--The Dolphins rookie class joined other NFL rookies on a road trip to Canton on June 9 to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame. LT Jake Long checked out the bust of fellow Michigan lineman Dan Dierdorf and took a photo along with college and Dolphins teammate QB Chad Henne. Said Long, "It was a great trip and it was fun because I've never been there. I was a huge Barry Sanders fan growing up as a big Lions fan, so I saw Barry's bust and his jersey and that was pretty cool to me. I definitely think it was a worthy trip because it shows you the struggles people went through to let us be here and be playing this great game. It was an honor to be here and to play in this league and I think it was a great experience."

--Bob Baumhower and Doug Betters, two key cogs of the 'Killer Bs' defense, visited team headquarters last week to be honored as the next two members of the franchise's Honor Roll that rings the upper deck at Dolphin Stadium. They will be inducted during halftime of the Dec. 14 home game against the 49ers. Betters, now in a wheelchair since a skiing accident in 1998, was Defensive Player of the Year in 1983, while Baumhower was a five-time Pro Bowler. Said Betters, "When I got the call I thought I was in trouble at first, and I was very flattered and just in disbelief because I didn't think I was worthy, so I'm very honored. We had a tough act to follow with the perfect season and the teams of the 1970s and we always tried to get there, reaching two Super Bowls, but unfortunately we came up short."

--Coach Tony Sparano was impressed with the visit by former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, who gives seminars to NFL teams on how to better deal with the media. "Well, I've heard my media coach speak twice now and I think he's outstanding," Sparano said. "I really do. I heard a lot of good things. I am not sharing any of my secrets with you guys. You'll just see it out here. You'll see it happen. I'm coachable though."

--Sparano said he's going to use LB Joey Porter like he was utilized in Pittsburgh, meaning he'll be standing up far more than having his hands in the dirt like Dom Capers used him last year. Sparano said, "I wouldn't say blitzing as much. I mean I just think he's got to be strong enough to hold up on the tight end and play the run. He does have to have pass rush ability. He's got to be able to play in coverage. So there's a bunch of different hats that that player has to wear and I do like where he is right now. "From a mental standpoint, he understands all of it pretty well and physically I've seen him come an awful long way in the amount of practices that we've had out here that way."

--The latest rumor involving Jason Taylor - who didn't attend one single offseason workout and is still uncommitted to attending training camp - is that the Packers have shown "cursory" interest since the draft according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Teams are hesitant to give the Dolphins a first-day draft pick for Taylor because he has expressed a desire to play just one more season. Would Taylor want to go from South Florida to Wisconsin, without Brett Favre or Hollywood casting directors in sight?

--CB Joey Thomas missed the last few OTA days because of an arm injury. He is expected to be fine by training camp.

--K Jay Feely is nursing a sore oblique (side) muscle and was told no golf for a while, a hobby he excels at during the offseason.

--TE Anthony Fasano hasn't done much this offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery, but is expected to be ready by next month's training camp.

--Sparano made it a point to compliment undrafted rookies such as DT Anthony Torbio, C Mike Byrne, CB Scorpio Babers and WR Davone Bess. Of the veterans he singled out were CB Andre' Goodman, S Yeremiah Bell and WR Derek Hagan.

"We knew a lot about him (Bell) when we were in Dallas and we really liked the guy coming out of college as well," Sparano said. "Yeremiah is an active player who's pretty physical and I think he's got a real good sense for the football. I like the way the guy prepares. He prepares like a pro."

QUOTE TO NOTE
"You have to work on your craft every day no matter if you're a football player, a carpenter, a doctor, a lawyer, or a coach, you need to work on your craft every single day if you're a professional." - Defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni on what DE Jason Taylor is missing by not attending a single offseason practice.

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