-by Brian Fein

Its been three weeks now, and I still gotta ask "why?" After racking my brain, finally, I think I have realized the most recent cause of another Miami Dolphins' December demise. Most people won't point the finger. They'll say some politically correct garbage like "we didn't get the job done." Well, good thing they have fans like me. I've got my pointing finger ready to fire off at the first willing recipient.

Jamar Fletcher is the worst thing that has happened to the Miami Dolphins since Sammie Smith. I remember it vividly, sitting in my living room, while the Dolphins were on the clock in April of 2001. "Take Drew Brees," I thought to myself. Then, as Paul Tagliabue approached the podium, I grabbed my remote tightly. "With their first selection, the Dolphins select Jamar Fletcher, corner back, Wisconsin." I nearly threw my remote through the television screen.

Granted, you don't expect much out of a nickel corner, but you expect him to be able to cover people, right? Sure, Fletcher can cover better than you or I, but he's no Sam Madison. Several times towards the end of this season, I found myself frustrated and angry, watching the Dolphins trot their nickel package onto the field, only to see Fletcher get burned deep by receiver after receiver.

December 9, 2002 - Dolphins at Buffalo
In what looked to be his last start of the season, most eyes were on Ray Lucas at quarterback. Maybe that's why no one noticed when Fletcher got burned twice deep, both for touchdowns. Second quarter, 17 seconds on the clock, Buffalo's 2nd and 10 from the Miami 20. Bledsoe drops a ball in to a wide open Peerless Price in the corner of the end zone for a TD. On the coverage: Jamar Fletcher. Third Quarter, 4:48 left, 2nd and 7 from the Buffalo 27. Peerless Price beats Fletcher badly off the line. Bledsoe finds Price again for a 73 yard TD strike, giving Buffalo the lead for good.

December 21, 2002 - Dolphins at Minnesota
The famous "trap game" caught the Dolphins napping yet again. Start of the Fourth Quarter, Vikings ball, 3rd and 14 on their own 30 yard line. Culpepper launches a bomb to Moss for 60 yards, who had beat Jamar Fletcher by 8 or 10 steps. Thanks to Shawn Wooden for making the touchdown-saving tackle. Same drive, 3 plays later, Moss takes the ball on an end-around and heaves one up to D'Wayne Bates in the back of the end zone. Who bit on the WR run and left his man wide open back there? You guessed it...

December 29, 2002 - Dolphins at New England
This one could be the most painful Fletcher moment of all. This one could arguably have cost the Dolphins a playoff berth. Fourth Quarter, three minutes to go, Dolphins up by 11. Tom Brady tosses a pass on 2nd and 10 to fifth string WR David Givens near the goal line with a white #21 jersey hanging all over him. The yellow hankies go flying, 30 yard penalty leading to a Troy Brown TD two plays later. Sure, the Fins still had a lead after that, but the momentum had completely swung to the Patriots, and so did the season.

Is it wrong to blame one player for the demise of an entire team? Yes. Is it applicable in this case? YES! The argument here isn't that Fletcher cost us the season. It is that Fletcher cost us those three games. Imagine if the Dolphins had a record of 12-4 instead of 9-7. Big difference, huh?

So, what can be done to ensure that these mishaps never happen again? Do we take Mr. Fletcher to a therapy session and teach him how to hang with fast receivers? Do we cut our losses and try again this April?

Fletcher is just another casualty in a long line of Dolphins' first round busts, right behind Randal Hill and John Avery. If there's one thing I ask of the coaching staff this offseason, it would be to put Fletcher on the practice squad, and keep him lined up next to the waterboy on the bench.

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The Dolphins Make Me Cry
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