Foster Becomes A Dolphin

Perhaps the greatest player in the history of the Houston Texans has taken his talents to South Beach.

After working Arian Foster out back in March, the Miami Dolphins called for a second workout with the former Pro Bowl running back and the two sides came to terms on what’s being reported as a one-year, $1.5 million deal.

“After my visit with Miami, I kind of already made my mind up that that’s where I wanted to be, so I was stressing to my agent that I wanted to get the deal done, because I see a lot of promise in this team, and I feel like I can add value and help the team get to where they want to be,” Foster said in a conference call. “I’m going to try to do that as best as possible.”

Foster was selected to the Pro Bowl four times in his first seven NFL seasons and has rushed for 1,200 yards or more four times, including an league-best 1,616 yards in 2010. He is also a threat in the passing game, with three seasons of 40 or more catches, catching a career-high 66 in the 2010 season.

What helped Foster become a free agent was an Achilles injury that cut short his 2015 season, ironically in Miami.  Whereas he’s likely not back all the way from the injury, he believes he’s ready to contribute.

“I still feel like I’m a Pro Bowl-caliber player,” the former undrafted running back from Tennessee said, “and I intend to show it.”

For those who are thinking along fantasy lines, the Dolphins look like a complete running back by committee.  Foster joins second-year back Jay Ajayi (Boise State) and rookie Kenyan Drake (Alabama).

The fact that Foster is a three-down back means a lot to new head coach Adam Gase, as it’s somewhat of a hidden benefit having a running back that you don’t have to sub out.  This allows the team to play with more pace when it’s necessary.

“I think Adam really knows how to use running backs out of the backfield, which I feel like is my best quality — route running and catching the ball out of the backfield,” Foster said. “I think he knows how to steer the ship. I’m just happy to be a part (of it and) have a seat on the boat now.”

After spending each of his first seven seasons in Houston, Foster essentially swapped places with Lamar Miller, who signed with the Texans (from Miami) in free agency.

“The time that I spent in Houston was an amazing time,” Foster said. “I’m grateful for the people I’ve met and the family that I made there. My family lives there now, so I have nothing but love for the people and fans in Houston. It is just a new chapter of my life. There’s nothing that I have to prove. I’m pretty sure Lamar feels the same way. There is nothing he has to prove. We are all on our own personal journey helping out where we can and doing what we love to do. It’s as simple as that.”

It’s unlikely that Foster will hit 1,000 yards in 2016, as he still has to prove he’s healthy after the Achilles injury.  He will still have to carve a spot in the Dolphins backfield when there are younger, faster options already in place.

Peanut Tillman Hangs Up The Cleats

Charles “Peanut” Tillman won’t be remembered as one of the greatest Chicago Bears of all time, as the franchise is littered with Hall of Fame defenders.  With that said, he’s a Hall of Fame person and competitor, and had a tremendous 13-year career.

Tillman broke the news himself via his Twitter account.

It's been real ✌🏿️https://t.co/bM9lLkw9wi

— Charles Tillman (@peanuttillman) July 18, 2016

The video ends with a message from Tillman: “Thanks for all the love and support on and off the field.”

That is followed by a screen that includes four hashtags (#BestDayEver, #PeanutPunch, #KeepPounding and #BearDown), one in each corner.

The video ends with a screen that reads: “Peanut Out!”

“I’ve had 13 amazing years on two great teams and I’m just thankful for the love and support that I got from my teammates, the fans and my coaches,” Tillman told ChicagoBears.com. “I’m thankful to everyone who has helped me get to where I am right now because I definitely didn’t do it by myself.”

After spending the first dozen years of his career in Chicago, Tillman spent 2015 with the Carolina Panthers, where his season ended prematurely with a torn ACL.

The 35-year old cornerback defined having a “nose for the football” as he was always involved in turnovers.  His patented “Peanut Punch” helped account for 44 forced fumbles in his career and he finished with 38 career interceptions.

Is Peanut a Hall of Famer? 

He’s in the “Hall of Very Good to Great.”  Although Tillman played in one Super Bowl, the Bears lack of success during his tenure will hurt him when it comes to the HOF committee.  Playing with a sure-fire Hall of Famer like Brian Urlacher also hurts, as well as playing with Lance Briggs and Julius Peppers.  Tillman takes back-seat status compared to those stars and that will likely prevent him from being inducted in Canton.