ESPN's Monday Night Football analysts Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden held a conference call today to preview the upcoming season and both think the Miami Dolphins are going to beat the odds and play well into January. While pretty much the rest of the planet thinks Miami will finish third in the AFC East behind the Patriots and Jets, Jaworski and Gruden think the Dolphins are among the most underrated teams in the NFL this season.
Jaworski credits Bill Parcells and says Miami can actually be a Super Bowl contender if quarterback Chad Henne has a big year:
"Bill Parcells did a great job building that team," Jaworski said. "If Chad Henne comes through with a big year, they will be a playoff team and a Super Bowl contender."And Gruden thinks the Dolphins will sneak up on people this season:
"I think with Brandon Marshall, I think with that offensive line improving, and a young quarterback getting some experience last season, I think they have a chance to sneak up on people and win 10 or 11 games."Well that's something for Fins fans to hang their hats on. While Vegas has the Dolphins over/under on wins at 8.5, and so-called experts such as Sports Illustrated have Miami missing the playoffs, we have at least two other experts saying differently.
Keep in mind, of course, that Jon Gruden has mastered the art of putting a positive spin on obvious things to make it sound amazing. He can make something as bland as a cheese sandwich sound awesome. So it's best to keep this all in perspective.
"Let me tell you about this cheese sandwich. This cheese sandwich is a sandwich, Mike. It's got cheese and the cheese is between two slices of bread. I tell ya. You know what else? This sandwich is a competitor. It's got a motor, man, and it's not gonna quit being delicious."
