Oct. 21, 2011
MIAMI - The NFL dream is far from over for Richard Medlin.
A few weeks after he was released by the New England Patriots, the former Fayetteville State star latched on with the Miami Dolphins, who signed Medlin to their practice squad in late September.
Medlin rushed for 66 yards on 20 carries while adding 39 yards on six receptions and scored two touchdowns in his NFL preseason debut before being waived by the Patriots during final cuts on Sept. 3. Medlin had signed with New England as an undrafted free agent following a sparkling career at Fayetteville State. Medlin was signed by the Dolphins after the team waived two-time Pro Bowler Larry Johnson.
As a member of the Dolphins' eight-man practice squad, Medlin earns $5,700 a week. He is not eligible to play in games, but does participate in team practices and meetings. He works out as a running back and in special teams. He can be signed to Miami's active 53-man playing roster if the team chooses to do so, and is wearing jersey No. 38.
"I always envisioned myself playing in the NFL," Medlin said in August. "My faith carries me, and I've had to believe it. If you can envision it, if you can see it, you can achieve it. I always saw myself playing in the NFL."
Medlin saw extended playing time in the Patriots' first preseason game on Aug, 11, rushing 14 times for 54 yards and two touchdowns. His first carry as an NFL running back went for a 2-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter of New England's 47-12 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Patriots' Gillette Stadium.
Medlin rushed six straight times on New England's next series, picking up all 31 yards in the drive that began with a Patriots' interception and ended with another 2-yard dive into the end zone. Two plays earlier, Medlin ripped off an impressive 17-yard run on third-and-3 to keep the drive going.
On the next series, he rushed seven straight times as the Pats ran out the clock to end the game.
Medlin was a constant for the Broncos during his career. A dynamic kickoff and punt returner, Medlin was the Broncos' leading kick returner in 2010 while being the featured back in the offense. In 2008, Medlin was brilliant, returning three kicks for touchdowns and amassing 500 yards on 12 kick returns for an incredible average of 41.7 yards per return. Medlin's long return that season was for 89 yards.
But Medlin was capable and durable runner as well. He led the Broncos in rushing in 2010 with 772 yards on a 5.4 average per carry, scoring five touchdowns. He was also second on the team in total receptions, most of them coming out of the backfield, with 26.
Medlin was a key cog in a Broncos' offense that helped Fayetteville State earn its third CIAA championship in 2009. Medlin rushed for 667 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns.
