No caption necessary, Mr. Howard. Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard looks to be fully recovered from his ailing knee injury, the one that cost him the final four games of the Miami Dolphins season and probably the undisputed 2018 interception title. Howard, who played 12 games, finished the season with 7, which was tied for the best in the pros.
A lot of buzzy training videos feel silly, with players doing all sorts of ridiculous circle drills and ladder work that, while showing impressive foot speed, doesn’t really showcase any specific football skills.
Not this showcase from Howard. No, this is a really impressive look at Howard’s functional training. The body control, the hip mobility, the step frequency. Very impressive indeed, but also a testament to Howard’s commitment to his craft. He wasn’t this polished coming out of Baylor, but now he’s worked to find himself in prime position to be one of the Dolphins’ cornerstone players.
The Dolphins have expressed some interest in locking in Xavien Howard in the long-term, potentially this off-season. If Howard were to stay healthy for 2019 without a new deal, the Dolphins will be on the hook for an even more handsome sum than what Howard is already likely to command.
It puts the Dolphins in a bit of a delicate situation, but one that has a clear right answer: Howard is continuing to work and has shown results on the field and a clear commitment to mastering his craft.
Lock him in.
