Like their AFC East rivals the New England Patriots, the Miami Dolphins were just a game away from making history last season.
Of course, it was the wrong type of history.
The Miami Dolphins were historically bad last season. They were embarrassing. The same team that once went undefeated and set the standard for greatness in the NFL struggled to win a single game last year.
But 2007 is over, and 2008 is a new season.
For as long as I can remember, the Dolphins’ defense has been anchored by Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas. Next season, there will be no Jason Taylor chasing down opposing quarterbacks. There will be no Zach Thomas chasing down opposing running backs.
Bill Parcells came in and realized that his defense was either too old or not talented enough at almost every position, so he cleaned house. For better or worse, he was not going to bring back the same team that only won a single game last season.
Frankly, it can’t get worse. It won’t get worse.
You want to talk big-time offseason acquisitions? Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland, and Tony Sparano might be the biggest acquisitions of this offseason.
Let’s be honest, players don’t make teams as pathetic as the Dolphins were last season. If you’re talented enough to play in the NFL, you’re probably talented enough to win more than one game.
When a front office and coaching staff is completely and utterly inept, the team that shows up on Sundays is going to be even more inept. Cam Cameron, whom I’m sure is a great guy, was a terrible, terrible head coach. His coaching staff was awful.
Put it this way: He was able to play the Jets and the Bills twice each last season and still couldn’t win a single division game. If that’s not inept, I’m not sure what is.
The Cowboys have a pretty good collection of talent, and these are the guys that put it together (unless you believe Jerry Jones’ theory that the same guy who once drafted Quincy Carter and declared him the starting quarterback could also be responsible for building a potential Super Bowl juggernaut).
They will bring that same philosophy to Miami, and I expect it to pay dividends...eventually.
Just not this season.
Chad Pennington will make their short-passing game far superior to what it was last season. Of course, all he’s capable of at this point in his career is a short pass.
Regardless, he's still a huge improvement over the insults to Dan Marino’s memory they threw out there last season.
The Dolphins aren’t going to contend for a Super Bowl, but Chad Pennington has two Super Bowls on his schedule—the first and last games of the season. Imagine if Pennington could knock off Brett Favre and his old team while quarterbacking a team that only won one game last season.
It would be the greatest accomplishment of Pennington’s career and the most embarrassing moment in the Jets' history.
Fantasy Sleeper: Ricky Williams
Bill Parcells loves Ricky. Plus, Ronnie Brown isn’t going to be 100 percent this season. As long as he can stay off the pot and show up for his drug tests, he will definitely be in the mix for Comeback Player of the Year.
Fighting for draft picks, fighting for the playoffs, or contending for the Super Bowl?
The Miami Dolphins will most certainly be fighting for draft picks.
Prediction
Between four and six wins, showing steady improvement as the season progresses.
Sean Crowe is a Senior Writer and an NFL Community Leader at Bleacher Report. You can email him at scrowe@gmail.com. His archive can be found here. You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.
8 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Aaron Brenker 10 months ago
The problem for Ricky has been he can's stay off the pot lol.
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Ivahn Lachowsky 10 months ago
I'd be smoking the weed if I played for Miami too
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michael szego 10 months ago
#1) understand Parcels may or may not do good things,but he has quit on every team he's been associated with FACT !
#2)the receivers and O-line are ignominious at best.
#3) you will see 12,000 to 15,000 loud obnoxious 'Phin-fans dressed as empty seat at every home game.
#4)"in the the 2009 N.F.L. entry draft The miami dolphins are on the clock"
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Sean Crowe 10 months ago
I like this game..
#1) Parcells took the Giants to two Super Bowls and won, the Patriots to the Super Bowl and lost, the turned the Jets into a respectable franchise. He's not a coach, he's more like a CEO with the fins. Doesn't matter if he quits, he already put the right people in place to succeed when he leaves.
#2) That's why I have them winning four to six games.
#3) Similar to what you see in every stadium where the home team is expected to win between four and six games.
#4) No kidding.
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michael szego 10 months ago
#1) his best years were when Belichek was with him
#2) your generous
#3)this is also a team that "back in the day" needed to have the local tv station buy 5000 or more tickets to get the blackout lifted............for playoff games.
#4) Go SEAHAWKS ! " SQUAWK ! SQUAWK !...........SPLAT !"
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michael szego 10 months ago
#1) his best years were when Belichek was with him
#2) your generous
#3)this is also a team that "back in the day" needed to have the local tv station buy 5000 or more tickets to get the blackout lifted............for playoff games.
#4) Go SEAHAWKS ! " SQUAWK ! SQUAWK !...........SPLAT !"
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michael szego 10 months ago
#1) his best years were when Belichek was with him
#2) your generous
#3)this is also a team that "back in the day" needed to have the local tv station buy 5000 or more tickets to get the blackout lifted............for playoff games.
#4) Go SEAHAWKS ! " SQUAWK ! SQUAWK !...........SPLAT !"
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A.J. KIGHTLINGER 10 months ago
DID YOU SEE THE GAME SAT. AGAINST THE JAGS?? WOW!! DOLPHIS WIN 10 GAMES THIS YEAR + WIN A PLAYOFF GAME!! NO KIDDING AROUND!!! GOOD LUCK TO THE SEHAWKS THAT ONLY WIN 8 GAMES AND DON'T MAKE THE PLAYOFFS!! " SQUAWK ! SQUAWK !...........SPLAT !"
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