Vernon Carey placed on injured reserve

Just talked to Vernon Carey at the Fins and Kids Holiday Toy Event, held at the Dolphins facility, and he was fairly upbeat about his future while disappointed about this latest development.

“Coach [Tony Sparano] made the decision,” Carey said. “It’s probably best for me too. My knee is having some problems. They think putting me on the shelf for the rest of the season is the best thing, and I agree with them.”

Carey said “hopefully not” when asked if this knee issue would require major surgery, but he also shared the info that this was technically his “good knee” that was further “inflamed” late in the first half against the Browns. The bad knee is one that has plagued him since early in training camp, but Carey was willing and able to play through it.

As for being out, Carey termed that “very weird.”

“This past weekend, I was sitting there watching the game with my wife and my wife was looking at me all crazy and stuff,” he said. “I was a little bothered by it. Not at the coaches, just saying not being there for my team, not being there for my players and not being on that field when it’s time to play the game. You miss it a lot more when it’s kind of taken from you. I’ll get ready, get my knee back right and get ready for next season.”

The charity event featured more than 15 Dolphins players and Jeanette Sparano, the coach’s wife, handing out more than $30,000 in holiday toys to more than 175 area kids. The players and coaches raised the money themselves for the gifts.  

That knee injury Vernon Carey aggravated against the Browns — it has been bothering him all year — was serious enough to end his season.
Carey has been placed on injured reserve, the Miami Dolphins announced Tuesday, leaving second-year man Lydon Murtha (and possibly rookie John Jerry) to fill Carey’s spot at right tackle.

Carey was inactive for Sunday’s 10-6 win at the Jets, ending his steak of 104 consecutive regular-season games and 87 consecutive regular-season starts. Only seven Dolphins have had longer streaks of games played, and Carey is tied with former Dolphins safety Dick Anderson for seventh in consecutive starts.

Before Sunday, Carey hadn’t missed a game since his rookie season of 2004, the year the Dolphins drafted him in the first round out of the University of Miami.

Murtha, a Nebraska product and former Lions seventh-rounder, made his first NFL start in Carey’s place and had his share of struggles while playing all 59 offensive snaps. At one point in the third quarter, Murtha gave up a sack and was flagged for holding (which was declined) in a three-play span.

Pro Football Focus rated Murtha’s play below average, particularly in run blocking. He also allowed two quarterback pressures.

Click here to order Vernon Carey’s proCane Rookie Card.



(sun-sentinel.com)