When the Miami Dolphins signed veteran tight end Dwayne Allen to a contract this offseason, this surely wasn’t what either party had in mind. The Dolphins’ staff knew exactly what they were getting with Allen — who had worked with many of Miami’s coaches last year with the New England Patriots. And with such an unaccomplished group of tight ends, a veteran presence and experienced NFL starter like Allen could make a boatload of difference.
But Allen is only now getting his feet wet and getting back into the action, he spent the first week of training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and even now is being weaned back into action.
In the time that has passed, the Dolphins have seen Nick O’Leary emerge as the preferred tight end target of the team’s dueling quarterbacks. But consider Allen an asset, even as he looks to work back into playing shape. How?
“By showing them how to work day in and day out. It’s not about the words, it’s about the actions,” said Allen. “Showing guys how to show up to work, how to pay attention in the meeting rooms (and that) will hopefully create an environment where guys fall in love with hard work.”
There are those words again. Hard. Work. Brian Flores is likely smiling ear to ear upon hearing the quote. Miami teams in recent years don’t know success by default. And multiple coaches have griped about some of the lack of work ethic on the team.
Allen, even as he progresses back from whatever injury has ailed him this summer, can help with that. And he plans to.
