-by Sunstroke Stevens

While Wayne Huizenga may not have a clue about football, he obviously has a direct speed-dial connection to some of the best crack cocaine available in South Florida…

After hearing the news that Wannstedt had been stripped of his GM duties…but had his head coaching contract extended through the 2006 season, I admit that I broke down and openly wept for what will surely be two more years of agonizing 'Phins futility.

Why strip Dave of his GM role? The personnel decisions that Wannstedt and his staff have made are nearly flawless. Miami boasts as solid a defense unit as any in the league, and the potential diversity in offensive attacks lends credence to the opinion that he hasn't failed in offensive personnel decisions either. Sure, not all draft picks and free agent signings have panned out, but no other team boasts a 100% track record on those fronts either. Wannstedt has put together the personnel capable of challenging for the Super Bowl, and that is all you ask for from your GM.

Why extend Dave as a head coach? Wannstedt hasn't diagrammed or called an original play since he was at Southern Cal in the 80's. Every defense that the Dolphins face has a very good idea what is coming at them on every single down. Some would say that penance for that predictability should land squarely on the shoulders of Miami OC, Norv Turner, but I believe strongly that stance would be a cop-out. Turner was one of the game's master innovators when he was calling plays for Dallas and Washington and is considered an offensive genius by the "Einstein" of play calling, the 49ers former coach, Bill Walsh. Folks...Norv Turner is not responsible for the vanilla offense we see from our 'Phins these days. If he is, it is directly attributable to Dave Wannstedt's influence.

In a market glutted with good coaching prospects, the Dolphins missed out on a golden opportunity to fix their most glaring weakness. Wayne Huizenga took one too many hits on the pipe and the Dolphins' dreams of greatness has gone up in a wisp of bad smoke.

And the Dolphins will make us cry some more because of it.

Back to Reader Submissions.

The Dolphins Make Me Cry
Email: info@thedolphinsmakemecry.com