- no Kelly determined to succeed Highlights to take Hall tour 'rJbere were rights in both practice sessions, with offensive linemen Ben Adams vs. defensive end -i 1 i Adewale Ogunleye in the morning and defensive end Jason Taylor vs. l'9nt end Snawn Draper in the afternoon. "Whaf this, the sixth or seventh day of camp?" Dolphins muk coach Dave Wannstedt said.

This morning, we had a little frustration, and we had a little this afternoon. It's normal DOLPHINS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1C things as a punt returner, but he was lost as a cornerback. "I doubted everything last year," Wannstedt said. "We went into it saying if he can help us in return areas that would be about it because he was not ready to play and line up and win for us as a corner-back." Kelly was so unimpressive at cornerback he was close to being cut. "He was a bubble guy, no question about that," Wannstedt said.

"With the ability he had, he was not making any plays." The thing that probably saved Kelly was his job as a return man. In the preseason, he had 1 1 punt returns for a 15.5-yard average, including a 73-yarder, and three kickoff returns for a 23.7-yard average. Still, Kelly's rookie season was short. He injured his knee while returning a punt in the fourth game of the year against New England and ended up on the injured re-servelist. That turned out to be a turning point.

"It set me back a lot physically," Kelly said. "But at the same time, mentally I was able to gain by leaps and bounds." Kelly carried that knowledge and attitude into the offseason. He had a blemish last month that involved an arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence (his case is still pending), but teammates say Kelly has been dutifully working out at the team's training facility. And now, he's poised to make some noise in the nickel defense in Monday's exhibition game against St. Louis.

"The way Ben is playing, if we had to play a game right now and put Ben in there at the corner and move cornerback Patrick Sur-tain inside, I would feel good about that," Wannstedt said. "This week, depending on what Fletcher does, Kelly could see some extensive action with the first group." 1 5m Lowlights Dolphins are down to three healthy defensive tackles with rookie Buck Gurley (shoulder) joining Damien Gregory (knee) and Jermaine Haley (shoulder) on the sideline. Dolphins vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said the team would be trying out several free agents to provide depth in camp offensive line struggled throughout Tuesday morning's full-contact session. lnjssris Tight end Hunter Goodwin (knee), linebacker Morion Greenwood (foot) and cornerback Jeff Harris (knee) were held from practice Tuesday. Defensive tackle Daryl Gardener (back) and guard Mark Dixon (back) didn't practice in the morning but worked in the afternoon.

Center Tim Ruddy (quadriceps) did not do team drills in the afternoon. Cornerback Jamar Fletcher did individual drills in the morning but didn't practice in the afternoon. Quotable gave myself a 'C grade for the scrimmage. I didn't think I missed any assignments, but I could have gotten a little more out of some of the runs that I had." Rookie running back Travis Minor assessing his 1 0-carry, 58-yard performance in last Sunday's intrasquad scrimmage in a training camp diary he's keeping at www.miamidolphins.com. Today's schedule Sessions will be held from 9 a.m.

to 10:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Directions By Alex Marvez STAFF WRITER davie There are no sure-fire Hall of Fame selections on the Dolphins' roster, but coach Dave Wannstedt is doing his part to inspire his players to achieve such an honor. Wannstedt plans to take the Dolphins on a tour of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Monday morning before the team plays its exhibition season opener against the St.

Louis Rams at Faw-cett Stadium. "Coaching and being around football all my life, I'm looking forward to it, and I'm sure our players fall into the same category," said Wannstedt, who has never visited the Hall. "I don't know how the guys will look at it. Different guys will look at the experience differently. "But I would hope, and I think for the most part, the guys will look at it as something to inspire them whether it be from an individual basis or to go into the Super Bowl room and look at the trophies and the rings.

That's probably more important to me that they see that than anything." The Dolphins will not be in Canton on Saturday when ex-linebacker Nick Buoniconti becomes the franchise's eighth representative inducted into the Hall. But Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas is excited about having the chance to see the new Hall bust honoring Buoniconti and the other linebackers already inducted. "Jack Lambert is going to be there," said Thomas, referring to the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers defender who joined the Hall in 1990. "He was a badass. It's the same with Nick.

"This will be great. Seeing some of the guys you grow up watching, it's just great to be part of the experience, especially with Nick being inducted. I just want to look at all of the linebackers. That's all I care about." Take 1-595 to the University Drive exit. Turn south onto University Drive.

Go past Southwest 30th Street to the next light and make a U-turn. Follow the signs to free parking in the Nova Southeastern parking garage. ALEX MARVEZ 1 HIGH JUMP: Ben Kelly jumps over Jeff Ogden. "Ben has really been one of the real bright spots in camp," dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said. Staff photoRobert Duyos Chris Perkins can be reached at VH.E 34 AO NFL t- .2 I 3.

A $W30St Rypien rejoins NFL, signs 1-year deal with Colts ft Dolphin Oi. southeastern l'SW36St. University Griffin Rd Staff graphk tact with two students from a Virginia high school where he coached. Shane Matthews will start at quarterback in the Bears' exhibition opener Saturday. BUCS: The team's punter Mark Royals will be sidelined three to four weeks after spraining his right knee when he collided with a teammate during a special teams drill.

EAGLES: The team signed linebacker Ike Reese to a three-year contract extension through the 2004 season, the team said. FALCONS: Linebacker Corey Atkins will miss three to four weeks of the exhibition season while recovering from knee surgery. LIONS: The club resumed training at Saginaw valley State following a meltdown Monday by first-year coach Marty Mornhin-weg. PANTHERS: Chris Weinke couldn't think of a better place to spend his 29th birthday. The rookie quarterback Is competing with Jeff Lewis for the Carolina Panthers' starting job.

"I will always remember this birthday being my first camp and being the 29-year-old rookie," be said. redskins: Kl-Jana carter, the oft-injured running back who was drafted No. 1 overall in 1995, signed with Washington. vikings: Offensive tackle Korey Stringer was hospitalized after workouts conducted in extreme heat. The club's trainer Chuck Barta said Stringer was taken by ambulance to immanuel St.

Joseph's Hospital aftr going through morning conditioning dri'f and returning to the team's locker room. WIREREPORTS terre haute, ind. Former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien is back in the NFL. Three years after leaving football so he could care for his ill son and wife, the 38-year-old quarterback signed a one-year contract for the minimum salary of $477,000 and incentives with the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday. "I think he really feels he has some unfinished business," agent Ken Staninger told The Associated Press.

Rypien joins a roster that currently lists four quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Billy Joe Hobert, Roderick Robinson and Dave Meyer. Hobert is listed No. 2, but the Colts had not announced a move that would clear a spot for Rypien. Rypien has not played in the NFL since 1997 when he was $5 million signing bonus. Armstrong, at 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, hasn't been a starter since 1997, when he started in all 16 games.

He played mostly in passing situations last season but was a leader for the defense on the field and in the locker room. AROUND THE AFC BRONCOS: Defensive tackle Mike Lodish likely will retire, ending an 1 1-year career in which he played in an NFL-record six Super Bowls, including two with Denver. Off en-sive coordinator Gary Kubiak will continue calling plays for the Denver Broncos this season. BROWNS: First-round draft pick Gerard warren's contract holdout is in its second week with the club. JAGUARS: The team held Mark Brunell out of practice because the quarterback had a sore throwing elbow.

patriots: The club shored up its llneback-ing corps by signing Bryan Cox. The Patriots also signed nose tackle Geradle Mercer and waived wide receiver Dane Looker. AROUND THE NFC BEARS: The club signed then unsigned PK Jimmy Kibble, 23, after learning he recently pleaded guilty to having sexual con 1992 Super Bowl, in which Washington defeated Buffalo 37-24. ARMSTRONG SETTLING IN Former Dolphin Trace Armstrong continued his post-practice workout Tuesday with Oakland while chatting amiably with Raiders owner Al Davis. "I hope he continues to play like he has played for the past 10 to 12 years a really steady performer, a relentless motor and a guy who can rush the passer," coach Jon Gruden said.

After six years with the Dolphins, Armstrong joined the Raiders as a free agent in March. Miami initially wanted to keep its sacks leader, but the two sides could not agree to terms. Oakland gavetiim a six-year, 18.6 million di al with a with the St. Louis Rams. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 1998.

But because his young son, Andrew, was suffering from a malignant brain tumor and his wife, Annette, also was battling a serious illness, Rypien decided to give up football. The Falcons waived Rypien in July 1998. A month later, Rypien's son died. His wife has since recovered from her illness, but Rypien has not played football since. "I think the reason he had to leave the game was the illness to his son, and that's not a real fond memory," Staninger said.

Staninger said he'd spoken with the Colts, and other teams about Rypien's desire to play football again, for the past two months. It wasn't until last week that the Colts scheduled a workout with Rypien, the MVP of the Sun-Sentinekccm CSA WITH ALEX MARVEZ Dolphins writer Alex Marvez answers readers' questions. A sampling: Are the Dolphins seriously 1" considering moving Todd Wade to left tackle? 1' I think Wade would make a great left I tackle. Even at 6-foot-8, he's athletic enough to contain speed rushers. One option would be flopping Marcus Spriggs, who is more of a natural right tackle than left tackle, with Wade.

But coach Dave Wannstedt is reluctant to switch Wade because he is just a second-year player. more, log on to sun- sentinel.comsports.