I've been having computer issues this week, so I have not been able to prepare and publish this on my normal Thursday schedule.   Sorry for the delay if you were wondering where the Perspective for this week was.

This week's Perspective is going to focus on Chad Henne, and the development of the "franchise" quarterback.  I am going to do something that is hard for me to do, but it will let us, as fans, see some comparable stats, and maybe continue to grow our hope for the kid.

I think by now, you may have figured out what I am going to do.  Chad Henne currently has nine starts behind center for this franchise.  Another quarterback started nine games in his first year taking the snaps.  The difference, of course, is that Chad Henne is a second year player, while the other quarterback was a rookie.    The other quarterback is, obviously, Hall of Famer Dan Marino.  I don't really want to start comparing the two, as there is only one Danny, but at the same time, it could be interesting.

I am not going to tell you which quarterback is which until the end of this.  I will just discuss the statistics of each.  Also, Marino appeared in two games and Henne played in four (three last year, one this year) when they were not starting.  I have thrown those games out, so we will only look at the nine games the two actually started.

Continue reading this post »

Sorry for the delay on this week's Game Balls.  I wasn't able to watch the game on Sunday (listened to it on Sirius), so I didn't want to put these out there until I actually had seen the game.  I watched it last night, so here they are:

 1-yard Game Ball. Channing Crowder and Cameron Wake.  These two will each get one yard for the final New England play of the game.  With the Patriots looking to make a last minute drive down the field and attempt to win the game, Cameron Wake caught Tom Brady's legs (amazingly, Brady did not call his own foul on the play).  Just before his knee hit the ground, Brady attempted to throw the ball.  Channing Crowder, sitting in a zone in the middle of the field had to react as the ball hit him almost dead in the chest.  Surprised, he managed to hold on to the ball and fall to the ground, securing the interception and the Dolphins' victory. 

Continue reading this post »

Thursday Night Football from Toronto with the Bills and the Jets.  Are you ready?  Come on Toronto, beat the Jets for us.  If the Bills win tonight, the Jets actually fall to the Buffalo position (also known as the last place position) in the AFC East.  Wouldn't that be great to see?

Hopefully we get a good game and get to see Sanchise screw it up again.  Maybe even Rex crying on the sidelines.

So, who's here?  Anyone? 

And if you don't get NFL Network...I'm sorry.

Somewhere along the road, we have all lost perspective.  Maybe we all lost it during the madness that was an improbable AFC East Championship run last year.  Maybe it was during the climb back to .500 after going 0-3 to start the year.  Whenever it was, we have all forgotten one incredibly important fact.  The Miami Dolphins are in the playoff hunt.  The Dolphins may not be a Super Bowl contender.  Miami may not even make the playoffs.  But, at least they are in the hunt for that berth.

And, when did we all as fans make the shift that losing was a good thing?  Was it when Miami lost to Buffalo?  Seems like it was starting prior to that game - and it seems to be really taking root now.  I will never understand how a "fan" can ever root for his or her team to lose.  I hate seeing the Dolphins walk off the field after a loss.  Loss fifteen two years ago hurt just as much as loss one did that year - or loss  six did this year.

So, in order to remind everyone where we stand - and the fact that I haven't written this piece during the last two weeks - we are going to take an in-depth look at the NFL Playoff picture today.

Continue reading this post »

As we deal with the Buffalo loss, we at the Phinsider should take a moment to wish a Happy Birthday to one of our own.  He is a proud member of Mt. Phinsider as one of the first four members of the Phinsider Hall of Fame. 

He won four of the inagural Matty Awards, The Mercury Morris Front-page Frontrunner Award, The Patrick Cobbs Award, The Brandon London Bandwagon Award, and The J-Peezy Player Nickname Award in 2008-2009.

 He’s one of the most (I think it's actually THE most in terms of comments) prolific members of the Phinsider community, with 113 Fanposts/Fanshots and 34,244 comments thus far - in just 20 months of membership.

He inspired the Game Ball series with his weekly posting last season.

He's pretty short (don't let the 6'6" talk fool you) and there are questions on if he is actually a she....lol

Who is he?

Of course...it's Little Nicky 21!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I guess this is something I have to do.  It was very hard to drag myself back to The Phinsider today, knowing I need to create a post awarding Game Balls after such a disheartening loss. 

Well, I guess I need to just jump on in and do it.

1-yard Game Ball. Lousaka Polite.  Okay, the Lousaka Monster really should get yardage every week, and he probably should get more this week, especially with his 7.3 yards per carry average (3 carries, 22 yards).  But, at least I am recognizing his contribution this week, right?

2-yard Game Ball. Brian Hartline.  I don't know which to highlight in this spot, Hartline's gorgeous touchdown catch, where Chad Henne recognized that the back of the endzone was open and that Hartline could get there.  Hartline's ability to react, correct, and come down with that ball was amazing.  Or was his awareness of the situation and ability to jump back up after catching the ball falling to the ground, where he wasn't touched - nearly scoring touchdown number two - a better play?  I'm not sure.  Both make me like Hartline a little more, and happy to have him wearing teal and orange.  Oh, and he finished with 3 catches for 31 yards, and the touchdown.

Continue reading this post »

[Author's Note: Sorry this is a day late.  Had some internet issues yesterday]

Oh, Thursday night how I love you.  What a great night Thursday night was.  Climbing to .500, the Miami Dolphins made a statement has thrust them into the middle of the AFC Wildcard race, as well as kept them in the hunt for the Division title. 

Think about it.  Next week, the Dolphins play the Bills.  With this team, playing this way, the Dolphins should leave Buffalo with a win.  The Patriots are playing the Saints next week in what should be a great game, and one the Patriots could lose.  So, let's say the Saints stay undefeated (the Saints losing their quest for a Perfect Season is the ONLY good thing that could come out of the Patriots winning).  Suddenly, the Dolphins are one game back from the AFC East lead. 

And, who do the Dolphins play the following week?  Oh, that's right.  The Patriots, in Miami - on Sunday afternoon.  Apparently a game for the AFC East lead is too pedantic and is not as appealing as a Vikings/Cardinals matchup for NBC.  Guessing this has a little to do with Brett Favre.

What a critical couple of weeks this will be.

But, before we start looking ahead, let's go back and look at the award-worthy performances from last Thursday.

Continue reading this post »