Miami Dolphins continue to be disrespected by the national media

The Miami Dolphins continue to take the brunt of the NFL and national media’s pitch fork as the disrespect continues despite being 2-0.

There’s a reason so few respect the Miami Dolphins. Ask yourself, what have they done to earn it? Dig deep within your memory and tell me when the last time this franchise scared anyone?

We certainly didn’t scare the Ravens the last few times we met them in the playoffs.  We didn’t scare the Raiders in 2000. When? When was the last time?

If you ask me, I’d say 1990 and we didn’t even win the division with a 12-4 record. Buffalo did as they were 13-3 and they beat us by 10 in Buffalo in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. But, we were relevant. We had a competitive team. We won a playoff game the week before and had split the season series with Buffalo. We were a serious challenger. I think most people felt really good about that team.

The next year we fell to 8-8 and followed that 11-5 in ’92. At this point, I think most Dolphin fans, as well as the nation, knew Buffalo was a very formidable foe.

Maybe you want to say 2000, but did anyone truly feel Fiedler was up to the task in the playoffs? I don’t think so.

So for me, it’s been 28 years since we were considered one of the strongest teams in the league. We were a team that could truly beat anyone except the Bills when playing at their best.

Is it really any wonder why we are disrespected?

I think not.

It starts with the QB position gang and goes from there. If the QB can consistently play at a high level it energizes the entire roster and guys play giving it everything they have. Because no matter the score they trust they are still in the game.

Yes, it’s a team game, but unless you have an excellent defense and can keep them together for a while you won’t win with any consistency without that QB. Tough enough to do it with one. Everyone saw Aaron Rodgers two weeks ago. He’s a magician. You need a little QB magic. That’s the difference between playing away in a wildcard game and sitting home waiting for the divisional round. It makes a difference.

One other thing it gets you.

Respect.

Time for Ryan Tannehill to earn his but he needs a bit more consistency.

This is it, folks. It’s only game three so if somehow they lose there is no reason to panic, but it is a game they should win. They should win “if” Ryan Tannehill brings us a little of that magic. Improvise, escape, roll out, extend plays, do the things the good QB’s do to win games. Do it when it matters most. Come out of the tunnel and get the team into the end zone. Griese was great at it. Winning QB’s find a way. That’s what makes them winners.

Miami needs to win this game against Oakland at home then go up to Foxboro and battle the Patriots down to the wire. Pull it out if possible, but don’t lose by allowing 27 unanswered points. Earn respect. Earn it.

It starts with Tannehill. Once he earns respect we’ll then know how good or bad this team truly is but not until then.

Dan Marino had down years where the team around him just wasn’t up to the task, but he was still the same QB. He still made pressure throws, he still had his magic. He just couldn’t overcome defenses that gave up more scores than the offense could muster. In 1986, 8 games, the defense surrendered 24 or more points and they lost 6 of those games finishing 6-8. It was the only losing season Marino had. It was Shula’s 2nd.

Shula knew how important the QB position was. He drafted Marino in the 1st round in 1983. The season before David Woodley was the youngest QB to ever start a Super Bowl game. The difference was Shula wasn’t going to waste time trying to turn Woodley into something he wasn’t. David Woodley was an athlete playing QB, not a QB playing QB.

Sound familiar? You want respect you gotta earn it. You earn it by winning games as a QB. The Dolphins are 2-0 and still disrespected.

Someone tell Ryan Tannehill it’s time.