The Miami Dolphins with host a Kids Kickoff on September 22nd during the home opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
DAVIE ? Ryan Tannehill's immersion into his role as the Dolphins' starting quarterback means days such as Wednesday's double dose of appearances ? the "Kids Kickoff" promotion and the season-ticket holders conference call, both at the team's training facility in Davie.
Give him credit. Tannehill seems to have mastered his off-field duties quite well.
Tannehill, the front man for the offense and face of the franchise, spent Wednesday afternoon and evening doing the political equivalent of shaking hands and kissing babies. Tannehill's wife, Lauren, was there, too. They posed for a picture together for a magazine. They spoke briefly to a young man in a wheelchair.
This is Tannehill's new life, the life of an NFL starting quarterback, the life of a quarterback who isn't merely a fill-in but someone expected to hold his job for a decade or so and take his team to a Super Bowl.
Dressed in blue jeans, a gray Dolphins golf shirt and tennis shoes, he spoke to the kids, then threw passes to them, and later answered questions from season-ticket holders.
After announcing the "Kids Kickoff" promotion, which features $15 tickets for kids 15 and younger with the purchase of an adult ticket for the Sept. 22 home opener against Atlanta, Tannehill fielded questions from the youths. One asked whether he'd ever play for another team.
Tannehill, who said he consulted with former Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington at his home in Kentucky during the offseason, laughed.
"I'm a Dolphin for life," he said.
Another kid asked what it's like being an NFL quarterback. Tannehill said it's something he'd dreamed of since the days he was a child playing tackle football in the street.
He then quickly added, "I don't recommend that at all, but that's what we did."
He was smooth and polished, never favoring one player over another ? when he spoke of wide receivers, he mentioned newly acquired Mike Wallace and Brandon Gibson, as well as veteran returnee Brian Hartline ? and making sure people knew he was confident about the season but not overconfident.
The same was true when he spoke of his skills. During the conference call, one fan said it appeared later in the season the Dolphins allowed Tannehill to make plays with his feet more than earlier in the season.
"I don't think we're going to rely heavily on my feet at the end of the day," he said.
Tannehill said the Dolphins have good running backs ? he mentioned Lamar Miller, Daniel Thomas and rookie Mike Gillislee ? and they want to get the ball to them. But he said his running ability is a good "switchup to have in your back pocket" to give defenses a different look.
Tannehill didn't reveal any closely held secrets to fans. He said his favorite superhero was Superman, his favorite foods are Italian and Mexican, and as a young man quarterbacks Dan Marino, Troy Aikman and Steve Young were among his favorites, and later it became Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
But perhaps most importantly, Tannehill said he's ready for Sunday's start of training camp and the prospect of throwing to his upgraded receiving corps.
"We've got a lot of weapons out there," Tannehill said, "and we want to be able to use them."
Most of that will depend on how well Tannehill has mastered his on-field job.
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