Life is better when NFL is in season

What if there were no NFL? Relax, relax, it’s only a premise. Obviously, there is no move afoot to eliminate America’s entertainment leader.

First, such action would be a clear threat to our national security, not to mention the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of manliness. There may be no other single issue upon which Congress, the president and the Supreme Court can agree.

Second, the Super Bowl is too big to fail. Why, the Miami Dolphins are re-creating their entire stadium, with a massive rain bonnet coming, just to get back in on that gig.

Anyway, what got me going on this topic was a look at Week 1 of the college football telecast schedule. This is the closest guess at what a couch potato weekend harvest would look like Dave George

lived comeback.

“I’d say he’s one of the best leaders or he is the best leader on our team,” receiver Rishard Matthews said. “He brings a lot of excitement to the game. I think everybody will tell you he’s just an exciting player to be around — from the top of the organization, the bottom of the organization, everybody says the same thing about him. It’s very, very, very, very unfortunate.”

The injury occurred during a 1-on-1 drill against Carolina receiver Ted Ginn Jr., who was one of the biggest draft busts in Dolphins history. It appears there was no contact on the drill. Ginn, who was drafted No. 9 overall by Miami in 2007 and spent three seasons with the Dolphins, said he didn’t see the injury.

“I was running a route and I caught a ball on that play,” Ginn said. “I wasn’t even looking at him. I hope he’s fine, though.”

Delmas, who missed 13 games with Detroit in 2011 and 2012 with multiple knee injuries, made a surprisingly quick return from last season’s ACL injury. He was practicing with the team in June, six months after surgery.

Although Delmas was cleared by the team’s medical staff, former Dolphins cornerback Sam Madison — now an analyst with the team — said he probably shouldn’t have returned so quickly.

“When you have these injuries, you never really want to push guys and try to hurry them to get back,” Madison said. “I would’ve been the exact same way because teammates, they’d love to have you out there. But I like guys to take their time and come back a little later.”

Madison said he also was surprised that Delmas participated in the joint practices with Carolina. The Dolphins sat him out of the preseason opener against Chicago for rest.

“In these joint practices, people are trying to make statements,” Madi- son said. “Ted Ginn, he’s trying to make a statement.”

Coach Joe Philbin said little about the injury after practice but expressed confidence in Aikens.

“Walt’s had a good camp, he’s improved,” Philbin said. “He’s been practicing well and he’s real serious about everything that he’s done. I like where he’s at.”

Delmas had 61 tackles, a sack and an interception in 13 games last year. Aikens, a fifth-round pick out of Liberty College in 2014, had 15 tackles and an interception as a rookie.

Michael Thomas, a special-teams standout, becomes the primary backup at both safety spots.

“Mike, Walt, we’ve got great safeties,” Jones said. “I think the next guy will be ready. I think we’ll be fine.”

The last time the Dolphins held a joint practice — in 2004 against the Texans — receiver David Boston tore a knee ligament and missed the season.

Philbin said he didn’t believe there were any issues with the field at Wofford College that led to Delmas’ or Benjamin’s injuries.

“It’s a great facility,” Philbin said. “I walked the whole thing and was on every field and I think it’s a great set-up they have here.”

Matthews was less sure. He said the field was wet when practice started and wasn’t as low cut as the grass in Miami.

“That could definitely lead more to injuries, especially with those two guys hurt,” Matthews said. “I’m not saying it’s from the field, I’m not saying that at all. But definitely the field is very different.”

The way Delmas’ contract was structured, Miami is only responsible for $413,000 of his $1.48 million contract if he suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason.

The Dolphins practice against the Panthers again today and face them Saturday in the second preseason game.