In the 2008 NFL draft, 32 teams decided to pass on Davone Bess seven times.  Despite being a stand out WR for the University of Hawaii and a member of the WAC first team in both his freshman and sophomore year, not one team selected Davone in the seven rounds of the 2008 draft. After being signed as an undrafted rookie in 08, Davone was able secure a roster spot.  Well a lot has changed since 2008. Bess has quickly become the number 2 WR in the Miami offense and one of the leagues best slot WR’s.

Bess racked up 79 catches for 820 yards and 5 TD’s last season and was the Dolphins most reliable source for offense throughout the year.  For those of you fantasy football lovers out there, Bess is an absolute PPR stud. 

Not only is Davone a stud on the field but off the field as well. Thanks to his manager Chris, I was able to set up a phone interview with Davone and ask him a couple of questions about many different issues. I want to thank Davone so much on behalf of Phins Phocus for giving us this opportunity. So without further a due, here is my interview with Miami Dolphins’ WR #15 Davone Bess.

Daniel Eliesen: I got this interview through twitter and the help of your manager; clearly you’re all over social media and feel it’s important to connect with your fans. So why is it so important to you to have this type of connection?

Davone Bess: Our fans are a part of who we are and people and the media can’t understand and appreciate the relationship players can have with fans.  I appreciate my fans, and want them to know the guy under the helmet. I want them to know I’m just like them. I put one leg in my pants one at a time too.

Daniel Eliesen: A lot of fans don’t really care who started the lockout, they blame both the players and owners. So what do you suggest fans do this year if there’s a lockout?

Davone Bess: I can’t see this world without football. I could imagine there is going to be a lot of angry people out there including players. But I would just suggest to wait it out and hope for the best.

Daniel Eliesen: With all your time in the off-season have you worked on a TD dance yet?

Davone Bess: No dancing for me. I take this stuff seriously it’s like a business to me. But I do plan on getting into the end zone a lot.

Daniel Eliesen: How did you feel about the whole coaching search this off-season, did the guys get behind Tony?

Davone Bess: Up to this point we know Tony is the guy. I believe he is the right man for the job. He keeps us very structured and we’re looking to forward to this upcoming season with coach.

Daniel Eliesen: Have you been in touch with Henne at all?

Davone Bess: Ya man, I see him a couple a times a week. We make sure to keep the chemistry strong and work on routes and make sure our timing is good.

Daniel Eliesen: With Pennington most likely gone, who do you see stepping up as the leader for this offense?

Davone Bess: A lot of candidates, but I wouldn’t point to a guy and say you need to step up, more of guys showing by their actions. We have a lot of guys who have the qualities and are capable, but we got to come together as a team first. We’re currently a work in progress but I think we’re heading in the right direction.

Daniel Eliesen: Do you still use the fact you weren’t drafted as motivation?

Davone Bess: It’s my number 1 motivator. Not a day goes by where I don’t relive draft day, but I’d have to say I prefer this path because it always leaves me hungry and wanting more and to prove myself.

Daniel Eliesen: So I know before games you like to pump yourself up by putting on your headphones on and blasting to music. What music you listen to before game time? 

Davone Bess: Lil Wayne, Drake, Wiz, Bob Marley, John Legend, I got a weird collection on my Ipod.

Daniel Eliesen: Which team do you enjoy playing the most?

Davone Bess: Every opponent is the same to me but I would have to say division games probably because you see the teams twice a year, and New England gets you fired up because you know what to expect from them.

Daniel Eliesen: Goals for the upcoming season?

Davone Bess: Every team is different every year. I always believe in shooting for the stars and the best will come from that. We want to win a Super Bowl obviously, but we got to start somewhere. Starting with the playoffs or the division would be nice.

Daniel Eliesen: So rumours are going around that Miami might be interested in Plax. What do you think about that?

Davone Bess: Honestly, if he can help contribute, and help us get to where we want to be then I don’t see why not but that’s not my decision. He’s a great player though. I grew up watching him. He’s a guy if you throw the ball up there he can go get it for you.

Tomorrow is a monumental day for us here at Phins Phocus. Yes, we had the privilege of interviewing Charles Clay and Kory Sheets a couple weeks ago, and we are very appreciative of those two for sitting down with us. But Davone Bess is one of the league’s best slot receivers, a huge contributor on the Dolphins’ offense, and has a remarkable story to boot, going from a troubled childhood in California, to one of the nation’s most productive receivers in Hawaii’s run and shoot offense, to undrafted, to stardom in Miami. 

Bess proved to be a real class act in his interview with Daniel today. I knew Davone was one of the league’s good guys, as he’s very active in the community with his charity organization, but my respect for him has grown tremendously with this interview. So it’s easy to see why we’re excited.

Make sure you check back with us tomorrow morning for the interview, but for now, I thought I would put together a few video clips in Davone’s honor to hold us over. If you haven’t seen the first clip yet, “Davone Bess Out of the Fog,” it’s a must see for any Dolphin fan. Truly an amazing story.

Former New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress was just released from prison today and speculation is already brewing that the Dolphins could be a possible suitor. Burress has family in South Florida and is rumored to have a strong interest in signing with the Dolphins. That’s where the connections between Plax and the Dolphins should stop and end abruptly in my opinion.

Besides the fact that he’s now 33 and has been out of football for two years, meaning who knows what you’re getting with this guy now, he’s nowhere near an ideal fit on this offense.

I’ve made this argument before in regards to the possibility of Mike Sims-Walker coming to Miami, so excuse me if I’m coming off as redundant, but there is nothing void with this Dolphins’ receiving core now that they have their speedster in Edmond Gates.

Brandon Marshall is a top five talent and I believe he proves that in 2011 if he can get a little consistency at quarterback. Davone Bess is one of the top slot receivers in the game. Brian Hartline may be the most underrated member of the Miami offense, as he was on pace for over 800 yards receiving before he missed the final five games of the season with a broken finger.

If the Dolphins’ passing attack isn’t up to par in 2011, it’s going to be because Chad Henne, or whoever else starts at quarterback, struggles. The Dolphins’ weapons at receiver are more than adequate enough to get the job done, and I firmly believe a franchise quarterback would elevate the entire core to elite status.

With all that said, there is one scenario where signing Burress would be rationalized. It’s become somewhat of an afterthought in Miami, but some continue to speculate that there is still a remote possibility that the league could discipline Brandon Marshall for being stabbed by his wife. To me, that is as ludicrous as it sounds, unless of course Roger Goodell knows something we don’t.

Marshall’s wife claims she did so out of self-defense, but to my knowledge she had no injuries or bruises. And reports have it that the case could be dropped all together, as Marshall won’t cooperate with law enforcement because he misses his wife and probably doesn’t want her to face jail time.

So, assuming there is no new revelations in the Marshall case, I just don’t see why anyone would speculate about Burress signing with the Dolphins. A possible red-zone target? That’s what Marshall is for when he’s used properly. An upgrade at the 5th receiver spot over Roberto Wallace and Marlon Moore? Come on now. Do you really think Burress wants to sign with a team he won’t even suit up every game day for?

I’m one of the skeptics that felt Burress was punished far too severely for accidently shooting himself, so by all means I’m rooting for the guy to resurrect his career. I just don’t see it happening in Miami. 

It’s time to get down in the trenches as we continue our All-Time Miami Dolphins series by unveiling the top offensive tackles in team history. Offensive lineman certainly lack the star power of some of the all-time great Dolphins we have discussed so far, but make no mistake about it, this franchise wouldn’t boast the proud tradition it does without the big guys up front.

Some of the best offensive lineman in league history have played for the Dolphins, but the greatest in Dolphins history and league history alike like Dwight Stephenson, Larry Little, Jim Langer, and Bob Kuechenberg made a name for themselves along the interior offensive line. The Dolphins haven’t produced the same caliber of talent at offensive tackle, but possibly two future Hall of Famers and two Pro Bowlers make our list.

1. Richmond Webb (1990-2000): The Dolphins invested their 9th overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft in an insurance policy for Dan Marino, and Richmond Webb didn’t disappoint. Webb made an immediate impact for Shula’s Dolphins protecting Marino’s blindside, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Webb went on to set franchise records with seven consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and 118 consecutive starts on his way to five First-Team All-Pro selections and being named to the 1990’s All Decade Team.

Webb was enshrined into the Dolphins’ Ring of Honor in 2006, but I’m sure the recognition he’s really waiting on is induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He’s probably on the outside looking in as far as the Hall of Fame goes, but looking at his complete body of work, it’s easy to see why he’s worthy of serious consideration.

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson surprisingly had a couple very interesting Dolphins-related nuggets in the chatter portion of his column yesterday. The first being some noteworthy Vince Young to the Dolphins speculation.

Jackson supposedly spoke with an associate that suggested Miami would be an appealing destination to Young if, or should I say when, the Titans cut him. Jackson also writes that “he’s not out of the question for Miami.”

Neither party’s interest should come as a surprise. Young is capable of starting for the Dolphins in 2011 if he can beat out Chad Henne and he’s really the most realistic solution for Miami because he’s the most capable option that wouldn’t require a high draft pick as compensation.

There’s plenty for Jeff Ireland to be intrigued about. Vince Young still has plenty of time to resurrect his career at only 28, he’s a proven winner, and he was actually in the midst of his best statistical season in 2010 by throwing for 10 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions.

But it’s far from a match made in heaven. Jackson goes on to say he also spoke with an official close to the team that cautioned the Dolphins are concerned with how Young would handle being beat out by Henne. Young was certainly a distraction in Tennessee when he lost his starting job, so when Jeff Ireland says “you can’t guess about accountability and dependability,” it’s easy to see why the Dolphins may feel he isn’t worth the risk.

Put me in the boat with those who wouldn’t mind seeing Ireland roll the dice with Young. In a perfect world I would prefer Carson Palmer or Kyle Orton in aqua and orange, but the Bengals seem pretty adamant that they aren’t interested in trading Palmer and the Broncos’ asking price for Orton may be a little too steep for the Dolphins’ liking.

The second interesting nugget from Jackson’s column is that the Dolphins reportedly consider adding a pass rusher their third-biggest need once the lockout is over, behind only quarterback and running back and ahead of offensive guard.

That is significant because we were being left to wonder whether or not the Dolphins would pursue a starting caliber outside linebacker or situational pass rusher or simply forgo addressing the need by hoping Koa Misi takes huge strides getting after the quarterback in his second season.

A legitimate pass rusher on the other side of Cameron Wake may be the final piece of the puzzle to an elite defense, but don’t expect to be blown away by this year’s free agency market. Jackson throws out names like Manny Lawson, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Antwan Barnes. Capable options, yes, but all three were held to under 5 sacks in 2010.

In a programming note, this will be an exciting week here at Phins Phocus. My co-blogger Daniel will interview none other than Davone Bess tomorrow.