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Dawn Aponte Speaks

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A rare interview with the Dolphins first lady.

https://t.co/znaVe5BSVq

She’s the only woman among a hundred men on the Dolphins’ practice field, so naturally eyes are cast her way.She has survived a couple of regime changes, climbing the ladder but also raising questions of how and why. And the fact that she has remained publicly silent her entire tenure with the Dolphins has only raised intrigue surroundingDawn Aponte, who manages to keep both a high and low profile at the same time.
Aponte was involved in the interview process that landed coach Adam Gase and is one of the most powerful women in the NFL, and the fact some don’t like it, well — she’s well aware of that.
“One of the things that I found being a perception, which I don’t necessarily agree with, is I’m someone who is power hungry and looking toward taking things over,” Aponte told The Palm Beach Post on Friday in her first interview with the South Florida media since joining the Dolphins’ front office six years ago.

She reflected on the long road to get where she is, executive vice president of football administration for the Dolphins, meaning she’s the one sitting across the negotiating table from agents. So if Ndamukong Suh wants $114 million, he has to ask her for it. If some can’t handle that. …

“I try not to pay too much attention to it, because it’s not going to change things,” Aponte said. “I’m going to continue to be who I am and how I am and hopefully those who want to see it, can. And those who don’t, want to see something else, regardless of what the truth is.”
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In her interview with The Post, Aponte smiled frequently and laughed off the power-hungry label. She also showed why she’s regarded as both a sharp and firm negotiator. Earning that respect didn’t happen overnight.
“I would say early on, probably the biggest obstacle I faced was the perception that they didn’t think I was the negotiator, that they wanted to know why I was talking to them and when they were going to get to talk to whoever else was in charge,” she said. “That was like a challenge.”
A challenge to let the agent know that the person he needs to talk to is the woman he just dismissed.
“Carefully, carefully, you have to get it across,” Aponte said. “It’s all about earning their respect. You can’t tell someone, ‘Hey, I’m the negotiator.’ It’s like the saying that if you need to tell somebody you’re in charge, you’re not in charge.”
So yes, Aponte, an accountant and a lawyer, does balance Stephen Ross’ budget, but no, she’s not angling to rule the entire organization.
“My thing has always been, how can I best contribute in a way that allows the coaches to coach and the scouts to scout?” she said. “And being part of an organization that we’re trying to pull it together and get things right.”
Twenty-five 25 seasons in the NFL, starting with the Jets and including time with the Browns and the league office before heading to Miami in 2010, have afforded her the ability to lose any self-consciousness over gender.
“Honestly, I never think about it,” she said of often being the only woman in a particular football setting. She said she enters meetings with the philosophy that when she has an opinion, “it’s an educated opinion and when you have conviction, you’re going to give it and stand by it. And I don’t ever think about it as, ‘How is this going to be received?’”
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So she's been a part of the jets, browns and dolphins for the past 25 years.....what does all 3 teams have in common?

Ozzy rules
 
didn't she head off to the lions organization? or did I just dream that
 
Danny said:
So she's been a part of the jets, browns and dolphins for the past 25 years.....what does all 3 teams have in common?

Ozzy rules
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amusing, but the wrong message my friend
 
Have to admire the woman. A lot of strength, courage and more than all that, intelligence. I don't find her physically attractive, but those characteristics sure are.
 
Danny said:
So she's been a part of the jets, browns and dolphins for the past 25 years.....what does all 3 teams have in common?

Ozzy rules
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i have to say, this made me laugh pretty good. Reading the story my mind was no where near where yours went. Lol.
 
People can hate her all they want, she does good work for us with the salary cap
 
I don't hate her guys. I was just messing around. I don't hate anybody. It's just that when I saw the 3 teams it hit me that either of the 3 has even been to a super bowl in those 25 years but I'm not blaming her for it as I know it's not her fault.

Ozzy rules
P.s. when you're a dolphins fan you gotta have a sense of humor
 
Has she ever been fired for cause? Wonder how she feels now having to report to the Glorified Capologist. :idk:
 
What does she do better than others in similar positions with other teams? I'd like to hear.
 
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