2-0 the Ugly Way? We'll Take It!!

What better time to fire up a blog post than after the Phins' first 2-0 start in far too long? None, in my humble opinion.

These first two wins haven't exactly been stellar performances, and any person watching can see the flaws that need to be addressed. Still, as someone wiser than myself once said, "It's better to learn from a win than from a loss." That's exactly what the Dolphins have done thus far. While these game against the Bills and Vikings both left me sweating at the end, they each had a different feel.

The Bills game felt like the classic "kissing your cousin" scenario. Yeah, it was a win, but we fans couldn't really come away with much more than being satisfied that our Dolphins did not lose their opener. The offense was a tad suspect, though the Bills have an admittedly strong secondary. The defense looked strong, but it was against the Bills. I came away from that one with more than a few question marks floating through the ol' noggin.

Today's win against the Vikings was certainly not definitive, yet I think we can feel a bit more positive about the direction this team is heading. Apologies to Sergio Leone for the following hash of a true classic, as a way to order my thoughts:

The Bad & The Ugly

The Dolphins left some points on the field. The fumbles by Ricky and Ronnie kept breathing life into the Vikings, just as momentum had swung our guys' way, not once but twice. If they had simply held onto those balls, we would have been spared the late-game drama and probably seen a more comfortable 10- to 17-point victory.

I'm still not altogether sure about all of the offensive play calling. The Wildcat did serve a solid use during that first trip into the red zone, but I'd still rather see Henne left in more often, to more quickly develop a better rhythm with his receivers.

The defense was occasionally abused over the middle, either by Adrian Peterson (which is forgivable, to an extent) or by tight end Shiancoe (another very good player). This concerns me a bit when they face a more surgical team like the Patriots in a few weeks.

The Good

The defense is the obvious standout. Seeing the way these guys are closing on the ball and wrapping up the ball carriers, I can hardly believe how far they've come since this time last year. And it's not simply one or two guys - it's been virtually the whole team, most notably Vontae Davis. Davis was an absolute animal in this game, and may very well be evolving into one of the best corners in the league.

The pass rush was fantastic. From Misi and Wake to Starks and Langford, it seemed like everyone, young and old, was getting in on the act of pressuring Favre into making very Favre-like decisions, with unsurprising results: poorly thrown "gunslinger" passes that were easy meat for the secondary.

It was a bend-don't-break kind of day for the defense, typified by that final stop on 4th and goal on their own 1-yard line. That play was pure guts, not less so for stopping the man that otherwise ran roughshod over them for most of the day. Yet the D stopped him when it mattered most.

While the offense was clearly stifled after that initial scoring drive, we're starting to see developments. Marshall's presence was there for all to see, and Henne, though not outstanding, was very efficient (a 104 passer rating). The keys, more than the passes Henne did throw, are the ones that he didn't throw. Comparing Favre's and Henne's afternoons was like a case study between aggression and conservation. One gunslinger shot himself in the feet repeatedly, while the other knew when to keep it in his holster and just walk away.

What Now?

The gauntlet that is the Phins' early-season schedule has now truly begun, and they have passed the first test. They certainly have things to iron out, especially on offense, but I think the number of those problem areas has been reduced. If the defense can continue what they've started, and the offense can develop more cohesion, we may have a true powerhouse on our hands. They're not there yet, but I think the potential is definitely there.

God, it feels good to not have to watch our guys dig themselves out of an early hole.

Really, really good.

It's December 24th...for the next four months.

The Prodigal Fan Returns:

I don't know jack about the NFL Draft.

The creator of, and prime contributor to, this site, The Phinisher, loves this stuff. He has forgotten much more about football than I'll ever know. I'm a guy whose interest in football was only re-stoked back in early November of 2007. The Dolphins were 0-8 and seemed a likely contender to be the League's first ever 0-16 team. At this point, I determined to re-embrace my previous Dolphins fandom and get behind a team that, from roughly 1980 through 2000, I had supported in a relatively casual way. Being a major fan of underdogs and comeback stories, I saw the mid-2007 Dolphins as a team that had nowhere to go but up. I wanted to get behind them and be here when it happened. I didn't have to wait terribly long.

We all know how that 2007 season ended: the Phins just managing to sidestep "beating" the Lions to the most pathetic season in league history. In comes Parcells, his game acumen, and a cadre of past coaching proteges, all of whom have turned the Dolphins into a relevant and interesting team in the last two years. It's been a fun period of growth, though not without its pains.

Through it all, my football education has continued. Unlike my previous period following the team, my knowledge of team dynamics, depth, and game strategies has increased. In the past, I couldn't have told you who Miami's backup inside offensive tackle was for all the pasta in Tony Sparano's pantry. Now, being more attuned to such things, my enjoyment of the game has increased exponentially.

And yet, the draft hype has always eluded me.

Is There a Draft In Here?

I never really saw the point in getting all amped up about guys who may or may not be worth a moldy mouthpiece. The annals of the draft are littered with examples that prove beyond a doubt that drafting players is far from an exact science, even for the most savvy football minds. This is to say nothing of the clueless team heads who seem to think they're drafting for a fantasy team (I'm looking at you, Al Davis and Matt Millen). With so much uncertainty, why the hype? Well, after a 2009 season of Dolphins football in which I learned more about the team than I ever have before, I tried to study a little more going into the draft. I looked over the Dolphins needs, read commentary, and even glanced at a few highlight reels of potential players. After this homework, I think I now understand the giddiness over the draft.

It's Christmas Eve.

(Apologies to our non-Christian readers - I was raised Catholic, so this is really my only point of reference.) Remember when you were a kid the days and nights before Christmas (or Channukuh, etc.)? You saw your gifts sitting there under the tree, just waiting to be opened. They weren't yours yet, and you couldn't play with them. In fact, they may not even be what you thought. Sure, that green one there looks like the packaging for Castle Greyskull, but is it? That smaller one with the goofy Santa wrapping paper on it has to be Zartan and his Chameleon skif, but maybe it's a box of argyle socks. You know what you asked for, and you're reasonably sure that you were good enough have your wishes granted, but you never truly knew until you opened them on the morning of the 25th.

Well, the draft is Christmas Eve, the players are the presents, and their college careers are the wrapping paper. Their collegiate play gives a pretty good idea of what they may be, what they may become, and how much entertainment we may get from them, but we don't truly know yet. Christmas is going to come when the regular season begins. This means that our Christmas Eve is now roughly a 3,300-hour day.

This long-winded analogy in place, I'm excited about the things sitting under our tree. They certainly look like what we want. Going into the draft, the Dolphins needs were obvious (no need to rehash - the Phinisher was all over this). After the revelation that Starks will switch to nose tackle, the Dolphins defense has the potential to be vastly superior to the 2009 version. I'm sure there may be some growing pains, but I truly don't expect to see the backfield breakdowns of early '09, or the line fatigue of late '09. With the youth and character of the guys drafted on Thursday & Friday, the off season pickup Dansby, and assuming further development of Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, Miami's defense may inspire something other than anxiety for us fans this season (that Saints game almost killed me).

Still, all of this enthusiasm is that of a kid on Christmas Eve with nothing to do but wait for morning. Well, dawn may be far away, but it will come. Let's hope that our desires are satiated and our presents, once opened, pummel the ass off the rest of the league, starting with the Bills. Until then, I'll be waiting, wearing my orange and teal PJs.

The Draft We Needed

Georgia safety Reshad Jones is just one of the players with amazing upside who are now Miami Dolphins. Watch and learn.


Let me say that I loved the way this draft played out. For the Phins and for the analysts.

Mike Mayock and Mel Kiper looked like amateurs as team after team ignored their "rankings" and moved up and down to select players they had barely spent time on. It's funny stuff considering how much stock the layperson, including yours truly, puts in these guys.

That said, let me turn to the Dolphins singular experience with the draft. The fans went into it looking to land a safety like Earl Thomas, an outside linebacker like Sergio Kindle (man, what a free fall he had) or a nose tackle like Dan Williams.

So it was somewhat shocking that after trading down from the #12 slot the Phins selected the drafts best 3-4 end. With Starks, Langford and Merling in the fold why would the Phins need to place such a premium on a position of perceived strength? Many fans had no answer other than the fact that Jared Odrick is a terrific player.

This was just the tip of the iceberg. The Phins put together a draft that confounded fans and supplied the team with EXACTLY what they needed. Not to mention a cast of prototypical players whose size and speed speak of tremendous upside.

The other common theme is character. A lot of team captains coming from good families. The other thing that jumps out to me is how intelligent all the players seem. I listened to all their interviews and to a man they have character and are well-spoken. Jeff Ireland spoke to this and remarked simply: "Good kids are very coachable."

Coach'em up, Tony.

So lets meet and discuss the draft picks.


Round 1, Selection 28: Jared Odrick, DT Penn State. 6'5" 305 lbs.

After all was said and done we learned that the Dolphins had planned all-along to move Randy Starks to nose tackle. Starks had actually performed at a high level when moved there when Soliai and Ferguson were both hurt. With a full camp and hands-on learning with Ferguson the Dolphins believe that they have not only a nose tackle, but as GM Jeff Ireland said himself, one of the best.

I for one fully like the move and believe that the Phins have perhaps even upgraded inside.

So with a playmaker like Starks moving to NT the Phins needed to add another elite DE to start opposite of Langford. Odrick is a beast. He is very athletic for a big man and scouts praise how quick he is. What is most impressive is the fact that at 6'5" and over 300 lbs he still has room to grow. The dude is muscle.

So check off nose tackle. Major upgrade at end. Defensive line looking good already.




Round 2, Selection 40: Koa Misi. Outside Linebacker, Utah. 6'3", 251 lbs.

I will be the first to admit that when the Phins selected Misi I scratched my head. Kindle was still on the board and Misi (though on my humble radar) was considered a lower graded player. Then you look at what he is.

Koa Misi is relentless, strong and fast. He is a smart football player who has played, get this, defensive end, inside linebacker and outside linebacker in college. He has a knack for rushing the passer and is as polished a coverage guy (as far as 3-4 OLBrs go).

Then you watch the tape. Explosive, vicious and consistent. None of the ball players or coaches that have looked at this pick have called it a stretch. Cameron Wake is penciled in on the weak side, replacing Joey Porter and now Misi will be penciled in as the strong side, replacing that turncoat.

Coverage people. Remember all those tight ends running free? Hopefully Misi won't be in those clips.


Round Three, Selection 73: John Jerry, Offensive Lineman, Mississippi. 6'5", 328 lbs.

I love this pick. Not only does the guy rock a 1980's football hairstyle but he is an insanely powerful man. Everything I've heard and seen John Jerry makes me think lofty thoughts. There's just a vibe I get, like, ten-year pro.

Jerry was drafted by the Dolphins to replace, yes replace, Donald Thomas as the starting guard. Ireland basically has stated that they hope to start Richie Incognito and John Jerry at guard between Carey and Long.

Jerry is a mauler. When I watched footage of him the thing that jumps out is the way he destroys opponents, moving them miles off the ball and onto their backs. He supposedly needs help with pass blocking and no doubt Tony S. will coach him up like he has all the lineman on this team.

Man. I love the way this draft unfolded.


Round 4, Selection 119: A.J. Edds, Inside linebacker, Iowa. 6'4", 245 lbs.


Again. Look at the measurables. Edds (pronounced as in deeds minus the first d) was drafted with a specific purpose in mind and Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland seems to believe he will have an immediate impact in that regard.

Edds is tall, quick and fast. He is apparently the best cover linebacker in the draft and a quick glance at his stats will tell you something very interesting. Namely his seven interceptions, five of which came in 2009. Edds can run with the most athletic of tight ends and the Dolphins will use him as their nickel linebacker. So this also means that Channing Crowder will most likley just play downs one and two or short yardage third downs. Edds will step on for passing situations as well as be a potential special teams star.

Dansby and Edds on third and eight? Wow. A lot better than Crowder and Ayodele already.


Round 5, Selection 145: Nolan Carroll, Cornerback, Maryland. 5'11", 204 lbs.

Carroll is the only "risk" pick. Carroll would have been a second or third round selection except for his breaking his leg early his senior year. He has since rehabbed and was able to run for his pro day and will be practicing from the get-go.

Carroll is a hard-hitter with incredible jumping ability and fast enough for the NFL. Whether in the nickel or pushing one of the two young starters, Carroll is another player whose upside could go anywhere.

Incidentally his father is a Master Sergeant in the Air Force and his mother was a Lt. Commander in the Navy. She is currently a Florida State Representative.


Round 5, Selection 163: Reshad Jones, Saftey, Georgia. 6'1" 218 lbs.

This is perhaps one of the most intriguing picks of the whole draft. Jones is a prototypical strong safety who loves to hit and has the speed and size to be elite. What's more is that Jones has above average cover skills and has been successful at the free safety position as much as strong. Oh, and he can leap out of the gym and busted out 24 reps with 225 at the combine.

So how is he in the fifth round? Well, for one the Phins traded up to get him and two his timed speed has been knocked. Jones ran a 4.56 at the combine. Add to that the additional knock that he sometimes goes for the big hit rather than the sure tackle and you have him slip some.

In any case he is a very intriguing player and should compete for the free safety position and prove to be a viable heir to the throne of Bell.


Round 7, Selection 212: Chris McCoy, Outside Linebacker, Middle Tennessee State. 6'2" 245 lbs.

"They're getting an explosive, dominating player."

That was McCoy's answer when asked what Dolphins fans were getting when the Phins drafted him. McCoy has all the measurable talent and demonstrated that with production to match, albeit at a small school.

McCoy is raw though, especially when he's going to have to move from defensive end to outside linebacker. Ireland stated that he will compete on the weakside OLB spot with Cameron Wake.


Round 7, Pick 252: Austin Spitler, Inside Linebacker, Ohio State. 6'3" 234 lbs.

Spitler played behind James Laurinitis for three of his years in college and came on his senior. He was a special teams star before he got his chance to start. Another very good cover linebacker, I'm sure the Phins plan on using him as special teams depth and perhaps in a similar role as Edds.

And there you have it. Tons of depth with at least four to five players that should viably compete to start. This is the draft that the Phins needed last year. With the additions of Brandon Marshall, Richie Incognito and Karlos Dansby in mind, you have to like where your Miami Dolphins are situated after this deep draft.

Now, if only it were September.

The Phinisher's 2010 Seven Round Mock Draft... Just Kidding

I said it yesterday and I'll say it again here: This draft is near impossible to figure out. The lack of a second round pick, the limbo of the 12th overall selection being either too low or high and three very essential needs to fill.

So rather than do a mock draft I will instead point to certain moves that I feel will happen.

In Round One


Kindle is the most polished and NFL ready 3-4 outside linebacker in the draft.

The Dolphins may not trade back. I know the thought is that the Phins want to get a second rounder like nothing else. I think this is very possible but I also believe they may sit pat and secure a blue chip prospect at one of their need areas.

Let's say the Eagles want to come up to get Earl Thomas. Or the Cowboys desire Dez Bryant. Ok. So who would the Phins land at number 24 or 27? Dan Williams is the only foreseeable player who could drop to them there but really he is too versatile to pass by so many teams. OLB Sergio Kindle doesn't make it past the Pats, minimum. Earl Thomas will most likely be the reason for the trade so he too will be gone.

Then again the Phins may believe they can get Williams or a DE/OLB like Michigan's Brandon Graham or maybe even Earl Thomas hisself later on in the round.

That 12th pick is confounding. If they sit on it then expect to see Sergio Kindle a Dolphin. He's just too polished to pass up. Let alone the fact that he compliments Cameron Wake.

The Second Round


No doubt Cody is a load. It's just determining what kind of load that matters.

IF the Phins get into this round, whether with trades (Ronnie Brown, Justin Smiley) or draft picks or a combination thereof the will no doubt look to drafting the highest value of the three needed areas not selected in the first round. South Florida Safety Nate Allen or Alabama NT Terrence Cody. There will be plenty of OLB talent in this round, with Hughes, Graham et al probably ending up in the second.

The Third Round


A former UM basketball player, Graham had a successful one season as UM's tight end. He is a physical specimen and one of the more intriguing figures in the draft.

Alas, Cam Thomas. I really see this coming. The guy has a prototypical 3-4 nose build and Sparano (and Ferguson himself) will coach the kid up. If they brought in Terrence Cody in the previous round then look to Miami's Jimmy Graham (if still available) to come in and compete with Anthony Fasano at tight end.

The Fourth Round


Norwood fits the mold. 6'1" and 245 lbs, Norwood is a powerful defender who can rush the passer and play stout on the line. He'll also probably be gone by this pick.

Look for the Phins to double dip here and select another OLB. Koa Misi perhaps or South Carolina's Eric Norwood. Best available. With all the 3-4 teams out there these days that could mean neither of the above.

Fifth, Sixth & Seventh Rounds

Look for the Phins to use these picks in packages to move around the draft. With whatever they keep they will bring in the following: 1 to 2 guards, a running back and a linebacker. Micah Johnson anyone?

You get the picture though. I think the Phins will target only developmental lineman, tight ends and probably a running back on offense and go balls-to-the-wall on defense. Plan on seeing at least one NT, two OLB prospects, a safety or two and some competition for Channing Crowder.

Caveats

If the Dolphins select Earl Thomas, Dan Williams, Sergio Kindle or Derrick Morgan with the 12th selection and run a straight forward draft from there on out I will be happy.

Don't be shocked if the Phins do something crazy like draft Rolondo McClain or Brandon Spikes in the first or second (if they get a second) round. Either guy would be an improvement on Crowder and in the case of McClain it would create one of the best inside linebacker corps going into the season. Dansby and McClain... That's scary.

Tim Tebow. This will piss me off.

Go Phins!

Why This Draft Is Hard To Figure

Is there any way we can get this guy?

In my two years running this site I have done a lot of draft drooling. You know what I mean. Looking at the splash tapes and pining over ideal draft scenarios. That said, I've done pretty well in my draft predictions. Not player names exactly, but concepts and positions.

And here I am scratching my head. This draft is by far the most confounding one I've ever witnessed. It is by far the deepest one in a multitude of positions as I've ever seen or heard of. Thankfully it's shallowest component is the QB position. Something we don't need in Miami any longer.

So why then is it so hard to figure out? Three reasons.

1) The Dolphins select in an odd spot.

Having the twelfth overall selection places a team right at the fringe of the top end of the draft. In a draft this deep with talent that means that you should easily be able to land a player that would normally have been a consensus top 10 pick in another year. But...

But the Dolphins have definite needs going into this draft. Safety, Outside linebacker and nosetackle jump off the page. In the case of all three I have some issues with the players available.

Safety at #12?

Unless the football gods have decided to bless the Phins with unbelievable fortune Eric Berry, the best safety prospect since Ed Reed, is not going to be around at #12. That leaves Texas safety Earl Thomas, a promising player with a great combination of size, speed and killer instincts. He's young though. Very young in fact.


Earl Thomas is coming out just after his sophomore season and young players tend to be a no-no in the Parcells drafting canon. I would be perfectly delighted to see them pull the trigger on Thomas at 12. The Dolphins have done their homework on the Texas safety, having visited with him twice. He truly should be available when their selection comes up but the age thing...

Outside linebacker?

I truly believe Miami has a pass rushing specialist for the weakside in Cameron Wake. I expect a lot from the former CFL star who has already been impressive in limited action.

With the passing of Jason Taylor the Phins now have need for a strongside OLB who can stuff the run, rush the passer and play in coverage.


I think Texas' Sergio Kindle certainly meets all three of those requirements but in no way does he jump off the tape like say, Larry English did last year. Kindle is a sure tackler and has played OLB in a 4-3 before, which makes him perfect for coverage and tackling in space. Something Akin Ayodele had plenty of trouble with last year. With Karlos Dansby free to make plays, Crowder bulldogging the box, Wake harrying passers and then Kindle dropping with the tight end perhaps the Phins will no longer have to watch Tight Ends burn them time and time again. His play as a 4-3 defensive end prepared him for successful conversion to OLB in a 3-4.

OLB in a 4-3 converts to a 4-3 DE and then becomes a pro OLB in a 3-4. Odd path to conversion but perhaps the best way to do it. To be honest I believe Kindle is the best fit in the draft for the #12 slot.


But then there is Derrick Morgan, who measures in a 6'3" and 266 lbs. He has the stoutness to dominate running lanes and is by far the most polished pass rusher in the draft. He is supposedly not as fluid in his movements as Kindle and therefore some believe him to be more of a project in conversion to 3-4 OLB.


And Jason Pierre-Paul. The UCF star is by far the most intriguing specimen at the position. The man is a physical freak. 6'5" and 270 lbs of hunting muscle. Pierre-Paul is fast in any direction, can leap tall buildings and supposedly possesses a 81 inch...wingspan. What the hell did you think I was going to say?

He's also supposedly as bright as the rock outside my front door. Some 4-3 team should do well with him as a pure rush end. We already have our hunter-destroyer.

How about nose tackle?

This one worries me. Tennessee's Dan Williams is a polished, powerful specimen who could very well turn out to be the best lineman in the draft. That's right. His name isn't Suh or McCoy and I am claiming he could be the best. More importantly he is a perfect fit at the most essential spot in a 3-4 defense. With Ferguson suspended for eight games and Soliai still under development you can be sure that the Phins are going to address this position sometime in the draft.


The 6'2" and 327 lbs Williams might be a slight reach at 12. Or not. To be honest, just because the guy wouldn't otherwise be drafted until the late teens or early twenties of the first round doesn't mean the Phins shouldn't pick up this very hard to obtain commodity.


Now is where the waters get troubled. Barring trades (more on that in a minute) the Phins have no second round pick. Alabama's gargantuan Terrence Cody (6'3"/356 lbs) most certainly be gone after the second round ends.


North Carolina's impressively built but underachieving Cam Thomas (6'3"/330 lbs) could also be gone by the time the Phins select in the 3rd round.

So the oddness of the #12 selection is that it is several slots too high or too far away from positions of need. I mean, if the Phins selected fifth I would be compatibility charts with my name and Eric Berry's. But we select twelve.

2) The Dolphins do not have many high round picks.

In the best draft of about a decade the Miami Dolphins have only a first and a third rounder. Sure, they have a slew of other picks. One fourth, one fifth (from San Fran for Teddy Ginn), three sixth rounders and a pair of sevenths.


Depth will be easily obtained by this front office. Lagarrette Blount anyone? I mean he is the Sonny Liston of halfbacks...

But without that second round pick (gone to Denver for Brandon Marshall) the Phins have limited options. We need a stud linebacker and nosetackle. We really could use a safety. If you watched how the Phins went after Ryan Clark before he went back to the Steelers you can tell they didn't want to have to address this position this year.

3) The draft is going to be a wild one.

Mark my words: The Phins will either move up or down. In the case of moving up I believe it will constitute a player and pick trade, say Justin Smiley and the 12th overall to Kansas City for the chance at selecting Eric Berry. Okay. So I might be dreaming. We only have a 56% compatibility anyway.

Seriously though. Watch Smiley and a fourth become a second rounder or something along those lines. Or if the Phins really get lucky, let's hope someone wants to move up to #12 and swap us 1sts and offer up a second and third. Hey Eagles, how bout that Thomas kid?

So while on Thurday morning I will offer up my mock draft once again I do with full belief that the Phins will not be selecting with the twelfth. They will move up or down. Mark those words down.

Personally I would sell out for as many top 100 picks as I could this year. Whether with player trades or mortgaging next years draft.

Trade up for Berry and then package next year up for Dan Williams? I'd do it.

You Broke My Heart, Jason Taylor... You Broke My Heart

You're dead to me. Dead to me until you retire. Even then we'll see.

What can I say? It's 4/20.

On this day in 1653 Oliver Cromwell beheaded the head of Parliament and declared himself Lord Protector, ushering in an era of fascism in England.

Marie Curie isolated the isotope on this day in 1902, beginning a string of events that would lead to the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima.

The Columbine shootings occurred on this day.

Adolf Hitler was born 4/20, 1899.

And now this. Jason Taylor Fredo Corleone is a jet.

Of all the bizarre twists of fate that can befall the modern NFL fan this is perhaps the worst. I chuckled at the stupidity of trading Donovan McNabb to the Redskins. Really though, how good does that sound to you now?

JT Fredo as a Patriot?

Disgusting but tolerable, and in an odd way, possessing a small measure of class.

JT Fredo as a shit-filled bison?

Eh... Kind of just feel sorry for him.



But a jet? A fucking lowly, trash-eating piece of shit jet? Playing for a man whose body begins to eat itself if it goes thirty minutes without a twinky? It's astounding. Embarrassing. It's idiotic. It may have been the only thing he could do to continue his NFL career.

The truth is the Dolphins may not have wanted JT Fredo back.

Sure he was one of the better defenders on the team last year, but the Phins may have simply wanted to find and play the personnel of the future.

On the other hand the Phins could have been calling JT's Fredo bluff with the jets. They may have believed that they could be silent with him in order to increase the fog of war surrounding the draft room. They could have been wrong.

The reality for the Phins is that they now need to find a starter at the strong-side outside linebacker position.

With the loss of Joey Porter they clearly have faith in the development of Cameron Wake, but now without JT Fredo the

Phins have a glaring hole at one of the most essential positions on the field.

The strong-side backer has to be able to play stout against the run, drop into coverage and have above average pass rushing abilities. Charlie Anderson? Quentin Moses?

Even if the Phins draft a blue chip OLB prospect like Derrick Morgan or Sergio Kindle they will be hard pressed to turn them into a above average starter by week 1. That's why resigning JT seemed a no-brainer to many fans.

Sign JT Fredo, let him start the season, and bring along the blue chip prospect without fear of the bottom falling out.

But lets also realize one thing: JT Fredo is not what he used to be.

So some of you are pointing the fingers at the front office and proclaiming that they dropped the ball. I agree with you to some extent. But don't you dare excuse Fredo from this. The Dolphins brass may have been careless, crass or too indifferent in their strategy (or they may have just plain not wanted him - there is that too) but it was Fredo who signed with the jets. I don't care how slighted Fredo felt.


There is no excuse for this.

None. Jason Taylor Benedict Arnold is a jet. You fucking piece of shit.

I will feel this way until you, maybe, go into Canton. And then only if you chose to go in as a Dolphin. Begging, pleading and scraping your knees all the way.


In the meantime have fun with your

new boyfriend, Fireman Ed Captain Douchebag.

Asshole.

Some Musical Chairs While You Wait...

I like the orange, Brandon. Now, let's lighten that blue up a bit...teal will do nicely.

Jesus.

The movement has been rather dizzying, but exciting for the most part.

I was really getting concerned, what with those jag-offs up in Jersey making move after move, strengthening their team, while our boys down in south FLA were relatively quiet during the last month or so. The Phish are obviously far from through making moves, with the draft right around the corner, but the Brandon Marshall gambit is well worth commenting upon.

I know Marshall has acquired the well-deserved rep as an immature malcontent. Still, I can't wait to see him suit up and start catching balls from Henne. Any os us Dolphins fans knows just how sorely a receiver like Marshall has been lacking for our team. And Ted Ginn, Jr. gone to boot? To be honest, I wondered if Ginn wouldn't have benefited greatly from lining up across from a stud receiver like Marshall. Nonetheless, seeing #19 and his moldy bag of dropped passes leave town doesn't hurt my feelings. The only thing that would have been better is the Dolphins had conned Rex Ryan into taking him off their hands. It would have been nice to see Ginn's inconsistency drive Sanchez and Ryan up the wall for a while.

Henne has to be thanking all that's holy that he's seen the last of this shit.

Back to Marshall. I have a good feeling about this. Sure, he his rap sheet in Denver was worrying. Still, I notice that there is little evidence of such jackassery during his earlier years at UCF. And, aside from dropped charges from a domestic dispute in March of last year, his only real red flag in the past two years was acting like a baby during the preseason last year. I've seen a few interviews with the guy and he certainly doesn't give the impression of a knuckle-head. In fact, he seems almost at a loss for words, due to elation. He's back home, has a young quarterback in Henne who's on the rise, has the fat contract that he's been gunning for, and has a massive stage on which to display his skills. It remains a bit of a gamble for Parcells and the crew, but I think it's a good one. If Marshall performs as he's capable, there's no part of the offense that won't benefit.

Of course, this means that we can now all start thinking of what's going to happen on draft day next week. Our guys still have several holes to fill, but getting one of the absolute best receivers in the game allows them to focus on one of the key defensive positions.

For me, this makes this draft a bit less stressful and far more exciting. Now knowing that, with the right pick for the defense, we fans will have every reason to expect very good things.