Chris J. Nelson's 2008 Miami Dolphins Awards

(Just so there is no confusion, quarterback Chad Pennington was not in contention for this award because I meant it only to apply specifically to the free agency signing period in the offseason. You can be sure I know as well as anyone Pennington's value to the team.)

A four-year veteran with the San Francisco 49ers, Smiley was the first free agent signed by the Dolphins in 2008, agreeing to terms a mere half hour after the signing period began.

The reason for his signing was clear in his 12 games with the Dolphins this season as he was clearly Miami's best interior lineman, top run-blocker and an excellent pulling guard.

However, Smiley's impact was not only felt in his play. He was a key component to the development of 2008 first overall pick Jake Long, with whom he played on the left side of the Dolphins' line. Though only 26 for most of the season, Smiley was a a veteran leader who used his experience to mentor his fellow line mates.

Smiley's season ended on a sour note with a broken leg against the St. Louis Rams in Week 13. His availability in 2009 is still unknown and his absence has been and will continue to be a huge blow to the Dolphins' rushing attack.

However, Smiley has already shown he was a quality signing by the front office and his impact will continue to be felt regardless of whether or not he's actually on the field.

Honorable mention: Charlie Anderson, linebacker

Everyone knew when Bill Parcells arrived in Miami he would mine his old teams for familiar talent. One such example was the acquisition of linebacker Akin Ayodele and tight end Anthony Fasano for a 2008 fourth-round pick.

Though a fourth-round pick is certainly nothing to throw away, it seems unlikely the Dolphins could have gotten as much out of it as they did from this trade.

In trading one middle-round pick, the Dolphins acquired not one but two starters and quality contributors - one on each side of the ball.

Signed by Parcells in Dallas in 2006, Ayodele brought with him an impressive résumé and an extensive knowledge of the 3-4 defense the team would be implementing.

Appearing in all 16 games for the Dolphins alongside Channing Crowder at inside linebacker, Ayodele finished fourth on the team in tackles while also adding two interceptions.

Meanwhile, the acquisition of Fasano gave the Dolphins something they had lacked since letting go Randy McMichael - a legitimate starting tight end. Blocked by All-Pro Jason Witten in Dallas, Fasano caught just 28 passes in his first two seasons after being taken in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

Finally the top guy at the position in Miami, Fasano thrived as Chad Pennington's most reliable red-zone target. During his first season with the team in 2008, Fasano started all 16 games for the Dolphins and caught 34 passes for 454 yards (both fourth on the team as well as career highs) for a team-best seven receiving touchdowns.

Honorable mention: Jason Ferguson for a sixth-rounder and a swap of sixth-round picks

Entering the game, the Dolphins were 0-2 and everyone surely thought the 2008 season was destined to be more of the same after a 1-15 campaign the year before.

Everyone was wrong.

Sporting a new wildcat offense that would became the talk of the NFL all season, the Dolphins dominated the Patriots for all four quarters on their way to an astonishing 38-13 victory.

Everything went right for the Dolphins that day. The defense held New England to just 215 net yards (less than half of Miami's total), recorded five sacks (four by eventual Pro Bowler Joey Porter alone), forced a fumble and recorded an interception.

The offense was superb as well. Quarterback Chad Pennington may not have thrown a touchdown pass, but he complete all but three of his 20 passing attempts on the day and helped move the Miami offense up and down the field.

Then there was Ronnie Brown. In what was quite possibly the best individual performance by any NFL player this season, Brown rushed for four touchdowns on 113 yards and also threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Anthony Fasano out of the wildcat.

While just one of their 11 wins on the season, this first win of 2008 was easily the biggest. Not only did it provide the players with a huge confidence boost, it also set the table for what was to come.

The win was the first real sign that the 1-15 Dolphins of the previous year were long gone, and it showed that this team was ready to compete for the playoffs this very season.

There was never any doubt about this one. Even when it had just happened in Week 3, you knew it was something unlikely to be matched by another Dolphin, or any other NFL player, that season and beyond.

Though always a talented player, the lack of talent around him had held Ronnie Brown back in his first years as a Dolphin after being selected second overall in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Then in 2007, we saw a glimpse of what he could do as Brown led the NFL in yards from scrimmage through the first seven games of the season before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Rehabbed and ready to go in 2008, Brown and the Dolphins struggled to establish any sort of running game in their first two games of the season. Then came Week 3, when the team exploded against the Patriots with Brown leading the way.

Brown rushed for four touchdowns on 113 yards against New England, including a 62-yard dash in the fourth quarter to put the nail in the Patriots' coffin.

Brown also showed off his passing skills with a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Anthony Fasano. The play came out of the Dolphins' brand-new wildcat formation, which Brown had used all game to run over the Patriots. The pass out of the formation was perfectly timed and executed and caught New England completely off-guard.

With the score, Brown became just the second player in NFL history (and the first in the modern era) to rush for four touchdowns and throw for another in game.

The performance was Brown's best in what would eventually become his first Pro Bowl season, and it is one that is unlikely to be matched by anyone any time soon.

Ridiculed since the moment he was drafted ninth overall in the 2007 NFL Draft, the electric Ted Ginn, Jr. showed flashes of what he could do throughout his sophomore campaign in 2008. One such example came in the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10.

On the team's opening drive in the first quarter, the Dolphins drove 90 yards for a touchdown. The scoring play began at the Seahawk's 39-yard line.

Running back Ronnie Brown took the handoff from Chad Pennington. Then, just before the line of scrimmage, Brown turned around and pitched the ball back to Pennington for the flea flicker.

Pennington looked downfield and fired to Ginn, who was double-covered by cornerback Marcus Trufant and safety Brian Russell.

Amazingly, Ginn caught the ball over Trufant and Russell in the back of the endzone, managing to maintain control and get both feet in-bounds for the score.

It was, and still remains, Ginn's single best catch as a pro. Despite Ronnie Bown's monster day against the Patriots in Week 3, Ginn's catch against Seattle was quite possibly the single most impressive play by any Dolphin in 2008.

It was just one example of what Ginn was capable of, and with a 56-catch, 790-yard campaign in 2008 he seems well on his way to being a quality NFL receiver.

You can see video of Ginn's catch here: http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/chrisjnelson/?action=view¤t=TedGinnJr39-yardTDcatch2.flv

Despite being the second defensive end taken by the Dolphins in the 2008 NFL Draft, Langford emerged as a starter at left end ahead of high-priced free agent Randy Starks early in camp and never looked back.

Appearing in all 16 games for the Dolphins as a rookie including 13 starts, the Hampton alum recorded 31 tackles, two sacks and three passes defensed in 2008.

Langford's presence on the line was critical in stopping the run as he, Jason Ferguson, Vonnie Holliday and a rotation of other players helped the Dolphins finish 10th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed and eighth in rushing touchdowns allowed.

The 6-foot-6, 295-pound Langford is a prototypical 3-4 end should only continue to get better. His rapid development as a rookie invokes nothing but optimism in the 22-year-old's future.

Honorable mention: Phillip Merling, defensive end

If you base giving this award on meeting or exceeding expectations, it would go not to Long but to wide receiver Davone Bess.

After all, Bess went undrafted out of Hawaii. He made the team out of training camp, surpassed high-priced free agent Ernest Wilford on the depth chart and became a start midseason when reliable possession man Greg Camarillo suffered a torn ACL. Bess finished his rookie season with 54 catches for 554 yards - both ranking third on the squad.

Meanwhile, Long was the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Offensive tackle may be one of the toughest positions to play, but when you pay a guy tens of millions you expect him to be good.

Long was better than good. He allowed only 2.5 sacks his rookie season (a total bested only by fellow rookie first-rounder Ryan Clady in Denver) and protected quarterback Chad Pennington's blind side with exceptional consistency. Long was also a key component of a line that finished 10th in the NFL in sacks allowed with 26.

Bess may have had the most production for his price, but Long played at the highest level of any Dolphins rookie on either side of the ball and appears well on his way to being a perennial Pro Bowler.

Honorable mention: Davone Bess, wide receiver

I've often said I thought Andre' Goodman was Miami's most consistent cornerback in 2006. He didn't have any interceptions that year in 15 games (14 starts), but his downfield coverage skills were excellent.

The following year was disappointing for Goodman, as injuries and the improved play of Michael Lehan caused him to start just four of the 13 games in which he played in 2007.

Lehan was the oft-injured one in 2008, which, coupled with a lack of options at the position, allowed Goodman to regain the starting cornerback job opposite Will Allen. Goodman certainly didn't disappoint.

Make no mistake about it: Goodman was superb in 2008. Previously only a serviceable starter and probably a guy better suited for a nickel or dime role, something clicked for Goodman this season.

Perhaps it was the new coaching staff, a better work ethic on Goodman's part or a combination of things, but whatever it was made Goodman play jump. This was noticeable especially around midseason in games against Denver and Buffalo (each of which found him lined up against quality NFL receivers) when Goodman was essentially a shutdown corner.

That level of play continued throughout the end of the regular season, capped off by a two-interception effort against the New York Jets in the division-clinching finale.

In Goodman's career year, he recorded 39 tackles, five interceptions and 19 passes defensed. His interception total was two more than his previous career-high, while he improved pass deflection high from 12 to 19.

The Dolphins still don't have a ton of depth at the position and the 30-year-old Goodman might not start many more years in the NFL, but the impending free agent has shown to be a quality player in this league and is someone the Dolphins should strongly consider re-signing in 2009.

Honorable mention: Dan Carpenter, placekicker

Never the biggest, the fastest or the strongest player, Cobbs is certainly one one of the most likable Dolphins players due to the way he plays the game. His work ethic caught the eye of head coach Tony Sparano in camp and forced the staff to implement ways to utilize him on offense.

However, special teams has always been where Cobbs made his mark and 2008 was no exception. In a season, where the special teams unit was often targeted for ridicule by the fans and media (and rightly so), Cobbs was a bright spot.

Cobbs tied for the team lead in special teams tackles this season with cornerback Jason Allen (my runner-up for this award) at 16 and was constantly one of the first players down the field on punts.

Even when Cobbs wasn't making the tackle, he was changing the punt returner's path or slowing him up enough to allow his teammates a chance to make the play and prevent a meaningful gain.

Cobbs also took over the kick-returning duties in Week 16 against Kansas City and his 60-yard return on the opening kickoff set up a Ted Ginn touchdown on a reverse a play later. The Dolphins won the game by a score.

Honorable mention: Jason Allen, cornerback

How does linebacker Joey Porter, a 2008 a Pro Bowler with 17.5 sacks, not earn my vote for the Dolphins' Defensive Player of the Year award over safety Yeremiah Bell?

One word: Consistency.

No player on the Dolphins was more consistent than Bell in 2008. He was Miami's best pure tackler, leading the team in that category with 120 stops (100 of then solo). He also added a sack and three forced fumbles on the season.

The former 2003 sixth-rounder who spent his rookie season on the practice squad has certainly developed into quite a safety. The defense is noticeably better with him in the lineup and he can always be counted on to make the key tackle or big hit.

A free agent last offseason, the Dolphins were fortunate an injury forced Bell to miss the 2007 season. As a result, Bell was unable to improve his stock heading into free agency. The Dolphins were able to re-sign Bell to a one-year deal and it is certainly paying dividends.

A free agent again following the season, the Dolphins absolutely need to retain Bell's services. With only a handful of free agents this offseason, Bell should be Miami's top priority - even above linebacker Channing Crowder.

As for Porter, he was a monster early in the season, surpassing his career-high sack total before the halfway point. However, his production slowed significantly in the second half as opponents keyed in on him and made the Dolphins create pressure from other places. For the most part, Porter was invisible late in the season, even in games against San Francisco and Buffalo during which he had last-minute sacks.

Honorable mention: Joey Porter, linebacker

Not only was Pennington the Dolphins' most valuable player (spoiler alert: Pennington is my MVP on the next slide) but he was also Miami's best pure offensive performer.

Starting all 16 games for just the second time in his career, Pennington posted his best season as a pro in 2008 during his first year with the Dolphins. He totaled a career-high 3,653 yards and 19 touchdowns with just seven interceptions.

Regardless as a weak-armed quarterback, Pennington's passing attack ranked him near the top of the league in most statistical categories. His passing yards ranked him ninth in the NFL, touchdown total 12th in the NFL and his interception total third in the NFL.

The record holder for career completion percentage, Pennington's accuracy was no different in 2008 as his 67.4 mark was tops in the NFL. His passer rating of 97.4 ranked him second in the NFL behind only San Diego's Philip Rivers.

While Rivers was clearly the biggest Pro Bowl snub, boasting the best numbers of any passer in the NFL, there's also a good argument for Pennington's inclusion as well. He may lack the touchdown totals of Jay Cutler and Brett Favre (the final two AFC Pro Bowl selections at the position) but he exceeded them in every other category and was easily more efficient.

Honorable mention: Jake Long, offensive tackle

Many people, myself included, usually just take Most Valuable Player to mean "best player." After all, if we always went with the player most valuable to his team, wouldn't it often be a great player (such as Calvin Johnson in Detroit) on an absolutely horrible team with nothing else?

Nevertheless, I already have an Offensive Player of the Year and therefore will take Most Valuable Player literally. The criteria might be different from the Offensive POY award, but for the Dolphins the player is the same: quarterback Chad Pennington.

Pennington's value to the Dolphins this season simply cannot be overstated. His performance in the passing game has already been explained on the following slide an thus won't be repeated here, but it's the first and most obvious argument for how valuable he's actually been.

Further, his arrival gave the Dolphins a legitimate starting quarterback they would not have had otherwise. Had the Jets not released Pennington and allowed Miami to sign him, the Dolphins would likely have started Josh McCown in 2008. A mediocre starter, McCown simply could not have done what Pennington did and it's very unlikely the Dolphins would have posted a winning season.

Pennington also brought with him his intelligence and work ethic which have influenced every other player on the roster. A true student of the game, Pennington has taken the time each week to watch film with every offensive unit to help them become more cohesive and ensure they are all on the same page going into each game.

Pennington's work ethic in the film room has been greatly influential to Miami's young quarterbacks, John Beck and Chad Henne. The value of these young players having an intelligent and experienced veteran like Pennington to learn from cannot be overstated. Henne, likely the quarterback of the future in Miami, will surely benefit greatly from his time with Pennington.

Finally, Pennington has provided great leadership. He leads by example in his off-the-field work ethic and study habits. He leads in the huddle, always cool, collected and confident. He'll even offer encouragement to the defense and special teams units in a games' critical moments.

If you ask the 52 other players on the Dolphin' roster the most valuable player on the team this season, it's likely every single one would identify Pennington as that player. Not only did Pennington's arrival make Miami a playoff contender, but its also when the Dolphins truly became a team.

Honorable mention: Joey Porter

In the introduction, I mentioned how the Dolphins set an NFL record this season with just 13 turnovers.

The previous record was held by the 1990 New York Giants, who were coached by current Dolphins exec Bill Parcells. Those Giants went on to beat the Buffalo Bills in Super Boxl XXV.

Whether or not the Dolphins eventually share the fate of those Giants remains to be seen. They are still an epic four wins away from hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy and are considered one of the longest shots to do so of the dozen playoff teams (30-to-1 odds in Las Vegas, second-worst behind Arizona).

But regardless of what happens the rest of the way, the season has long since been a success. No one expected the Dolphins to be where they are today, and regardless of what happens in the postseason the team's instant success is extremely impressive. No doubt, the franchise is finally back on the right track.