Miami Dolphins 2007 Preview
Background: This former AFL team sports one of the best overall records in NFL history. It was led by the NFL's all time winningest coach in Don Shula and the greatest statistical QB in history, Dan Marino. Most importantly, the Dolphins are the only NFL team ever have an undefeated season, something that will likely never happen again. Former Dolphins are revered. This team is the heartbeat of football in south Florida.
Team Identity: Like the Cowboys, the Dolphins franchise represents everything that Miami wants – they are winners, they are celebrities, they are on the “scene”. Their aqua and orange color scheme are ubiquitous south of Palm Beach come fall.
However, owner Wayne Huzienga has had trouble finding new icons to replace Shula and Marino. If there ever was an NFL equivalent to the shadow Bear Bryant casts over Alabama football, it would the one that both Shula and Marino cast over the Dolphins. It is so ironic that Huzienga’s last failed savior, Nick Saban, is Alabama’s latest “investment” towards moving on from the Bear’s legacy.
Call it the “Jimmy Curse”. Jimmy Johnson, winner of national titles at the University of Miami and Super Bowls with the Cowboys, returned to live in south Florida when he wasn’t on camera for Fox Sports. Johnson got the ear of new owner Huzienga, who had bought the team from the estate of the beloved Joe Robbie, and somehow convinced Wayne that Don Shula had to go or Dan Marino’s window to win a Super Bowl would close. Johnson’s ultimately got what he wanted. Shula was essentially forced to resign so that Johnson could step in and complete what Shula couldn’t.
It felt like a deal with the devil at the time for Dolphins fans frustrated by no Super Bowls during the Marino era. No matter what Shula’s legacy was, the game seemed to have passed him by. Johnson, on the other hand, could do no wrong.
The problem is that Johnson might be an effective coach, but he is a selfish guy. After openly campaigning for the job (and forever incurring the wrath of Don Shula until he dies), Johnson realized Miami wasn’t so fun. He didn’t have Jerry Jones telling him what to do, but he did have the Marino legacy. Johnson and Marino quickly found themselves at odds. Johnson won a war with another legacy when Marino was shown the door after a brutal playoff loss to Jacksonville, but Johnson never was the same. His fights off the field left him with nothing left for coaching.
Johnson soon brought in his right hand “yes” man, Dave Wannstedt. Convincing Huzienga to hire Wannstedt might have been the worst thing to ever happen to the Dolphins. Dumbo Dave squandered the young, dominating defense that Johnson built through the draft with a horrible offense.
Nick Saban came to rescue two years ago and seemed to have everything under control (tight control) before last year blew up like Duante Culpepper's ACL. When Saban was forced to choose between a significant pay raise at Alabama vs a rebuilding job in Miami, Saban opted to return to college.
Exit Saban and Culpepper. Enter Cam Cameron and Trent Green. The sad thing is that the Dolphins' true identity still remains with Shula and Marino. Faces can changes, but only Super Bowls will create a new identity in Miami.
2007 Storyline: Cameron is to Huzienga what Wade Phillips is to Jerry Jones. Both owners are betting that their rosters are playoff quality. All they need is a softer touch at the controls. Both organizations are assuming that playoffs are assured. The only difference is that the NFL is nodding when Jones is saying it and laughing when Huzienga talks playoffs.
Is Huzienga crazy or are the rest of us crazy?
Expectation Meter: Again, if you talk to Huzeinga, it is high. However, most Dolphin fans are just hoping to watch something other than last season's train wreck. The hidden story is the tens of millions that Huzienga has spent personally on Dolphin Stadium. The Miami Hurricanes are moving there. Huzienga wants to make sure his stadium and its surrounding real estate stays in the Super Bowl rotation.
Like Jones, Huzienga has to sell hype. Saban proved he could coach in the NFL, but he isn't a snake oil salesman. The business of the Dolphins is selling corporate suites based on potential playoffs. Like Dallas, the Dolphins can never talk about rebuilding.
Wayne and Jerry are two peas in a pod this year. Despite anything they may be saying to the contrary, their entire 2007 team is on a short leash. No playoffs means wholesale changes.
The only difference is that Dallas has a chance to deliver. The Dolphins will be lucky to finish out of last place. Who besides Huzienga and his various mouthpieces think that the Dolphins have any shot of making the AFC playoffs when at least 8 teams look better than they do going into the season?
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