The Facts:
It was hard to gauge the offseason progress of Parker this spring. The former first-round pick was in and out of organized team activities and minicamp due to the team's approach to keeping Parker fresh for this upcoming season. "My mindset keeps being of, 'I want him to be able to train for the next five weeks,'" HC Adam Gase explained during minicamp. "The last thing I want to do is put him in a situation where he has one little setback and now he's in the training room for two to three weeks or something, and we have a setback and now I'm going, 'What did I do that for?' Where he could've been training for five weeks, I guess I'm being overly cautious about this."
Last year Parker pushed hard and had early trouble with his foot. Summer surgery caused Parker to have a slow start to the preseason and regular season, which is something Miami is trying to avoid. The Dolphins accomplished their goal of getting Parker healthy through the offseason program. He likely will push things harder in training camp, which starts in four weeks on July 29, in order to get ready for the regular season. Parker recorded 26 receptions for 494 yards and three touchdowns last season. He's expected to have a much bigger role on offense this year and will be a focal point of the passing game along with leading receiver Jarvis Landry. As ESPN.com's James Walker suggests, Health permitting, Miami could have its deepest group of receivers in a while Landry, Parker, Kenny Stills and third-round pick Leonte Carroo. Parker is the most dynamic threat of the team's receivers, and it will be important to get off to a fast start.
Diehards Line: