Eric,
I read both your New York Sun article and your post here on Pro Football Weekly and I think you've hit this latest move by Parcells on the head. Based off some of his 'big stage' comments he made when he took the Dallas job my impression of Parcells is that he very much likes to have the spotlight on him and historically in NFL circles Miami is a much bigger fishbowl (pardon the pun) than Atlanta. That said, I do think that unlike say Daniel Snyder in Washington Arthur Blank is a man who is genuinely concerned about the tenor of his recent mistakes with the Falcons, wants to correct them and I think in some ways the Falcons job would've been an easier fix for Parcells as opposed to the mess he's inherited in Miami. The Dolphins are an old team without any real clear-cut identity on offense or defense and no real stars or leaders who will still be on the team two years from now. In contrast, I think the Atlanta Falcons have a good nucleus of young players on defense (D. Hall, Michael Boley, Jimmy Williams, Jamaal Anderson), and it is defense after all that Bill Parcells is most noted for. When he got to Dallas he had a similar situation where there were some guys like Dat Nguyen and Roy Williams that he could work with while he brought in the personnel he needed to make his schemes work. In Miami he's going to basically have to start from scratch while competing against the best team in football in New England and at least a hard-fighting Buffalo team. With the Falcons in the NFC South he'd have had almost a free pass to a first round bye in the play-offs every year once he got his program in order. But I think you're right, for the Tuna it's not just about football anymore, it's about the Grand Gesture, No Medals for Trying and meeting the biggest challenge he can find. For that I give him the credit for courage that few people can ever find in themselves. Either that or maybe just too much hubris and ego.

Eric,

Agreed, Tuna loves the spotlight. But..you know the Dolphins may not be as bad as people think. Realize that their 4 top safeties are out, top 2 linebackers are out, starting QB, top 3 running backs, and sold their wide reciever. Can you imagine any team succeeding under those conditions?

Now imagine if they all come back. They are 25 million under the cap. Good young safeties, good young offensive line and running backs. And maybe a QB in Beck that they will need to figure out.

If luck averages out don't be surprised to see Miami 9-7 next year.

Warm regards and happy holidays,
Mark

Eric,
using another "Job offer" to get more out of your future/current employer is called good negotiating. As far as the Dolphins are concerned: Mark, they stink. Trent Green was their starting QB, too old, and the nucleus of the team is old too, Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor... 5 years. That's what I think it will take the Dolphins to get back. I'd be willing to bet a significant amount of money that they won't be anywhere near 9-7 next year. That franchise is in shambles.
Kazman

PS- Remove the word "Good" from before your description of the Phins offensive line, LBs and Safeties.

Kazman,

You need to continue your process of studying NFL talent to know that the Dolphins do have good players Kazman.

Can you imagine Kazman your Patriots losing Harrison, Wilson (then your two back up safeties), Bruschi, Colvin, Brady, Maroney, Faulk. How good would you be Kazman? Not very good. Not making any historic runs that is for sure. Would you be willing to judge the rest of your team as good or bad with those injuries leveling your franchise?

O line is average right now but will improve.
LB's when healthy are better than average and certainly are good. I would be willing to trade your linebackers for ours when healthy Kazman. Especially if they continue to play in the same system.

TE's are horrible on Miami. Defensive line depth is young and need to develop but isn't that bad. But the biggest issue that creates the gap is QB play. If that is taken care of and they get good QB play next year then you can bet on what I said.

Don't forget Kazman that the Dolphins lost 6 times by 3 or fewer points. Win those instead of losing all those and we aren't that far from what I said (even this year with the injuries and bad QB play).

Cheers,
Mark

Mark,
I'd like to know your experience on evaluation of NFL Talent? Are you a Pro-scout or an Assistant GM. I also can say that neither am I, but what I do know is that Miami has been miserable for quite a while. They more than likely will be getting a brand new coach, and have admittedly have to "Start from scratch" The have absolutely no QB, Green is done, Beck is awful and Cleo Lemon is OK, but not a starting NFL QB. Unless they make a move to get some sort of QB in here next season, they'll be 2-14.

Kazman,
Not anything but a fan like you. I do read a lot though. Like Pro Football Prospectus and this web-site. Numbers tell you something I think.

If they start from scratch I agree that it will be problematic and they will continue to suck. If a strong nucleus is there from there last couple of drafts then the suffering won't be so bad. It may be too, Jason Allen, Rod Wright, Matt Roth from 2006, and Ginn Jr, Beck, Satele, and Booker, Ronnie Brown, Derek Hagan, all show NFL talent (not all consistent yet). Maybe the rookie punter will improve (he needs to) as well.

They need to develop depth. That's what sets the Pats apart. Their is incredible depth on that team. Miami screwed their drafts until 2005. That's why Miami's special teams are so horrid too.

I disagree with you on whether or not Beck is bad. He actually directed some nice drives and held his head amidst horrid pressure. Judging by what he played with it's really hard to tell. But I know he lives and breathes football which tells me he is a Parcells kind of guy. You didn't hear pro scouts screaming bloody murder for the Dolphins drafting him instead of Quinn. Just media types. The QB coach of the Dolphins is the person who trained Quinn for the draft. What does that tell you? It tells me that the jury is out my friend. I agree some of those games he looked bad but judging a rookie qb with no developed playmakers on a bad overall team isn't fair.

Happy holidays and Warm wishes!
Mark

Eric,
I admire those who can judge Beck off what we have seen. Give Brady that offensive line, the non-blocking fumble-fingered tight end, the constantly covered butter-fingered wide receivers, the off- the-street running back and pass-on-third-down-only offense and what does anyone think would happen? Beck may be bad, but how could anyone tell?
Happy New Year!!!
Tom