A unique combination of size, speed, and athleticism helped Jaelan Phillips become the number one rated football recruit in the country in just his junior year at Redlands East Valley High School in California. Phillips followed a family legacy to UCLA and was on the path to fulfilling his gridiron dreams before a barrage of injuries, including being hit by a car, forced him into retirement. After walking away from the game completely, Phillips seized the opportunity to enroll at the University of Miami, rebuilt himself mentally and physically, and became a stalwart of the Hurricanes’ defense earning second-team All-American honors. The Miami Dolphins helped Phillips find football redemption when they selected him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he responded by setting a new franchise record for quarterback sacks as a rookie with 8.5.

In The Tank, Jaelan discusses his early interactions with new Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel (5:42), relives his journey from being the nation’s top high school prospect to becoming a promising young UCLA player battling unprecedented adversity (9:56), and candidly shares his feelings of failure after being faced with medical retirement just two years into his college career (17:40). Jaelan also stresses the importance of managing the mental aspect of football (19:28), reveals why he worked with a confidence coach this past year (21:06), reflects upon his strong finish to the 2021 season (23:33), and explains what drives him to give back to the South Florida community (28:52).

Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc, Alex Bitchatchi, and Miami Dolphins Productions.  Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D.​

From the moment Tua Tagovailoa threw the game-winning touchdown pass to lift the University of Alabama to their 17th National Championship in 2017, he kickstarted a journey that would see him capture nearly every college football award imaginable, along with the hearts of Crimson Tide fans across the country. The Miami Dolphins selected Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft and in two seasons with the team, he has a 13-8 starting record and has done so with the second-highest completion percentage in team history.

In The Tank, Tua reacts to first-year Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel’s on-stage performance at the quarterback’s recent charity event (1:32), reveals what took place on the other side of the now famous FaceTime call between coach and QB (3:36), and addresses the “noise” that has surrounded him his entire career (9:08). Tua also shares his excitement for the Dolphins' offseason personnel moves (12:06) while managing the expectations that may be built as a result of them (13:38). The Dolphins QB1 discusses leadership (15:19), his relationship with Dan Marino (16:12), the importance of family (18:20), and his motivation behind establishing the Tua Foundation (23:03).

​Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc, Alex Bitchatchi, and Miami Dolphins Productions.  Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D.​

The decorated football career of Ricky Williams is the stuff of legend, featuring an NCAA career rushing record, the 1998 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first player ever to represent a National Football League team’s entire draft class in 1999, and an NFL rushing title in 2002. It is Williams’s enigmatic personality, however, that has often stood out even more than his gridiron greatness. The combination of the two endeared Williams to Miami Dolphins fans around the world when the team brought him to South Florida through a 2002 trade with the New Orleans Saints, and resulted in confusion, hurt, and outrage upon his unexpected but temporary retirement from football just days before the 2004 season.

In May of 2020, Ricky took his first opportunity to Dive in The Tank and fondly recalled his years as a Dolphin, particularly his prolific first two seasons (9:13). He candidly detailed the decisions behind his retirement, including a surprising assist from an unlikely source (25:36), his conversations with then Dolphins Head Coach Dave Wannstedt (28:50), and how meaningful and self-healing his time away from football was (32:58). Ricky also covered his respect for Nick Saban (38:50), his special friendship with fellow Fins rusher Ronnie Brown, and of course talks the Wild Cat from his perspective (42:57).

​Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc and Miami Dolphins Productions.
Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D.​

As senior director of publications for the New York Yankees, Alfred Santasiere III has seen, heard, and told no shortage of amazing stories in his 20 years working with the venerable baseball franchise. Before serving as editor-in-chief of Yankees Magazine or co-writing a New York Times best-seller, however, Santasiere fulfilled a life-long dream by interning with the Miami Dolphins Media Relations Department for the 2002 season, building relationships that allow him to continue to weave aqua and orange into his work to this day.

In the tank, Al explains how a kid from Jersey fell in love with the Miami Dolphins (2:35) before sharing an unbelievable interaction with Bill Parcells (12:00). He offers both pros and cons of working for “Big Seth” as well as Fish Tank legend, Harvey Greene (19:32) and reflects upon the unique opportunities he enjoyed during his Dolphins internship working with the likes of Zach Thomas, Ricky Williams, and a host of others (31:00). Al reveals the true motivation behind his groundbreaking “Art of Sport” series for which he has interviewed everyone from George W. Bush to Don Shula to our very own O.J. McDuffie (37:37), allows us to tag along as he and Dan Marino visit the Hall of Famer’s childhood home (41:17), and gives Dolfans one more reason to hold their breath as Buffalo Bills legend, Jim Kelly, drops back to pass (48:50).

Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc and Miami Dolphins Productions.
Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D.

Born and raised in Miami, Vernon Carey starred at Northwestern Senior High School before helping to make up one of the most decorated rosters in college football history at the University of Miami. Carey completed the South Florida football trifecta when the Miami Dolphins selected the offensive lineman in the first round of the 2004 draft, and he remained a Dolphin for the entirety of his eight-year NFL career.

In the tank, Vernon reflects upon fiercely competitive Miami Hurricanes practices (1:44) and working the parking lots for Dolphins games as a teenager (7:32). He shares what it was like to block for Ricky Williams (8:30), especially during the early success of the Wildcat (12:11), and clarifies his motivation behind giving close friend Channing Crowder his “welcome to the NFL” moment (14:35). Vernon also details his in-flight run-in with Keith Traylor (16:25) and explains the challenges and benefits of facing Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor in practice (24:46). Finally, Vernon shares why his sons chose basketball over football (27:12), opens up about the responsibility of being a #GirlDad (30:26), and discusses his vision for the Carey Family Foundation (34:30).

Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc and Miami Dolphins Productions.
Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vernon-carey-real-men-rise-to-the-occasion/id1409148022?i=1000552575407