Thoughts

Here we are just days away from the regular season opener against Washington and the beginning of a glorious 12-4 season. No? All right, let's get realistic...11-5.

I don't care how bad the Phins are projected to be, it's September and, damnit, nothing can get me down...except for maybe LJ Shelton being named starting right tackle. Yeah, that's a bummer. And in broader sense, the offensive line sucking...and Trent Green...Chris Chambers...they're question marks, too.

...

Hakim was released (smart move) along with others. The final preseason game was a bore. Reagan Mauia will be our starting full back, freeing up a spot on the roster for Patrick Cobbs, and Joey Porter is participating in practices.

I'm having a look at Omar's Over/Unders for the Dolphin season, and I'm shocked at the number of commentators who have the team pegged for the over in wins, which is set at seven. Wishful thinking? I'm going Push...a 7-9 season is OK in my book. Looking into my magical crystal ball here (on-sale at Target), I see John Beck taking the starting job sometime late in the season, getting us back to .500 with his overachieving play, leading fans to believe that Beck is the Savior, and then throwing a total of 10 INTS in the final two regular season games. Fans will then spend the next six months of the off-season debating John Boy's leadership and decision-making skills. Management will address this aura of doubt in the off-season by signing Vinny Testaverde, who will in turn be our starting QB in 2008.

Seriously though, that whole "QB of the future" nonsense is just a polite way of subliminally communicating to Green that he best not put this season in the shitter or John Boy's taking the reigns.

And lastly, from the same Sun-Sentinel blog:

"So, can Ginn Jr. outperform McDuffie, who averaged 23.6 yards on kickoffs, 11.3 yards on punt returns with two touchdowns, and catch 19 passes for 197 yards."

The fact that we're even questioning if Ginn -- the No. 9 pick in the draft, in case you forgot -- can put up those kind of numbers is...what's the word...(voice from the other room)..."laughable and infuriating?" Yeah, that sounds about right -- laughable and infuriating. Yet, I will remain optimistic that Ginn will aid in getting us into the damn end-zone.