For Whom the Bell Tolls

If they only knew what kind of offseason that they were in for.

Little did they know their star running back would retire just before training camp.

Little did they know that their projected savior at wide receiver would be lost for the season.

Little did they know that they would acquire a third-string quarterback for their second-round pick.

Little did they know that the teams in their division would get better.

And as for Dan Marino? Little did they know that he would resign from his position weeks after he was given the job.

All of this happened in about six months, and the season has not even started yet.

Who do you feel sorry for? Management? Coaching staff? The team? Well, you can, but the fans are the ones that have felt the brunt of the sting. Miami fans have now come to the conclusion that this season may be another lost season, just like many ones prior to this.

Those Super Bowls that Miami won in the '70s seem so long ago, don't they?

Miami has no choice now but to move ahead. Strangely enough, they can take a look at their own division rival the New England Patriots, who had 42 different starters last year because of injuries. They went 14-2 and won 15-straight games (and counting) to win their second Super Bowl in three years. Their talent was supposedly better than the Patriots' -- well, at least that was what the experts were saying. They just did not get it done in key parts of games, much to the displeasure of the Dolphin faithful.

Miami has to treat their disaster offseason like a poker hand, and they are playing with a 7/2 offsuit, the worst of all hands, but trying to find a way to win with that hand. Once the season starts, no team will feel sorry for them because of their misfortunes. Their job is to win football games, no matter what kind of shape the other team is in. The first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars will go a long way in determining the chances that the Dolphins have when the season starts.

With all of the Dolphins' missteps this offseason, some are casting them into the underdog role, which is very fitting. It used to be that the Dolphins were favorites of the division every season, until the Patriots changed all that. What should also be noted is that this may save Dave Wannstedt from being fired since he may be shown sympathy from owner Wayne Huizenga.

I can almost hear Dolphin fans cringe at that statement.

To quote a famous wrestler, "To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man." I say in the case for the Miami Dolphins, "To be the best, you've got to beat the best, no matter how long the odds may seem," because their odds right now seem very long just to have a winning record this season.

But it is not impossible to do as one may think it is.

Just ask the New England Patriots of last season.

The Dolphins, right now, are down for the count. Whether they beat the count or get knocked out is up to them.

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