Chad Henne, Dolphins Owner Steve Ross Hit Links and Talk Lockout

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- In a scene that might not play out again anytime soon, Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross and his starting quarterback, Chad Henne, shared a golf cart Monday morning.

Ross and Henne were part of a foursome that included Hall-of-Fame quarterback Bob Griese for the third annual Fins Cup Pro-Am. But with the dark cloud of a potential lockout hanging over their heads, both parties tried to project an optimistic outlook to the cameras.

"When I bought the team I did it because I was a real fan and loved it and certainly I don't want to miss a season, nor do the fans," said Ross, who became the majority owner in January of 2009. "I don't think anybody wants that to happen. I think you all realize you're flirting with danger and I think the way it's going (the game) needed some changes and I think hopefully we'll get those changes."

Some teams already have taken financial steps to protect themselves on the heels of the recent news that the NFLPA plans to decertify its union on Wednesday, the day before the current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire. They are implementing furloughs or laying off staff, whereas Ross intends on proceeding like it's "business as usual." He said he wants to follow the developments and evaluate the impact of taking similar measures based on the mood going forward.

Henne is coming off of the toughest of his three seasons with the Dolphins during which he passed for 3,301 yards and 15 touchdowns but also threw 19 touchdowns. Now he's facing the prospect of learning a different offense under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and possibly having to prepare on his own without coaches and without the benefit of being at the team's practice facility in Davie.

"We picked out a spot to work out at and we're trying to get guys back in town," Henne said. "Normally our offseason program starts March 28th, so we're going to try to have everybody back March 28th so we can work out as a team. We already have a spot located and hopefully a lot of guys will come back and we can work out and we can build some bonding and camaraderie, too."

Brandon Marshall and the other wide receivers are expected to participate and Henne hopes to help install the offense and get them used to the new routes.

Henne described Daboll's philosophy as a hybrid between the system run in New England by the Patriots, where Daboll got his start, and one that was run by the Jets the two years Daboll was on that staff (2007-08). He considers it to be a quarterback friendly offense and does not want to let the potential of a lockout delay his ability to master it and to get his teammates comfortable with it.

"I want to get the guys on the right page because who knows how long this could last or if it even is going to happen? So we'll find out then," he said.