The Human Beinz - Nobody But Me

Last year at this time we were 5-6 and in the middle of a disappointing holiday season.  In 2008 we had the same exact record that we currently have and went on to win the AFC East.

No, I'm not suggesting the AFC East is obtainable because that's just not realistic.  The reason it's not realistic is why many feel this team isn't up to standard.  It's because of the great seasons that the Pats and Jest are having.  We're a product of our environment and this is a tough division with two other teams that have had some things fall there way.

I'm certainly not satisfied but I am positive that this team is headed in the right direction.  We've once again been ravaged by injuries.  If not for that I wouldn't still be as confident in this team.  The difference between this year and the past two is that we've matched the 2008 record with many more injuries and we've improved our record from 2009 with a similar amount of injuries.

Unfortunately we're directly attached to the other teams in our division so their success means our indirect failure even if we're taking the steps that many aren't recognizing.  This team needs to be judged on it's own and not in comparison to our division rivals.

Our leadership has managed to replenish this team with young talent at every position and now they're developing that talent.  Most have taken steps forward and shown progress.  It would be foolish to discard this progress just because the Pats and Jest have three less loses than us so far.  At lots of positions both of those teams have players many years older than ours which is working for them now but it only means that soon our young talent will mature into the dominant force in this division.  It's a matter of us maturing faster or their veterans deteriorating faster.

They built this team without taking shortcuts which I can't say for the other two teams.  The Pats have consistently pissed off their veterans with the most recent case being Logan Mankins.  They trade their veterans for picks and show the rest of the team that there isn't much loyalty there.  Belichick's "team first" mentality used to work when the players thought they were in a partnership.  That's not the case anymore.

On the other side the Jest have consistently traded picks for players and I'll admit that some have worked out for them in the short term.  The problem is keeping these players they've invested picks in.  Many are in the final year of their contract and the Jest won't be able to keep them all.  Furthermore they have aging veterans that will likely exit their organization very soon.

We on the other hand have paid players accordingly and not mortgaged the future for the sake of today.  Our players that are in the middle of their rookie deals know that they'll get paid if they excel, just ask Davone Bess or many others.  We're not in a position that any one player can walk in the offseason and cause a hole that can't be filled.  That can't be said for the other teams dealing with players that want to get paid or older guys that are finishing on their own terms.

Money has been spent wisely for the most part and the youth on this team is glaring.  It's obvious to me that we're headed in the right direction as long as I judge this team alone and not in comparison to an aging Jest team that has risked the future for today and a Pats team with a great QB as well as many veteran players.

Rarely does a team take short cuts and finish with anything at the end of the year.  It doesn't work like that and we haven't taken any short cuts.  They built this team by the book and I can only hope they continue to do that because it's the right way to do it.  We've already waited so just have some patience and let the flower bloom because the stem is already popping our of the ground.  Those two flowers next to us already have petals falling off no matter how nice they look now.

	Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home

This certainly sucks but the reality is we were sitting exactly at 5-5 at this point last year.  Another similarity is that we've again been hit with the injury bug.  The big difference this year is the gap between us, the Pats and Jest.

I think we need to realize that this is a clear comparison to our elevated expectations this year.  I don't remember us getting all wound up last year at 5-5.  The additions to this team and the exciting youth that joined us caused us to at least look for improvement in the standings this year which isn't happening.

All of us can see the positions that still need work and the youth that still needs development.  That being said we can see the progress as well at least in the spots that haven't been ravaged by injury.

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First off life in general could be so much worse for most of us.  I'm not going to even begin to suggest the scenarios that we could be stuck in because at .500 there are a lot of worse things that could be happening right now aside from the extremes that exist in real life.

Take it from someone that has had a terribly rough couple of months.  I literally went from arguing with someone on here to packing my things because of something that the whore I previous was with told me.  Not easy when you're four years deep and share everything.  Packed everything up and headed for my sister's house.  Had to get another job in the evening to jump start myself.  Finally got into a new place a couple of weeks ago and started a new job.  Lots went on in between that stuff but take it from someone that had Super Bowl aspirations a couple of months back...it could be worse.

Please don't take this as me looking for sympathy, don't need it or want it whether it be in regards to my personal life or the Fins.  The point is the garbage that's surrounded me recently has caused me to focus on the positives.  I've sat back and watched us go up and down.  The key for me is that we've been up at points.

I'd like to hit on some key topics that have been in my head and hopefully gain some clarity.

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I've compiled a list of all players currently under contract beyond this season.  I know some feel we've dumped a boat load of money into this roster but it's important you understand how the whole thing works.  Guaranteed money that's been paid to players through roster bonuses are off the books as far as the salary is concerned.  The money I am listing here is the money that would be counted against the cap if a cap is put back in place.  Either way each team has a budget so here's the money the Dolphins have dedicated to salary so far in the future.

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I was a bit thrown off when I first saw the saying.  I wasn't sure about it but now I understand.  There's always a method to madness.  I bet that in Tony Sparano's eyes we're the Wolf.  When he's talking about feeding the wolf he's talking about fueling the fan base.  He knew exactly what he was doing and howling at the game is definitely something he had in mind when planning it out.  It's organization at the game and it's getting the crowd involved.

The Jest went as far as sending personal messages to their season ticket holders over the phone to be loud last year.  He made the fans a part of something and IMO it's was his smartest move last year.  This year Tony is improving on that effort by strategically creating the environment he wants.

Not only will this bring the fans together but Tony's actually teaching us the best way to get loud without losing you're voice.  I for one know that my voice is shot for at least a day or two after a game I attend in person.  I also scream at the top of my lungs with a voice that would send my dog under the bed.  In this case we're howling at a different pitch which I would think should help conserve our voices well into the 4th quarter.  Any volume we may lose through the pitch of the scream to the howl will be made up with all the additional people involved.  Not everyone is comfortable screaming like they've never screamed before but the stadium full of howling people should be easy to join in with.

Tony Sparano is a motivator and he knows what he's doing.  I'm 100% positive that in his mind we're the wolf his team is feeding and he totally planned to create a stadium full of howling fans.  Feed the Wolf came off as a bit cheesy to me at first but I kept my mouth shut because I know that there's a method to everything Tony does.

No my friends, this isn't a Zach Thomas post about being an honorary captain.  This is about the absent roster spot that currently is a bit of a surprise to me.  We all know Jeff Ireland has been making moves left and right at the bottom of the roster so for the Fins to go into practice today with a spot open is a bit surprising to me.

The first thing that comes to mind for me is Vincent Jackson.  We're coming up on a 4pm deadline for another team to acquire him and only have him sit four games.  I get the feeling that after Pat White and Pat Turner that we have no problem moving high picks for quality players.  Now that doesn't mean that they don't value high picks because value is value.  Like this year they'll just move back to get in the position they want to be in and acquire more value along the way.  Funny how that deal was done with San Diego during the draft.

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I've held myself back.  I don't like to give some credit by even allowing them to occupy my mind.  The Jest would fall into that category.  A couple months ago they were being mentioned left and right and I felt the need to point out their deficiencies.  I wanted this community to know that they were nothing to be concerned about.  It's called hype.  It's called the media and it's called a bandwagon.  That's the story of the 2010 Jest and now that we have them up next on the schedule I feel it's time to expand on those feelings.

I hate to admit it but I did check out some scenes on Hard Knocks and it was only to reassure myself that these fools are clowns.  Here's a few things I wanted to bring up weeks ago but didn't feel it was the time to even allow those turds into my mind.

• First of all a true leader doesn't need to be told by the new veteran backup that he should have his paperwork in a binder.  That's what Mark Brunell had to do and it was humorous to watch as little Marky pouted off into the hallway with his flip flops and Taco Bell hat.  Last week only shows how weak the Pats secondary is.
• I don't have a problem with language and I understand that they cut hours and hours of video to get to where they were each week but Mike Westoff came off to me as a racist.  In the episode he was featured he is shown coddling white players and verbally abusing the black players.  Maybe that's HBO at work but he also said Brashton Satele should go open his pizza stand and he also said something about the Asian flu.  Satele is Polynesian and to me Westoff came off as someone that depends on fear for coaching.  His players don't respect him, they fear him which I don't think is the best way.
• McDonalds for the secondary during a scrimmage is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.  It was a terrible example for the fans attending and I would be willing to wager that the Jest entire season becomes an extension of eating cheeseburgers on the field.
• Darrelle Revis played the Jest, not for them.  He did it with his rookie deal and now getting a new deal with three years remaining.  That's bad business from a team standpoint.  I don't care who you are, what you've done or how good you are.  If I'm the Jest then I'm letting him hold out regardless of how it effects the team.  The current effects aren't the issue.  It's the effects down the line when half that roster is going to hold out because the Jest showed they'll cave if pushed hard.
• Rex Ryan is a terrible role model and he certainly doesn't demand respect.  He's out of shape and out of his mind half the time with some of the things he says.  He's the one that gave Revis his ammo to get top CB money by saying he was the best.  If my coach spoke of me like that then I'd be holding out too.  If Ryan was smart he would have zipped it a long time ago after he established his reputation.  The point of showing it on the field is that you'll no longer have to defend your team in the media.  I guess Rex still feels a bit self-conscience about his team and I don't blame him.
• Thank you Antonio Cromartie for showing everyone that you can't remember all eight of your kids names off the top of your head.  Pathetic.
• I hope everyone takes notice to Jason Taylor's limited ability on the field and for showing up on time.  He was consistently late with the Jest and they hugged him when he'd finally show up.  He's not here for the team but only for himself.  Only Jason Taylor would be insulted by Bill Parcells offering him an extension mid-season.  When you're old and washed up you don't get to negotiate and you don't get to be the man.  You take what you can get to live near home for the team you've grown with and if that's not good enough then what happened is exactly the option.  Get stuck on a team of clowns that only signed you to try and hurt a rival's fan base.

I could go on and on about that dumb show.  All it showed me is that their owner shouldn't be the owner of an NFL team.  He's kept around Tuna's accountant as the GM and the guy doesn't even have a background in football evaluation.  I find it surreal that a former salary cap manager is now running the most hyped team this year with no salary cap in place.

They don't compare to us at any level or position.  The Jest are either old, not talented or both.  They're not well coached and they aren't disciplined.  They'll beat themselves if we don't beat them first.  The only thing I learned from their win last week was that the Pats might be what I thought they were.

The Jest are a joke that I laugh at on a daily basis.  I went to the gas station last night at 3am and there was a guy in front of the window with a Jest polo on.  I simply rolled past him pointing and laughing out of my car window.  I told him get ready for the Fins going 3-0 next week and I told him to stay away from the stadium if he doesn't want his week to be totally ruined.  Like his team he took it and was afraid to even reply.  Maybe it was the shady gas station at 3am but I get the feeling that it's just the Jest in him that's causing him to act like a bitch.

Alright everyone, we have a day left before the results are going to dictate our opinion of this team.  Tomorrow we'll be able to truly judge what we see.  This team can't be judged on roster moves and it can't be judged on limited action in the preseason.  One more day and most questions can be answ ered.

The reason I say most questions can be answered against the Bills is because the schedule doesn't present a team like the Bills until week 12 or 13 against the Raiders or Browns.  No disrespect to any of those three teams but if you look at our opponents from week 2 until 11 you'll see that on paper there's a gap and most of them are proven teams during that period.  If we can't get the job done against the Bills this weekend then we're in store for a long week and all those questions that have been asked will automatically be pushed to the negative.

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This song is killer and I'm confident it's the theme of our season.  Every game we're going to gain momentum and every week a team is going to walk away with a new found respect for the Miami Dolphins, win or lose.

This is going to sound funny but I think the impact that Jake Grove and Pat White will have on this roster is priceless.

They showed this roster with those two moves that money and draft status are not a concern to them at this point.  It's about production and positive consistency.

By cutting Grove and White they're ensuring that players won't be ruined by money or draft status.  When you're making 9+ million a year like Marshall and Dansby it's easy to fall off course.  They've been paid so much money up front that it's likely very easy to lose focus.  Just ask yourself how much money you'd need to make in order to become content with just enough?  Here just enough doesn't cut it because I get the feeling that Grove thought he was giving just enough.

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They introduced this process three years ago.  Tuna stepping back into a consulting role is no surprise to me.  It really makes no difference to me one way or another because a title is just that, a title.  It doesn't matter to me if Tuna is an Executive VP or Consultant.  Either way his opinion and expertise is available to Tony and Jeff.  Not until Tuna takes a job with another team will I even care.

First of all the offseason is over.  The most important part of his job has been taken care of.  From now until the draft it's all preparation and that starts now.  Now is the obvious and rightful time to make sure Ireland is ready and by all appearances he is.

This isn't a drastic shift to the marketing end of the team and it's not a sign that Carl Peterson is on the way.  It's the next step in a process that we were all aware of the moment that Tuna took over.

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Little Lion Man – Mumford and Sons

Finally the season is here!!!  Between a hard drive crash and a hectic past month I haven't been able to jump on much so allow me to touch on a few things as well as give it my best shot at a 53.  Hope everyone's been well and you enjoyed the preseason.  This song has nothing to do with this article, there's no hidden message that ties in so just enjoy.  I'm sure many of you have heard it recently and I just can't get enough of it.  Beware of the F word, it's loud and clear more than a few times. 

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This technically should go in fanshots but I know many have been itching for some video since the team isn't releasing much raw tape this year.  I'm fairly sure these haven't been put in fanshots yet although if any have I apologize in advance.  I didn't shoot any of these either if any of you happen to be the authors.  Here's the five videos I've found of camp so far.

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The HoF game is coming up tomorrow night and I'm trying to give myself a reason to pay attention beyond some extended recreational viewing.  I figured a good way to tackle that issue is by focusing on our week 8 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.  I traveled over to their pad on SBN, Cincy Jungle.  They believe in their power running and they believe that it's the heartbeat of their offense.  Carson Palmer might be the key to taking it up a notch but they really pride themselves on their run game.

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Age does not represent leadership.  Hunger, desire, determination and hard work does.

It's no secret I love this team even more now due to how it's run and the trend that began in 2008 when they went young is what really did it for me.  Couple that with the strong leadership and direction and we're creating a monster.

When you visit the roster page for the Fins and sort by age you're able to breathe in the scent of something great on the horizon.  You'll find nine players 29 years of age or older.  Only nine ranging from 29-34.  That's impressive considering the talent here and the short time they've put it together.  Look at those nine players.

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The more he talks the more it's evident he didn't have the mental makeup to be a leader here.  He wants the luxury of a vet on a veteran team but I think he's forgetting that players get that treatment following championship runs.

Here's the article.

First off they talk about the cameras at camp which is what I think was a real draw for J(e)T(s).

The cameras are everywhere around the SUNY-Cortland campus. They're in the interview rooms, the meeting rooms, the dorm rooms. They're on the field, close enough to capture a head coach sprinting on kick coverage or later slinging footballs as a substitute quarterback.

"You don't even notice them," Rex Ryan says.

They're here because his Jets invited them, so they could gather footage for the sixth season of Hard Knocks, HBO's all-access show that debuts its sixth season Wednesday night.

Don't forget to powder your cheeks J(e)T(s), they'll show up better on camera.  I really hope he's bunking with Sanchez, that's photoshop gold.

Later in the article J(e)T(s) takes some shots at the Fins even if he tried not to which IMO ended up making it sound worse by basically pointing at the Fins.

"You can do what you want here,"

That's not a good thing and certainly not when guys like Santurdio, 8-6-5, Braylon, Bart and guys with contract issues are running around.  Not with a 23 y/o Hollywood QB and not with a team that was lucky to get over .500 last year.  Not sure how bringing in the rival's over the hill star and letting him do what he wants is going to get them a championship but it's going to be entertaining at least.

"It's truly…, I want to be careful not to slight anybody because people take things and run with it. But it's different up here. They approach it a little differently. Everyone is treated like a man. They expect you to be accountable, take care of what you need to take care of, but they're not going to babysit you in doing it."

Adding LOL to the end of insulting comments doesn't make it okay and slighting when you say your trying not to doesn't change the fact you are.  Basically he's saying they don't treat everyone like men here and that they babysit some players.  Well J(e)T(s), you sir have no idea what the hell you're talking about and it sounds like you've got a foot out the door already.  You're crazy if you think young players are going to be accountable at all times and you're even more crazy if you think that what goes on here is babysitting.  It's the molding of men into champions.  It's something that I know you never really had to deal with, especially after Jimmy left.  So enjoy Club Jet and have fun trying to spin that disaster once games start.

Really sad that he feels the need to continue to talk about us and make direct comparisons.  He's burning bridges every time he does it and his problem is that the leadership here is going nowhere.  Even when Parcells moves on or retires I'm sure what he's built will remain for quite some time.  Maybe his friendly relationship with Sparano with hold up through this but even Sparano can't be happy with J(e)T(s) suggesting that he doesn't treat everyone as men.

Sorry for the abundance of green related material over the last day but when the fat idiot declares them the champions already and the over the hill media hound suggests negative about the Fins then I must say something.

Phillip Merling and A.J. Edds have been placed on IR.  We're down to 78 players and in camp every body counts.  I'd imagine they view their situation at QB as a luxury so I think we're closing in on a move at QB.  I know many are thinking "forget this, just get rid of Pat White!" but like me explain.

If the front 7 was healthy and our WR game was strong then the luxury could be held onto.  In this case something needs to be done now.  Pat White has no trade value and most teams run with two QBs anyway.  We're used to three quality QBs but that's not the norm.  That third QB is a developmental guy normally.  That's the definition of Pat White.

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Happened to catch this interview on LeBatard's show yesterday and found it very interesting.  The big thing from a knowledge standpoint is that he's been with Rex Ryan since he was a rookie.  He knows the guy and he's grown with the guy.  Nice asset to have when crunching film on that Jets D last year.

Here's a link to the show.  It's the top link and the interview begins with about 21 minutes left.

First off let me say he called JeTs and J Pissy Douches, in fact he said any Fin that leaves for the Jets is a Douche.  He called Fireman Ed a Douche as well.

I found the most interesting part of the interview to be the information he shared on Rex Ryan and hazing.  Basically Douglas said that when he entered the Ravens locker room as a rookie that Rex approached him and told him he's going to have to do what the vets told him to do.  So the coach ordered the rookie to follow the vets with a blind eye, regardless of the incident.

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I don't see a three team race.  Nor do I see anyone in the AFC East that can compare to the Dolphins.

Sure, most of us dislike the Jets and Pats but I'm putting that aside here.  I'm looking at the facts and they're telling me that the Dolphins have more talent, discipline, confidence and stability than the others.  From every angle I look I see an AFC East championship and beyond.

The Pats have the "it" factor which is why I still look at them as stronger than the Jets.  They've got Tom Brady and that's all that matters in the Pats-Jets comparison.  They have a weak stable of RBs and a spotty D.  The D should bounce back due to Belichick but they're in the middle of that process.  They have some great young players on D and I actually think both the Fins and Pats D is going to be better than the Jets D this year.  Moss and Brady are stuck in the middle of contract situations so I expect the offense to sputter.  Moss believes the Pats will let him walk this year so it should be interesting to see how Moss reacts to that.  Welker is the bright spot but not bright enough to overcome the Fins.

The way the media has hyped the Jets makes me feel like a crazy person.  Sanchez was weak last year and his positive spin this offseason is due to a couple decent outings in the playoffs.  Nothing impressive and in my opinion he didn't deliver on his draft status.  They let a great RB walk and their O-line isn't stronger than it was last year.  Their D was impressive last year but pressure is something that can be learned and defended with aggressive offense.  I think lots of the Jets success last year was due to not having game film on them.  The fact that we were able to still walk away with two wins tells me not to worry this year.

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Richie Incognito arrived with a reputation.  Personally, I've got no problem with it and it's due to the low cost of his contract.  If he sticks then great, if not then so what.  The funny part about Richie is that he's far from the definition of incognito.  There is no disguise for Richie, just ask Tony McDaniel or Lionel Dotson.

Both have already gotten into it with Incognito.  Obviously this team isn't taking a hard approach in regards to him.  Some would have thought that after the first incident with Tony McDaniel that the team might have taken action but they did not.  Maybe they did behind the scenes but certainly nothing that would represent the idea of eliminating the behavior.

So today it happened again with Lionel Dotson.  It'll be interesting to see if Incognito catches any backlash for this because I think I'm starting to get a feeling that these fights aren't by accident.  Maybe Sparano and Parcells want guys like McDaniel and Dotson to ignite a fire.  Maybe Incognito is a tool to motivate.  He might not be getting instructed to do these things but he also might be under the orders to continue his career exactly how he's managed it thus far.  Then they just need to keep matching up guys like McDaniel and Dotson with him to see if this is what will get the extremes out of them.  Maybe their tough approach over the last couple of years just wasn't enough.

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It wasn't long ago that our secondary was a pathetic joke.  We knew that using a first and second round pick would boost them but I for one didn't expect both to stick like they did last year.  Very impressive drafting and I believe that this staff accelerates player development.  Seems to me like most of this team is going to surprise this year but Smith and Davis might be in store for one of the biggest jumps in play level of any of the players on the roster.

Mike Nolan's words about Brandon Marshall being the best receiver his Denver D saw last year really stands out in my mind.  The fact that his secondary was seriously tested on a daily basis is key.  The youth and potential our DBs have plus the addition of Marshall as well as the tutelage of Nolan could prove to be a no-lose scenario.

Sean Smith has the potential.  Now he has one of the best receivers in the league to measure up against.  I trust this staff will keep his confidence high and that's important because Marshall is going to make him feel like he can't make it in this league.  In the end Sean Smith is going to be a better player than he would have if Marshall never came here.  He'll end up being classified as a better pure CB than Vontae Davis.

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I know last year wasn't memorable for him.  There wasn't much positive to dwell on but the key is that he was a rookie QB and drafted as a project.  He was drafted as a project.  One more time, he's a project.  He doesn't deserve the backlash he got this offseason because he seemed to do everything asked of him last year.  They trained him as a traditional QB and neglected the use of his natural Spread formation.  When Pennington went down they were forced to accelerate the use of a project.

I almost look at the use of Pat White last year as throwing him under the bus for Chad Henne.  I don't have a problem with that but the bottom line is Henne was able to communicate mid-drive with the staff and I'm confident he benefited from that opposed to the train of thought that it kills his momentum.  Maybe in the near future it would kill momentum but last year it was needed.  The benefit of Pat White last year was in the progress Henne made once he returned to the game and not the actual yardage gained by Pat White.

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The blood is beginning to pump in my veins with camp upon us.  The FO is basically on par with the rest of the league in regards to getting all their picks signed before camp begins.  Jared Odrick and Koa Misi remain the only two unsigned Dolphins draft picks and hopefully they can get both on board for Friday.

New England signed Devin McCourty who was selected with the 27th pick.  That's only the second first rounder to sign but it should be significant to us because Odrick was selected 28th and the Pats likely got a good deal evidenced by the early signing compared to the other 1st rounders.  The problem that I see is if the deal McCourty signed favors the Pats then the Fins might be in store for an uphill negotiation battle since Odrick is represented by Drew Rosenhaus who is not known for team friendly deals.

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We know we have 2010 but 2011 is still in question.  I'm not going to get into the deadlines or when things are supposed to pick up.  What I will discuss are some bargaining chips both sides have and how I think it will all end up.  Basically I think big changes are ahead because both sides desire certain things, all of which are reasonable.

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