Dolphins Resurrection

 

By Omar Kelly...

Could there have been a better reversal of emotions for Dolphins fans and the team in one calendar year. From shame and embarrassment in 2007 to pride and joy in 2008.

"Guess who's back. Back again. Miami Dolphins. Tell a friend," Ted Ginn Jr. sang immediately after Sunday's 38-31 win over Kansas City, using Eminem's "Shady's back" song as a blueprint.
Sunday's come-from-behind win over the Chiefs sets up the biggest Dolphins game since 2001.

It puts Miami's most beloved franchise in position to play a winner-take-all game against the New York Jets next Sunday. One that will decide who takes home the AFC East crown and the home playoff game that comes with it, and likely sends the Patriots home for the season.
"It's a testament to how greedy our guys are," said quarterback Chad Pennington. "At the beginning of the year we believed that we could get to this point."

Pennington admitted as the season went on the belief grew more and more with each win. It got to the point where there wasn't a doubt the offense would score when given possession in the fourth quarter with a 31-31 game. And that's exactly what Pennington and crew did when Anthony Fasano carried too defenders into the end zone.

The triumph puts the Dolphins at 10 wins this season. Believe it or not, the Dolphins are at double-digits after winning just one in 2007.

But exactly how did this happen? How did this franchise transform itself from an unfortunate, unlucky batch of scraps to this scrappy unit that never stops clawing?

Can the Chiefs and the Lions bottle this and resurrect their franchises in one season? Maybe Bill Parcells' next book will outline it for us all, becoming a South Florida must-read.

What is it that transforms a roster filled with spare parts and faded stars into one of the NFL's best in 2008.

"Everybody knows and accepts their role," Ronnie Brown said. "That's the biggest part about being a team. And it's clear we've bought in."

Immediate following the game coach Tony Sparano was asked if he's thinking about the Jets game?

His response: "Yes I am."

When did he start thinking about it? "After I shook Herm [Edward's] hand."

It's officially O.K. for you to think about the Jets now, and to bask in the opportunity Chad Pennington has to get his revenge.

"Chad Pennington going back to New York with an opportunity to knock his old team out," Vonnie Holliday said, pointing out the game's Brett Favre-Pennington subplot. "I know every guy is going to rally around him."

It's about time South Florida starts rallying around their Dolphins, win or loss next week, because the coaches and players have certainly given our community something for the nation to talk about.

And who says the talk stops next weekend.