Mayhem in Miami
Veteran Pats followers understand what the Dolfans in South Florida are currently going through. After years of watching their team be competitive for much of the season, only to collapse down the stretch, Miami partisans are seeing bad things happen to their team - even before the season starts.
It's all enough to make you wonder if Sam Jankovich, the former Patriots CEO who came from the University of Miami to oversee the worst, most bizarre period in New England franchise history back in the early 90's, has taken over Wayne Heizenga's team.
Talk about team chaos. Things have become so disjointed around Pro Player Stadium the Dolphins are no longer considered a legitimate threat in the AFC East. Their fans are wondering what distraction/disaster will hit next.
The most recent bombshell detonated last week when newly appointed offensive coordinator Joel Collier missed the three-day minicamp on doctor's orders. At the conclusion of the minicamp, Collier announced that he was resigning as coordinator because of his medical condition. Formerly a scout with the Patriots back in the early 90's, Collier declined to discuss the specifics of his illness except to say that it led to exhaustion.
``Pulling back is something that has been advised for me (by doctors),'' Collier said when he made his announcement at the beginning of the week. ``It is day-to-day and could be week-to-week as I am working through some things. It could be an extended period of time. Today I feel better than yesterday. That doesn't mean everything will be better a week from now, and that is kind of why I wanted to take a step back.''
Collier had been appointed to replace Norv Turner after Turner was named the Raiders' head coach in January. That in itself caught people by surprise since Collier had never been a coordinator before. Marc Trestman and Jerry Sullivan, two other offensive assistants, had been through the process with the 49ers and Cardinals.
They can't be very happy since head coach Dave Wannstedt then named Chris Foerster as Collier's replacement, even though he was only hired by the Dolphins in February.
This is also the team that saw:
Dan Marino accept and then reject the opportunity to be the team's vice president/CEO.
Journeyman free agent quarterback A.J. Feeley signed as the heir apparent to starter Jay Fiedler.
Wannstedt retain his job as head coach but without the authority to control personnel. That was transferred to GM Rick Spielman.
The curious decision to trade for troubled and troublesome wide receiver David Boston and then have him miss a three-day passing camp because of a shin injury that could have been the result of his failure to lose weight. At 240 pounds, down from a season ago in San Diego, Boston is ``heavier than he needs to be'' according to Wannstedt.
Use their second draft pick on cornerback Will Poole (USC via Boston College) only to find he needed to spend five days in jail because of a DUI conviction in California.
Pro Bowl back Ricky Williams reportedly commit a second violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy and face a $650,000 fine.
Have Pro Bowl defensive end Adewale Ogunleye make noises to sit out the early part of the season because of a contract dispute.
