Latest news with #Waller
Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Dolphins tight end Darren Waller to begin 2025 training camp on physically unable to perform list
Looks like the Miami Dolphins plan to ease in Darren Waller slowly. The recently unretired tight end will begin the 2025 training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list alongside offensive lineman Liam Eichenburg, the team announced late Tuesday afternoon. Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu was also placed on the non-football injury list. Waller last suited up for the New York Giants in 2023. An early July trade brought the one-time Pro Bowler to the Dolphins. In his first appearance donning the aqua and orange, Waller mentioned the presence of offensive coordinator Frank Smith played a key role in the decision to return to the NFL. Smith was Waller's tight end coach during his back-to-back breakout years in 2019 and 2020. In a flurry of other moves, the Dolphins waived quarterback Brett Gabbert and signed offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill.
UPI
6 hours ago
- Sport
- UPI
New Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller seeks joy in 'last chapter'
The New York Giants traded tight end Darren Waller (C) and a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. Photo by Laurence Kesterson/UPI | License Photo MIAMI GARDENS, Fla., July 22 (UPI) -- Darren Waller exhausted nearly every NFL experience before a brief retirement. The Miami Dolphins tight end now hopes to rekindle joy for his "final chapter." "I was content in my retirement, but also felt like this was an opportunity where if this is my last chapter playing football, to close it in a way that's different than I did before and allows me to tap into the joy of why I started doing it in the first place," Waller said at Dolphins training camp Tuesday in Miami Gardens, Fla. Waller, 32, signed a three-year, $51 million contract in 2022 with the Las Vegas Raiders. He was traded to the New York Giants less than a year later and out of the NFL a year after that. His current pact with the Dolphins is one year and with up to $5 million, including incentives. He said a health scare, of which he did not disclose details, and fading passion for the game led to retirement -- and a decision to bypass millions of dollars. Waller spent his time away traveling to Japan, enjoying his family, making music and even participating in the HYROX fitness competition. The 6-foot-6 playmaker, who entered as a sixth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens, but had his career disrupted by substance abuse issues, said his recent off-field investments helped him realize his previous battles were just the "tip of the iceberg." "I feel like getting sober and having a lot of successful things in my life happen fast was amazing, but I feel like that was only the tip of the iceberg as far as me as a man and things I needed to work on," Waller said. Waller's decision to return to the league and desire to play for Miami coincided with the Dolphins' decision to trade former tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also was lured to the team because of the presence of former teammate Alec Ingold -- the Dolphins' star fullback -- and offensive coordinator Frank Smith -- who served as Waller's tight end coach when he was with the Raiders. "Frank is my guy," Waller said. "When I got claimed off the Ravens practice squad in 2018 and got to the Raiders, he was my tight end coach. He met me at the door. One of the first things he was interested in was what do I need as a man in my newfound sobriety. ... Whatever I need to just be solid as a human being. That struck me a lot." Waller, who totaled just 18 catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns through his first four years in the league, exploded for 1,145 yards under Smith in 2019. He went off for 1,196 yards and nine scores en route to the Pro Bowl in 2020. "There have been a lot of times where I've wrestled and that joy has been elusive, but I've always found moments where it came back," Waller said. "I feel like that's possible this time around. I already have a lot of fun just being here, among these players, coaches and staff. It's already been a lot of fun." Waller totaled 1,605 yards and six scores in the three years after his lone Pro Bowl year. He said he lost some humility going into the 2023 season, which contributed to his loss of passion for the game. "I had a lot of good things going on in my life, but I just didn't really feel like my perspective was as humble and looking for the small joys as it was maybe earlier on in my career," Waller said. "That's probably going to be as valuable an experience as I have playing football. "I'm here now and realize these chances aren't just something you go pick off a tree, or anybody gets them any given day walking down the street. I want to take advantage of it and do it with a smile on my face." Waller said he expects to bring his playmaking ability to the Dolphins' offense, which already includes top playmakers in Tyreek Hill, De'Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle, among others. He also wants to make an impact by sharing his stories to help others. "I feel like everything you can probably experience, except winning the Super Bowl, is something I've gone through," Waller said. "Drafted late, core special teams guy, suspended from the league, practice squad, starter, Pro Bowler, traded a couple times. "There are guys going through situations and going through things that may need somebody to lean on and talk to. I feel like I can do that as well, but most importantly, somebody that does their job at a high level." Waller called himself a "football junkie" and said tapping into his joy has opened up space for a perspective shift. He plans to use the remaining time of his NFL tenure to honor his younger self. "I feel like it all works together," Waller said. "For me, to be as effective as a football player I can be, I need to be sober in all ways; sober emotionally and continuing to do what brought me here, Continue to put my recovery first, continuing to read, continuing to keep a creative flow, and do things I like to do. "All those things work in balance to allow me to approach the game with a full cup, with a lot to give, not coming here for what I can gain, but for what can i give to this team, what can I give to the fans, what can I give to whoever, to anybody that may be looking for inspiration from somebody. "Making sure I'm living and walking in a way where what I'm preaching is what I'm practicing."
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Kelly: Darren Waller found the joy he'd lost in season away from football
Sobriety is a journey, not a destination. It requires ongoing effort and commitment, and doesn't just center around not drinking, or using drugs. It's about making a conscious and sustained effort to live a life free from substance use, and addressing the emotional, and psychological aspects that led to addiction, and destructive behavior. Protecting his sobriety is why Darren Waller, a recovering drug addict and alcoholic - who has faced multiple suspensions through his eight-year NFL career - abruptly retired from the game last season. Waller walked away from a $50 million contract with the Giants because he found himself resorting to his old vices. 'I'm making sure what I'm living, and what I'm walking, I'm practicing. There are times when I've weaved away from that a little bit,' Waller said during Tuesday's introductory press conference with the Miami Dolphins, which traded for the 2020 Pro Bowler a day after the team traded Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a package that also sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey to Pittsburgh in for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a swap of 2025 late-round picks. 'This last year that's something I was able to lock in on,' Waller said, referring to his year away from football. ' I feel like I'm coming into this environment to be effective, and stay grounded.' Waller claimed the New York environment wasn't healthy for him. He also went through a divorce from WNBA superstar Kelsey Plum in 2024 and needed to refocus himself, doing things he was passionate about. At that time football wasn't on that list. The year away from the game, which he spent working out, making music, spending time with family and friends, traveling and going to therapy and allowed him to remember things within the game that can 'bring him joy.' 'It all works together,' Waller said about his sobriety walk, which he's made public for years. 'For me to be as effective a football player as I can be I need to be sober in all ways. Sober emotionally. I need to continue to do what brought me here. Continue to put my recovery first.' According to Waller, he didn't sign an incentive-laden 1-year deal worth a base of $2 million, because of what the NFL provided. He came to the Dolphins with a 'full cup,' and unretired because of what he can bring the Dolphins, the only team he wanted to play for because of his relationship with offensive coordinator Frank Smith, the fan base, and people seeking inspiration. He also valued coach Mike McDaniel's reputation as an innovative coach, and the fact McDaniel's also a recovering alcoholic. Training for the Hyrox Challenge, which is a version of Crossfit, kept him in-shape. However, Waller knows it will take him a minute to get back into football shape, which is why he'll be on a unique practice program with Miami. According to fullback Alec Ingold, who was Waller's teammate during his time with the Las Vegas Raiders, the 32-year-old he calls a 'one of one,' referring to how unique Waller is as a person, will be worth the wait. 'I don't know if anybody is really ready for what he can do on the field. A lot of tight ends impact the game in a number of different ways. That's one dude where I've been in game plan meetings with him and it's 'get the ball to him 15-20 times a game, and he's going to take it over' and he does. I think that's a rare quality,' Ingold said. 'He's going to have his own challenges coming back,' Ingold continued. 'He's a great human being and he can take over games when he's humming, when he's motivated.' More so than what Waller has left, the biggest question about his return centers on how long he stays motivated, and whether his stint in Miami, and playing time with the Dolphins, will assist, or hinder his sobriety. But like they say in recovery programs, Waller's return to the NFL should be taken one day at a time. Waller claims he's ready for whatever comes of it. 'These chances aren't something you can just pick off a tree, or anybody gets them any given day walking off the street,' said Waller, who has caught 352 passes and turned them into 4,124 and scored 20 touchdowns in eight seasons . 'You might as well take advantage of them and put a smile on my face.'
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Abruptly Splits Up Popular Tag Team
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The WWE tag team of A-Town Down Under is officially over. On the July 21st episode of Monday Night Raw, Grayson Waller announced that his partner, Austin Theory, has suffered an injury and that their team is finished, before delivering a scathing promo on social media. This split brings an end to a partnership that has been teased with dissension for well over a year. Waller made it clear he has no sympathy for his now-former partner. Waller's Scathing Message Following the on-screen announcement, Grayson Waller took to social media to send a direct and insulting message to the injured Austin Theory. He claimed that he "saved" Theory's career and that their partnership was a waste of his own time. "You should be celebrating the fact that Big G, Grayson Waller, saved Austin Theory's career," Waller began. "Remember two years ago when John Cena buried him alive on Monday Night Raw, I watch it all the time, it's one of my favorite Raw moments of all time. Imagine where he'd be without Grayson Waller." More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation He continued, "I just wasted two years of my career making you relevant, and now that that's done, I can finally remind everyone just who Grayson Waller is." Appolo crews and Titus battle in the ring during the WWE show at Zenith Arena on may 09, 2017 in Lille north France. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN Appolo crews and Titus battle in the ring during the WWE show at Zenith Arena on may 09, 2017 in Lille north France. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN The Infamous John Cena Promo Waller's comments refer to a now-legendary promo segment on the road to WrestleMania 39. During their verbal confrontation, John Cena brutally ran down Austin Theory, questioning his authenticity and telling him that the fans did not care about him. Many fans and critics believe the promo was so harsh that it legitimately stalled Theory's momentum as a rising star. Waller is now using this famous moment as the foundation for his new rivalry with Theory. He claims that by teaming with him, he gave Theory a WrestleMania moment by winning the tag team titles and made him relevant again. A Partnership Built On Tension The breakup of A-Town Down Under has been a long time coming. The team of two arrogant heels was formed in 2023, and while they found success, there was always underlying tension. They captured the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 40 in a chaotic six-pack ladder match. Throughout their reign and in the months since, WWE has consistently teased a split. The two would often argue, show jealousy towards one another, and accidentally cost each other matches. Now, with Theory on the shelf with an undisclosed injury, Waller has used the opportunity to officially end the partnership on his own brutal terms. When Theory eventually returns, a heated feud between the two former champions is inevitable. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports
7NEWS
16 hours ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Trainer Chris Waller quietly rolls out star mare Via Sistina at Randwick trials
Star mare Via Sistina has made her first public appearance of the campaign in a Randwick barrier trial as she warms up for a return in the Group One Winx Stakes. As expected, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner was given a quiet hitout, finishing at the back of the field along with high-profile stablemate Fangirl. Trainer Chris Waller is preparing both mares for a return in the opening major of the Sydney season on August 23, while his Australian Derby winner Aeliana and top filly Lady Shenandoah, who is set to barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Friday, could also resume there. Tuesday's 850m heat was taken out by The Novelist with Godolphin pair Tom Kitten and Zardozi finishing fifth and sixth respectively. Aeliana was given an easy time in her heat, finishing at the tail of the second Group Trial taken out by Palmetto, with the former's stablemate Autumn Glow third and Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton sixth. Waller is looking forward to seeing the progression Wodeton can make into his three-year-old season and has earmarked the Golden Rose (1400m) as a likely target for the Coolmore colt. 'It's exciting for the two-year-olds turning into three,' Waller said. 'He looks like he has come back really well and he'll go towards a Golden Rose. 'I think 1400 will suit him.' Wodeton had five starts as a juvenile, scoring at Rosehill on debut in January and placing at his next three starts before rounding out his preparation with a fourth in the ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) in April. Waller has still to settle on where Wodeton will run first-up but anticipates he will be ready to resume next month.
