DAVIE — Offensive tackle Vernon Carey got home around 1 a.m. Monday after the Dolphins' victory over the New York Jets gave them the AFC East title.

"(My wife) was knocked out," he said at Dolphins camp Monday morning. "She just recognized I was in the bed and she was like, 'Babe! You're in the playoffs!'

"And I was like, 'Yeah, I've been waiting five years to hear that.' It was a great moment," said Carey, a Miami native and University of Miami product who was drafted in the first round by the Dolphins in 2004.

After last season's 1-15 finish, the playoffs seemed a lifetime away. Just getting through the 2007 season was difficult, cornerback Andre Goodman said.

"We got to like Week 8 you start counting down like, 'C'mon, we've still got eight more to go,' " Goodman said. "You're just trying to get through the day. I didn't feel a lot of energy, a lot of fire.

"When it got close to Week 16, we're just saying, 'Can we get one?' so we don't go down in history as far as 0-16. And once we got that one, it was a relief. It was almost over."

That win came against the Baltimore Ravens, the Dolphins' opponent in Sunday's first-round playoff game. That lone victory in 2007 didn't make up for the misery of the season, Carey said.

"It was the worst feeling of your life," said Carey, who is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season. "It makes you think twice about what you're doing. Like, is this really worth it? It just took everything out of you.

"To come back this year and do what we're doing now, it recharges you and it makes you cry because you know where you came from."
Goodman said he is looking forward to a big crowd for Sunday's game, which was declared a sellout Monday, the same day that tickets went on sale.

"To be here in the playoffs with a chance to win a playoff game at home, I want to see a packed house," said Goodman, a third-year Dolphin. "I haven't seen that stadium packed since I've been here. I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited."

(palmbeachpost.com)

Right tackle Vernon Carey said the Dolphins relayed an interest in re-signing him, but won't talk money until after the season.




(miamiherald.com)

Miami Dolphins Vernon Carey and his mentoring group volunteered Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at "The Home Depot Neighborhood MVP Build" which helped rehabilitate Little River Park in Miami, FL.

Vernon and his Brownsville Middle School mentoring group took part in painting hopscotch outlines and varnishing picnic tables. They also participated in painting a fence in Dolphins aqua and orange. An autograph signing was held for the many other volunteers at the event.

Vernon used a saw to cut through a Home Depot board as part of the park’s opening ceremony. Vernon Carey was presented with a $1,000 donation from the Home Depot during the ceremony.

(miamidolphins.com)

When a black limousine rolled up under police escort to Miami Northwestern High School on Monday afternoon, hundreds of Liberty City residents started screaming.

Leroy Williams of Liberty City summed up the scene: ``This is bigger than Obama.''

Vernon Carey, the Miami Dolphins' starting right tackle and a former lineman at the University of Miami and Northwestern High, is decidedly bigger than the president-elect -- at least physically. On Monday, he was back at his old school for the fourth annual Vernon Carey Thanksgiving Turkey Drive.

He and several of his teammates, including Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and members of the offensive line, gave turkeys and cranberry sauce to residents where he grew up.

''Times are tough and a lot of people are struggling,'' Carey said, ``this is my way of giving back to the community.''

People waited in line for hours to get a turkey and possibly a photo with the Dolphins players who manned the tables and gave away turkeys. The players were joined by members of Northwestern's football team.

Carey, a finalist for the 2008 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, is involved in other programs focused on helping those who are less fortunate. He and his wife, LaTavia, started a mentoring program for students at Brownsville Middle School in Liberty City, and he also sponsors Carey's Crew, which allows 20 kids from the middle school to attend every home game.

By the end of the day, more than 600 turkeys and hundreds of cans of cranberry sauce had been unloaded from the 53-foot semi-container. Carey paid for the food, and Publix underwrote the truck and delivery.

''I think it's good for the neighborhood,'' said Danielle Pounds, a senior at Northwestern. ``The economy's bad and people don't have money to buy food right now.''

Carey's offensive line coach at Northwestern, Terrance Craig, summed up the day: ``Vernon is a good guy.''

(miamiherald.com)

DAVIE - When Dolphins right tackle Vernon Carey was asked to report to the auditorium at team headquarters on his day off today, he was nervous. No, he wasn't expecting to get cut, but he was hoping that the meeting would have something to do with extending his contract, which expires at the end of the season.

It wasn't until coach Tony Sparano grabbed a microphone and introduced Carey as the Dolphins nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award that the Miami native knew what was going on.

Carey has a tough act to follow as former Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor won the community-related award last year, and past Dolphins winners include Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Dwight Stephenson.

"It caught me off guard,'' Carey said. "I was kind of worried at first, but it's an overwhelming joy deep inside because growing up as a kid always being a Dolphins fans, loving the Dolphins, I remember watching Dan Marino play the game and guys like him being man of the year. Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, those caliber of players on and off the field, it's high standards set that you got to uphold, and I'm willing to do that.''
Every team selects a representative, a player who gives back to the community with his charitable endeavors, as well as displaying sportsmanship on the field. Eventually, the 32 selections are pared down and one player is chosen during Super Bowl week in February.

Carey and his wife, LaTavia, have started the Carey Mentorship Program at Brownsville Middle School in Miami. The couple mentors 10 students and takes them on trips around South Florida, such as Universal Studio, and often talk to them about goal-setting. They also host 20 students at every Dolphins' home game.

Carey hosts an annual Thanksgiving giveaway at his former high school, Miami Northwestern, and participates in several Dolphins-related charities.

"After my first two years, I'm like, 'You're from here and have to do more in the community.' I was obligated to myself because I've been where they're at and want to show them that there's more out there for them, and goals for them to reach.''

Carey, who starred at University of Miami and was drafted No. 19 n the first round in 2004 by his hometown team, is an integral part of the Dolphins' eighth-ranked offense, which has amassed more than 340 yards in each of the last eight games.

The children from Carey's mentorship program gave Carey a standing ovation when he was given the award. The softspoken, often shy Carey cracked a joke at the end of his acceptance speech when he said, "I hope I can still do things for the community of Miami and I hope I'm still here.''

"I was hoping it was a new contract,'' Carey said. "That's a big honor and you got to accept that and be very happy with that. It was a couple of words [contract talks] but that's what I know. They know better than I do.''

Sparano, a fellow offensive lineman and line coach, was extremely proud of one of his own.

"It's a tremendous accomplishment with what he does in the community,'' Sparano said. "I've been out on several occasions with Vernon at groups in the theatre and seen him do these things for the kids. That's something special. What these guys do off the field really does matter and I'm glad he's getting recognized.

"You could see the kid's faces in there when they see Vernon come in. That's something pretty special. You don't see that all the time. You're a parent and you see your kid like that, he lights up, she lights up. That happened when he walked in.''

Although Sparano wasn't expected to answer football-related questions, he was asked if he heard Carey's remark about wanting to remain a Dolphin.

"So do I,'' Sparano said while walking away.

(sun-sentinel.com)

Ikechuku Ndukwe's dancing days are over.

Ndukwe, a second-year guard, can't afford to get carried away the way he did Sunday during the Dolphins' 17-10 win against San Diego.

Ndukwe joined running back Ronnie Brown and offensive tackle Vernon Carey for an end-zone dance - the Cupid Shuffle - to celebrate Brown's touchdown run.

The NFL slapped each player with a $10,000 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct. It was a stiff fine for each player, but especially for Ndukwe, who makes a base salary of $370,000.

"It hurt me badly," he said. "I think it's a lot of money for anybody, but it's a lot of money for me."

The fine is a huge cut of Ndukwe's next game check. He makes a little less than $22,000 before taxes each week of the NFL season.

When he heard the news, he said, "I was shocked by it."

Brown was, too.

"I was surprised by the amount more so than getting fined," he said. "Rules are rules and I figured there would be some kind of disciplinary action, but I didn't think $10,000 worth for a little shuffle."

But Brown and Carey are former first-round picks making millions. Ndukwe, who making his third NFL start, wasn't even drafted and is making the NFL minimum.

The players are appealing the fine, but if it sticks, Brown - who has a base salary of $3.66 million - said he would pay half of the fine for Ndukwe.

Carey, who was the instigator for the dance and makes $2.57 million, is getting off relatively easy.

"I figured Vern was going to give me some money, but nah," Ndukwe said.

Next time, Ndukwe will know what to do.

"No more dancing for me," he said. "I'm running straight for the sideline."

(palmbeachpost.com)

Vernon Carey is a proud, card carrying member of the NFL's biggest and baddest fraternity.

He's a Hurricane, one of the 44 University of Miami players presently in the NFL, continuing the school's reign as the college program that has the most pro players running with the big boys.

Florida State is a distant second with 37 members, and Ohio State, Michigan and Georgia each have 36.

That achievement, and UM's 14-year streak of consecutive first-rounders (which likely comes to an end in 2009 if DE Eric Moncur doesn't have a monster season) is something the Hurricanes and its alums take a great deal of pride in despite "the U" falling on hard times.

Despite Miami's NFL dominance, UM's struggles have hit the school's pros hard. Most rarely watch Saturday's games these days. They can no longer boast and brag when cocky alums of other programs start talking smack. That's why the first thing Carey warned me when he agreed to do this unfiltered is that he didn't want to talk about UM. Fortunately, he agreed to talk on the touchy subject when I wouldn't let him off the hook.

The lifelong Miami native was at last week's disappointing North Carolina loss with his son, and when you check out this unfiltered you'll feel his pain.

During this unfiltered - which I'm sad to announce will be one of the last of it's kind because "The Man" is clamping down on what we do on the video end - you'll hear straight from Carey where he thinks the Hurricanes, and the Dolphins are headed, and what they need to do to turn things around.

He also addresses the adjustment he made back to the right side, where he's under attack playing next to new starter Ikechuku Ndukwe, who knows he's being scrutinized and is working to handle the challenge. And Carey touches on why he and his agent aren't pushing for a new contract from the Dolphins, the team he grew up wanting to play for.

I toughed on that last topic during the recent Q&A, but it's always good to hear straight from the player or coaches mouth, which is what these unfiltered interviews are - or were - all about.

Click Here for the Video

Q: The front office is taking a "wait and see" approach on right tackle Vernon Carey, who will be a free agent after this season. Is this risk?

A: "It's a calculated risk, but I understand why the front office has this wait and see approach to the four-year starter. Carey is presently checking in around 340 pounds, and while he carries the weight well, that's a bit heavy for this regime. Before giving a player a contract extension it's wise to see how serious he is about getting in better shape. Carey needs to do that to stay healthy and extend his playing career. While this former Hurricane is a hometown guy, he's intent on winning. He wants to explore his options at season's end. His fellow Hurricane Eric Winston, the Texans' starting right tackle, just got a five-year, $30 million contract with $10 million of it guaranteed. That's the bar Carey and his agent will likely be working with, but that might be too pricey for a right tackle based on General Manager Jeff Ireland's value breakdown per position. Two rookies, Kirk Barton and Nate Garner, who were both acquired off the waiver wire in recent weeks, will likely be groomed as Carey's possible replacement. If they present some upside Carey will likely be allowed to walk."

(sun-sentinel.com)

As if the Gators weren't talking enough smack about this weekend's showdown with the Hurricanes, Florida product Channing Crowder has been baiting UM alum and Dolphins teammate Vernon Carey about putting a friendly wager on Saturday's intrastate rivalry game.

Considering his Hurricanes are so young and unproven, Carey has shied away from biting down on Crowder's bait. But it hasn't stopped Crowder, the locker room's resident comedian, from talking smack.

"Nobody is taking that bet anywhere in the world because Florida is just going to trample them," said Crowder, who for the record got spanked by the Hurricanes twice during his playing career.

"[UM freshman quarterback] Jacory Harris was in P.E. six months ago, come on now. They don't have a chance to beat the Gators, at all. I don't know why people even talk about this. It's a warm up game for the Gators," Crowder boasted.

For the record, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow never took P.E. He was too busy being home schooled because his parents were scared of public and private education. I wonder if Tebow's mom is still doing his laundry and making his bed?

If you haven't figured it out yet I'm not a Florida fan, and it has nothing to do with the fact I covered UM. That whole school is too darn arrogant.
While I'm not optimistic about UM pulling off an upset since quarterbacks rule this game - Florida has college football's best in Tebow and UM's Robert Marve will be making his first start against UF - the Hurricanes still have a punchers chance.

All it takes is for Tebow, who secretly thinks he's a fullback that happens to have an arm, to take one physical hit for the game to change.
If I'm the Hurricanes I'd encourage the refs to make sure they have a really loud whistle, if you know what I mean. The one thing UM's past two victories over Florida have proven is that the Gators are traditionally soft.

When asked if UM had absolutely no chance, Crowder said "A blind squirrel can find a nut now and then, but a blind squirrel ain't eating that good."

By my count isn't Florida the blind squirrel considering the Gators haven't beat the Hurricanes in six straight tries, going all the way back to the 1985 season?....

Let the trash talk commence....

(sun-sentinel.com)

Vernon Carey looks great in pass protection, especially his footwork. Charlie Anderson has no chance when the two go head-to-head.




(phinsreport.com)

DAVIE - Lifelong South Florida resident Vernon Carey is proud to admit he has always been a Dolphins fan. But that doesn't mean the Dolphins' starting tackle plans to end his career with his hometown team.

Unlike most NFL players entering the final year of their contacts, Carey plans to play out this season without pushing the organization for a new contract.

Even though there's plenty of salary-cap space to get a deal done, the Dolphins have not approached Carey or his agent about renegotiating his contract. And that doesn't bother the former first-round pick one bit.

In fact, the 27-year-old from the University of Miami seems intrigued about the prospects of hitting the open market in 2009.

"It doesn't matter," Carey said when asked about pursuing a new deal. "That's not important to me right now. What's important to me is winning. I want to be part of a winning team. Winning!

"Of course I'd love to stay here. I'm from Miami and love the Dolphins. I admit I think about it, but I don't like to think about [my contract] because I can't control it. That's out of my hands. It's in [managements] hands. All I want to do is win."

Carey is scheduled to make a little more than $2.5 million this season in the final year of the five-year contract he signed in 2004.

Offensive tackles are the fourth highest paid position in the NFL behind quarterbacks, defensive ends and cornerback, but most of that money goes to left tackles because they protect a quarterback's blindside. Right tackles like Carey, who did start all of last season on the left side before getting displaced by Jake Long, are paid slightly less.

The Dolphins have little depth at tackle behind Carey and Long - the first pick of the 2007 draft - after cutting second-year player Julius Wilson and rookie free agent Dan Gore because they failed their conditioning re-check last Friday.

Ikechuku Ndukwe, a guard who spent a portion of last season on the Dolphins practice squad, and Daren Heerspink, an undrafted rookie free agent, are serving as the lone backup tackles. The Dolphins front office will likely address their tackle shortage by signing a few veterans once teams trim down their training camp rosters.

(sun-sentinel.com)

6. RT Vernon Carey - Carey can play both left and right tackle at a pretty high level, and that versatility should help management sleep a little better at night. Behind him are undrafted players who can only be viewed as developmental projects. Whenever I think of his value I remember the silence that hit Dolphins stadium last exhibition season when Carey took a hit to his knee and had to be helped off the field. Luckily, that time it was only a bruise and he played the entire season without suffering any significant injuries. He's been relatively healthy throughout his entire playing career, college and pros. Is it genetics, or luck?

To see the rest click here.

(sun-sentinel.com)

DAVIE - Life has changed quite a bit for Vernon Carey since the end of last season.

He watched as the Miami Dolphins said goodbye to three starters on the offensive line. And he paid close attention as the team made University of Michigan left tackle Jake Long the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft.

Long's arrival means that Carey is playing right tackle again.

The departures of L.J. Shelton, Chris Liwienski and Rex Hadnot mean that he is also now one of the crusty old veterans of the Dolphins offensive line.

"Yeah, it's a little strange, but ... I feel a little old," the 26-year-old Carey said. "I've been through a lot, a lot of rough times. Hopefully, we can have some good times. That's the part I'm trying to focus on now.

"We weren't winning with what we had, so it was time for a change. And that's what we did. We made the change."

Carey didn't put up much of a fuss after being told that he was moving back to right tackle.

After all, that's the position he played his first three NFL seasons after the Dolphins made him the 19th overall pick of the 2004 draft. It's the position where he feels most comfortable.

When Miami decided to move him to left tackle last season, he expressed an initial reluctance before ultimately embracing the switch and taking it as the ultimate challenge.

Now that's Long's problem.

Carey has something else to prove.

"I always told myself if I get a chance to go back to right tackle, I was going to play my best," said Carey, who is in the final year of his contract.

"That's what I want to do. I want to make it known I can play right tackle. That's my best position."

The transition wasn't completely smooth in the offseason. Carey admitted that there were a few technique issues he needed to brush up on as the team went through its workouts, but he was confident that he would get them worked out in plenty of time before the season starts.

Dolphins rookie coach Tony Sparano, a former offensive line coach with Dallas, didn't seem overly concerned either.

"I think that if you can play left tackle in our league I think that you can play right tackle in our league," Sparano said. "The other transition is the hardest. If you took a right tackle and moved him to left, now you have a little bit of a problem. You have to really see whether or not he can make that transition.

"With Vernon, he's a big, strong guy, and the right tackle is a more powerful position. I think that's a little easier transition, certainly, for him to go from the left side to the right side."

Carey, who showed signs of emerging as a leader on the offensive line last season, has also become somewhat of a mentor for Long, along with another fifth-year pro, guard Justin Smiley.

That's another transition that he's happy to make.

"I know when I first came in, I didn't have guys come and tell me, help me out and stuff like that," Carey said. "That's why ... when I see a young guy coming in, I'm going to try to help them, because I didn't have that when I came in as a rookie. I had to catch it on my own."

(news-press.com)

Q: What’s the progress of tackle Vernon Carey’s transition back to the right side?
A: It’s going OK. Vernon’s played over there before; he’s not been a foreigner over there. He played there I think the first two or three years of his career here. So he’s a kid who’s knowledgeable in that area. It’s just a matter of him learning our offense, learning what the calls are and the types of things that go with it.

Q: Is Carey a more natural fit on the right side?
A: He’s a big guy and you’d like your right tackle to be a big, thick guy like Vernon. I kind of thing he naturally fits into that mold.

Q: Has Carey emerged as a leader on the line?
A: Absolutely. He’s been in there, been involved. He’s talking all the time in the meetings and asking questions. He’s doing the stuff you’d like an older guy to do with a group of younger guys in there. He and [Justin] Smiley, with the exception of Steve McKinney, are the two older guys in the room. They have to be the pace setters for the younger guys. If they’re doing what they have to do, then the younger guys will look up to that and work at that level.

(blogs.sun-sentinel.com)

Miami Dolphins right tackle Vernon Carey returned from a cruise vacation this week only to find his Mercedes GL 550 up on blocks on his driveway at his Davie home with the tires and four Asanti rims gone.

Carey reported the theft to the Davie police on Tuesday after a friend informed him of the robbery. According to the police report, the 22-inch rims were valued at $6,000. Nothing else was taken.

Phone messages left for Carey were not returned.

Lt. William Coyne said that the case is being investigated.

(sun-sentinel.com)

DAVIE - When the Dolphins drafted an offensive tackle with the No. 1 overall pick, most fans weren't thinking about how it would affect veteran tackle Vernon Carey. They had other things on their minds, like Jake Long's behemoth build and his equally beefy $57.75 million contract, the richest ever given to an offensive lineman.

Now the spotlight is back on the former University of Miami standout, whose progress this season could have a significant impact on the line and the team's overall success in 2008.

Long's addition sends Carey, who started all 16 games at left tackle last season, back to right tackle. That's the position he primarily played at the University of Miami and the first three years of his NFL career. While Carey has previously admitted he feels more comfortable playing on the right side, that doesn't mean the transition has been easy.

"It was a little shaky at the beginning," Carey said during last weekend's minicamp. "I go out and I try to watch film every day and evaluate that. I won't say I'm [comfortable] yet, but it's going to be there."

Coach Tony Sparano, a former offensive line coach, doesn't see Carey's transition as difficult.

"If you can play left tackle in our league, you can play right tackle in our league," Sparano said. "With Vernon, he's a big, strong guy and the right tackle is a more powerful position. I think that's an easier transition, certainly, for him."

Offensive line coach Mike Maser agrees Carey, who is 6 feet 5, 335 pounds, fits better on the right side.

"He's a big guy and you'd like your right tackle to be a big, thick guy like Vernon," Maser said. "I kind of think he naturally fits into that mold."

With 10-year veteran Steve McKinney sidelined with a knee injury, free-agent signee Justin Smiley and Carey are the only veterans practicing on the line, and each says he has relished the opportunity to serve as a leader.

"If I have a question or a problem, I've gone to Vernon, I've gone to Smiley and talked to them," Long said. "They've been around the league for a while. They went through those situations."

Carey says he wasn't as lucky when he first entered the league.

"When I first came in, I didn't have guys come and tell me, help me out," said Carey, a Miami native and Dolphins fan. "That's why I always look at it like, 'OK, a young guy coming in, I'm going to try to help him.'"

Carey's goal is to help Long accelerate his growth during the training camp and the exhibition season.

According to Carey, if minicamp is any indication, training camp, which opens in late July, will be more intense this season.

"It reminds me of a couple years ago when we [were] with [Nick] Saban, when we was just hitting and going hard and competing," Carey said. "It's the words people use. Sparano and Saban, they use a lot of [similar] words like, 'competing, playing hard, playing tough.' Last year we talked about more technique, doing what it takes to win.

"[This year is] more grinding, more toughness, more football."

(sun-sentinel.com)

Talked to Vernon Carey about the switch back to RT. “I’m back home,” he said.

He didn’t see the switch back as any sort of insult. He did say it took him some time to re-adjust.

“It was shakey at the beginning but that passed,” Carey said. “I’m happy.”

(phinsreport.com)

Dolphins' Head Coach Tony Sparano admitted the team has no starting RT right now. He said the team has Vernon Carey penciled in at LT and Drew Mormino at LG.




(miamiherald.com)

Dolphins tackle Vernon Carey, ex-Dolphins fullback Rob Konrad and Marlins president David Samson were the big-name winning bidders in the annual Make-A-Wish Ultimate Sports Auction on Tuesday night at the Broward County Convention Center.

Championship at Doral.

Konrad bid $2,000 for unique access to FIU's first game in its new football stadium, Sept. 20 vs. South Florida, including standing on the sideline with headsets. Coach Mario Cristobal announced the winning bidder would get to call FIU's first play, but FIU said Wednesday that won't happen.

Samson bid $4,000 for a package that was supposed to include participating in an Ironman Triathlon workout with former Marlin Jeff Conine (who's training for this year's race) and Samson (who participated in last year's).

The annual event no longer is attended by all the coaches for the local teams, but still drew several prominent athletes, including Dolphins quarterback John Beck, ex-Olympian Bob Beamon and former Canes receiver Sinorice Moss.

The event raised $240,000 to grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. About 600 people attended the event, which was emceed by NBC and HBO sportscaster Bob Costas.

(miamiherald.com)

Carey would benefit from a move back to right tackle, where he's a potential Pro Bowler, but that doesn't mean he didn't do well at left tackle last season. Truth is, Big Vern held his own, and only on occasion had issues with pass rushers and blitzes. Unless the Dolphins sign a grizzled veteran left tackle who has been there and done that for a number of season expect Carey to remain at left tackle for at least one more season. This is the last year of his contract and left tackles get paid a lot more than right ones do. If the trifecta like what they see expect them to lock Carey up to a longterm deal, but he might be auditioning for his next team. Either way I expect a big year from Vern.

(sun-sentinel.com)

The Dolphins haven't told Vernon Carey whether he will play right or left tackle, and might not decide until minicamp.

(miamiherald.com)

Vernon Carey and his wife, Latavia, took part in a school-wide FCAT pep rally at Brownsville Middle School on Thursday, February 21. The couple encouraged the students to study hard, emphasized the importance of the test and wished them well. The school selected ten girls and ten boys to participate in the Vernon Carey Mentorship Program for the 2007-08 school year. As part of the program, these students previously participated in the Miami Dolphins Holiday Toy Event, the Breast Cancer Awareness Dolphins home game and bowling at Lucky Strike.

(miamidolphins.com)