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Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Satele may be rarity: Rookie starting at center

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

DAVIE — Jim Langer was lying on a trainer's table 35 years ago this month when offensive line coach Monte Clark walked in and told him he would make his first career start in the Dolphins' season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.

"My reaction was, 'I hope I'm ready,' " Langer said today. "Fear is a great motivator."

Langer said he was also thankful he was entering his third season.

Samson Satele will likely have no such luck. The Dolphins' second-round pick enters training camp as the odds-on favorite to become just the second rookie to open a season as the Dolphins' starting center.

The other guy obviously wasn't Langer. And it wasn't Dwight Stephenson, either. No, the two greatest centers in Dolphins history, both Hall of Famers, didn't get their chances until their third seasons.

The only rookie to start a season at center was Jeff Uhlenhake, a solid, though often-injured player from 1989-93.

Satele, who played just one college season at center — he was a guard his first three seasons — seems in line to follow him.


Article continued at Palm Beach Post

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