Parcells and the "Dead Fish" in Miami...

Bill Parcells was the right choice by Good 'Ole Wayne. No question.

Bill Parcells will bring respect and fight to once proud proud Miami. No question.

Bill will not necessarily bring a championship or even a playoff berth while he is there... that is 3 to 4 years. Some question... you never know what the Tuna has left.

But here is the biggest thing that Parcells signing will do. It will shake up Miami to rid themselves of the "Old Guard" such as Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor and possibly Joey Porter (next season on Porter is my guess) and the Fans will allow it without much resentment because right now they trust Parcells more than their Dolphin players. Parcells ability to be unemotional in his dealings with NFL players will earn him respect and hatred at the same time, but as Porter said last week, He shows up and players run harder, coaches coach louder.

Parcells will see through the show... and evalute whether its passion or paycheck that fuels these players. No question.

So what will the Tuna do to make the Dolphins proud?

1. I love Jason Taylor. I think he is honorable to continue to play hard week after week. I think he is a dominant defensive end, even at his age. He will be a Hall of Fame first ballot entry. But Taylor will probably do his best work for the Dolphins by being valuable on the Trading Block and get the Dolphins the extra 1st and 2nd round pick (maybe 1st and 3rd) they need to start rebuilding. Look for the Tuna to take the DE Long in the first round and pick up a hard nose Linebacker to take over for the Over the Hill Thomas.

2. Saban helped Parcells before he left by adding big bodies to the defense to allow the 34 defense to have a chance in 2008. But Parcells will also have to find a big time 350lb nose guard to allow this defense to work. A young player will go through growing pains, but ask the Patriots about Wilfork and how he worked out...

3. Dallas' RB Jones is a free agent. Parcells like Jones. Therefore, if Jerry Jones doesn't go big money, Parcells will go after him to add a 1-2 punch with injured reserve Ronnie Brown. There are no guarantees that Brown will be able to function next season, but I would guarantee he can not be a workhorse yet. Adding Jones will allow the Dolphins controlled offense to be more efficient on 1st downs, but also on 3rd and less than 5 yards. Fewer throws for their quarterback (whoever it is) will keep the Dolphins from hurting themselves.

4. Cleo Lemon may be an average quarterback for a talented team. But watching his dance out of bounds against the Patriots on December 23rd guaranteed that Parcells ain't impressed with a track star with no guts. Elway, Favre, Brady, even Kyle Boller would dive head first for that score against the Patriots.

As for Beck. He isn't the answer now, and possibly ever. But he will be on the bench to learn from whatever veteran Parcells brings in to help guide this team for the next two years. Look for trades for Derek Anderson if the Browns aren't locking him down with Quinn waiting in the wings. Also, a possible trade for Leftwich or even a Kyle Boller to take over would allow the Dolphins to be adequate if the running game keeps the Quarterback position a non-game winning position. Remember, they will not be a winning team next year, but will win at least 5-6 games after this year.

5. They have 2 young offensive lineman worth keeping in center Samson Satele and tackle Vernon Carey, but look for Parcells to try to bring in some veteran offensive lineman at Guards, with Vernon being a solid Right Tackle, and Parcells looking for a young Left Tackle to protect his Quarterback.

6. Cam Cameron will have 1 more year. If his team shows fight, he will have another year. But look for Parcells to go through Cam and hire a new coach a year or two before he leaves Miami for better or worse...




No one wants to see an 0-16 team. For any person who has ever played football, losing is one thing but to not feel the joy of victory to even out the pains of defeat, it is a miserable bitch of a game. Parcells will bring back the fight to Miami, but don't look to the Tuna for a ring in Miami when he is done. Look for him to lay the ground work for a ring.

The Asterix* in Undefeated

Don Shula likes the Pats' chances of going undefeated, but the Bill Belichick-inspired spying scandal has clouded Shula's thinking when comparing New England with his unbeaten 1972 Dolphins team. In the words of Shula, who was the coach of the only undefeated-untied football team in NFL history, "The Spygate thing has diminished what they've accomplished."

Following the NY Jets game, Belichick was fined $500,000 and the Patriots were fined $250,000 and lost a first-round draft pick for videotaping the Jets' opposing sideline during the teams' season-opening game.

BUT, it's what Shula said next which has caused controversy... "I guess you got the same thing as putting an asterisk by Barry Bonds' home run record."

WHAT!?!?! You're trying to tell me videotaping a defensive signal caller is the same as steroids and HGH???? I refuse to believe that th Patriots entire offensive, defensive, and special teams successes which has led to 3 Super Bowls and has led to the imminent possibility of a 4th in February of 2008. Too man different defensive players, too many coaches, too many offensive players, and 2 kickers have helped the Patriots reach "Dynasty" levels. How can a camera do that much.

The way the Patriots have been playing, Shula and the '72 Dolphins might find themselves answering more questions than in past years about whether their record will stand. With New England's record at 9-0, it will come down to Pittsburgh, The Miami Dolphins in Week 16, and my pick as game of the week.... Jacksonville. Yes, the Jacksonville Jaguars will be the team to look out for. You heard it here.

There have been serious runs made at the Dolphins' record before. The 1985 Bears started 12-0, then lost on a Monday night to a Dolphins team coached by Shula. The 1991 Redskins started 11-0 and the 1998 Broncos and 2005 Colts opened 13-0 before losing. Members of the '72 Dolphins have become known for sipping champagne after the last unbeaten team falls.

There is a good shot this season for the New England Patriots... but what few teams will understand, they are angry. They are sick of being overlooked. They are that good, and with the Spygate Scandal, you now have players who are playing angry to show loyalty to their coach who has been under fire since day 1.

By the way, Coach Shula, thanks for one more reason to be angry...

Call of the Day: CHANCING IT with Tony Romo

Ok, so as Wade Phillips looks out on the St. Louis Defense, the question must be on 3rd down... Throw? Pass? .....or Chance?

Tony Romo stole the dice and selected: Chance. As a shotgun snap flew a good foot over his head, Tony Romo showed solid hussle in retrieving the football.... kicking it.... fumbling... picking up, and in stead of rolling and firing out of bounds to save field position, he looked downfield and ran.

And ran...

...pump fake on an unsuspecting posterized Ram linebacker....

...ran some more....

... picked up a pretty good block...

...and ran...

...and ran a total of 45 yards, finally settling out of bounds for a 5 yard gain. AND the first down. A few plays later, Romo dropped back, stepped up and ran behind his WR crossing route which sent the middle linebacker flying out. He might have at least left a red carpet as Romo went 15 yards for the touchdown and the Cowboy rolled to a blowout win.

The Cowboys were on a roll, and continued to improve to a 4-0 mark and one of only two undefeated teams in the anemic NFC (The other being Brett Favre and the rest of his friends who hang out with him in Green Bay). That's the play of the week, and whether it was a sign of pure athletic ability, or the Rams were a victim of Chance, it remains a play that Rams fans will have to suffer through for the rest of this season.