BAMAPHIN 22
FinHeaven Elite
Written by Gary Ramey:Miami has no choice but to show up in this game. Unlike New Orleans or Greenbay, Miami is the resident Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL. They're simply getting no love from anyone. You can bounce around from network to network and Miami has become somewhat of a laughing stock of the league. Most people are predicting a season worse than Buffalo? Really? Reputation wise, Miami is really back at the beginning of the 2008 season. That is why Monday Night is more important to this team than most in recent history. The Patriots are tops on everybodies list to sweep the East again. More to the point, there's no reason they shouldn't be. They were simply dominant thoughout the last decade. If Miami is going to say they belong, they need to ring the bell on MNF. They need to come out and win the game. I'd go one step further and say that they need to dominate the game, but just beating the reigning champs will send a big message to the talking heads that there is a football team in S. Florida worthy of mention. NE, for its part this Monday Night, is in the same breath as Greenbay and New Orleans. Lose, it is simply an aberration...a glitch on their way to greatness. Miami loses, and its the same old Dolphins. You know...the leagues whipping boys. If Miami loses big, they'll be answering questions all week about whether this team can compete. The fans, not the casual ones, but moreover, the ones we find here on these chat boards know otherwise. Most on here know Miami is going to compete this year regardless of what happens on the field Monday Night. I've said this a million times and it is worth saying again: "The season is a marathon not a sprint". Many teams that come fast out of the gate simply end up missing the playoffs...Denver was 5-0 just two seasons ago and finished at .500. Buffalo came out fast a few seasons back and then faded back into reality. So while this game isn't the end-all of important games to win; indulge me a moment. Wouldn't it be great to see Miami come out and throttle the NE Patriots on MNF in front of everyone? It would be like breaking the champaigne bottle across the bow of a new ship to announce its entry into the ocean. A christening of the season with a win over the defending AFC East Champs might do more for this team than we can imagine. Just one night where Brady is frustrated into glaring at his WRs and OL guys. Just one night where Belichick walks off the field and doesn't shake Sparano's Hand. Just one night where Chad Henne shakes off the ghosts of failures past and walks triumphantly to a waiting microphone. There is one thing that separates winners from losers in most every catagory you can think of: belief. Winners believe there going to win from the moment they step on the field. Even if they're down for a moment they're waiting for something good to happen. They're waiting for fate to step in and hand them another victory. It is time to believe again in S. Florida....and it starts on MNF...are you ready?http://www.phinfever.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=673