Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 02, 2015, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE B2 B 2 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015 FOOTBALL winnipegfreepress. com D AVIE, Fla. - Poor Billy Turner. The second- year offensive lineman probably thought he was ready for what was coming Saturday, the first day of in- pads work at the Miami Dolphins training camp. Then he lined up against Ndamukong Suh, the prize acquisition by the Dolphins this off- season and perhaps the top defensive lineman in the game. Suh overpowered the 315- pound Turner, sending him stumbling backward with apparent ease on one play. " It's not like anyone didn't know how good he was," Turner said afterward. " Someone tweeted his stats yesterday, since 2010 how many sacks and all that stuff that he had and there's a reason for that. " He's a hard worker. I'm blessed that I'm able to go against him every day so I have the chance to get better." While seeing offensive linemen struggle early in camp certainly isn't ideal for the Dolphins, there might be a greater good. That's exactly what Miami coaches envisioned when they lured Suh away from the Detroit Lions with a six- year, $ 114 million contract and asked him to lead a defensive squad that believes it could be among the NFL's best this season. So far, Miami's offensive line is duly impressed. " When you're going against a player like that, a guy that's going to come out and give you his all each and every play, every day, it's going to make you better," said centre Mike Pouncey, who confessed after facing Suh and the defensive line in camp, he was often too tired after plays to " talk trash like I want to." Since the Lions took Suh with the No. 2 overall pick in 2010, no other defensive tackle in the NFL has piled up more sacks than his 36. Led by Suh, the Lions allowed opposing teams to average just 3.17 yards per carry last season - the best mark in the league since 2010. " It's going to be a great experience for our offensive players to go against him," Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said. Since Suh came to Miami, he's said it's been a priority for him to make the entire roster better, not just those at his position or on his side of the football. He also said past on- field issues wouldn't follow him to Miami. He's been regarded as one of the league's dirtiest players and was nearly suspended for Detroit's playoff game at Dallas last season after stepping on the ankle of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the second such incident of his career. Turner says he's gotten better going against Suh. " This is the ultimate team game, so your teammates have to produce as well as ( you have) to produce," Suh said. " The best way to do that is to work together as a unit, especially on the defensive line and offensive line - guys be able to protect each other, help each other, make plays and feed each other for plays." Notes: LT Branden Albert ( reconstructive right knee surgery in November) took a handful of non- contact reps with the first- team offence in the early moments of practice, but was not in pads. He seemed to move gingerly when going through some warmup drills... CB Will Davis, who tore the ACL in his right knee last November but was back on the field in about seven months, was held out of Saturday's session... TE Gerell Robinson was activated from the active non- football injury list... Philbin when asked about DE Cameron Wake, who was photographed with a tiger during the off- season: " I have great faith in Mr. Wake that he can tame the meanest of animals." - The Associated Press Dirty or not, here comes SUH Dolphins expect prize pickup to make entire team better By Tim Reynolds PITTSFORD, N. Y. - Buffalo Bills receiver Percy Harvin is at peace with his checkered past, and wants more than anything to put it behind him. Whatever divisive reputation the talented yet troubled player established during his first six NFL seasons, it's not something Harvin wants accompanying him to Buffalo, his fourth stop in as many years. " I know the person I am and the person I'm going to become," Harvin said Saturday. " I've learned from all my lessons. And I'm just going to keep growing as a person, as a teammate, as a son, as a future husband." At 27, Harvin's looking only forward. He hints there might be a wedding engagement in his near future - " It's heading that way," Harvin said, breaking into a smile. On the field, Harvin is taking a team- first approach in a bid to dispute the label Sports Illustrated recently applied by referring to him as the NFL's " most- hated player in the lockerroom." He's open to accepting any role the Bills offer: receiving and returning kickoffs. And Harvin will even propose one more: cornerback. It's a position Harvin took a few snaps at on Friday, when the Bills opened camp. " I definitely feel like I can run with anybody in the league," Harvin said. " I've got good footwork. Great hips. It's something I've always wanted to do and always kept in my tool bag." Coach Rex Ryan was intrigued enough to give Harvin's proposal a shot. " This is just a ' Let's see what he can do,' " Ryan said. " But obviously, he's got the physical skill set that you would think he'd probably be pretty good at it." Veteran safety Corey Graham was left impressed. " Man, that's sweet," he said. " It shocked me. You never see anybody of that calibre who's willing to do that." Without prompting, Graham then took issue with Harvin's critics. " Everybody always talks bad about Percy," he said. " I don't see it at all. He's a great team player. And he's willing to do whatever it takes." Harvin is in Buffalo, where he's running out of second chances during what's been a mercurial career. It began in 2009 when the Vikings' first- round draft pick was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year after scoring eight touchdowns - six receiving and two returning kickoffs. The low point came midway through last season. Scuffles with then- Seahawks teammates Doug Baldwin and Golden Tate led Seattle to abruptly trade Harvin to the New York Jets for a conditional draft pick. In March, Harvin signed a threeyear contract - only the first season is guaranteed - with Buffalo, where he is reunited with Ryan after the two developed a close bond in New York. Signing with Buffalo was what Harvin called " a no- brainer." Now it's on him to re- establish himself after injuries and distractions limited him to just 52 catches for 500 yards and one touchdown and another TD rushing over the past two seasons. - The Associated Press Bills' hot- headed Harvin rapidly running out of rope By John Wawrow ' Most hated player' vows to start anew BILL WIPPERT / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Wide receiver Percy Harvin is playing for his fourth team in six years. ' I've got good footwork. Great hips. It's something I've always wanted to do and always kept in my tool bag' - Percy Harvin B_ 02_ Aug- 02- 15_ FP_ 01. indd B2 8/ 1/ 15 6: 49: 06 PM ;