Will Things Get Worse for Miami?

The only bright spot in Miami's dismal 0-7 start to the 2007 season was Ronnie Brown. Brown, the 2nd overall pick out of Auburn in the 2005 draft, was starting to use his massive potential. He rushed for over 100 yards in four straight games after rushing for less than 70 combined in his first two. He was well on his way to another 100 yard performance before leaving the game with an apparent knee injury. There are now reports that he will be done for the season. This is disastrous for a team that is still searching for its first win. The team is decimated with injuries, most notably on defense where DT Vonnie Holliday is week-to-week and Safeties Yeremiah Bell and Renaldo Hill are out for the season. Bell tore his Achilles in Week 1 and Hill tore an ACL in the Patriots game.

Ronnie's specific injury has not been released yet but, if it is to end his season, it is most likely a torn ACL as well. Journeyman Jesse Chatman will assume Brown's role. Chatman received tons of praise during the offseason and training camp from Cam Cameron and he performed well after Brown left the Patriots game. Now we will see if he can carry a team that is devoid of much talent at all.

This latest setback will only solidify Miami as the worst team in the NFL. It is more than likely that this team won't win more than 2 games this year (thank God they are in the AFC East) and could possibly, dare I say it, go 0-16. Talk about putrid. This team has so many needs one offseason and draft won't save them. They'll be lucky to win 5 games in 2008. A complete defensive overhaul is needed and the Dolphins won't be respectable again until 2009 at the earliest.

It has already been a long 5 years since the Dolphins last playoff birth (and subsequent early exit) in 2002. It may be another 5 until the team can even imagine playing past the 1st round. Speaking of 1st round, I expect this may be the most encouraging phrase in Miami right now:

"With the first pick in the 2008 NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins select..."

Left-Patriots players signal for the medical staff to tend to injured Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown.

Right-I hate to tell you, Jason, but it's going to get worse before it gets better. And that sucks.