Los Angeles 10/21/2010 4:26:53 PM
News / Sports

Miami Dolphins: Season Crusher for Odrick, Carpenter Earns Honor

The Miami Dolphins have to do without rookie defensive end Jared Odrick after he suffered a fractured leg in Wednesday' practice.

It appears that Odrick's fate took a turn for the worse right in the start as the Dolphins' 2010 first-round pick was injured in the first game of what was his debut NFL season. He has just one tackle to his credit this season.

The Dolphins installed Odrick on the first team for the training camp but he was replaced by Randy Starks, who had played defensive end for two seasons in the Dolphins' 3-4, from his nose guard position with Paul Soliai managing the nose guard duties.

The Dolphins are in doldrums as Jason Ferguson has already announced retirement and defensive end Phillip Merling is recuperating from an injured Achilles' tendon. The Dolphins' defense is left with starting defensive end Kendall Langford, utility defensive linemen Tony McDaniel and Ryan Baker, and defensive end Robert Rose.

Management changes at the franchise are also troublesome for many as Executive Vice President of Football Operations Bill Parcels has been given the new designation of "consultant." He was instrumental in helping the Dolphins a stronger team in recent years.

On a positive note for the Dolphins, kicker Dan Carpenter earned the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor by scoring three field goals Sunday at Green Bay, including his 44-yard overtime game-winner.

Carpenter scored field goals to 41 and 53 yards along with the 44-yarder that earned his team 23-20 victory against the Green Bay Packers.