Not since the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005 have they seen so much havoc in the city of Miami. And who should be surprised by it all ? Afterall this was a team that performed so badly in the regular season within the NFL. That many thought that there was a serious threat of Miami Dolphins going winless for the season.
Mr Clean and his presence will be welcomed in Miami. He's live persona will be that of Bill Parcells.
But for the myopic and naivete' of the now departed Brian Billick that record of mediocrity would've prevailed. The Ravens succumbed to a team that was so bad at times that it was beyond farcical in watching them. At times the Dolphins' play was reminiscent of watching silent movie from the twenties. And if one had muted the sound on their tv you may well have thought that of the team. This team would've made the Keystone Cops seem athletic in their prowess.
Dolphins' owner H D Wayne Huizenga . picture courtesy of yahoo.com/searchimages...........
Now with the arrival of the renowned Bill Parcells the luster that once was the Miami Dolphins we're led to believe will rise to the surface like a phoenix. But aren't those extinct one might ask ? Well I dare say to most Dolphins' fans any semblance to return to some normalcy for the franchise would be welcomed. Billionaire owner Wayne Huizenga was virtually on the cusp of selling the franchise. Do I hear a bid ?
Cam Cameron of the Miami Dolphins who was fired by Bill Parcells this week . picture courtesy of ap/photo/Steve Mitchell.....
Randy Mueller the now former GM of the Miami Dolphins. picture courtesy of ap/photo..........
Well alas , Wayne has now got his man and Parcells has been swift and merciless in his execution of personnel decisions. With the simple premiss of Donald Trump and his Apprentice reality show . Parcells has shown the door to GM Randy Mueller and now long suffering coach Cam Cameron. Were it not for these two individuals whose depth or lack of knowledge of the game. This franchise wouldn't be in the position it is in today. Bad personnel decisions along the way and a coach who commanded about as much respect as piece of excrement beneath one's feet has led Miami to where it is today. Say nothing of which Cameron's predecessors weren't too enlightened either when it came to coaching within the NFL ranks. Nick Saban and Dave Wannstedt have been as enlightening as a damp squib in their tenure with the franchise.
Parcells seen here in the company of former Packers' GM Ron Wolf in Sunday's home game where the Dolphins lost 35-28 to the Cincinatti Bengals. picture courtesy of ap/photo/Lynne Sladky..........
A 1-15 was nothing to write home about. But at least they won a game didn't they ? And as I alluded to before but for the stupidity of Brian Billick and the Baltimore Ravens ' coaching staff the Dolphins would've remained winless. So what can be expected of Bill Parcells and his four year plan ? That's the length of contract but seriously doubts that he'll see it right the way through. It's not been within his nature to stay that long with a franchise even after rebuilding from the ground up. Especially with his most return to the game where he remained a little over two years with the Dallas Cowboys. Well if you had Jerry Jones looking over your shoulder at your every move like your a child taking test wouldn't you too leave abruptly ? The off field antics of prized wide receiver Terrell Owens could well have swayed him in his decision to leave. But no one can't deny what we're seeing with the Cowboys this season has come from the seeds sown by Parcells with regard to their personnel.
Huizenga was prudent in choice of Parcells as he's seen the franchise slip from its once lofty perch . No longer a perennial contender within the AFC let alone the NFL. They've become a bye product of their own making . The hiring both Wannstedt and Saban were clear missteps. And now in hiring in Parcells it could be said that they're back on a sure footing as of now. In his role as their head of player personnel all decisions concerning the staff will down to him. It'll be his choice in the hiring a coach for the franchise that'll clearly steer the team for the next four or five years as the case might be. As to who that coach may well end up being is anyone's guess at this juncture. But one thing for sure the person chosen will clearly have to have a real tough approach and be able to stand up to Parcells' personality. He may well come across as being congenial on television. But underneath that semblance of a persona lies the heart of tortuous and no nonesense approach to the game of football. He's not one to suffer fools gladly !
Dolphins' starting quarterback Cleo Lemons picture courtesy of ap/photo/Steve Beckwith..........
The current roster of the staff is not too meaningful to look at. And not one of the players on the team could it be clearly be said is franchise type of a player. Having Ricky Williams return to the team like a prodigal son was short lived. And one would doubt that his mental attitude has changed where one would believe that he regain his form of old. Ronnie Brown their running back of the future is still rough around the edges and still learning the game. Defensively this team no loner possesses a real threat. And in many cases the veterans on defense have become long in the tooth. Zach Thomas is longer the feared linebacker he once was. And for teammate Jason Taylor the love of the game just doesn't seem to be there anymore. I suppose that's what losing does to a team and a player when it becomes so repetitive ? Especially when the coaching staff has no answers to each weekly debacle. Their ideas have become spent as to was their attitude towards winning. Cameron , himself was somewhat enthused with the win over Baltimore. As it meant he wouldn't be the coach remembered as having lost all of his team's game in the regular 16 game schedule. That's clearly a stat that no coach would want on his resume' .
Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins. picture courtesy of i.a.cnn.net/si.
So now where does the franchise go from here in terms of its personnel ? A complete rebuilding of the roster may not be out of the question altogether. And then getting a mixture of veterans and draftees to come and play in Miami will be another. We know of Parcells' success in these endeavors having guided four different teams to postseason play in his career. Whether or not he's able to achieve this with the Dolphins isn't really the question. But it should be whether or not he'll have the temperament to see this exercise all the way through. That to my mind is something that I would like the answer to and so too will the Dolphins' fans. It'll take a great deal of cajoling in trying to get Parcells to stay if things should go south in an all too immediate fashion. Four years in football is like a lifetime to some coaches and GM's when adversity is always staring them in the face at every point along the way. But to you and as I fans the immediacy of success is all most want to see from our teams.
As an avowed Pats' fan for the last fifteen years I'd become accustomed to the ups and downs of the team. But with their most recent successes it has made me feel somewhat complacent. But when you see a team go through so much turmoil . Even if it's of its own making , it does make one wonder why it is we support these teams. Our emotions are in tatters when they lose but when they win it becomes one of sheer joy and emotion. Winning is everything and the only thing that we all care about. But when it comes to losing we'd rather have nothing at all to do with it whatever form it comes in. Life immitates art in all forms and it is what moulds us and guides us. And these are the obstacles that we have to overcome in order to learn something about ourselves as individuals. So for now for the Dolphins it not has been only about losing but also learning in the process. And what they can do to better themselves for the future.
Always a welcoming tease one might think ? Keira Knightley.....
you cant tune a piano but tuna can tune the fish,,nice to see them breakin out the cleaner hope Ted Gin pans out i really think he can contribute to the offense and thier defense is getting old and slow i see more house cleaning comming soon
Last edited by GOTTAGO on January 3rd at 11:43 AM.
If you think about it, Parcells isn't doing anything that wasn't deserved. GM was a disaster, and the current state of the Dolphins can be directly attributed to him. It's going to take several years, but Parcells will get the Dolphins back to respectability.
Last edited by MoonDogLeft on January 3rd at 12:07 PM.
Al; Ive always praised the merits of bill as a coach, but in the front office he may be a FISH out of water. Its way to early to jump on this band wagon.I made those same two calls to get the ax out but that doesnt mean i belong there either. The guy is as blue collar as it gets and its a big change,a whole different view from up there. I like btroups idea,i hope he hires himself to be coach. THAT will make his 4 year plan work.
oh yeah, way to come across the finish line-nice pic, real nice..
Last edited by blue@orange on January 3rd at 1:03 PM.
blue@orange
Fish out of water or not Parcells could well resurrect the franchise. But the problem I have is whether or not he'll be able to see things out. If he's unable to then the franchise may well be no better of than it was before he came.
Moon Dog Left
This franchise was going nowhere ever since that distasterous loos to the Jaguars some six years ago. That was the beginning of the demise of the franchise from Johnson to Wannstedt to Saban and now Cameron. As for Mueller and his predecessor Spielman. They couldn't assess talent if they were given hand written instructions.
Parcells as you've alluded will be able to turn this franchise around. But it'll be his temperament that'll determine whether or not he'll be there for the long haul.
gambitxxx
Parcells is the consummate professional when it comeas to assessing talent. And when it comes to doing so apart from Pioli in New England. One doubt that there's anyone better.
Josh Q
The only thing I worry about at this juncture is Parcells' temperament. If he can stay there long enough then they'll fare well. But if things don't go well then he'll leave them abruptly as he's done with several other franchises when its suited him.
btgroup
I doubt that Parcells is as narcissistic as Riley. But he does have his moments. As does any self opinionated and abrasive coach within the professional ranks.
If they can't get no love then they're off to their next stop wherever that might be.
GOTTAGO
Ginn is now finding out the difference between playing the college game and being in the NFL. As for the Dolphins' defense they're all of a sudden getting old and pedantic. And the offensive side of things there too they're slow and showing a great deal of futility.
tophatal
Last edited by tophatal on January 6th at 2:09 PM.
gambitxxx
Parcells cleaning house is nothing new but it's whether or not he'll stay there for the entire process. His temperament will be the thing that I want to see.
Top
I've been enjoying your blog while lurking. As a long-time Cowboy's fan I have a few opinions of Tuna. Thought I'd share them.
Hate his coaching style (seems to coach from a position of being afraid to lose), love his personnel/talent finding skills.
His 1st steps usually involve bringing in a few players he trusts. This builds a foundation of veteran skill and role-models that undisciplined teams desperately need. Then he'll start changing to his beloved 3-4 defense, which as I've come to understand it, found that I like it. This could extend Jason Taylor's career (suspect he'd be the new Greg Ellis), but Zack (see Dat Nguyen) is too small for Tuna's LB profile.
I suspect that'll be what we see this first year. The draft should be very interesting as we look at what type of player he picks as well as how they trade picks up & down. Tuna doesn't seem to be someone who follows the "common" knowledge of fans or columnists (LOL, gotta love him for that - still hate his coaching style).
Who comes in as coach will be a real tell as to how the team is going to be run. If it's Sparano, he'll run the team, but with Bill's counsel. Anybody else, my guess is it will be Bill running the team by remote control.
CowboyInVA
I don't doubt the fact that there'll be something of a hands on approach by Parcells. But I do feel that he'll get a competent coach in there to run things. Whether or not it's Sparano , Garrett or someone else at this juncture is now open to question. But he'll have to get about setting up his personnel as the draft is just around the corner.
Then and only then will we able to attest to how successful he'll be in the long run.
Born in the UK of Caribbean parentage and having lived in the US for the last 15 years. A keen martial artist (Black Belt 2nd degree in karate. I also practice savate , tae - kwondo ) College Grad BA's in Econ and Int' Fin. Served five years in the British military. I've gotten use to the American way of life and the language. The women on the other hand, that's something else ! Sports is my great passion along with music and the movies. However I feel that having resided here for all this time , I still somewhat miss the land of my birth. That being said I 'love this great country and all that it has afforded me' An avid Pats and Spurs' fan. Soccer Chelsea ,
tophatal..... ....