I feel much better now, too. This link is in the last fanshot article (The Phinsider). I'm encouraged not just because of Daboll's willingless to embrace the unorthodox but reading about how he improved the Dolphins offense. If we improve our line, he should have better talent than he's used to as well.

"That willingness to embrace something different isn't the only reason I like Daboll. Let's face it, he was ripped for how terrible the Browns were scoring points last year. Dolphins fans were screaming at Tony Sparano for trying to improve his offense by hiring the guy who ran one of only two offenses in the NFL that scored fewer points than Miami last year.

With Daboll guiding him, Matt Moore has shown steady improvement. And the Miami offense that was 30th in scoring (just ahead of Cleveland) is tied for 22nd this year while the Browns are 28th."

I know the press conference was discussed (a lot!) yesterday. I just now was able to go back and watch the whole thing. Two things caught my attention:

1) 22:00 - When asked about who was going to be the quarterback, there is laughter, smiles, a Pioli joke, and nearly 15 seconds before RAC starts to answer the question. I like Cassel more than most here, but it sure didn't seem to me that they think "Cassel is the starter" is a foregone conclusion--as some of the doomsday comments might have led someone to believe. In fact, if they had publically seemed any less certain about Cassel I think that would have been a bad thing.

2) 10:45 - When asked about the possibility of being defensive coordinator himself, towards the end of his answer, he said they'll determine if it's best for him to do it or name someone else. Saying "name" only confirms my suspicion that they're almost definitely going to make someone already here the DC. My guess is Gary Gibbs.

This is a good read. Sounds like he went late in the 2007 draft because he bypassed his senior season.

"Ray Lewis was among the people who phoned Siler to offer support. The two had worked out together the previous spring and summer, and Lewis planned to lobby the Ravens to sign Siler as a free agent."

"Siler was second on the Gators with 77 tackles last season and was a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive player. He had 30 career tackles for losses over three seasons and was one of the many heroes when Florida limited Ohio State to 82 total yards and eight first downs in the title game… "Our defense was one of the best defenses in college football," Siler said. "I led the defense to that national championship, so it was very difficult to deal with it."

"Allen Bailey, who is widely ranked among the country's top 25 high school football players..."

"He's as committed as any kid I've ever coached," Robinson said. "He never missed a practice and never missed a summer workout. He was there even when he had to take a ferry boat here and we had to pick him up at the dock. I'd tell him during the summer, 'You don't have to come tonight. Stay home.' He'd always say, 'No, Coach, I'm coming.' His work habits are unbelievable. His work habits and his talent are what's going to make him an NFL player."

More interesting background info on Bailey when he was transitioning to college.

Former Chiefs running back Larry Johnson is being sued in Kansas City by a woman who says he spat on her in a bar. But Johnson says he needs to move the trial out of Kansas City because it would be impossible to find 12 people there who don’t despise him.

Johnson’s lawyer, Jack T. Bangert, told a judge Wednesday that folks in Kansas City hate his client with such a passion that he could never get a trial in front of an impartial jury there.

"If we can’t get a change of venue in this case, it is insurmountable," Bangert said. "We want to go anywhere but here."

I’ve always enjoyed Gosselin’s Top 100 list. I print it to have on hand as I watch the draft. It’s succinct and more on target than mock drafts.

I found it interesting that Gosselin has Dan Williams ranked as the 8th best prospect. I pointed out before the draft last year that he had Tyson Jackson valued as the 6th best prospect--a lot higher than most mock draft writers.

Bob Gretz calls Gosselin the "best pro football writer in America." That’s high praise. Here’s how his top 100 is unique (from the intro to last year’s): "The Top 100 is compiled based on conversations with NFL general managers, personnel directors, pro and college coaches and scouts. This is not a mock draft. Teams will skip around the board on draft day to make selections that fit their needs."

"The Top 100 is compiled based on conversations with NFL general managers, personnel directors, pro and college coaches and scouts. This is not a mock draft. Teams will skip around the board on draft day to make selections that fit their needs."

His list was helpful to me last year as I watched the draft--succinct and more on target than mock drafts. Bob Gretz calls Gosselin the "best pro football writer in America."

By the way, Gosselin has Tyson Jackson as the sixth best prospect and has the Chiefs selecting him (in his last mock draft).

"In an item posted at 6:41 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, executive V.P. of football operations Vinny Cerrato told David Elfin of the Washington Times that the Redskins "haven’t talked to anyone" about Cutler, and that "Jason [Campbell] is going to be our quarterback this season."

I suppose Cerrato could be lying in order to avoid a fiasco like Denver is experiencing, but my guess is that Campbell will be their starter this year.