Possible new Dolphins uniforms?

In a previous post, one commenter - Greg - had a picture they wanted to post.  So, here it is!  

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Hey Dave,

As I watch the three consecutive Dolphin Super Bowls on NFL Network, I ponder the subtle changes they made over those three seasons. They had two different logos on the helmets in the same game. Seems like a few of the vets didn't want to conform to the new look. I combined them to make these comps.  With a little twist of light gray "porpoise" pants and alternate jersey.

Thanks!
Greg

Nike reveals new gloves

Here it is, one of the many changes to come as nike now takes over the NFL uniforms. This idea for the gloves, as you probably may know, is seen in college football and i like it. You will see a lot of Wrs and RBs when they score make this shape with their hands next season. Im excited to see what the Dolphins uniform will look like next season, if there are any changes to them but knowing Ross he will probably allow Nike to alter the uniforms. Maybe we will see Flynn wearing it next year, who knows. What do you guys think about the new gloves and Nike taking over the NFL?

Creative thinking

Don't know if anyone caught Armando's blog entry about the fins stopping by the herald and lamenting not being able to fund stadium improvements, including removing some seats in the upper deck and adding some in the lower deck.  The objective is to ensure that they can sell out.

I believe they just weren't thinking creatively enough!  With this legislation to turn the stadium into a homeless shelter when not in use - why not just invite the homeless to the games? 

Seats full?  Check.  Homeless have a place to go?  Check.  Doing some good in the community?  Check.

Hobo Joe would have a great time at the game.  Maybe he could even use the locker room showers...

Regis!

Dateline Miami -

The Miami Dolphins surprised sports fans everywhere when they announced the signing of Regis Philbin as the next coach of the team.

"We're excited to have a celebrity coach for this team," said owner Stephen Ross.

"We knew we had to have star power, and if anyone can get the most out of the players, we think its Regis!" added a beaming Jeff Ireland.


For his part, Philbin said "I am so excited about this.  Now you know why I had to leave the talk show with Kelly.  And it was really hard to keep this a secret for this long."

Regis is expected to hire Erik Estrada as offensive coordinator, and Mr. T as defensive coordinator, according to those with knowledge of the decision.

"I'm looking forward to big things from this team, and especially my new starting quarterback Jason Bieber. Excuse me, Justin, I guess I need to get more in tune with this younger generation.  He's just so popular right now.  I'm sure teenage girls will love the experience at the newly renamed Burger Barn Stadium," added the owner.

Glimmers of Hope

In my previous post, I noted that "the times they are a changing'" and that theme certainly continues to play out. Today, with the announcement by Miami's front office that Joe Philbin is the new head coach for the Dolphins, I have my first glimmer of hope that our owner and team are no longer adrift.

What to make of this decision by Stephen Ross and Jeff Ireland - what does it say about them? In my view, it offers the suggestion that owner Ross, after many embarrassments along the steep learning that comes with being a rookie owner in big time pro sports, may finally be getting his bearings. And it further suggests that actions from team leadership are improving in both coordination and effect. Taken individually or collectively, these are good signs.

Further, what to make of Coach Philbin himself? My personal feeling is the Dolphins have found a more modern and slightly more aggressive version of Tom Laundry which is good medicine. The franchise has long needed to eliminate the huge pendulum swings of emotion, philosophy, and organization that have minimized the opportunity for success. Great organizations, regardless of how they look on the outside, are almost universally "no-nonsense" and settled once you peer behind the curtain. Look for Coach Philbin to provide a mature and steady hand to all areas of this team. Gone are the days of Nick Saban's hubris and indignation, of Cam Cameron's misguided notions, of Dave Wandstadt's limited vision, and Tony Sparano's inability to make in-game adjustments and favor of the field goal as opposed to touchdowns.

Next steps - What to expect? I'll tread lightly before jumping full tilt on the Matt Flynn bandwagon, but do believe the Dolphins have an incredible advantage in landing him IF he is as good as the tease from his limited performances. I know it is no bad thing for Flynn to have apprenticed in the stable and winning environment of Green Bay and at the foot of one of the top 3 quarterbacks in the league. The bandwagon I will jump on is that of Jermichael Finley. Huge upgrade for our team if we land him. If Flynn is as advertised and he and Finley come as a package deal, our draft is free to plug other badly needed holes and the Phins become truly competitive for the AFC East for the first time in many years.

Better days are ahead - Keep the faith!

Ron

Philbin is the guy?

Seems as though its a done deal, and Miami goes the route of Green Bay's OC.

Like all of you, I have no idea of Philbin will be any good.  Sure Green Bay's offense was good - very good - this year, but while he game planned, he didn't call the plays.  Still, being associated with a winner is a good thing.

But I have one rather large concern about him: how effective will he be in light of his son's death?  I'm a parent, too, and I can't even imagine what this loss would be like, nor how it would affect me.  But, I would generally think it would be a distraction.  It sure seemed like it when he coached the Packers last weekend, didn't it?

If I were Mr. Ross, I would have let him know that unfortunately its not in my team's - or his - best interest to consider him for a head coach opportunity under the circumstances, and moved on.

But Mr. Ross who wanted to make the big hire, went ahead with what appears to be a yawn! at this point.

Here's to hoping it works out, and he's here for more than 2 years, and has some amount of success.

Good luck to us, fans, good luck to us.  It doesn't appear on paper that this will work out. But who knows?

Joe Philbin will be the Dolphins next head coach

Finally, we got the news that we had been waiting for and expecting all day today. Joe Philbin will be the Dolphins new head coach and after numerous reports on how McCoy was the Dolphins leading candidates yesterday, Philbin is the one who gets the job. The Dolphins did a really good job not saying anything and making everyone believe we would hire McCoy.

I, like most of you, love this hire I wrote a piece on Philbin last week where I said that I wanted Philbin because he comes from a really explosive offense with the Packers and he could bring in Flynn and sure up our O-line, something that Sparano supposedly a O-line guru couldn't do. Philbin doesn't call the plays but he does make the game plans, and as you saw last week that the Packers aren't the same team without all of his full game planing because of his tragedy of his son. Hopefully he brings here some Packers coaches (our offensive coordinator will likely be Tom Clements the QB coach and someone who people say does a really good job at what he does) and some players and bring a winning attitude here. Philbin isn't a big name but I believe he is the right choice. Plus he knows all the strengths of Flynn because Philbin has coached him for 4 years.

Now time for 2 months of Matt Flynn talk.

Ross wants Philbin but Ireland wants McCoy

Adam Schefter reported that there is a split in opinions on who should be the next coach should be. Ross wants Philbin but Ireland apparently wants McCoy. It'll pretty interesting to see who has the final say, most likely Ross. Hopefully one of the candidates stands apart from the pack during the interviews. I think when its all said and done though Philbin will ultimately get the job and according to other sources he will likely bring in the quarterbacks guru Tom Clements to be the Dolphins Offensive Coordinator and will more than likely bring in Flynn at quarterback. I wouldn't getting coaches and players from the Packers, at least they will bring that winning attitude here and at least that team is better than the cowboys team in 08 when we got almost all their backups.

Censorship is bad

I know. I said I wouldn't post. But I am making an exception to take a stand. Today is the day of the Internet blackout.

Imagine if your favorite site - dolphins or otherwise - was shut down because of this legislation.

That. Would. Suck.

Call your senator today and tell them to stop Internet censorship!!

Dolphins coaching search reportedly down to just 3

According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins will be interviewing Todd Bowles, Joe Philbin and Mike McCoy for a 2nd interview in New York. He also ruled out the idea of Mike Zimmer as the Dolphins head coach. I think that Bowles probably won't get the job because Ross wants an offensive minded head coach which could bring the list down to just McCoy and Philbin. I wrote an article on why I would like to see Philbin as the head coach because of the success of the Packers Offense and the fact that he could bring in Flynn. McCoy is the Offensive coach of the Broncos and he called the plays for them throughout the year. Give him credit for adapting to Tebow's strength midway though the season and changing the whole system, which showed his ability to coach players up, given his limited time in doing so. He is also very young and still in his 30s which fits the "young Don Shula" which Ross talked about. Also he coached Matt Moore with the Panthers and got him to play good. However he was taught under Dan Henning's system with the Panthers if that means anything.

Mike Nolan taking the Atlanta DC job

This was something that came as a bit of a surprise to me and I am sure to some of you too. The Dolphins defense was clearly their strength and now to see the play caller gone kind of hurts a little. Although who knows, maybe we would have gotten someone who runs a 4-3 or a head coach that calls his own defensive plays causing us to not resign Nolan. I think that if the reports a couple of days ago that Mike Zimmer was on the top of the Dolphins list, he certainly is now if not in the top 2 or 3 now. Also remember he has a ties with Ireland from the days with the Cowboys.

Also the colts HC job just opened up, which could affect us. The opportunity to get a once in every decade player as Luck would certainly entice candidates to take that job. Also Dave Toub just signed a 2 year extension which rules him out of the equation, which is a relief to many Dolphin fans. I would still like to see Philbin or Zimmer as our coach, maybe more Zimmer now that Nolan is gone, so that Zimmer calls the plays and possibly Daboll (unless Zimmer brings in his own guy) calling the offense.

Update: According to Armando Zimmer is off the Dolphins list, the Dolphins are looking for an offensive coach

Coaching carousel

What's up fans?  Thanks for letting me post, Dave!

I'd like to talk about coaching the Dolphins.  I've always heard that coaching accounts for 10% of what happens on the field.  So in a way, why all the talk about who's "right" to coach the Fins?  What's important is that he can motivate the team and that he has a rapport with his boss.  So, if Mr. Ross finds someone he's comfortable with, that's really all that matters.

But the problem here is the way this franchise is perceived.  Ross made an overture to Harbaugh last offseason, and then kept Sparano saying "he's our guy."  Then with 3 games left, he said "he's not our guy" and "we want to have time to get the right guy.  We'll start today"  Later he said he wanted "a big name" and later it was that he wanted "a young Don Shula."  And at still another point he said after the season he'd be making a big splash to get the fans excited.  Most of these statements clash with one another, so maybe he didn't have a direction?

5 coaches got fired, including all 3 in Florida.  Then, a 6th was let go, and its still possible that others might, too.  Two coaches have been hired.  And in Miami?  Its just weird.  Ross kept Jeff Ireland, and then started two coaching searches - one that included Ireland and one that didn't. 

By most accounts, there were 4 big-name coaches.  They reached out to Cowher, and he declined to be interviewed.  Carl Peterson had dinner with John Gruden and asked what it would take for him to coach, and he likewise spurned Miami.  And then there was this little thing over a 10-day span with Jeff Fisher. 

I think it was obvious Fisher was not coming to Miami.  I have no idea why he took so long to say anything, but ultimately he said no because he wanted personnel control.  So, Jeff Ireland squashed that one.  In many ways, its fine.  He only had 6 winning seasons, and if all Ross did was pile money in front of him then he might come here for the wrong reasons, and be the next Nick or Parcells.

And the 4th is Brian Billick.  Armando at the Herald wrote a story about why Billick was never talked to, and in a nutshell Ross was trying to buy the fins in '07 when the Dolphins were winless.  Billick played it safe and went to OT, and the Fins won.  H Wayne told Ross that the price just went up $40 million because the Fins won.  Ross walked away at that point (later to be talked back into it).  And when Billick and Ross met after the ownership changed hands, Ross said to Billick "you owe me $40 million" which Billick thought was funny.  Only Ross appears to have held a grudge. 

...at this point, I really hope they find a young up-and-comer.  Someone who's hungry and wants to win.  There are some intriguing names on the market, but the fins haven't talked with any of them - at least yet.  And for the most part, the guys they've talked with haven't had many other interviews, so they're not the "hot names"...

And meanwhile, you see that Nick is probably the best coach in college, and many of the guys Miami interviewed the last two times they had openings are having success elsewhere. 

So here's to hoping they find the right guy.  The next Shula.  Someone who can put together some victories and get along with Ireland, because like it or not, he's here to stay.  I just hope that the success he had last year was actually success and not a mirage....