Latest news with #PatrickPaul
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Miami Dolphins star Terron Armstead reveals terrifying reason he was forced to retire at just 33
Terron Armstead's recent retirement was a sadly straightforward decision for the former All-Pro. 'I literally couldn't walk,' Armstead told Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson on the Nightcap podcast. Still just 33, Armstead played 72 percent of the snaps at left tackle for the Miami Dolphins last season before announcing his sudden retirement in April. He had been among the best left tackles in football with the Dolphins and, prior to that, the New Orleans Saints. But a 12-year career, while short for nearly any other line of work, is relatively long when it comes to the NFL. As a result, Armstead barely practiced in 2024 and was instead prescribed pain killers with the aim of getting him ready to play each and every week. Now entering his mid-30s, Armstead explained he was no longer willing to put his body through that routine. 'I've been dealing with a knee [issue] since my third year in the league,' Armstead said. 'I didn't see a practice field at all, and not because I didn't want to or the Dolphins just wanted me to rest. I literally couldn't walk. 'After a game on Sunday, I wouldn't be able to walk on my own, under my own power, until Wednesday, Thursday. So I was only able to play under the pain meds. I couldn't put any pressure on my knee, so it was like, I can't keep doing that to myself.' Dolphins are in the midst of a difficult offseason as 23-year-old Patrick Paul is being counted upon to replace the veteran Armstead at left tackle. Furthermore, wide receiver Tyreek Hill ended the regular season by removing himself from the season finale against the New York Jets, but now claims he wants to stay in Miami. 'I've got to prove myself,' Hill told reporters last month at organized team activities. 'This OTAs, training camp, I got to prove myself. I've got to show up different. The mindset´s got to be different.' Then there is cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who is sitting out of this week's mandatory minicamp in order to force a trade out of Miami. The 30-year-old Ramsey signed a three-year extension in September. He is guaranteed $25.1 million in 2025, $4 million of which the Dolphins have already paid him as part of a signing bonus. He earned his seventh Pro Bowl nod last season.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dolphins' Patrick Paul Confident in Replacing Retired Pro Bowler
Dolphins' Patrick Paul Confident in Replacing Retired Pro Bowler originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Miami Dolphins have been intentional about beefing up the line of scrimmage over the last two years. Advertisement This offseason they drafted three defensive tackles and in the 2024 draft they picked edge rushers Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara. They also took a 6'7" behemoth left tackle, Patrick Paul, from the University of Houston in the second round of last year's draft. With four-time Pro Bowl LT Terron Armstead heading into his twelfth season, there is a good chance that they had an inkling he would be retiring soon. Well, Armstead announced his retirement on X just a few weeks before the 2025 NFL Draft, paving the way for Paul to step into a starting role. According to Isaiah Smalls II at the Miami Herald, the second-year lineman is extremely confident in his ability to become a key contributor. Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Patrick Paul (52) walks on the field during joint practice with the Washington Commanders at Baptist Health Training Navarro-Imagn Images "I'm built for this," Paul said. "I've always been ready for the moment, and that's why I play football: to compete at the highest level." Advertisement Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel called the second-year lineman's confidence a "huge accelerator," also noting Armstead's mentorship from last season as a potential catalyst. "There's a piece of him too – when you have a player like 'T-Stead' invest in you, you want to bear fruit of that investment," McDaniel said. Smalls II went on to highlight multiple other reasons Paul believes he is ready to make a jump. "After an offseason in which Paul made a point to work on his body, dropping from 332 to 320 pounds, in addition to studying the playbook, the left tackle said he feels more mature. The best part? Paul has been able to maintain his strength and speed despite his slimmer frame." Small II wrote. Advertisement It seems safe to say that the Dolphins will be relying heavily on new starters like the young left tackle to step in and make a difference. After all, they also signed guard James Daniels and right tackle Larry Borom. Related: Jaelan Phillips Predicted to Have Make-or-Break Season for Future in Miami This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
‘I'm built for this.' Dolphins' Patrick Paul confident ahead of first season as starting tackle
A lot will be expected of Patrick Paul in 2025. Not only will he be expected to start for the Dolphins at left tackle, Paul will replace an All-Pro in Terron Armstead who retired in early April. That's no easy task — even as his knees deteriorated more and more towards the end of the 2024 season, Armstead still remained a top-three player at his position, according to Pro Football Focus. So when asked if he actually feels the external pressure associated with his new role, Paul's responded. 'I'm built for this,' the 2024 second-round pick said Tuesday. 'I've always been ready for the moment, and that's why I play football: to compete at the highest level.' Such a response — coupled with reviews from evaluators and players — shows that Paul might in fact be, as he described, 'built for this.' He looks noticeably slimmer. He's a year older. And he's a year wiser. The result is a player who's as confident as ever. Then again, what else could you expect from a guy who has been passed the proverbial torch from a four-time Pro Bowler? 'It's a huge accelerator,' coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday. 'Coaching can take you so far; there's another level of coaching tied to peer ownership that is a completely different vessel to help a young player. There's a piece of him too – when you have a player like 'T-Stead' invest in you, you want to bear fruit of that investment.' Even Paul's teammates have noticed the changes. 'He's been really consistent in his training, which is really good for a young player,' tackle Austin Jackson said Tuesday. 'Especially for him, last year to this year, he lost a little bit of weight and has still been able to maintain his strength, so that's another big jump that tackles have to adjust to when they come into the league.' Granted, Paul's brief exposure to live NFL reps was somewhat middling. The then-rookie started three games and received a 44.9 grade for the season, per PFF, which ranked 126th at his position. In his defense, however, one such matchup came against the Houston Texans. Still, even in that game Paul showed flashes of brilliance against the elite edge rusher duo of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson. 'He's enormous,' NFL analyst Brian Baldinger said of Paul, praising the tackle's stamina and strength after breaking down his 2024 film versus the Texans. 'If he gets these sets down, the Dolphins — if they get this offensive line together — all of the speed that they have at all these positions — wide receiver, tight end, running back — it's going to be a good offense.' After an offseason in which Paul made a point to work on his body, dropping from 332 to 320 pounds, in addition to studying the playbook, the left tackle said he feels more mature. The best part? Paul has been able to maintain his strength and speed despite his slimmer frame, something that Jackson alluded to. 'The speed for how big I am — that might throw people off,' Paul said, late adding that he 'matured in my game,' something that just 'comes with time.' Added Paul: 'I think offensive line is an art. As you go day by day, you're just going to keep fine-tuning your skills and one day, it's just going to click, everything that we do day by day is just going to start getting easier. I think I've reached that point where I know what it is, know what they expect from me and I know how to do it daily.' That maturity will be necessary as the Dolphins look to get back on track offensively after a down year in 2024. It won't be easy – Paul will be one of three new starters along the offensive line – but the Dolphins have time to get that chemistry together.
