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Mentors matter

By JEFF DARLINGTON
jdarlington@MiamiHerald.com

It might have been a dumb request, but Dolphins defensive end Vonnie Holliday figured it was worth a try.

So Holliday, then a rookie during his first training camp with the Packers, asked Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White if he could stop by his house because he wanted to impress some friends and family members who were visiting.

"I mean, we're talking about the Minister of Defense," Holliday said. "And he didn't even live close to me."

As soon as Holliday asked White, several eavesdropping teammates broke out in laughter that a rookie would even ask for such a favor. So he forgot about it, and left the team's facility.

"Sure enough, I'm at home, and who rings the doorbell?" Holliday said. "It's Reggie White. My friends couldn't believe it!"

From that moment on, Holliday's high level of respect for his newfound teammate had been forever cemented. It was an invaluable gesture that caused the Dolphins defensive end, now an 11-year veteran, to realize the importance of a mentor to this day.

As many wonder just how much quarterback Chad Pennington's arrival in Miami might be able to impact rookie Chad Henne -- both on and off the field -- several Dolphins players such as Holliday are making it clear just how priceless such a relationship can be.

"A guy coming into a situation who has a veteran player with tremendous leadership and character, you can't put a value on that," Holliday said. "For a young quarterback, seeing that on a day-to-day basis, I think it will help him tremendously."

A LONG TRADITION

Linebacker Channing Crowder had Zach Thomas. Running back Ronnie Brown had (and still has) Ricky Williams. Linebacker Joey Porter said he remembers the influence of Jerome Bettis, who didn't even play his position. And offensive tackle Vernon Carey calls former Dolphins offensive line coach Hudson Houck his best mentor.

The point is, a mentor can come from anywhere and it can be anyone.

But in the case of Pennington and Henne, this pair has more in common than a first name. As a result, Pennington considers it part of his responsibility to help develop the rookie.

"I had guys that did that for me in Vinny Testaverde, Curtis Martin, Ray Lucas, all those guys growing up when I was a rookie, a second-year, third-year guy," Pennington said. "It just helps you tremendously."

Pennington said he'll be able to help Henne, first and foremost, by leading through example.

"Then, it's about talking to these guys, be there for them when they need questions answered or are going through a tough situation because I've been there before," said Pennington, an eight-year veteran.

It is typically the memories of veteran players, of days when they once sought help as naive rookies, that inspire them to take on a mentor role. Crowder can vividly recall the first time Thomas came to his side, and it still sticks with him.

Crowder had struggled during his first NFL preseason game against the Bears, but he showed excellent athleticism and a desire to learn. So when he was called up to replace an injured Junior Seau, Thomas approached him in the hallway of the team's facility after a team meeting.

"He knew I could do better," Crowder said. "He became real cool, asked me if I wanted to sit down and watch film with him. He taught me how to study because he thought I was more athletic than him, and if I could get a jump on things, I could be real good.

"It was real cool, real casual. Not like he was better than me."

Still, Crowder said it also will be important for Henne to have a modest attitude with a desire to get better if he expects any help from Pennington. When Thomas and Seau decided to take the young linebacker under their wings, Crowder had previously shown a passion to improve.

"They realized I was a young player who wanted to get better and had athletic ability, so they both took me in and taught me so much," he said. "I just see things so much faster as a result of what they taught me."

IT'S UP TO HENNE

Beyond all of those lessons, though, Brown said the role of a mentor can only take a player so far.

Pennington can only show Henne how to be successful so many times. It will eventually become Henne's job to embrace those lessons independently of Pennington's tutelage.

"It's based on you and what you're willing to learn," Brown said. "I wanted to learn as much as possible. But I was also fortunate to be in a position to play with a guy who has had a lot of success at the position."

To gain knowledge from Williams, Brown didn't always need to ask questions. Sometimes, watching helped as much as asking.

"It was just about seeing how he'd work everyday without complaining, how he'd take care of his body," Brown said. "He's such a professional, and it rubbed off on me."

Now, as the natural progression continues, as Pennington becomes the teacher instead of the student, the Dolphins are hoping their freshly drafted quarterback is just as prepared to embrace the lessons as Pennington is to provide them.

If that is the case, this is a relationship that will stick with Henne for the rest of his career -- until someday, an unknowing rookie approaches him for a few words of advice.

"When I came into the league, I thought guys weren't going to help me because I'm battling for the same position," Porter said. "But it wasn't like that. The guys helped me out anyway. We all need each other out there, and that's the most important thing to remember."

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