Dolphins

The National Aquarium's eight dolphins are no longer a show unto themselves. After two decades of dramatic leaps and crowd-pleasing stunts, aquarium officials are eliminating the 20-minute dolphin shows in favor of a more open-ended exhibit. Beginning Friday, aquarium visitors will be able to visit the dolphin amphitheater throughout the day and interact with trainers. Instead of charging a separate admission price for the dolphin show, the aquarium is raising general admission ticket prices.

Football McKinnie, Dolphins meet; Vellano to Pats Ravens veteran free agent offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie visited the Miami Dolphins on Monday and underwent a physical, according to a source. There was no deal immediately with the former Pro Bowl lineman, with the source saying: "Nothing more than [a] visit right now. " Another NFL source familiar with Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland 's thinking on McKinnie described this as a "look-see meeting. " McKinnie got a preliminary inquiry before the NFL draft from the San Diego Chargers, and they talked to him Monday.

Ravens 26, Dolphins Fourth quarter: 2:07 Baltimore Field Goal - 24-yarder by Billy Cundiff. Ravens 23, Dolphins 10 Fourth quarter: 6:45 Baltimore Field Goal - 20-yarder by Billy Cundiff. Ravens 20, Dolphins 10 Third quarter: 9:23 Baltimore Touchdown - Joe Flacco pass to Derrick Mason for 12 yards. (Billy Cundiff extra point is good). Ravens 13, Dolphins 10 Second quarter: 0:15 Miami Field Goal - 19-yarder by Dan Carpenter.

Seismic testing for oil and gas off Maryland and other Atlantic coast states could cause widespread harm to whales, dolphins, sea turtles and fish, as well as to fishing and tourism, an environmental group warned Tuesday. Oceana said the federal government's own environmental impact statement estimates 138,500 whales and dolphins could be injured if seismic "airguns," which generate blasts of noise underwater, are used to explore for oil and gas along the Atlantic coast.  The Department of Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is weighing applications to conduct offshore seismic testing from Delaware to Florida.

What's expected of the Dolphins this seasonFew expect the Dolphins to seriously challenge Buffalo, the class of the AFC East. But as long as Dan Marino stays healthy, Miami should finish no worse than last season's 8-8 record.Three Dolphins to watchMarino is entering his 10th season, and should hold every significant career NFL passing record when he's through. No. 1 draft choice Marco Coleman, a linebacker, represents the Dolphins' finest hope for an improved pass rush. Wide receiver Mark Duper, even at 33, is still tough to cover.

For beachgoers, seeing dolphins in the water off Ocean City is always a treat, but this year's annual dolphin count came up short, which could mean getting a glimpse of the animals may be more difficult. The National Aquarium Marine Animal Rescue Program (MARP) recorded sightings of 31 Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins at the event held last Friday. More than 100 volunteers of all ages joined with about 30 aquarium workers at Assateague and Ocean City to help count the creatures at several locations throughout town.

1. No pressure on Miami quarterback Chad Henne. The Ravens have managed 12 sacks this season, the ninth-fewest in the NFL. The Dolphins have only allowed 10 sacks. 2. Ravens fail to hold fourth-quarter lead. Letting 10-point advantages slip late in games has started to become a habit with the Ravens, who have been outscored 53-47 in the fourth quarter this season. 3. Secondary struggles to bounce back. This marks the first game since the Ravens gave up four passing touchdowns to Buffalo.

Miami had just beaten New England on the road, 20-10, and Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Baty was relaxing in the afterglow of one his best days as a professional football player. For the moment, the fear didn't show in his eyes.He had caught four passes from Dan Marino for 89 yards. A good day's work. "I can't wait to go home and hug my wife," he said.That's when the haunted look returned to his face. He had thought of his wife, Kathleen, home and alone.Granted, she's in no more danger now than any other woman alone.

Joe Greene joined the Miami Dolphins as defensive line coach yesterday, less than a week after leaving the same position with the Pittsburgh Steelers.Greene became the second former All-Pro hired by the Dolphins in three days. On Saturday, ex-Miami center Dwight Stephenson rejoined the team as assistant offensive line coach.* BILLS: Coach Marv Levy took the blame for failing to keep all of his players focused on the Super Bowl, resulting in some well-publicized, off-field distractions."I'll tell you where I feel I came up short -- that is the fact that we had four individual incidents where I didn't reach our players," Levy said at his annual state-of-the-Bills address.

Site: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.Line: Buffalo by 6 1/2 .TV: Channels 2, 4, 12:30 p.m.Last meeting: Buffalo won, 24-14, Dec. 23 and clinched the American Football Conference East title.The series: Miami leads the series, 35-14-1. The teams split their two meetings this season. Buffalo clinched the title in the game mentioned above. But Miami routed Buffalo, 30-7, in the second game of the season.On the sidelines: Miami coach Don Shula is in his 28th NFL season, his 21st with the Dolphins.

Fourteen-year-old Caitlyn Fernandes of Dayton has dreams of one day being an actress, but when she landed a role in a television special that will air this week on Maryland Public Television, it wasn't the bright lights that attracted her attention. It was the dolphins. Filming for the show, "The Great Aquarium Treasure Hunt," took place after hours over several days at the National Aquarium in Baltimore . For the Glenelg High School freshman, it was a dream come true. "I'm really into animals, so seeing all of the aquatic life was my favorite part," she said.

For beachgoers, seeing dolphins in the water off Ocean City is always a treat, but this year's annual dolphin count came up short, which could mean getting a glimpse of the animals may be more difficult. The National Aquarium Marine Animal Rescue Program (MARP) recorded sightings of 31 Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins at the event held last Friday. More than 100 volunteers of all ages joined with about 30 aquarium workers at Assateague and Ocean City to help count the creatures at several locations throughout town.

The National Aquarium's Marine Animal Rescue Program staff is inviting the public to go to the beach with them and look for dolphins. On Friday, July 20, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., the National Aquarium will conduct its annual effort to collect information on the number of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. This species - which can also be found in the Baltimore aquarium - uses Maryland waters for migration, feeding and summertime breeding. The event, which has been held since 1997, encourages volunteers to collect data that helps provide a picture of the animals' populations and reproductive rates.

South Beach needs talents Omar Kelly Sun Sentinel Let us play connect the dots. The Dolphins are in need of solid, proven playmaking receivers, and general manager Jeff Ireland wouldn't rule out adding one after the draft. Ireland loves to explore acorns, and Ochocinco, a native of South Florida, seems to have just fallen off a tree in New England. Ochocinco grew up loving the Dolphins and often attended Miami's home games during his bye weeks.

People aren't the only ones at risk from eating mercury-contaminated fish, since coal-burning power plants have liberally sprinkled the toxic metal across the earth's waters.  But it appears that captive dolphins have a little less to worry about in that regard than their wild counterparts. A new study by researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the National Aquarium in Baltimore found that the aquarium's captive bottlenose dolphins have lower levels of mercury in their bodies than wild dolphins tested off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida.

The National Aquarium's eight dolphins are no longer a show unto themselves. After two decades of dramatic leaps and crowd-pleasing stunts, aquarium officials are eliminating the 20-minute dolphin shows in favor of a more open-ended exhibit. Beginning Friday, aquarium visitors will be able to visit the dolphin amphitheater throughout the day and interact with trainers. Instead of charging a separate admission price for the dolphin show, the aquarium is raising general admission ticket prices.

The tremor one may have felt in Harford County yesterday was not from an earthquake. It was from 6-foot-5, 285-pound Larry Webster, Maryland's senior defensive tackle, jumping up and down after he was taken in the third round of the National Football League draft by the Miami Dolphins.Webster, an Elkton resident, was the 70th player taken in the draft, the 14th in the third round. Mount Airy's Mike Mooney, an offensive tackle from Georgia Tech, was taken late in the fourth round by the Houston Oilers with the 108th pick.

Site: Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami. Time: 4 p.m.Radio: WBAL (1090 AM), WTOP (1500 AM)TV: Channels 13, 7Line: Dolphins by 2Last week: The Chiefs (11-5) beat the Bears, 21-10. The Dolphins beat the Colts, 23-17.Last meeting: The teams didn't play this season, but Kansas City swept Miami last year, winning the second game, 27-24, on Nick Lowery's 41-yard FG with 1:31 left to play in the season finale.The series: The Chiefs have a 9-7 edge. Their only previous playoff game was one of the most famous in NFL history, the Dolphins' 27-24, Christmas Day victory in 1971 that started the Dolphins on the road to three straight Super Bowl appearances.

News Roundup •••• Some extremely juicy details about the exciting “God of War: Ascension” have surfaced, with some nuts and bolts of how the new multiplayer mode will function. Add this to your list of “reasons I own a PS3.” [ USA Today ] ••••  Evidence is pointing to the first bit of long-awaited “Skyrim” DLC being a) not far off and b) having something to do with Snow Elves and crossbows. Let's be honest, the “Skyrim” DLC could be anything and we'd all buy it sight unseen.

Joseph Russ, a West Baltimore mortician who was active in his industry for nearly 70 years, died of heart disease April 16 at his West Baltimore home. He was 98. Born in Baltimore and raised on Brunt Street, he was a 1933 graduate of Frederick Douglass High School. He also had diplomas from the old Cortez Peters School of Business and the Family Bible Institute. In 1941 he married Emma Lucille White, whom he affectionately nicknamed "Lamb Pie. " That year, they established a funeral business at Dolphin and McCulloh streets.