Dolphins Watch has new home

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http://www.realclearsports.com/blognetwork/dolphins_watch/.

Ginn strikes back, leads Fins over Jets

Dolphins wide receiver Ted Ginn responded to his benching with a historic performance, tying an NFL record with two kickoff returns for touchdowns in a single quarter to lead Miami to a 30-25 win over the rival New York Jets.

Ginn said all the right things after his history-equaling performance, stressing that he "just wanted to make plays" for a team that has had few big ones this season.

Against the Jets, with the momentum seemingly on New York's side after a pair of scoring drives engineered by Mark Sanchez, Ginn made a spectacular rebuttal.

The first TD return was vintage Ginn, as he veered to the sideline and outran every Jet with a chance to bring him down.

But it was the second return that was special, as Ginn made two quick cuts in the hole when it seemed like he was in danger, found the outside again and was off to the races.

Two returns for a total of 201 yards, and those runbacks, coupled with Jason Taylor's 48-yard fumble return for a TD, helped the Dolphins stave of Sanchez and a furious Jets rally.

Miami won despite being outgained 378 yards to 104, their fewest yards ever in a win.

The Dolphins won despite Chad Henne completing 12-of-21 yards for a piddling 112 yards and one TD. The Wildcat was also held in check by the Jets, as the running game was held to a season-low 51 yards.

Henne was even sacked six times, as New York blitzes came at him from seemingly every angle.

But the young quarterback showed his cool, leading his team on the game-clinching TD march after a Sanchez 19-yard scoring toss to Braylon Edwards had cut the lead to 24-19.

Henne connected with tight end Joey Haynos on a key third-down conversion for 15 yards, then hit Haynos with the winning TD pass a few plays later.

It's the second time in three weeks the Dolphins have beaten the Jets, who have lost four of their last five after a 3-0 start.

Miami is now 3-4, with all three wins coming in the AFC East, which bodes well for the next game against the New England Patriots.

The victory overshadowed the continuing defensive breakdowns for the Dolphins, who again weren't able to consistenly pressure the passer in the second half.

Sanchez also riddled the suspect pass defense for 265 yards and two TDs, and Thomas Jones gained 102 yards on the ground.

Ginn was the story, but don't forget, he didn't make a single catch Sunday, as none of the Dolphins wide receivers were particularly effective.

Only two wideouts caught a pass from Henne, with Davone Bess leading the team with four catches -- for a paltry 18 yards.

The Dolphins know they were lucky to get out of the Meadowlands with a win, and there is still a lot to work on as Tom Brady & company loom.

Dolphins Watch has moved to a new home, which you can find by clicking on the following link: http://www.realclearsports.com/blognetwork/dolphins_watch/.

(Photo: Yahoo Images)

Dolphins-Jets: The sequel

In a strange scheduling quirk, the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets face off for the second time in three weeks, this time in the Meadowlands. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

The last time the two teams played, of course, was on Monday night. And in one of the best games in the rivalry in recent years, Ronnie Brown's 2-yard TD run with six seconds left lifted Miami to a 31-27 win.

The next week, the Jets continued their skid with a 16-13 overitme loss at home to Buffalo, their third loss in a row. Quarterback Mark Sanchez single-handedly lost the game with his worst day as a pro, tossing five interceptions.

But last week, New York got back in the win column with a 38-0 demolishing of the hapless Raiders in Oakland.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, had unbeaten New Orleans on the ropes until a 22-point fourth quarter led to an improbable Saints 46-34 come-from-behind victory.

That loss dropped Miami to 2-4 and 2 1/2 games behind the Jets in the AFC East.

The Dolphins defense had no answer for New Orleans, as Drew Brees led the Saints to 43 points over the last two quarters.

Brees riddled the Dolphins secondary for 298 yards and one TD, and Miami also lost veteran cornerback Will Allen for the season with a torn ACL.

That elevates rookie Vontae Davis to the starting lineup, where he will play opposite another rookie, Sean Smith.

Jets receiver Braylon Edwards feasted on the Fins in the first meeting, catching five passes for 64 yards and a TD, but he has not been productive in the last two games.

Also, Jerricho Cotchery should return after missing the first meeting with a pulled hamstring, giving the Jets another receiving threat.

The Dolphins pass rush struggled against New York on that Monday night, tallying just one sack.

The defense started like a house of fire againast New Orleans, sacking Brees five times and intercepting him three times -- but all the damage was done in the first half.

Miami must get pressure on Sanchez to give the two young corners help, and the running game will be a priority for both teams.

The Jets ran the ball effectively against the Dolphins in the first meeting, tallying 138 yards.

New York lost a key player for the season last week as well, when do-everything running back Leon Washington broke his leg.

But the Jets found another option to team with Thomas Jones in rookie Shonn Greene, who lit up the Raiders for 144 yards and two rushing TDs.

Greene and Jones will look to pound it inside, while the Dolphins Wildcat offense will try to continue its dominance.

Miami ran for 151 yards against Rex Ryan's defense in the last meeting, which Ryan later lamented as an embarrassing effort.

Since then, the Jets have sunk to 22nd in the league against the run, and they lost a key run-stuffer in tackle Kris Jenkins, who also is out for the season.

Somehow, I get the feeling Ryan will have his defense better prepared this week than he did Monday night. The Jets have the home crowd on their side, and the revenge factor.

Plus, I don't think Chad Henne will have the same kind of day he had three weeks ago, when he riddled the Jets for 20-of-26 passing for 241 yards.

Ryan took the last Dolphins game personally, and I think he'll unleash the hounds on a team that might still be suffering a hangover from last week's meltdown.

Jets 27, Dolphins 24.

(Photo: Yahoo Images)

Is Ted Ginn a bust?

Over the past few days, there has been a firestorm of criticism in Miami surrounding wide receiver Ted Ginn after another lackluster performance agaisnt the New Orleans Saints.

The numbers tell a grim story: Four receptions for 77 yards the past four games, with 53 of them coming on a TD catch against the New York Jets.

He has also dropped several passes, and seemingly shied away from contact.

Against the Saints, Ginn dropped two passes, with one of them a bobble that ended up in the hands of safety Darren Sharper for a 42-yard TD that aided the New Orleans comeback.

It's been that type of effort -- or lack thereof -- that's marked Ginn's career.

And now, with the heat being turned up by the local media, Coach Tony Sparano finally admitted after Wednesday's practice that Ginn has competition for a starting job that once seemed to be his for the next few years.

For the first time all year, Ginn actually shared first-team reps with another receiver.

After two seasons, it's become evident that Ginn is simply a speed receiver, a straight-line runner who does not like to go across the middle or take punishment. Add to that his propensity for drops, and you have the makings of a bust.

Against the Colts in Week 2, Ginn had his finest day of the year, catching 11 passes for 108 yards. But he also showed why the Dolphins have not been able to rely on him in the clutch, as he let a Chad Pennington potential TD pass bounce off his hands in the end zone late in the game.

If Ginn catches that pass, the Dolphins go ahead 30-27, and force Peyton Manning to rally his Colts with less than a minute to play.

The scrutiny is nothing new to Ginn, who has been under a microscope since he was drafted in 2007.

The old regime of former coach Cam Cameron and general manager Randy Mueller passed on Brady Quinn with the ninth pick (in retrospect probably a good decision) to take the speedy Ginn. In the second round, Cameron gambled on BYU's John Beck, who the Dolphins released this preseason and who is now the third-string quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, making Ginn and Beck possibly the worst first two picks in the last 20 years for Miami.

And that's saying something, considering the Dave Wannstedt-Rick Spielman draft-busting efforts that resulted in the franchise's freefall from perennnial playoff contender to 1-15 in 2007.

But back to Ginn.

His arrival on the Miami sports scene was hardly auspicious, as for the first time I can remember since following the team in 1986, he was actually booed during the introductory press conference in Miami.

That sort of thing just doesn't happen here, where the only person worthy of that kind of sentiment is current Alabama coach Nick Saban.

Usually, a player or coach is given the leeway to fail before the fans respond so lustily.

That moment said two things: One, that the fans were tired of the constant draft fiascos that resulted in the Dolphins missing out on players like Randy Moss and Drew Brees over the last 11 years, and instead getting players like Jamar Fletcher and John Avery.

Also, it didn't say much for what they thought of Ginn, another in a line of Ohio State wide receivers who were long on speed (Joey Galloway, Terry Glenn), but short on toughness.

And Ginn has never been a good fit for the current Sparano-Bill Parcells regime.

Parcells once famously said, "They let you cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries," in response to management selecting Glenn high in the draft over his objections.

Parcells does not believe in drafting skill players high. In fact, in another interview, he was quoted as saying you should never draft a running back with one of your top picks, because history has shown you can find just as good a back later in the draft.

Parcells and Sparano are meat-and-potatoes guys, while Ginn is clearly garnish: Pretty to look at and having lots of style, but ultimately, little substance.

So, with the emergence of fellow Buckeyes receiver and rookie Brian Hartline, who has caught six passes for 121 yards and a TD in the last three games (and was drafted in the fourth round, a spot Parcells would prefer to take a receiver), you could see the writing on the wall.

Now the question is, how does Ginn handle a possible demotion? Does he sulk, or does he work his hardest to regain his former position?

This may be a good thing to have happen to him, to re-ignite his competitive fires and make him into the player Dolphins fans and management hope he can be.

Or, this may prove to be the death-knell to his career here.

Either way, the answer won't be revealed for a few weeks, when we find out just what type of character and resolve Ginn has.

(Photo: Yahoo Images)

Dolphins melt down against Saints

For most of the first half against New Orleans, the Dolphins played their finest football of the young season.

Miami held the high-powered Saints to just one first down through the first 22 minutes of play, harrassed Drew Brees into three interceptions, and dominated the clock with the Wildcat en route to a 24-3 lead.

Jason Taylor looked like the J.T. of old for the first time in 2009, sacking Brees twice and forcing two fumbles.

As a team, the Dolphins recorded five sacks on Brees, the second-best performance of the season.

Backup safety Tyrone Culver also proved he deserves more playing time, as he made a big play with an interception in the first half.

But then the Dolphins committed a costly turnover, as Davone Bess lost a questionable fumble at midfield late in the first half.

Brees marched the Saints to the Miami 1-yardline with five seconds left. New Orleans could have kicked a field goal and gone into the locker room down 18.

But, Coach Sean Payton rolled the dice, and called Brees' number on a quarterback sneak.

He scored with no time left, and the Saints went into the locker room down by just 14 points despite being completely outplayed in the first half.

As expected, New Orleans turned it on in the second half, and the Dolphins could not stop the offensive barrage.

A Ted Ginn bobble turned into a Darren Sharper 42-yard interception return for TD, and Brees followed with a TD pass to Marques Colston to cut the deficit to 27-24.

Poor play in the Dolphins' secondary again ruled the day, as Jeremy Shockey caught four passes for 105 yards -- all in the second half -- and his 66-yard catch and run set the Saints up to take the lead for the first time Sunday.

Shockey got open because of a blown defensive assignment, and he broke a Vontae Davis tackle, then played paddy-cake with safety Gibril Wilson for another 40 yards before Wilson suddenly remembered the best way to tackle a behemoth like Shockey is to go low.

That set up one of the most spectacular TDs of the season, a 10-yard double reverse to Reggie Bush, who launched himself the last six yards for the score.

Brees played a bad game by his standards, hitting on 22-of-38 passes for 298 yards, but he made the big plays when his team needed him most.

In the second half, the Wildcats stalled, and the Dolphins were forced to rely to heavily on quarterback Chad Henne, who had 37 pass attempts.

Saints defensive back Tracy Porter clinched the game when a blitz forced Henne into a bad throw.

Porter made the pick, and went 54-yards to cap a 22-point fourth quarter, and sent the Dolphins to 2-4.

Miami wasted a superb day by Ricky Williams, who ran nine times for 80 yards and scored three TDs, with a 68-yard run being the longest TD of his career.

Miami now falls to 2 1/2 games behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East, and the Fins also lost veteran cornerback Will Allen for the season due to a torn ACL.

Sean Smith and Davis will now have to shoulder the load at cornerback. So far, the rookies have played well enough that there shouldn't be a severe drop-off at the position.

This marks the second time in a month the Dolphins have had a premiere team on the ropes, and just as they did against Indianapolis, the Dolphins couldn't finish off the effort.

Those two games could come back to haunt them as they try and make a playoff run.

(Photo: Yahoo Images)

High-scoring Saints march into Miami

The Miami Dolphins come out of their bye week and into the fire, as they host the undefeated New Orleans Saints at Land Shark Stadium. Kickoff is at 4:15.

To say the Saints are a high-scoring outfit is an understatement. Through five games, New Orleans is averaging 38.4 points and 430 yards of total ofense per game.

Last week, Drew Brees and Company eviscerated the then-No. 1 defense in the NFL, the New York Giants, for 493 total yards and 48 points in the Saints' 48-27 drubbing.

Brees was at his best, completing 23-of-30 passes for 369 yards and four touchdowns, and Marques Colston caught eight passes for 166 yards and a TD.

These two teams met in the preseason, but Brees and many of the offensive starters did not play in Miami's 10-7 victory.

For Miami to win, the Dolphins must employ the same strategy they almost executed against the Colts and Peyton Manning back in a Week 2 loss: Control the ball with the running game, and limit Brees' opportunities offensively.

The problem that week was that Manning made the most of every chance he got, and led the Colts to a 27-23 win despite having possession of the ball for only 14 minutes and 53 seconds.

The Saints present a variety of problems, as they have playmakers at every offensive position, and are even fifth in the NFL in rushing offense.

Colston will be a handful for the secondary, though Sean Smith and his 6-foot-3 frame should have some opportunities against him.

The bigger problems may be Jeremy Shockey and Reggie Bush out of the backfield.

The Dolphins have had problems all season with elite tight ends. In Weeks 1-3, Tony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark and Antonio Gates had their way with Dolphins linebackers and the secondary.

Not coincidentally, in this two-game winning streak they managed to shut down Derek Fine of the Bills and Dustin Keller of the Jets.

Shockey is banged up, but if he plays, he should see a lot of passes from Brees.

The Dolphins' pass rush, which has been largely nonexistent this season, may not have much of a chance Sunday, as Brees gets the ball off so quickly, teams can barely get to him.

The Saints have allowed just four sacks all year, fourth in the NFL, and the Giants' great pass rush did not drop him once in last week's victory.

Dolphins enter with balanced attack
The Dolphins are coming off their best offensive performance of the season.

In a 31-27 win over the Jets on Monday Night Football two weeks ago, Chad Henne had the finest day of his young career, completing 20-of-26 throws for 241 yards and two TDs.

Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams spearheaded a 151-yard rushing effort out of the Wildcat, and Ted Ginn made his first big play of the season, when he beat a Jets triple-team for a 53-yard TD catch.

Now, the Dolphins must find a way to penetrate a Saints defense that has been surprisiingly good this year.

New Orleans ranks ninth in the NFL in total defense -- just one spot ahead of the Dolphins -- and last week the Saints held Eli Manning to his worst day of the season, with just 14 completions in 31 attempts for 178 yards and an interception.

Darren Sharper is the quarterback of the defensive backfield, and he is a master at reading a passer's eyes.

Sharper has five interceptions through five games, and he had a sixth last week that was called back due to a penalty.

He is exactly the type of crafty safety Henne should be wary of.

Other than Sharper, the New Orleans defense is largely the same outfit that has been a sieve the past few seasons.

What has changed is the addition of Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator.

His imaginative schemes and aggressive tactics have transformed the New Orleans defense, and the big men up front -- led by Charles Grant and Will Smith -- have formed a brick wall for opposing running backs, as the Saints rank fifth in the league against the run.

The Saints have too many weapons, and though I think the Dolphins will be able to move the ball on them -- particularly on the ground -- I see the Saints slipping by with a 31-24 score.

(Photo: Getty Images)

Grading the Dolphins

With the Dolphins on a bye this past weekend, this seems like a good time to grade the team on its performance so far this season:

Offensive line -- B: The space-eaters up front are reportedly making a combined $155 million in salaries this season, and they've earned every penny in the running game, paving the way for an attack that leads the league with an average of 177 yards per game. It's not just that the Dolphins are running it a lot; they are also running effectively, as their 4.8-average per carry attests. The only downside: The pass protection has been leaky at times, as the Dolphins have allowed 13 sacks through five regular season games, tied for 13th in the NFL.

Running backs -- A: Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have been the reasons for the Dolphins resurgence, and the Wildcat has been close to unstoppable in the last two games. Brown ranks eighth in the NFL with 443 yards, and he has already scored six TDs. Williams ranks 20th with 316 yards, and he has a gaudy 5.2-yard average per carry.

Wide receivers -- D: A group that has been wildly inconsistent from game to game, and is now a secondary factor in the offense. Davone Bess leads the unit with a paltry 23 receptions. Ted Ginn, the Dolphins' nominal No. 1 receiver, ranks 53rd in the NFL with 16 catches, and he has enjoyed just one 100-yard game. Too often the receivers have not been able to get separation from opposing corners, and the tight ends have been even worse, with just 10 receptions coming from that position.

Quarterbacks -- C: Chad Pennington didn't do much before his season-ending injury, averaging just 5.6 yards per attempt and throwing only one TD pass. Henne has been better through 2 1/2 games, but he's already been sacked more times (7) than Pennington had been in the same amount of action.

Defensive line -- B: The line has been the starting point for the Dolphins' excellence at stopping the run. Miami is third in the NFL in that category, allowing 76.4 yards per game and holding opposing backs to an average of 3.4 yards each time they run the football. Randy Starks and Kendall Langford have three sacks combined, but far too often the unit doesn't get enough push up the middle against opposing quarterbacks.

Linebackers -- C: Against, the run, this unit is stout, as Jason Taylor and Channing Crowder always seem to fly to the football. But against the pass, opposing tight ends have feasted. Three straight weeks, the Dolphins were burned by Tony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark and Antonio Gates, meaning this unit has been a big contributor to the team's 18th-ranked pass defense. The pass rush has also been poor, with half of the team's 12 sacks coming in the Buffalo game. Jason Taylor and Joey Porter are not providing the push they have in recent years, and Cameron Wake needs more playing time after his three-sack effort against Buffalo.

Secondary -- C: The rookies, Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, have played well. The old man, Will Allen, has also been solid, save for the New York Jets game when Braylon Edwards had his way with him. But the Dolphins have just three interceptions as a team -- all against lowly Buffalo -- and then there are the safeties. Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell were part of the problem against tight ends, and they have missed far too many tackles to help compound the errors.

Special teams -- C: The Dolphins rank in the bottom half of the league in returns, and the problem is a lack of speed. Neither Davone Bess nor Patrick Cobbs have enough of it to break a big return, and now that Cobbs is injured, maybe Ginn can breathe some life into the return game. The kickoff coverage has been excellent, as Miami is allowing oponents an average of just 20 yards per return, though the punt return unit has been a little softer, allowing opponents a 10.3 average per return.

Punter Brandon Fields has been mediocre with 44.5 yards per kick, and he ranks even lower in punts downed inside the 20 with six. Dan Carpenter has been almost perfect this season, going 7-for-8 on field goal tries and 13-for-13 on extra points, though he has just two touchbacks, down from seven a year ago.

Coaching -- B: The Dolphins staff has again made the most out of what seems to be a little, as Dan Henning's game plans have kept opposing defenses off balance. After a bad start, Miami has averaged 31 points in its last three games. However, Henning did make a big gaffe that cost the Fins against Indianapolis, when he decided to run the ball on third down late in the game rather than go for the jugular and a TD that would have made Peyton Manning's job more difficult. Paul Pasqualoni has the defense doing its usual stout job against the run, but he hasn't found the magic formula for pressuring the passer -- though the pass defense has improved over the last two games. Tony Sparano has pushed the right buttons after an 0-3 start that could have ended in freefall, and he has the team believing in Henne.

Overall -- C-: The Dolphins dug themselves a big hole to start the season, but it's to their credit that they did not quit and have put themselves in position to at least make a run down the stretch. That said, there are too many holes on this team right now -- particularly defensively -- to think they have a shot of repeating last year's dream run to the playoffs.

(Yahoo Images)

Dolphins climb back into AFC East race

The Jets-Dolphins rivalry is back, and the nation got a chance to see two up-and-coming football teams play a classic game Monday night.

Ronnie Brown and the Wildcat got the better of the Jets, with Brown scoring a 2-yard touchdown run with six seconds left to give the Fins a 31-27 win that puts them back in the AFC East race.

There were several positives in the performance, and many of them were on offense.

We learned that the Wildcat is not just a "fad," as Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan called it prior to the start of the season.

In recent weeks, the Dolphins have run the Wildcat more and more often, culminating Monday night with 16 snaps out of the formation.

Miami gianed 110 yards in the Wildcat, the most since they unveiled the formation last season at New England, and they averaged 6.9 yards per play.

On the last madcap drive, in which Miami went 70 yards in 13 plays and ate up four minutes and 59 seconds of clock, the Wildcat accounted for 25 yards on four plays.

It has become apparent that the Dolphins, who ran for 158 yards and are the top-rushing team in the NFL, can run on any defense.

Brown gained 74 yards on 21 carries and scored twice, and Ricky Williams added 68 yards on 11 carries.

However, the team suffered a big loss when it was announced that backup running back Patrick Cobbs will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

Cobbs is a key contributor to the Wildcat, though he doesn't often run the ball.

His biggest asset is as a blocker. If you watched the highlights, there was Cobbs, clearing space downfield for Williams on a big first down run out of the Wildcat in the first quarter.

He also added a big-play element to the formation. Remember Cobbs' 80-yard TD catch out of the formation last year against the Houston Texans?

Now, preseason star Lex Hilliard be called on to replace Cobbs as the third running back. Ted Ginn will again handle the kickoff return duties, a job Cobbs had taken over this season.

The other revelation was the Dolphins' passing game, which was finally able to stretch the field and make the big plays that had largely been missing this season.

Chad Henne had his best game as a pro, completing 20-of-26 passes for 262 yards and two TDs.

He looked poised in the pocket, and he was accurate and showcased a strong arm.

Henne's most impressive throw was a 53-yard rainbow to Ginn for a TD that gave the Dolphins a 24-20 lead.

Ginn beat triple coverage on that play, and maybe now he will be more of an offensive factor since it's clear Henne has the arm to get him the ball.

But Henne's most important throws came on the game-winning drive.

On 3rd-and-5 from the New York 30-yardline, Henne slid to his left to avoid a seven-man blitz, and delivered a perfect pass to Greg Camarillo for 14 yards and a crucial first down.

Two plays later, facing 3rd-and-10 from the 16, Henne showed good mobility, rolling right and drilling another accurate throw to Camarillo on a comeback route for 12 yards and another first down.

Two not-so-routine passes, both well-executed, and both for big plays that kept the winning drive alive.

The flip side of the offensive fireworks was another poor performance by the defense.

For the first time this season, a team was able to consitently run the ball against Miami, as the Jets pounded the Fins for a season-high 138 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

Thomas Jones scored two TDs, one on a 7-yard run where New York's offensive line completely blew out the Dolphins front.

The pass defense was a little better, holding Mark Sanchez to 12-of-24 passing for 172 yards, but whenever he seemed to need a big play, Sanchez got it.

The Dolphins had practically no pass rush, allowing Sanchez to step up in the pocket for big plays like a 34-yard pass to Braylon Edwards.

Cornerback Will Allen had one of his worst days as a Dolphin, allowing the newly acquired Edwards to pick up 64 yards on five catches and score a TD.

Allen also drew a phantom pass interference call on another play when Edwards had clearly beaten him, but he dropped the potential TD pass.

David Clowney even found a way to get behind the Dolphins defense, as he beat Vontae Davis and Yeremiah Bell for a 53-yard reception that led to Edwards' big catch a few plays later.

The offense is still a work in progress, but the Dolphins have to feel good about it heading into the bye week. The pass defense however, has only slightly improved, ranking 19th in the league.

The Dolphins had just one sack Monday night, and no turnovers forced.

As a team, Miami has only three interceptions, and though the Dolphins rank 10th in the NFL with 12 sacks, half of that total came against woeful Buffalo last week. Miami has only forced six turnovers in five games this season.

That's not enough, and if they can't force offenses into more mistakes, there will be many more high-scoring games like Monday night's affair.

But at 2-3, the Dolphins are alive in the AFC East. And after the bye, they go right back into the fire at home against New Orleans, on the road against these same Jets, then host division-leading New England.

After that stretch, we'll know much more about this team.

(Photo: Yahoo Images)

Mirror images collide Monday night

After losing some steam in recent years, the Miami Dolphins-New York Jets rivalry has returned to prominence over the past two seasons.

Monday night, the two teams meet before a national audience, in a game that will be televised by ESPN.

The Jets will no doubt be playing the revenge card in this one.

It was Miami that ended their dreams of a playoff berth in 2008, and ended the Brett Favre Era in one fell swoop in a 24-17 win at the Meadowlands.

Much has changed in that time.

Favre, of course, is in Minnesota. Coach Eric Mangini was fired, and hired by the Cleveland Browns.

The man who replaced Mangini is his polar opposite.

There is no doubt that Rex Ryan is Buddy Ryan's son. He has the same qualities: He's abrasive, arrogant, and he has the most important thing in common with Dad, he's a great defensive football coach.

Ryan has wasted no time in molding the Jets in his image, and they enter Land Shark Stadium 3-1 and as the de facto leaders in the AFC East.

The Dolphins have gotten off to a much slower start, falling to 0-3 and losing starting quarterback Chad Pennington for the season before rebounding for a 38-10 win over Buffalo last week.

Against the Bills, the Dolphins executed what must have been Tony Sparano's and Bill Parcells' dream game plan: They controlled the ball for more than 37 minutes, ran for 250 yards and forced six sacks and three interceptions.

It was an all-around brilliant performance, one in which first-time starter Chad Henne didn't have to do much (14-of-22, 115 yards, 1 TD).

That will likely change Monday night.

The Jets enter with the fourth-ranked defense in the NFL, though last week, they gave up a season-high 153 yards rushing in their first loss of the season to New Orleans.

But with a rookie quarterback under center, you'd better believe Ryan will stack the box in an effort to stop the run and force the ball into Henne's hands.

The last few weeks, the Wildcat offense has been operating at optimum efficiency. Miami leads the NFL in rushing at 183.5 yards per game, and since being held to 96 yards opening week by Atlanta, that number has risen to 212.7 yards per game.

Ronnie Brown has been the master of the Wildcat, ranking fifth in the league in rushing with 369 yards and four TDs.

But, if you remember last year, the only team that consistently stopped the Wildcat was the Baltimore Ravens, with Ryan as defensive coordinator.

In those two games, Brown had 27 and 19 yards rushing, and as a team the Dolphins gained just 153 yards total on the ground.

Ryan likes to blitz with different personnel, and he'll do it from any side of the field.

Also, with Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis, he had the personnel to stop the Wildcat.

Scott is now a Jet, and he has teammates like David Harris and Brian Thomas who can fly to the football and help stop the run.

Even more remarkable is the fact the Jets are sixth against the pass, despite having the fewest sacks in the league with four.

That's testament to Darrelle Revis, one of the top corners in the game, as well as safeties Jim Leonhard and Kerry Rhodes.

Scheme is what makes the Jets' D so effective, as the sum is truly greater than the individual parts.

Henne will have to take his deep shots when he gets a chance, but Ted Ginn may not have many opportunities with Revis on him.

The flip side of this battle is, the Jets are almost a mirror image of what the Dolphins try to do offensively.

New York ranks eighth in the league in rushing at over 130 yards per game, partly because they have a good trio of running backs in Thomas Jones, Leon Washington and Shonn Greene.

But the Jets also run out of necessity, as quarterback Mark Sanchez is only a rookie and not yet ready to assume the full burden offensively.

The Saints proved that last week, when they bottled up the New York ground attack, and forced Sanchez into 27 pass attempts and three crucial interceptions.

I don't see the Jets being able to run the ball on Miami, since the Dolphins have the No. 1 rushing defense in the league.

Washington will be a handful in the backfield and catching passes, as will tight end Dustin Keller, who will try to exploit what has been a soft spot in the Dolphins defense all year.

Joey Porter returns to help the pass rush, and Cameron Wake should see more playing time after his three-sack effort last week.

New Jets receiver Braylon Edwards gives "The Sanchise" the deep element the offense has been missing.

And that may be what this game comes down to: Which team can make plays in the passing game?

This should be a defensive struggle, but the Dolphins troubles against the pass -- and the unknown quantity in Henne -- tip the scales slightly in New York's favor.

Jets 17, Dolphins 13.

Dolphins-Jets: Charting a memorable rivalry

With all due respect to the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, and even the Miami Dolphins' former AFC East playmates, the Indianapolis Colts, no team gets a Dolphins' fan's blood boiling more than the New York Jets.

It's a rivaly that goes back to the salad days of the AFL, when Joe Namath led the Jets on an upward climb that led to their only Super Bowl win in 1969, and the Dolphins were a struggling expansion franchise.

Monday night marks the 88th meeting between the teams, with the Jets holding a 46-40-1 overall edge, including a 13-5 mark against Miami this decade.

There have been many memorable games between the two teams, starting in the 1970s, when Namath went against the Dolphins and their vaunted "53 defense."

Miami won most of those battles, on the way to a 14-6 record against New York in the 1970s, and the Dolphins won their only two Super Bowls following the 1972 and 1973 seasons.

The battle reached its apex in 1982, when the teams met three times in the strike-shortened season, with the final meeting deciding the AFC Championship.

The Dolphins won the first two games, 45-28 and 20-19, and then, in a game that was later dubbed "The Mud Bowl," Dolphins linebacker A.J. Duhe intercepted three Richard Todd passes, returning one 35 yards to seal a 14-0 victory.

In 1985, future Hall-of-Famer Dan Marino hit Mark Duper with a 50-yard touchdown pass with less than a minute to play to give the Dolphins a come-from-behind 21-17 win. Duper, who had missed seven weeks with a broken leg, set a team record in that game with 217 yards receiving.

Then came 1986. In the first game of the Jets-Dolphins rivalry I ever saw, Marino threw a career-high six TD passes and staked the Dolphins to a 45-38 lead late at the Meadowlands.

But with Miami trying to run out the clock -- and needing one first down to do it -- running back Woody Bennett fumbled, and the Jets recovered.

Cue Ken O'Brien to Wesley Walker, as the pair connected for the tying TD with no time left to force overtime.

Then, after winning the all-important coin toss, O'Brien found Walker again -- for Walker's fourth TD and a 51-45 win that remains the highest-scoring game in the series.

O'Brien threw for 479 yards in the victory; Marino passed for 448.

That game propelled the Jets to a nine-game winning streak, and at 10-1 they ventured to the Orange Bowl for a Monday night date with the Dolphins.

What resulted was an improbable blowout, as Marino completed 29-of-36 passes for 288 yards and four TDs, and Lorenzo Hampton gained 150 yards on 19 carries and scored two TDs in a 45-3 victory.

The Jets lost their last five games, but backed into the playoffs at 10-6 that season.

On Dec. 7, 1987, the already intense rivalry became even nastier when Jets defensive tackle Marty Lyons' illegal chop block on future Hall-of-Fame Dolphins center Dwight Stephenson ended Stephenson's career in a 37-28 Jets' victory.

Dolphins coach Don Shula was so upset about the hit that he reportedly chased Lyons out of the locker room with a profanity-laced tirade when the defensive tackle tried to apologize to Stephenson.

The next year, Marino threw for a career best 521 yards, but he also tossed five interceptions -- three to rookie Jets corner Erik McMillan, who returned one 55 yards for a TD in another Jets win.

In 1991, the teams met in the regular season finale at Joe Robbie Stadium with a playoff berth on the line.

Marino passed to Ferrell Edmunds for a 1-yard TD and a 20-17 lead with just 44 seconds left.

But the Dolphins went into a prevent defense, which allowed O'Brien to move the Jets into field goal range, and Raul Allegre booted a 44-yard field goal to tie the game.

Once again, the Jets won the toss and received the ball in overtime, and Allegre put them in the playoffs with a 30-yard kick.

Marino didn't get his revenge until three years later, with the "Clock Play," when he led the Dolphins back from a 24-6 halftime deficit to beat the Jets in 1994.

After throwing two TD passes to Mark Ingram to cut New York's lead to 24-21, Marino drove the Fins to the Jets' 5-yard line with 30 seconds left.

Once there, it looked like Marino was going to spike the ball to set up the next play.

But as we all know, he faked the spike, and hit Ingram for the winning TD pass over rookie Aaron Glenn. The Dolphins won 28-24, and went on to capture the AFC East that season.

The next memorable meeting came in 2000, when the Dolphins took a seemingly insurmountable 30-7 lead into the fourth quarter.

Jets fans still remember the NFL Films microphone picking up this exchange between Dolphins quarterback Jay Fielder and defensive end Jason Taylor:

Fiedler: "They ain't coming back on us!"

Taylor: "Hell no! You kidding? C'mon now."

Of course, the Jets rallied for 23 fourth quarter points to tie the game.

And, when it seemed like Miami had regained control after Fiedler hit Leslie Sheppard for a TD and a 37-30 lead, the Jets battled back again.

Vinny Testaverde threw to a 3-yard TD pass to Jumbo Elliot on a tackle-eligible play that tied the game with 42 seconds left. It was Testaverde's fourth TD pass of the quarter.

In overtime, Fiedler threw his third interception, leading to John Hall's 40-yard field goal that won the game, 40-37.

When Monday Night Football celebrated its 500th telecast in 2002, fans picked this as the greatest game in the history of the series.

It has forever come to be known as "The Monday Night Miracle."

The years following that game were down ones for both franchises, as the Dolphins only made the playoffs once and the Jets three times, winning just one postseason game between them.

Then came last year, and the Brett Favre experiment, which actually began in Miami.

On opening day, Favre threw two TD passes, including a Hail Mary at the end of the first half that Chansi Stuckey somehow caught, to beat the Dolphins 20-14 in Dolphin Stadium.

That started the Jets on an 8-3 surge that made them seem playoff-bound.

We all know what happened next.

Favre hurt his elbow, and the Jets struggled, losing three of their next four to fall to second in the AFC East.

The Dolphin entered the Meadowlands on the final weekend of the regular season needing a win to clinch the division and a playoff berth.

Favre threw three interceptions, while jettisoned Jet Chad Pennington completed 22-of-30 passes for 200 yards and two TDs in a 24-17 win.

The Dolphins went to the playoffs, while the Jets stayed home.

Just another chapter in what has historically been one of the best rivalries in the NFL, a rivalry that will feature new heroes Monday night, as young QBs Mark Sanchez and Chad Henne face off for the first of what could be many times.

Let's hope it lives up to the long, memorable history established between these two franchises.

(Photo: Yahoo Images)

Dolphins finally get in win column

It was the template you thought the Miami Dolphins would follow for success against the Buffalo Bills: Establish the run, and put Chad Henne in good situations when throwing the football.

Well, the Dolphins held the ball for more than 37 minutes, and piled up 250 rushing yards for their first victory of the 2009 season, 38-10 over the fading Buffalo Bills.

Henne was efficient, completing 14-of-22 passes for 115 yards and his first NFL touchdown pass, a 5-yard toss to rookie Brian Hartline.

But the story of this game was the Miami offensive line, which cleared the way for Ronnie Brown's 20-carry, 115-yard, 2 TD effort.

Ricky Williams also got in on the act with 16 carries for 85 yards and another score.

The defense played its best game of the young season, limiting Trent Edwards to 192 passing yards, and recording the first three interceptions of the season.

Will Allen had two, and Vontae Davis got the first big play when he stepped in front of an Edwards pass and returned it 23 yards to give the Fins a 10-0 lead.

The pass rush was also impressive.

Cameron Wake made his first big impact as a Dolphin, recording three sacks, and Jason Taylor finally made his presence felt with two more.

All told, the Dolphins had a season-high six sacks, all the more impressive since sack leader Joey Porter missed the game with a shoulder injury.

The run defense, ranked third in the league entering the game, continued to shine, holding Buffalo to 46 yards on the day.

With a big division game against the New York Jets coming up next Monday night, Sunday should be a harbinger of what the Dolphins want to do the rest of the season.

A dominant running attack and solid defense can lead to victories, and can limit the pressure put on Henne to win games by himself.

If the Dolphins can do the same things they did against Buffalo, they may find themselves back in the division race come next Tuesday.

(Photo: Yahoo Images)

New-look Dolphins take on Bills

It's not the ideal time to break in a new starting quarterback, but the Miami Dolphins will try and make the most of it as they take on the Buffalo Bills at home Sunday. Kickoff is at 4:05 p.m.

At 0-3, it's panic time for Miami, which suffered a huge blow in losing starter Chad Pennington for the season last week.

That means Chad Henne, who has thrown all of 31 professional passes in his NFL career, is now the starter.

Henne struggled last week off the bench against San Diego, completing 10-of-19 passes for 92 yards. But Eric Weddle intercepted Henne, and returned the ball 31 yards to clinch Miami's third straight loss of the season.

Now, Henne will be called upon to revitalize an offense that ranks 26th in points scored (14.3), 19th in total offense (317 yards per game) and 30th in passing (155.7 ypg).

Henne will certainly have some opportunities, as Buffalo will be missing 3/4 of its secondary: Cornerback Leodis McKelvin is out for the season with a fractured fibula, safety Bryan Scott will not play due to an ankle injury, and fellow safety Dontae Whitner is out with a thumb injury.

Former San Diego starter Drayton Florence will replace McKelvin, while former starter George Wilson will team with rookie Jairus Byrd at safety.

Add to it the season-ending injury to starting linebacker Paul Posluszny, and the Dolphins would seem to have the advantage on offense.

Not coincidentally, the Bills have struggled on defense this season, ranking in the bottom half of the league in every important statistic.

The most important matchup will be the Dolphins running game, which ranks third, against the Buffalo rush defense, which ranks 18th.

The Dolphins have rushed for 410 yards in the last two games, and the Wildcat has been as effective as it was last season.

It stands to reason that for a team that can make few mistakes, the ground game will be the bedrock of Miami's success Sunday, particularly with a young quarterback under center.

Defensively, the Dolphins have stuffed the run, ranking third in the NFL in that category with an average of just 66 yards gained against them so far.

Buffalo has not one, but two threats at the position to challenge the Dolphins' run defense.

Starter Marshawn Lynch returns from a three-game suspension, and the 1,000-yard back will test Miami with his physical running style.

The Bills have another good option in Fred Jackson, who excelled while Lynch was out, rushing for 291 yards in Buffalo's first three games.

Those will have to be the key weapons, because Buffalo's passing attack has sputtered so far this season.

Despite having Lee Evans and Terrell Owens as his starting receivers, quarterback Trent Edwards has only thrown four TD passes, and the Bills rank only 24th in the league in passing.

In fact, Owens was shut out last week against the New Orleans Saints, snapping a streak of 185 straight games with at least one catch.

There have been hints of Buffalo splitting Jackson out wide as a receiver to take advantage of his variety of skills, and with him and Lynch in the game at the same time, the Bills have a number of ways to attack Miami.

If there has been a weakness in the Dolphins' defense this season, it has been against the pass, where Miami ranks just 26th.

Tight ends in particular have been a problem, but the Bills' top target there, Derek Fine, has just two catches this season.

The Dolphins' pass rush has not helped much, with just five sacks through the first three games.

Linebacker Joey Porter, the team's sack leader with two, vows to play Sunday with a shoulder injury that has him listed as questionable.

The Bills are banged up, and the Dolphins have good matchups position-by-position.

Henne will do just enough, but it is the running game -- and the Bills' lack of a passing attack -- that will produce Miami's first win of 2009. Dolphins 17, Bills 13.

(Photo: Yahoo Images)

It's Henne time in Miami

A bad start for the Miami Dolphins got even worse with the news that starting quarterback Chad Pennington has a torn capsule in his right shoulder and will be lost for the season.

With Pennington gone, Miami loses the ultimate game manager, and one of the players most responsible for last season's 11-5 record and AFC East division title.

Pennington passed for 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and quickly became the leader of a young Dolphins offense. It's no coincidence that the Dolphins turned the ball over a league-record low 13 times in a 16-game season, a testament to Pennington's ability to make good decisions under pressure.

So far this season though, Pennington's struggles had mirrored the Dolphins'.

Through 2 1/2 games prior to the injury, Pennington had thrown just one TD pass, and an uncharacteristic three INTs. He also was the 27th highest-rated quarterback in the NFL.

Now, with the season on the brink of going off the rails as Miami faces a possible 0-4 start, it's Chad Henne's time.

Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano are going to see exactly what Henne has in the first extended action of his NFL career.

The second-year pro will make his first NFL start Sunday, after completing 10-of-19 passes for 92 yards and a key interception in last week's 23-13 loss to San Diego.

Last year, Henne played sparingly, hitting 7-of-12 passes for 67 yards in parts of three games.

He had a so-so preseason, though he was anointed as the starter in 2010.

Dolphins fans and the coaching staff will now get to see how Henne performs in the pressure of an NFL game, where the outcome hinges on his performance.

He has a stronger arm than Pennington, so maybe the Dolphins will be able to take the deep shots Pennington seemed to largely avoid so far this season.

And maybe Henne will be just the tonic Ted Ginn needs to break out in this, his third season.

Henne missed on a couple of passes to Ginn last week, as the Dolphins' top receiver did not make a single catch a week after torching the Colts for 11 receptions for 108 yards.

The most important thing Henne must do is avoid the traps a young quarterback faces: Not looking off defenders and failing to read coverages.

He didn't to do that last week, when he telegraphed a pass that safety Eric Weddle ran back for the clinching TD in San Diego.

Henne must show he's more like Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Peyton Manning -- three quarterbacks who excelled in their first seasons.

Whatever happens, this is likely Henne's audition for 2010.

Will he make the grade?

That depends on the last 13 games of this season, a season that is quickly slipping away for Miami.

For added insurance, the Dolphins traded with the Kansas City Chiefs for third-string quarterback Tyler Thigpen, giving up an undisclosed draft pick next year.

Last season, Thigpen, 25, started 11 games for Kansas City and completed 232-of-420 passes for 2,608 yards. He threw for 18 TDs and 12 INTs.

Thigpen will be the most experienced quarterback for Miami, with Pat White a rookie who has played sparingly in the team's first two games.

(Photo: Yahoo Images)

Dolphins fall to 0-3

The nightmare of a 2009 season continued for the Miami Dolphins, as they fell 23-13 to the San Diego Chargers.

Philip Rivers completed 18-of-33 passes for 303 yards in the victory.

Trailing 3-0, the Dolphins were driving for the go-ahead score when Chad Pennington fumbled the handoff with Ronnie Brown.

The ball bounded out of the end zone, and the Chargers ended up with a momentum-swinging touchback.

From then on, the Chargers dominated.

Vincent Jackson caught five passes for 120 yards, and Antonio Gates added five catches for 64 yards to lead San Diego.

Chad Pennington was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury after completing 8-of-12 passes for 54 yards.

Fans who wanted to see Chad Henne become the future had to be disappointed, as last year's second round pick struggled with 10 completions in 19 attempts for 92 yards and an interception that Eric Weddle returned 31 yards for the clinching TD and a 23-6 lead.

Ronnie Brown had a decent game with 18 carries for 75 yards, but he was less effective in the second half, when he ran for just 24 yards as the Dolphins tried to mount a comeback.

But, what's happened to Pat White?

The team's second round choice from West Virginia has played less and less as the season has worn on, after an ineffective game in Week 1 vs. Atlanta.

In San Diego, White never took the field, and in the last two Wildcat-heavy games, he has not been involved.

Could this mean White isn't worth the pick the Dolphins spent on him? Are Tony Sparano and Bill Parcells admitting they made a mistake by drafting him, when they could have had an impact defensive player like USC's Rey Maluaga?

He certainly could have helped Sunday. Kendall Langford and Joey Porter each had a sack, but the Dolphins couldn't put consistent pressure on Rivers.

At 0-3, the Miami faces another must win at home against Buffalo next week.

(Photo: Yahoo images)

Dolphins look to avoid 0-3 vs. Chargers

After all but beating the Indianapolis Colts last Monday night, the Miami Dolphins travel to the West Coast to face the high powered San Diego Chargers at 4:15 p.m.

The challenge is a daunting one: Try to avoid going 0-3 against one of the most talented teams in the NFL.

Last week, Miami dominated the Colts statistically, except for the big statistic on the scoreboard, which read Indianapolis 27, Miami 23.

Miami rolled up 239 rushing yards, with Ronnie Brown being the primary weapon with 136 of them, to go with touchdowns.

Look for more of the same conservative game plan the Dolphins ran against the Colts, as they face an even more potent offense in the Chargers.

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers leads the NFL with 688 passing yards, including a mind-boggling 436 against the vaunted Baltimore Ravens defense in a 31-26 loss last week.

Rivers has a variety of weapons in Norv Turner's attack.

Vincent Jackson presents a large target at 6-foor-3, and he toyed with the Ravens secondary with six catches for a game-high 141 yards and a TD.

Cornerback Will Allen is a full five inches shorter than Jackson, which makes this a troublesome matchup.

Rookie corner Sean Smith is Jackson's height, though he is not the equal in experience, which could be a drawback for Miami.

Malcolm Floyd -- all 6-foot-5 inches of him -- is another formidable red zone target.

The Chargers also have former Dolphin Chris Chambers as a solid third option, and we haven't even gotten to the man who will be Miami's biggest nemesis Sunday: Former all-pro tight end Antonio Gates.

Gates has been good in each of San Diego's first two games, catching five passes in each for a total of 161 yards. And he has to be excited about this matchup, considering the Dolphins have struggled to cover big-time tight ends in each of their first two games.

Future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez repeatedly beat Dolphins linebackers and safeties for big plays in Week 1, and he finished with five catches for 73 yards and a score.

But that's nothing compared to what Colts tight end Dallas Clark did last week.

Clark scored on the opening play of the game, an 80-yard TD -- beating a befuddled Akin Ayodele and Gibril Wilson -- on his way to a career high 183 yards on seven catches.

Gates is a physical and fast tight end, a combination of Clark and Gonzalez, and the Chargers have to know that is a weak spot they can probe all day.

The other most dangerous weapon for San Diego is in the backfield, but it's not LaDainian Tomlinson.

The once-great running back has only played in the Chargers season opener, and he gained just 55 yards on 13 carries before injuring an ankle. He missed last week's game, and won't suit up Sunday.

That's unfortunate for Miami, because LT's backup is now a better player.

Five-foot-six Darren Sproles scored the winning TD in San Diego's 24-20 win over Oakland, and last week he provided offense as a receiver, catching seven passes for 124 yards, including an 81-yard score.

If Dolphins linebackers have had problems covering tight ends like Gonzalez and Clark, what will happen when Rivers finds Sproles one-on-one with them?

Also, the Dolphins have to find what has been a nonexistent pass rush.

It was supposed to be bolstered by the return of Jason Taylor and the addition of Cameron Wake, but the Dolphins only recorded one sack last week, by Joey Porter, and the team has only three for the season.

The Chargers line isn't especially great, allowing five sacks in two games and missing center Nick Hardwick for the rest of the season.

Miami can also attack a San Diego defense that ranks 20th in the league and has surrendered an average of 25.5 points in its first two games.

The Chargers only have two sacks and rank 13th in pass defense, but remember, they played the Raiders' awful JaMarcus Russell in Week 1, so those numbers are skewed.

Also, they rank 24th against the run, so teams have been choosing that area to exploit all year.

Baltimore's Joe Flacco had an efficient day against San Diego last week, completing 17-of-26 passes for 190 yards and two TDs.

The Chargers defense also gave up 130 yards rushing againt Baltimore and 148 against the Raiders, meaning the Dolphins running game should continue its resurgence.

This should be a game reminiscent of last week's: Miami trying to bleed the clock, with San Diego having to make the most of its opportunities when it gets the ball in Rivers' hands.

Last year, Miami climbed out of an 0-2 hole, partly with a home win against the Chargers.

It's time for a new wrinkle from Sparano and company, who famously came up with the "Wildcat" last season after losing the first two games. And with their backs against the proverbial wall, the Dolphins will do just enough to pull out a 24-20 victory.

(Photo: Yahoo images)

Conservative Dolphins done in by Colts

As we've often heard, statistics don't always tell the story, and Monday night was proof of that.

The Miami Dolphins dominated time of possession, holding the ball for more than three full quarters.

They had 27 first downs to the Indianapolis Colts' 14, ran for 239 yards to Indy's 61.

Yet, by game's end, the scoreboard read, Indianapolis 27, Miami 23.

A must win for the Dolphins became a blown opportunity.

Yes, they had the ball for the majority of the game and kept the Peyton Manning-led offense off the field.

But the defense couldn't stop the Colts when it counted.

Manning read a blitz and hit second-year receiver Pierre Garcon, who wove his way to the 48-yard TD that won the game.

Then, the Dolphins went into the worst two-minute offense since Donovan McNabb gagged his way through the end of Super Bowl XXXIX against the Patriots.

With 3:18 to play, and needing 82 yards to score the game-winner, the Dolphins ran on first down, let the clock wind down to 2:26, then called time out.

They then inexplicably ran the ball again to get down to the two-minute warning.

Quarterback Chad Pennington resorted to play action fakes against a defense that was expecting nothing but pass, fooling no one and wasting precious seconds in the process.

Then came the coup de gras, as Ted Ginn, who had a good game with 11 catches for 108 yards, had the potential winning TD pass bounce off his hands in the end zone.

A pass to Ginn on fourth-and-10 gained 12 to the Colts' 30, but with no timeouts left, Pennington had to spike the ball with 12 seconds left.

A desperation heave followed, which was intercepted by Antoine Bethea, and the Dolphins' chances for victory vanished.

Just as damning was the previous possession, when the Dolphins and Colts were tied 20-20 and Miami was driving.

On third-and-6 from the Colts 30, the Dolphins called another run. Ronnie Brown got just two yards, and Dan Carpenter booted a 45-yard field goal to give them a three-point lead.

That is not exaclty going for the jugular against the Colts, and Manning made the Dolphins pay.

Brown ran for 136 yards on 24 carries, scored two TDs and ran the "Wildcat" flawlessly.

But in the end, the Dolphins' inability to get to Manning -- and to tackle in critical situations -- cost them as much as the conservative playcalling did.

On the first play of the game, as expected, Manning went to tight end Dallas Clark, who beat a befuddled Akin Ayodele, and safety Gibril Wilson could not wrap him up.

Clark's marathon 80-yard TD was a sign of things to come.

The Colts did not have the ball often, but Manning made the most of it every time they did.

Wilson and Yeremiah Bell continued to struggle, missing tackles and coverages, and Clark had a second straight huge day for a tight end against Miami: seven catches for a career-high 183 yards.

The defense got no pressure on Manning. Joey Porter had the team's only sack, and Jason Taylor was missing in action.

Now, at 0-2, the Fins go to San Diego to play the high-powered Chargers, and you can bet Antonio Gates has to be licking his lips right now after the way tight ends have feasted on the defense.

There are also rumblings that if things continue to head south, Pennington -- who had a solid game with with 22 completions in 33 attempts for 183 yards -- will be benched in favor of second-year pro Chad Henne.

If that happens, it might already be time to start thinking about 2010.

(Photo: Yahoo Images)

Manning vs. Miami Monday night

Needing a win in Week 2, one of the last players the Miami Dolphins want to see is Peyton Manning and his 1-0 Indianapolis Colts. Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. Monday in Land Shark Stadium.

True, Manning has had his struggles against the Dolphins. In fact, aside from New England, Manning's 4-7 record as a starter against the Dolphins is his worst against any NFL team.

The Dolphins have also had more success historically against No. 18 than any team in the NFL. Manning's passer rating (76.3) and minus-2 TD/INT ratio are his worst numbers vs. one team.

But many of those successes came early in Manning's career, when future Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino was still throwing passes for the Fins.

In fact, since the teams were realigned into new divisions in 2002, Indy is 2-0 against Miami, including a 27-22 triumph in Indianapolis in 2006.

Overall, Manning has also shone on the Sunshine State stage, compiling a 9-4 record as a pro. The last time he played in Land Shark (then Dolphin Stadium), he was the Most Valuable Player in the Colts' 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.

Last week though, the Colts struggled in a 14-12 win over division rival Jacksonville.

Indianapolis gained 365 yards of total offense, but only punched the ball in twice.

Manning was still Manning, hitting 28-of-38 passes for 301 yards and a TD.

But the Colts couldn't run the ball, gaining just 71 yards against a rebuilt Jacksonville defense.

That was part of the reason for the Colts' demise last year, as starter Joseph Addai was hurt much of the season, and Indianapolis had injuries on the offensive line.

Indy finished next-to-last in the NFL in rushing, and the Dolphins held the mighty Atlanta Falcons to just 68 yards rushing in last week's 19-7 loss.

So, for Indy to win, the onus is again on Manning and his receivers.

Reggie Wayne dominated the Jags last week, catching a game high 10 passes for 162 yards and a TD.

The Dolphins corners were solid last week against the Falcons, as leading receiver Roddy White caught just five passes for 42 yards, and Miami rotated rookies Sean Smith and Vontae Davis at one cornerback position opposite Will Allen at the other.

With Wayne's running mate Anthony Gonzalez out 2-8 weeks with a knee injury, look for the Dolphins to double Wayne, providing more opportunies for young Colts receivers like Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie. Newly acquired Hank Baskett could also see some passes Monday.

But just as last week, it's the tight end position the Dolphins need to fear most.

Future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez routinely beat safeties Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell in Atlanta, to the tune of five catches for 73 yards and a TD.

The Colts' Dallas Clark provides a similar threat, only with more speed, and in recent years he has become Manning's security blanket and one of his favorite targets.

Clark only caught four passes for 39 yards last week, but the Colts will line him up in a variety of ways (the slot and wide, maybe even in the backfield) to keep the Dolphins guessing.

Miami only had two sacks last week, but the Dolphins should be able to apply more pressure against the Colts' leaky line.

And that is the key. Can they get to Manning and do a good job on Wayne and Clark?

Offensively, the Dolphins must do more than their putrid showing last week, when they gained 259 yards against an inexperienced Falcons defense.

Most distressing, Miami could not stretch the defense and test the Falcons' young secondary.

The Colts only gave up 228 total yards last week, but Jacksonville did not have the weapons to probe a Colts secondary that was without one of its best players in safety Bob Sanders.

Sanders is still nursing a knee injury that might keep him out of Monday's game, which is good for Miami's running game. But the Dolphins must still find a way to threaten the Colts backline through the air. Ted Ginn (2 catches, 26 yards) must be better utltized for Miami to have a chance.

The other big concern is the Colts pass rush, particularly defensive end Dwight Freeney, one of the fastest at his position in the league.

Freeney had the Colts' only sack last week, and he is a major test for Dolphins left tackle Jake Long, who had his worst game as a pro last week, when he gave up two sacks against Atlanta.

The overall protection for Chad Pennington was poor, and one of the reasons why he could not locate Ginn or go deep.

The stats say the Colts should win. They have the better quarterback, receivers and pass rush.

But the Dolphins are at home on Monday night, they are the more desperate team and they are surely angry over last week's miserable performance.

This will be an exciting game, and Miami will prevail, 21-20.

(Photo: Yahoo images)

No offense dooms Dolphins

It was a loss that was reminiscent of the way the Dolphins started 2008: No offense and sloppy play.

The Dolphins' 19-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons was also the continuation of a preseason trend.

Miami (0-1) could not run the football, gaining just 96 yards on the day.

The team also struggled through the air, as Chad Pennington completed 21-of-29 passes, but for only 176 yards, one TD and one INT.

The Dolphins didn't stretch the field enough all day, and the one time they did, rookie Pat White overthrew a wide open Ted Ginn by a good seven yards.

The offensive line was terrible, as left tackle Jake Long was beaten for two sacks, including one where he got run over by defensive end John Abraham.

Ronnie Brown also whiffed on a block that resulted in backup defensive end Kroy Biermann sacking Pennington and producing a fumble, which the Falcons recovered. Biermann and Abraham combined for all four of Atlanta's sacks.

Tight end Anthony Fasano was the biggest culprit, fumbling twice in key situations. The first time, he killed a Dolphins drive inside the Falcons' 15. The second fumble led to Atlanta's final points, a field goal by Jason Elam.

For a team with little margin for error, the Dolphins gave the football away too often -- four times on the day. Part of the reason Miami went from 1-15 to 11-5 last season was the Dolphins set an NFL record for fewest turnovers in a 16-game regular season with 13.

The Dolphins also could not stop future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, who repeatedly beat safeties Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson for big plays. Gonzalez finished with five catches for 73 yards, and he pushed Bell aside on the way to a 20-yard TD.

Pass coverage was a weak point for the Dolphins' safeties all preseason, and it reared its ugly head against Atlanta.

The Dolphins did manage to shut down the Falcons running game, holding Atlanta to 68 yards. But Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was good enough to compensate, completing 22-of-36 passes for 229 yards and two TDs.

The Dolphins did not look good, and their offense needs to pick up if they're going to beat Indianapolis on Monday night next week.

(Photo: Yahoo images)

Dolphins should ground Falcons

After weeks of player moves, exhibition games and endless preseason analysis, the games are finally set to begin.

And the Miami Dolphins certainly face a difficult challenge in Week 1, at an Atlanta Falcons team that made the playoffs with an 11-5 record last year and is considered to be a rising power. It's the first of three straight games against playoff opponents for Miami. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. in Atlanta.

The Falcons boast one of the NFL's top offenses, led by second-year quarterback Matt Ryan. "Matty Ice" was a revelation in his first season, completing 61.1 percent of his passes and throwing for 16 touchdowns.

And he has plenty of weapons. Running back Michael Turner ran for 1,699 yards and scored 17 TDs in his first season in Atlanta, and he continued that dominance in the preseason, leading the Falcons with 187 yards rushing, two TDs and a remarkable 6.9 average per carry.

To stop the Falcons, the Dolphins must stop Turner first.

But even if they do, Ryan has several options in the passing game. Roddy White emerged as the team's best receiver in 2008, catching 88 passes for 1,382 yards and seven TDs, and Michael Jenkins caught 50 passes for 777 yards and three TDs.

Atlanta also added maybe the greatest pass-catching tight end in NFL history: Tony Gonzalez, who caught 96 passes for 1,058 yards and 10 TDs last season with Kansas City.

The Dolphins addressed their secondary in the offseason, bringing in rookie corners Sean Smith and Vontae Davis, along with former Oakland Raiders safety Gibril Wilson. The hope is they will shore up a pass defense that ranked 25th last year.

However, Wilson and fellow safety Yeremiah Bell struggled in pass coverage in the preseason, and if that doesn't change Sunday, Allen and Smith are going to have to be on the top of their game.

Allen will likely draw the assignment of covering White, with Smith covering Jenkins. Davis will play after suffering a knee strain in the final preseason game against New Orleans, but the Dolphins must find a way to match up with Gonzalez, who could be Ryan's top target Sunday.

Miami should also have an improved pass rush, with Joey Porter and his 17 1/2 sacks getting support from the return of Jason Taylor, who will start at the other outside linebacker position.

Offensively, the Dolphins face a young and inexperienced defense.

The Falcons brought in five new defensive starters after finishing 25th in the league against the run, and 24th overall.

Peria Jerry, a 6-foot-2, 294-pound defensive tackle from Ole Miss who Atlanta drafted with the 24th overall pick this year, will start his first NFL game against Miami.

The Falcons also promoted free safety Thomas DeCloud, outside linebacker Stephen Nicholas and cornerback Brent Grimes.

The new-look secondary struggled in the preseason, allowing a whopping 8.3 yards per completion, which should excite a veteran passer like Chad Pennington.

Ted Ginn will start at one wide receiver position, while Coach Tony Sparano said the team will rotate several receivers at the other spot, from among Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess and Ohio State rookie Brian Hartline. The Dolphins will also likely find time for another rookie, Patrick Turner of USC.

Running the football was a problem for the Dolphins in preseason, particularly with the first unit. That will have to change, so the Dolphins can keep defensive end John Abraham and his team-leading 16 1/2 sacks at bay.

Also, the Dolphins will likely break out the "Wildcat" formation that has become a staple of offenses across the league.

Second round pick Pat White did not run the "Wildcat" during preseason, but he could be called upon to give the Falcons something else to think about.

The Dolphins defense may not stop Michael Turner, but I think they will be able to slow him down.

Ryan and his offense are too talented to be shut down, but Pennington is going against a young defense that will surely make some mistakes.

I think Miami will get just enough offense to eke out a win, 20-16.

NFL breakdown: Dolphins second in East

The time for waiting is just about over, as the NFL kicks off with tonight's Tennessee Titans-Pittsburgh Steelers matchup.

The Dolphins kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday in Atlanta, the first of three straight games against playoff opponents in 2009. So, how will the Fins do this year? My AFC East predictions follows, as well as my overall NFL predictions for 2009:

AFC East
1. New England Patriots (11-5): Yes, Tom Brady is coming off a major knee injury, and the Pats just traded away five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour. But the Patriots have a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball, and with Bill Belichick at the controls, they are always a threat. Belichick may have done his best coaching job ever last season, when he took Matt Cassel and the Pats to 11-5, narrowly missing a playoff berth. With Brady back, look for fireworks similar to 2007, when New England set the all-time scoring mark, and Brady threw for 50 TDs and Moss added a record 23 receiving scores. The defense ranked 10th last year despite having a porous secondary. Belichick addressed that need by signing free agents Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden. Linebacker Jerrod Mayo should continue to improve, after massing 126 tackles last season. And Vince Wiflork anchors a good defenseive line that will benefit from the addition of Derrick Burgess. Still the team to beat in the conference.

2. Miami Dolphins (10-6): The Dolphins have a tougher schedule than in last year's worst-to-first campaign, but they are a better team than last year. Chad Pennington is now fully in control of the offense, after coming in off the street to play in Week 1 last year. Ted Ginn is entering the all-important third year when wide receivers typically start to flourish. And he has plenty of help behind him in rookies Brian Hartline and Patrick Turner, and veterans Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess. The team made its biggest strides defensively, as rookie corners Sean Smith and Vontae Davis were drafted to shore up a pass defense that ranked 25th a year ago. The additions of Jason Taylor and CFL sack master Cameron Wake should give Joey Porter the help he needs in the pass rush.

3. New York Jets (5-11): The Jets' opening schedule is as brutal as Miami's: at Houston, home against New England and Tennessee, at New Orleans and at Miami. I can't see them winning more than one game in that stretch. From there it doesn't get much easier, and breaking in a rookie starting quarterback and a new defensive scheme will take some time. Still, the Jets do have some good talent, with Thomas Jones, Leon Washington and sleeper Shonn Greene at running back. Dustin Keller is an emerging tight end, Kris Jenkins a good nose tackle if he can stay healthy and Darrelle Revis is becoming one of the best cover men in football. Kerry Rhodes and Jim Leonhard will comprise one of the best safety tandems in the league, and you can't overlook the impact former Ravens linebacker Bart Scott will have on the defense. This is definitely a team to watch in the future.

4. Buffalo Bills (4-12): It's never a good sign when you whack your offensive coordinator a week before the season starts, and an even worse sign when he says the team with Terrell Owens is trying to simplify things on offense. The addition of T.O. to a young and impressionable roster was already dicey, and if things go south -- as they should with Buffalo's schedule -- Owens won't be the happiest Bill in town. The Bills struggled to move the ball during the preseason, even with T.O. The jury is still out on Trent Edwards as a passer, and running back Marshawn Lynch is suspended for the first three games following an offseason arrest for gun possession. Defensively, the Bills have an up-and-comer in second-year cornerback Leodis McKelvin, and middle linebacker Paul Posluszny was solid in his first season with 110 tackles. Defensive end Aaron Schobel is back after missing most of last season due to injury, and Marcus Stroud should hold his ground at defensive tackle. There are some good building blocks here, but the Bills are another year (and perhaps a new head coach) away from contending.

Now, for my truncated picks in the rest of the NFL.

AFC North:
The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was injured in a motorcycle accident and struggled the following season, and the Steelers fell to 8-8 and out of the playoffs. After last year's Super Bowl win, Roethlisberger was accused of raping a woman, but the Steelers have too much talent to repeat a playoff miss in 2009. They will not win the division though, as the Baltimore Ravens are primed and ready to supplant Pittsburgh. Joe Flacco has grown more confident as a passer in this, his second year, and the Ravens are about to unleash coordinator Cam Cameron's version of "LT Lite," Ray Rice, who will do his best LaDainian Tomlinson impersonation, catching passes and running the ball all over the field.

AFC South:
Many are predicting the Indianapolis Colts' demise after the retirement of Tony Dungy and the release of all-time leading receiver Marvin Harrison. But despite a rushing offense and defense that struggled last season, I think the Colts will be fine, and should win their division after a one-year absence. Peyton Manning is still running the offense, Joseph Addai will benefit from the addition of Donald Brown in the running game, and Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez and tight end Dallas Clark will keep the passing game humming. I also like the fact first-year coach Jim Caldwell has beefed up a defensive line that was mainly responsible for the Colts' woes against the run. Now, I'm going to jump on the Houston Texans bandwagon and pick them to finally make the leap and finish second, qualifying for a playoff berth. The Texans simply have too much offensive talent, and they have some star defensive players who should help make the difference.

AFC West:
Clearly the worst division in the conference, with the only team worth mentioning being the San Diego Chargers, who should win their division more comfortably than last year. The Chargers have too many offensive stars, and linebacker Shawne Merriman and cornerback Antonio Cromartie are both healthy after injuries torpedoed their 2008.

Dark horse: Tennessee. The Titans have a difficult schedule and won't repeat last year's 13-3 season, but they have a rejuvenated Kerry Collins and the two-headed running back duo of Chris Johnson and LenDale White. Their defense remains sound, even without Albert Haynesworth. If Indy or Houston stumble, the Titans could sneak into the playoffs.

NFC East:
If not for injuries, free agent defections and the death of coordinator Jim Johnson, I would like the Philadelphia Eagles to win the division. But the fact is, the defense suffered too many losses and did not look good in the preseason. Thus, I go with the safe pick, the New York Giants. The Giants are largely the same team that went 12-4 and won the division last year, except Plaxico Burress is no longer on the roster, and the G-Men added to their already deep defenaive line with the additions of Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard -- not to mention the return of Osi Umenyiora after a torn ACL ended his 2008 season. This team would be my NFC favorite if not for one glaring weakness: Wide receiver, where Eli Manning must work with the likes of Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon, Mario Manningham and second round pick Hakeem Nicks. If one of those players can emerge and give Eli a reliable target, the G-Men may be booking hotel space in Miami in January. Despite the defensive issues, I still think the Eagles have more talent than the Cowboys, who have taken a clear step back since their 13-3 season two years ago. The Giants and Eagles will make the playoffs again.

NFC North:
With all the offseason moves, this division has supplanted the East as the toughest in the NFL. The Bears have the easiest schedule in football, and the addition of quarterback Jay Cutler should put them over the top. The offense is finally good enough to balance out what has been one of the best defenses in football the last few years. The Green Bay Packers are the second choice. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will join the elite this year, and he directed an offense that was unstoppable in the preseason. The defense was just as good, forcing 23 turnovers in just four preseason games. The Brett Favre experiment in Minnesota will end the way the Jets' did last year, with Favre's team out of the playoffs -- and Brett once again engaging in another long offseason Hamlet soliloquy.

NFC South:
The Atlants Falcons will continue their upward climb with a division championship in 2009. Quarterback Matt Ryan should be better in this, his second year, and he has plenty of offensive firepower in running back Michael Turner, receiver Roddy White and tight end Tony Gonzalez. Five new starters on defense -- including former Jacksonville Jaguars standout Mike Peterson -- should bolster a unit that ranked just 24th overall last season. Thanks to a difficult schedule (and Jake Delhomme at quarterback), the Panthers will finish second, but miss out on the postseason.

NFC West:
Like their AFC counterparts, the NFC West offers the least in 2009. The Arizona Cardinals had a dream season in winning the division and reaching their first Super Bowl, but losing Super Bowl teams usually miss the playoffs the following season. The problem is, none of their NFC West brethren are good enough to take the division from them. The Cards should cruise, with the resurgent Seattle Seahawks applying the pressure. St. Louis and San Francisco are at least a year away from contention.

Dark horse: Minnesota. The Vikings have the defense and the running game, and they've added weapons like Percy Harvin at receiver. But the biggest question is the quarterback. Can the 40-year-old Favre defy the odds (and his gunslinger mentality) to lead the Vikes to the playoffs? Well, Favre faded badly in his last five games with the Jets in 2008, and he does have a propensity for throwing bad interceptions to cost his team. If he can somehow curtail his tendencies -- and stay healthy all year -- Minnesota has a chance.

So, here's how I break down the playoffs:

Wild Card Round:

Steelers over Colts, Chargers over Texans, Falcons over Eagles, Packers over Cardinals

Divisional Round:
Patriots over Steelers, Ravens over Chargers, Bears over Falcons, Packers over Giants

Championship Round:
Ravens over Patriots, Packers over Bears

Super Bowl XLIV:
Packers over Ravens

(Photo: Yahoo images)

Chiefs cut Thomas; next stop: Miami?

Last week, a rumor circulated saying former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas was set to retire.

Agent Drew Rosehaus denied it, but it may become a reality sooner than Thomas thinks. Sunday, the seven-time Pro Bowler was cut by Kansas City after failing to appear in any preseason games.

The question is: What now? Does Thomas hang up his cleats, and hope to one day hear his name called for the Hall of Fame?

Or, does he decide on one more regular season run, perhaps with the Dolphins?

Miami made its final 12 roster cuts over the weekend, with the most prominent names released being wide receiver Brandon London, defensive tackle Rodrique Wright and offensive lineman Nate Garner. Tight end David Martin was also placed on injured reserve.

But if you take a close look at the roster, you'll notice the Dolphins are only carrying three inside linebackers: Channing Crowder, Akin Ayodele and Reggie Torbor.

Crowder is the starter at Mike inside linebacker, Ayodele is the Mo inside linebacker, and Torbor backs up Ayodele.

Ayodele is also Crowder's backup, which means an injury to him would be especially devastating to the team.

Provided Thomas has fully recovered from an undisclosed injury -- and Rosenhaus said he was close to returning to the field last week -- wouldn't he fit right in at his old position, backing up and mentoring Crowder as he did when the former Gator first entered the league?

Thomas was cut last year by the Dolphins, in one of the first big moves in the Bill Parcells-Tony Sparano era.

But, if Parcells and Sparano were willing to take back Jason Taylor this year after the soap opera that played out last preseason, wouldn't they be willing to take back Thomas, who was still a functional player after tallying 65 tackles and 29 assists with the Cowboys in 2008?

And you know Thomas would like to return to the team he started his career with, especially with the Dolphins becoming winners again.

It would be the perfect ending to a great career, and he and brother-in-law Taylor could ride into the NFL sunset together.

Will it happen, though? At this point, it's pure conjecture. It would be a great story, to be sure. And judging from the Dolphins depth chart, perhaps a necessary move as well.

Smith starring
One thing is certain as the Dolphins prepare for opening day against Atlanta, rookie Sean Smith will be the starting cornerback. Smith topped a good preseason with an outstanding one-handed interception against the New Orleans Saints last Thursday, in Miami's 10-7 win.

The play has already hit You Tube, and it cemented Smith's place as the most intriguing rookie on the team this year. It was the second interception in three preseason games for the former Utah star, who started college as a wide receiver.

At 6-foot-3, 214 pounds, Smith is exactly the type of big, athletic corner the Dolphins need, now that they have to tangle with Terrell Owens and Randy Moss twice a year.

Also, with the current trend in the NFL towards big receivers, Smith may be the first in a wave of big corners defensive coordinators will look to in an attempt to stem the tide.

SI picks Dolphins second
The current NFL preview issue of Sports Illustrated picks the Dolphins to finish second in the AFC East, behind the New England Patriots.

Peter King projects the Dolphins will finish 8-8 and out of the playoff picture, while New England will go 13-3 and win Super Bowl XLIV.

I'll have my own prognostication later in the week, but I've written before that the Dolphins could have a better team and finish with a worse record by virtue of their tough schedule.

Williams re-signs
Ricky Williams re-signed with the Dolphins for one year, $4.35 million. That's a substantial raise from the $3.4 million he's scheduled to make this year as Ronnie Brown's backup.

Williams plans on retiring after next year to pursue a career in holistic medicine. Williams, 32, averaged 4.1 yards per carry last year, and gained 659 yards rushing. He also caught 29 passes for 219 yards and scored five combined TDs.

If he does decide to retire after next year, it's safe to say Dolphins fans will have mixed emotions, and wonder what might have been.

Williams only had four 1,000-yard seasons, with his apex coming in 2002, his first year with the Dolphins. That year, Williams set a team record with 1,853 rushing yards, and he scored 16 TDs, another Dolphins record for running backs.

The following season, he had another big year with 1,372 yards and nine TDs.

But carrying the load took its toll, and Willliams famously "retired" prior to the start of the 2004 season, taking with him all hopes for a Dolphins Super Bowl run, and eventuially costing Dave Wannstedt his job as head coach.

Williams was burned out and needed to recharge, and in doing so may have cost himself a chance at true greatness on the football field.

His career will always provide one of the great "what ifs" in Dolphins history.

(Photo: Yahoo Images)