Does This Make the Upcoming Season Tank Because of Tua?

Miami Dolphins Fight Song

 

Hope this is the only time today I hear this earwig of a song.

Squish the Fish

Some Memes You May Enjoy

Many a truth is said in jest.

- Ladies and gentlemen the Miami Dolphins

- Be like Bruce Lee

- Makes me laugh every time NTTAWWT

- Why not? We have a day for every other thing.

Some Memes You May Enjoy

Many a truth is said in jest.

- Every time I listen to music while driving.

- 100%

- I admit I laughed

- Heh Heh

Squish the Fish

Gameday

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- China's economy, real estate bubble and all, looking a lot like Japan's from a couple decades ago. I've long said China's economy is much weaker than believed. 

- Dolphins CB sends warning to other players - "DO NOT take the pills they give you. DO NOT take the injections they give you.

- Is reverse aging already possible?

- Very cool - small water powered generator. Imagine this would be very handy for people living off the grid in the woods.

Go Pats!!

 I'll be at the game today. Go Pats!! Cover the goddamn spread!!!

Brian Flores and Integrity

Agree 100% with this Mike Florio post, "Brian Flores has true character and integrity, and any team looking for a head coach should want to hire him."

The two criticisms I've seen of the article are that Flores only blew the whistle after he had been fired which isn't true. He put his concerns about tanking in writing as it was happening (which is why his lawsuit against the NFL and the Dolphins will be so troublesome for the league). Also the "ask his players" criticism usually has Kyle Van Noy as exhibit A. Van Noy signed with the Dolphins after playing for Flores in New England but was cut after just one years. Guess what - Van Noy was also just cut from the Patriots after just one year. The Patriots big knock on defense last year was that the linebackers were too big and slow. Van Noy was exhibit A there too.

The big question with Flores going forward will be if he will see his lawsuit against the league and the Dolphins out to the end. I believe it would have to be a giant check with real changes to the league hiring processes attached for Flores to accept a settlement. A real big check.

The Dolphins and the NFL would be wise to get out their checkbooks. 

Interesting Tom Brady Theory

Tom Brady was originally supposed to team up with Sean Payton in Miami - with Payton as head coach and Brady not as QB but in the front office similar to what John Lynch does in San Fran. The Brian Flores lawsuit against the Dolphins scuttled those plans for both Payton and Brady.

I can buy this as a plausible scenario. 

Go Pats!

 In Miami for the game today and I just have one thing to say, "GO PATS!"

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

So if the Capital Police will be expanding to the States to "protect" Congressmen and Senators does that mean if you run for Congress you not only get to pay yourself the same salary as a Congressman ($174,000) but also potentially get a free personal security detail? All you'd have to say that you were threatened when trying to perform your "duties." Good deal... Not available in the US or Canada (for some reason)... Have some Dolphins fans in my life and they keep wanting to compare themselves to the Patriots. That's not close to being right. Since 1999 the Jacksonville Jaguars have been to the AFC Championship  game twice while Miami hasn't sniffed that sort of success. Maybe the Dolphins fans should worry about being the best team in their own state before comparing themselves to a dynasty... Nick Saba on being the best you can be. The video gives insight into why Saban is so good at what he does...  

Sadness and Anger

Returned Monday after spending a long weekend in Florida as part of my now annual tradition of attending the Patriots game in Miami with my girlfriend (who happens to be a Dolphins fan). This year was much different than the others. There was an undercurrent of sadness and anger pervading the entire trip. 

I get it we are in a pandemic. But the feelings of sadness and anger were palpable. 

My girlfriend and I also took a trip to Florida in June and it was much different. Everyone getting off an inbound flight was wearing a mask then but nobody else in the airport was. This time around everyone was wearing a mask. To not have a mask on in the airport was verboten. Outside the airport it was a little better.

Our first night there we actually saw a live band for the first time in months. It was a Motown review at the Tin Roof in Del Ray and we were allowed to actually dance to the music! It was glorious. Little did we know that would be the only band we'd see the entire trip. Other places would have a single guy on guitar but no bands (the Elbow Room in Fort Lauderdale had two guys on guitars). There was something seriously off.

Of the people on the street - 80-90% weren't wearing a mask but everyone had one for when they entered an establishment. Even with the cops it was 50/50 whether they'd be wearing masks. But the choices of what places to go to was lessened because many places were closed (many I fear for good). And the crowds that would make this trip so festive just weren't there. Seating for the Patriots game was limited to 20% capacity and with no tickets to be had thousands just stayed home. And with no crowds there's no tourist cash and the cycle turns vicious. 

Normally the bars in Fort Lauderdale by the Sea have the air of a Patriots rally for this game with the street outside the Village Grill / Pump House bar shut down to make room for one live band after another. This year nothing. It was dead. Same was true in Fort Lauderdale and in Hollywood Beach. 

At the game there was no tailgating and you had to wear your mask at all times. It was worse than the airport. There was an assigned usher whose sole job was to be the mask police. I spent most of the game on the lookout for the guy just so I could enjoy an occasional airgasm. I'll never attend another game where mask wearing is mandatory. It's just not worth it.

The airline attendant on the Delta flight home was even worse than the usher at Hard Rock Stadium. She seemed actually looking for a confrontation with anyone who would not meekly comply with mask conformity. But you had to grit your teeth (under your mask) and quietly seethe.

Which brings me back to sadness and anger. There's only so much we can collectively take. I fear we are quickly reaching the point of many becoming the Michael Douglas character in the movie Falling Down. There's a reckoning coming fueled by a river of underlying sadness and anger in this country. You can feel it coming.

I fear we have made the cure far worse than the disease.

Go Pats!!!

I'll be at the game today. Go Pats!! Cover the goddamn spread!!!

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan Fitzpatrick has been named the opening game starter for the Miami Dolphins. This will be Fitzmagic's 15th NFL season after graduating from Harvard.

I have a special place in my heart for Fitzpatrick because I predicted his success. Here's what I wrote on September 11, 2004:

"I am picking Harvard QB Ryan Fitzpatrick as my dark horse candidate for the Heisman this year. Fitzpatrick is the real deal. He has a cannon and can run. Some day he'll be playing on Sundays. If the Crimson can go undefeated - then look for Fitzpatrick to pick up some Gordie Lockbaum like support from the major media."

Now I'm not trying to say Fitzpatrick is a Tom Brady level QB but 15 NFL seasons is no joke.  Fitzpatrick was the last of 14 QB's taken in the 2005 NFL Draft (4 of which never played an NFL down). Aaron Rodgers was by far the best of the QB's drafted but Fitzpatrick could easily finish with the 2nd most passing yards and TD's of the group (assuming Alex Smith's career may be finished by his devastating injury last season).

Oh and 2004 Heisman - I'm guessing winner Matt Leinart got the votes but I bet he wishes he had Fitzmagic's NFL career.

Ryan Tannehill

Looks like the Dolphins are going to have both a new GM and head coach. I think they need a new QB too.

Ryan Tannehill was the 8th overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft. The very next pick was potential Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly.

Looking back at the draft is 20/20 but it should be noted that both Russell Wilson (75th overall) and Nick Foles (88th) went in the third round. Ah what could have been.

It is clear that Tannehill isn't a franchise QB and hopefully (for Dolphins fans) the new GM and head coach realize this and move on in a new direction.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

At the time the final play of the Miami/Pats game was very, very disappointing because of my rooting (and not insubstantial monetary) interests but I must say the sense of elation and joy of the Dolphins fans really was something to see and experience... So crazy it just might work... This win over the Patriots was really the Super Bowl equivalent for Dolphins fans. The high point of their season and a highlight for them that will be cherished the way the Flutie miracle in Miami pass was for BC fans... Drinking with quiet determination is often the best form of drinking... America's sustained competitive advantage stems from our vast natural resources and our freedoms. Of the two our freedoms are by far the most important and irreplaceable... Heh heh... The way I view Sunday's loss to the Dolphins is it was an early gift from the Patriots. Merry Christmas Miami...

Go Pats!

In Miami for the game today and I just have one thing to say, "GO PATS!"

Patriots Thoughts

The Patriots should try having Rob Gronkowski line up in the backfield as a way to get him more touches in the offense. It would be a look the Dolphins aren't prepared for and it would allow the offense to get the ball in Gronk's hands on pitches, screens and even hand-offs. You could also have Gronk go in motion to create miss-matches that way too. Worth a try.

Of the nine players taken in the last draft - six of them are injured including their top pick Isaiah Wynn who is out for the season with a torn Achilles. You can't plan for that.

If New England loses Sunday they would fall three full games behind Miami in the standings. Couple that with the fact that my girlfriend is a Dolphins fan and this game is pretty much a MUST win for the Pats Sunday. Oh and I also think they will cover the -6.5 points.

Go Pats!