AFC EAST CHAMPS!!!

[darell1976]

Miami now headed to the playoffs after 1-15 last year. Tony Sparano definately coach of the year and Brett Favre should NOT be in the Pro Bowl, Chad Pennington should be there instead. Now its payback time to the Ravens who beat Miami earlier. Just 3 wins to the Super Bowl!!!

[YaleFootballFan]

Though I hate feel good stories - and the Dolphins are one - I actually would like to see Miami do well in the playoffs. Head Coach Tony Sparano is a native of the New Haven area, so why not?

Congrats Dolphins fans and Coach Sparano!

[93henfan]

Congrats to the Dolphins!

[Ivytalk]

Though I hate feel good stories - and the Dolphins are one - I actually would like to see Miami do well in the playoffs. Head Coach Tony Sparano is a native of the New Haven area, so why not?

Congrats Dolphins fans and Coach Sparano!

Tony Soprano is from Jersey!xnodx

Congrats, Fish!:D

[BlueHen86]

Awesome turn around for the Dolphins, 1-15 one year, division champions the next year. I believe it is the greatest regular season turn around in NFL history.

Can the Lions top it next year?xeyebrowx
xlolx xlolx xlolx

[UNHWildCats]

Miami now headed to the playoffs after 1-15 last year. Tony Sparano definately coach of the year and Brett Favre should NOT be in the Pro Bowl, Chad Pennington should be there instead. Now its payback time to the Ravens who beat Miami earlier. Just 3 wins to the Super Bowl!!!
I dunno Cassel could make an argument too.

Belichick and Sparano will likely be the top vote getters for Coach and Parcells should easily get executive.

[YaleFootballFan]

Awesome turn around for the Dolphins, 1-15 one year, division champions the next year. I believe it is the greatest regular season turn around in NFL history.

From 15 games back to winning the division the following season. That is amazing.

Sounds a little like the Impossible Dream Red Sox of '67.

[UNHWildCats]

Nice for the Phins, but Baltimore is going to eat them alive.

[wkuhillhound]

Awesome turn around for the Dolphins, 1-15 one year, division champions the next year. I believe it is the greatest regular season turn around in NFL history.

Can the Lions top it next year?xeyebrowx
xlolx xlolx xlolx

Yes and no. The 1999 Indianapolis Colts had the same 10-game turnaround.

Source: http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/gamecenter/recap/NFL_20081228_MIA@NYJ

[Baldy]

Miami now headed to the playoffs after 1-15 last year. Tony Sparano definately coach of the year and Brett Favre should NOT be in the Pro Bowl, Chad Pennington should be there instead. Now its payback time to the Ravens who beat Miami earlier. Just 3 wins to the Super Bowl!!!

I think Mike Smith, John Harbaugh, Ken Wisenhunt, and a couple of others might have something to say about that.

[GoBlueHens83]

Congrats to the Dolphins! But I cannot wish them luck next week.

[Baldy]

I dunno Cassel could make an argument too.

Belichick and Sparano will likely be the top vote getters for Coach and Parcells should easily get executive.

Belichick? xlolx

Too much Kool-Aid, Travis. From 18-1 and a berth in the Super Bowl in 2007, to 11-5 and no playoffs in 2008? Can't see a coach getting COY after that much of a regression.

COY will be either Mike Smith or Sparano. Unless someone is paid off, the executive of the year should be Thomas Dimitrioff. xnodx

[grizband]

Not a Dolphins fan, but former Griz kicker Dan Carpenter nailed a 48 yard field goal in the 4th quarter!!!

[UNCBears2010]

Miami now headed to the playoffs after 1-15 last year. Tony Sparano definately coach of the year and Brett Favre should NOT be in the Pro Bowl, Chad Pennington should be there instead. Now its payback time to the Ravens who beat Miami earlier. Just 3 wins to the Super Bowl!!!

And to think, before this, Sparano was best known for leading the University of New Haven to the biggest defeat in the history of the Division II National Championship Game, a 51-0 beat down in 1997 at the hands of the UNC Bears and current Steelers DE Aaron Smith.:D

[Grizalltheway]

Belichick? xlolx

Too much Kool-Aid, Travis. From 18-1 and a loss in the Super Bowl in 2007, to 11-5 and no playoffs in 2008? Can't see a coach getting COY after that much of a regression.

COY will be either Mike Smith or Sparano. Unless someone is paid off, the executive of the year should be Thomas Dimitrioff. xnodx

Fixed it. xrotatehx

[gmoney55]

Congrats to the Phins! I don't think this team had that much more talent so that's an unreal coaching job. Sparano, Smith, Harbaugh, Tomlin, Fisher are all great COY candidates. Great job by Dungy and Fox too. Whisenhunt I'm not as high on, someone had to win the division.

[danefan]

Congrats to the Dolphins and Sparano! Both of his sons play for Albany!

[Pards Rule]

Funny, traveling to MIA and ATL a lot last year and earlier this year it is customary for me to pick up the local papers. I read all the articles regarding the Dirty Bird meltdown last year and felt sorry for them. And same with the Fish. What a difference a year makes indeed!! Encouragement to them until they meet up with the Birds!

[ASUMountaineer]

It's good to see the Dolphins (and Chad Pennington) and the Falcons make the playoffs this year after what the teams had been through (Mike Vick, Bobby Petrino, and Nick "The Snake" Saban).

[UNHWildCats]

Belichick? xlolx

Too much Kool-Aid, Travis. From 18-1 and a berth in the Super Bowl in 2007, to 11-5 and no playoffs in 2008? Can't see a coach getting COY after that much of a regression.

COY will be either Mike Smith or Sparano. Unless someone is paid off, the executive of the year should be Thomas Dimitrioff. xnodx
name me another head coach who has taken a team to 11-5 after losing their All-World QB on the second series of the season with no other QB on the roster with experience starting even 1 NFL game, not to mention the fact that the backup hadnt started a game since high school.

Not to mention of course all the other starters on IR including two of your top three LBs.

[Gil Dobie]

name me another head coach who has taken a team to 11-5 after losing their All-World QB on the second series of the season with no other QB on the roster with experience starting even 1 NFL game, not to mention the fact that the backup hadnt started a game since high school.

Not to mention of course all the other starters on IR including two of your top three LBs.

1999 Minnesota Vikings started with Randall Cunningham, lost in the second round of the playoffs, started the 2000 season with a QB with no experience Duante Culpepper, and finished 11-5.

[UNHWildCats]

1999 Minnesota Vikings started with Randall Cunningham, lost in the second round of the playoffs, started the 2000 season with a QB with no experience Duante Culpepper, and finished 11-5.
was Culpepper a started in college?

[wkuhillhound]

was Culpepper a started in college?

Yes, he played for Central Florida.

[UNHWildCats]

Yes, he played for Central Florida.
it was a rhetorical question :D

[YaleFootballFan]

was Culpepper a started in college?

Yes he was, at Central Florida. In fact he broke a lot of school records at UCF.

[Gil Dobie]

it was a rhetorical question :D

How many QB's in the nation would start at USC?

[UNCBears2010]

name me another head coach who has taken a team to 11-5 after losing their All-World QB on the second series of the season with no other QB on the roster with experience starting even 1 NFL game, not to mention the fact that the backup hadnt started a game since high school.

Not to mention of course all the other starters on IR including two of your top three LBs.

Name me another coach that was busted by the NFL for illegally filming his opponents' defensive signals.xthumbsupx

[darell1976]

I dunno Cassel could make an argument too.

Belichick and Sparano will likely be the top vote getters for Coach and Parcells should easily get executive.

Cassel did do an incredible job and is right up there with Pennington for QB's that got robbed from the Pro Bowl..too much of a love affair with Favre. Just listening to Phil Simms made me sick this guy was all Favre he was pissed when they gave him an intentional grounding sorry Phil its the rules if you are in the tackle box there has to be a receiver in the area you retard. Phil Simms is the worst commentator in sports.

[813Jag]

name me another head coach who has taken a team to 11-5 after losing their All-World QB on the second series of the season with no other QB on the roster with experience starting even 1 NFL game, not to mention the fact that the backup hadnt started a game since high school.

Not to mention of course all the other starters on IR including two of your top three LBs.
You make it sound like the Pats had Detroit Lions talent.

[gmoney55]

Cassel did do an incredible job and is right up there with Pennington for QB's that got robbed from the Pro Bowl..too much of a love affair with Favre. Just listening to Phil Simms made me sick this guy was all Favre he was pissed when they gave him an intentional grounding sorry Phil its the rules if you are in the tackle box there has to be a receiver in the area you retard. Phil Simms is the worst commentator in sports.

Thank you, my dad and I were saying the same thing. That's the rule. Phil was just looking for any way that a poor decision by Favre wasn't a penalty.

[jcf5445]

name me another head coach who has taken a team to 11-5 after losing their All-World QB on the second series of the season with no other QB on the roster with experience starting even 1 NFL game, not to mention the fact that the backup hadnt started a game since high school.

Not to mention of course all the other starters on IR including two of your top three LBs.

Bill Cowher

The Steelers went 6-10 in 2002, then lost their starting QB in the 1st game of the season in 2003. #7 filled in and the Steelers went 15-1 before being cheated in the AFC title game for the 2nd time in 4 years. But you know what they say, you can't beat Belicheat twice in one year. It was simply amazing how Tom Brady went from deer in the headlights in the regular season game in 2004 to "All-World" in that AFC title game. Those defensive signals sure do work wonders with a QB.

[darell1976]

Bill Cowher

The Steelers went 6-10 in 2002, then lost their starting QB in the 1st game of the season in 2003. #7 filled in and the Steelers went 15-1 before being cheated in the AFC title game for the 2nd time in 4 years. But you know what they say, you can't beat Belicheat twice in one year. It was simply amazing how Tom Brady went from deer in the headlights in the regular season game in 2004 to "All-World" in that AFC title game. Those defensive signals sure do work wonders with a QB.

I heard he may be going to coach Cleveland (just rumors), that would look wierd when they play Pittsburgh.

[Baldy]

name me another head coach who has taken a team to 11-5 after losing their All-World QB on the second series of the season with no other QB on the roster with experience starting even 1 NFL game, not to mention the fact that the backup hadnt started a game since high school.

Not to mention of course all the other starters on IR including two of your top three LBs.

Ummm, Mike Smith and Tony Sparano and John Harbaugh....

Please don't tell me you are trying to compare what Belichick did with what those three coaches have done by turning around three programs that were in the sewer (especially Atlanta) in just one year.

xhomerx

[UNHWildCats]

Bill Cowher

The Steelers went 6-10 in 2002, then lost their starting QB in the 1st game of the season in 2003. #7 filled in and the Steelers went 15-1 before being cheated in the AFC title game for the 2nd time in 4 years. But you know what they say, you can't beat Belicheat twice in one year. It was simply amazing how Tom Brady went from deer in the headlights in the regular season game in 2004 to "All-World" in that AFC title game. Those defensive signals sure do work wonders with a QB.
Big Ben started in college

[UNHWildCats]

Ummm, Mike Smith and Tony Sparano and John Harbaugh....

Please don't tell me you are trying to compare what Belichick did with what those three coaches have done by turning around three programs that were in the sewer (especially Atlanta) in just one year.

xhomerx
Again these three QBs the teams had have actually started a game since they started shaving.

Im not taking anything away from anyone. But the thought that Sparano is a shoein for the award is crazy. I would add Smith into the argument, though im not sure I would add Harbaughs

[YaleFootballFan]

I heard he may be going to coach Cleveland (just rumors), that would look wierd when they play Pittsburgh.

Cower is not interested in coaching Cleveland. He basically told the Browns thanks, but no thanks.

WFAN in New York reported today that Cower is interested in being the head coach of the Jets. I know Jets fans are targeting him as their next head coach.

[Baldy]

Again these three QBs the teams had have actually started a game since they started shaving.

Im not taking anything away from anyone. But the thought that Sparano is a shoein for the award is crazy. I would add Smith into the argument, though im not sure I would add Harbaughs

Doesn't mean anything. Cassel has been in the league for 4 years and has seen 100X more PT than Ryan did on week 1. To use your analogy, Cassel was playing in the NFL before Matt Ryan was shaving. xeyebrowx

[UNCBears2010]

Big Ben started in college

Cassel would have too if he'd gone to Miami-Ohio, or pretty much any school in the country other than USC.

[813Jag]

Again these three QBs the teams had have actually started a game since they started shaving.

Im not taking anything away from anyone. But the thought that Sparano is a shoein for the award is crazy. I would add Smith into the argument, though im not sure I would add Harbaughs
Replace Cassell with Brad Johnson and tell me how your team would do. No matter the spin the kid was never a bad QB, if anything not transferring from USC shows his character.

[gmoney55]

Well of course no one is going to match up to that paragraph from Belichick, you made it so specific. How about: name another coach that could have a team go 16-0 one season, play all year with multiple Pro Bowlers in the lineup, one of the best offensive lines in football and one of the easiest schedules in the NFL, yet go just 11-5 with a 2-4 record against teams that made the playoffs.