there,” Gase said. “We did a lot

METAIRIE Durham Smythe Jersey , La. (AP) — New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton says he’s hired Darren Rizzi as special teams coordinator.Rizzi, whose hiring was announced Monday, fills a vacancy that opened when former coordinator Bradford Banta was fired after this season, his second on the job.Rizzi has spent the past 10 seasons as an assistant with Miami and has 26 years of coaching experience at the professional and college levels. The Dolphins have been among the league leaders in blocked kicks during the past eight seasons 22 during that span, including 11 blocked punts.Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders made 90 percent of his field goal attempts (18 of 20) this season while Miami punter Matt Haack ranked fifth in the NFL in punts inside the 20-yard line with 35. The Dolphins’ 10.5 yards per punt return ranked eighth.Rizzi’s college coaching stops included Rutgers, Rhode Island and Northeastern. DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Tannehill gave a verbal thumbs-up Wednesday regarding the health of his shoulder, as he has done daily since rejoining the Miami Dolphins‘ lineup last week.He literally made that gesture to the bench a couple of times during Sunday’s loss at Indianapolis , Tannehill’s first game in seven weeks. He was responding to inquiries via headset from coach Adam Gase.“Sometimes Gase will pop in my helmet and just make sure everything is all right,” Tannehill said with a smile. “He’s like my mom Jerome Baker Jersey , like, ‘Are you OK?'”Physically Tannehill is OK, yes. Returning from an injury to the capsule in his throwing shoulder, he said the pain is manageable and not as bad as last week. He’s wearing a shoulder harness on the field but said his play isn’t affected by the injury. He participated fully in practice Wednesday, which is more than he did last week.But aside from his health, things are very much in doubt. Tannehill’s streak of never taking a snap in the postseason will likely continue, with the Dolphins (5-6) trying to brake a downward spiral when they face Buffalo (4-7) on Sunday.Beyond this year, the 30-year-old Tannehill’s future is very much in doubt. His contract balloons to $18.7 million in base salary in 2019, when he would count $26.6 million against the salary cap, which could compel the Dolphins to seek a cheaper Mike Gesicki Jersey , younger alternative at quarterback.Now 40-43 as a starter, Tannehill said he hasn’t been given any assurances beyond this season. He might need to play well in the final five weeks to keep his job.“I don’t know what the agenda is, but that’s my goal — to go play well and lead this team to wins,” he said. “I don’t try to think about things I can’t control; just go out and control what I can control and play as best I can.”He played well last week and ranks 15th in the NFL with passer rating of 97.2, which would be a career high. But he’s leading an injury-riddled offense, which makes Tannehill’s job — and any evaluation of him — more difficult.The line is in patchwork shape, and explosive, versatile receivers Albert Wilson and Jakeem Grant have been sidelined for the season. Gase conceded play-calling options are more limited without Wilson and Grant.“There’s a little bit of change there,” Gase said. “We did a lot of different things with those two guys. Those two guys were able to be in the backfield, in the slot Cameron Wake Jersey , outside. They just had a lot of variety. Now we have taller guys that are more long-striders. It’s not so much the initial quickness-type things that those two guys had.”Tannehill’s not one to complain about a lack of support, but he could point out the Dolphins went 2-3 without him, which helped create the hole they’re in.Seven teams in the AFC have a better record, leaving the Dolphins and their quarterback with little margin for error in December.“Yeah, the margin is small,” Tannehill said. “We have to go out and we have to win. That’s what it is. There’s not a whole lot of sugarcoating it.”Otherwise, it will be thumbs down on 2018.