After Dolphins outside linebacker Matt Roth failed his conditioning test early this month, he told coach Tony Sparano he was feeling ill.
Then Roth’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Roth couldn’t practice because of a strained groin. Nearly three weeks later, Roth still hasn’t got off the sidelines.
According to the Miami Herald’s Jeff Darlington, Dolphins are getting increasingly “confused and annoyed” about the mysterious situation.
The Dolphins sent Roth to Philadelphia to see a groin specialist when he first complained, and the doctor did not find any “significant issues.” But Roth hasn’t practiced since, simply saying he was sore.
Darlington writes that the situation has caused an “icy disconnection” between Roth and the organization, including G.M. Jeff Ireland and Bill Parcells.
The impasse is especially surprising because Roth had a reputation as one of the hardest-working, most reliable young players on the team. He regularly played through injury.
Roth is entering a contract year, a fact which is hard to ignore given the situation. He seemingly would be the type of player the Dolphins want to build around, but the current tension is making that look less likely.
The Dolphins reportedly have no plans to cut Roth, but he’s at risk of losing playing time to Jason Taylor.
That assumes, of course, that Roth plays at all anytime soon. It sounds like no one around the Dolphins is exactly sure what is going on with their young linebacker.