I agree with you but it's time to stop singing the once upon a time blues.
This is why the team was blown up. They are starting from scratch, trying to build a foundation.
This offseason is scary because it's the most important offseason we have had in a very long time. With so many picks and so much cap room, we have the ammo to select/buy ourselves trench upgrades and if we can't get it right with so many provisions, we are in major trouble.
We were manhandled on both sides of the line and we still were able to chase them for a bit. As lacking in talent as we are, thats not too terrible. Hurns really murdered us with the fumble and dropped first down to kill momentum.
Now, you want to talk about melancholy- the fact that the stadium was overwhelmingly filled with Buffalo fan's cheers, that's extremely, extremely sad and embarrassing.
I had no problem with them stating after last season that they were going to go in a different direction. I had no issue with them getting rid of Wake, Tannehill, and many of the older players who weren’t going to be around if they finally turn this team around. My issue is the fact Ross decided to stick with a GM who has been part of the problem for the last 20 years.
I also don’t care about the fact the Dolphins will get two late first round picks from the Texans because it cost the team the best offensive lineman on their roster. The trade of Fitzpatrick to the Steelers was a complete fiasco as far as I am concerned. The Dolphins traded away one of the best defensive backs in the entire NFL simply because Flores was too stubborn to play him at one position and that is all Fitzpatrick asked for. Instead
Fitzpatrick goes to the Steelers and becomes the best safety in the league. Meanwhile we have an over the hill Jones and an out of position McCain playing safety for us now.
After trading away two pro bowl caliber players, now two of the biggest needs on the roster are finding two talented players to play LT and safety in the future. While Grier might have done a decent job in getting value in trading Fitzpatrick and Tunsil, I would have preferred both these players be part of the rebuilding process.
My biggest problem is I have no confidence that Grier is the right guy to be in charge of picking the players for this rebuild. After 20 years in the organization and nothing but mediocrity or worse, I would have thought Ross would have opted to bring in a GM who had a record of success in the NFL. Because so far Ross has had no success as an owner by merely shuffling around the FO during his time as majority owner. Unfortunately I just have to hope Grier is a better GM than I believe him to be. Because if he isn’t the Dolphins will just continue to be a non factor in the NFL for many more years.
As far as me bringing up the past Dolphin success is concerned. At least I am old enough to have the memories of when the Dolphins were once a relevant team in the NFL. It is the younger generation I feel sorry for because they have seen nothing but mediocrity or worse from this organization for nearly two decades. Hopefully my two grandsons who are both Dolphin fans will someday get to experience a Dolphin team in a Super Bowl which I have been able to experience 5 times.
When you have a team that has been as mediocre as the Dolphins have been for so long, it is only my memories of their past success which keeps reminding me why I am still a fan and why I continue to purchase 4 season tickets year after year. I don’t often go to the games anymore because of the arthritis in my knees and back but I continue to purchase the tickets so my grandsons and their parents can enjoy the atmosphere of game day at the stadium. I just hope that all the losing and mediocrity they have seen over the years doesn’t lead to them not wanting to attend games as they get older.