I ran across this and thought some of the long time Miami fans would enjoy the read. Sorry if this is not the correct forum.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Where Are They Now? A.J. Duhe[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]February 13, 2002[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]For eight years A.J. Duhe was a defensive mainstay on the Dolphins, consistently making big plays as a defensive lineman and later as a linebacker. He came into the league as a defensive end out of Louisiana State in 1977 and won AFC Rookie of the Year. He also was named All-AFC in 1981 and was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1984.
He will always be remembered best for his performance on January 23, 1983, in the Dolphins` 14-0 victory over the New York Jets in the AFC Championship Game.
Duhe intercepted three passes on the muddy Orange Bowl turf that day, an AFC Championship Game record. He returned one of his interceptions 35 yards for a touchdown.
``That was the most exciting performance of my career,`` Duhe said. ``That`s the one that sticks out in my mind, one that will always stick out. It`s something I`ll be able to tell my kids and grandkids about some day. I guess I made some football history that day.
“But, of course, that is not the only good memory I have playing for the Dolphins. I have so many.``
Duhe’s career ended shortly after being named to the Pro Bowl. He retired from the game in 1985 following five surgeries in little over a year. Suddenly, at only 28, Duhe was out of football.
“Being released was tough because I was at the peak of my career,†Duhe said. “Two to three years prior to that, I was having all-pro campaigns. I was getting pretty good recognition. I just wish it could have worked out differently because I think I could put in another two or three years because I was still a young guy. I was only 28 years old.â€Â
With a wife and three kids to support, Duhe knew he needed to find a new career. It didn’t take him long to find what he was looking for. The only thing was he didn’t really know he found what he was looking for.
For the past 12 years, Duhe has been the Director of Player Development at the Nassau Marriott Resort/Crystal Palace Casino in Nassau, Bahamas. It has been a different world than what he was used to.
“I work in what they call player development for the casino/marketing side of things,†Duhe said. “I am responsible for coordinating and putting on most of the special events that we do. For instance, we mostly market sports oriented events like golf tournaments and Super Bowl weekends.â€Â
It all started when a friend introduced Duhe to the casino’s Senior Vice President of Marketing who decided to give him a shot. At first, he was hired for public relations purposes. His was a very famous name in South Florida and the casino management wanted to capitalize on it to attract casino players to their resort. Since then, Duhe has grown into his position and has expanded his responsibilities.
Working for a casino, however, was something Duhe never thought about as a career choice following his playing days. Even when he started working for the casino, he wasn’t sure whether or not it would turn into a career. The thought of doing something else was always in the back of his mind.
Coaching was something that Duhe had and interest in, so during the casino’s “slow†months, he would take a leave of absence and coach the Miami Hooters of the Arena Football League.
After a two-year stint with the Hooters, Duhe was named defensive coordinator of NFL Europe’s Rhine Fire. With three years coaching experience, Duhe felt he was ready for a job on the collegiate or professional level. He never got the call he was looking for.
“After two years in the Arena League and one year in NFL Europe, I thought that would be enough to land a job in the NFL or at a college,†Duhe said. “I got tired of begging for work. It got old.â€Â
Finally the realization hit him that he had a career at the Nassau Marriott Resort/Crystal Palace Casino. He had a job where the perks are outstanding and he didn’t have to punch a clock. For Duhe, he felt like an All-Pro again.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]http://www.miamidolphins.com/pressbox/pressreleases/pressreleases.asp?contentID=1861[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Where Are They Now? A.J. Duhe[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]February 13, 2002[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]For eight years A.J. Duhe was a defensive mainstay on the Dolphins, consistently making big plays as a defensive lineman and later as a linebacker. He came into the league as a defensive end out of Louisiana State in 1977 and won AFC Rookie of the Year. He also was named All-AFC in 1981 and was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1984.
He will always be remembered best for his performance on January 23, 1983, in the Dolphins` 14-0 victory over the New York Jets in the AFC Championship Game.
Duhe intercepted three passes on the muddy Orange Bowl turf that day, an AFC Championship Game record. He returned one of his interceptions 35 yards for a touchdown.
``That was the most exciting performance of my career,`` Duhe said. ``That`s the one that sticks out in my mind, one that will always stick out. It`s something I`ll be able to tell my kids and grandkids about some day. I guess I made some football history that day.
“But, of course, that is not the only good memory I have playing for the Dolphins. I have so many.``
Duhe’s career ended shortly after being named to the Pro Bowl. He retired from the game in 1985 following five surgeries in little over a year. Suddenly, at only 28, Duhe was out of football.
“Being released was tough because I was at the peak of my career,†Duhe said. “Two to three years prior to that, I was having all-pro campaigns. I was getting pretty good recognition. I just wish it could have worked out differently because I think I could put in another two or three years because I was still a young guy. I was only 28 years old.â€Â
With a wife and three kids to support, Duhe knew he needed to find a new career. It didn’t take him long to find what he was looking for. The only thing was he didn’t really know he found what he was looking for.
For the past 12 years, Duhe has been the Director of Player Development at the Nassau Marriott Resort/Crystal Palace Casino in Nassau, Bahamas. It has been a different world than what he was used to.
“I work in what they call player development for the casino/marketing side of things,†Duhe said. “I am responsible for coordinating and putting on most of the special events that we do. For instance, we mostly market sports oriented events like golf tournaments and Super Bowl weekends.â€Â
It all started when a friend introduced Duhe to the casino’s Senior Vice President of Marketing who decided to give him a shot. At first, he was hired for public relations purposes. His was a very famous name in South Florida and the casino management wanted to capitalize on it to attract casino players to their resort. Since then, Duhe has grown into his position and has expanded his responsibilities.
Working for a casino, however, was something Duhe never thought about as a career choice following his playing days. Even when he started working for the casino, he wasn’t sure whether or not it would turn into a career. The thought of doing something else was always in the back of his mind.
Coaching was something that Duhe had and interest in, so during the casino’s “slow†months, he would take a leave of absence and coach the Miami Hooters of the Arena Football League.
After a two-year stint with the Hooters, Duhe was named defensive coordinator of NFL Europe’s Rhine Fire. With three years coaching experience, Duhe felt he was ready for a job on the collegiate or professional level. He never got the call he was looking for.
“After two years in the Arena League and one year in NFL Europe, I thought that would be enough to land a job in the NFL or at a college,†Duhe said. “I got tired of begging for work. It got old.â€Â
Finally the realization hit him that he had a career at the Nassau Marriott Resort/Crystal Palace Casino. He had a job where the perks are outstanding and he didn’t have to punch a clock. For Duhe, he felt like an All-Pro again.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]http://www.miamidolphins.com/pressbox/pressreleases/pressreleases.asp?contentID=1861[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE][/FONT]
