| As the Miami Dolphins football team battles | | | | meetings being held that same night. Incidentally, |
| through the dog days of summer, you can be | | | | Taylor is married to All-Pro linebacker Zack |
| sure that the general Nick Saban is planting the | | | | Thomas's sister and the couple, who have three |
| seed about focus and the team concept rather | | | | children, are headed to divorce court, which could |
| than personal achievements and awards. | | | | create some tension on the squad. |
| This past week Saban was invited to a dinner | | | | Once again, Coach Saban was one step ahead of |
| that included President Bush and a host of former | | | | a potential problem and called Taylor and Thomas |
| Dolphins including Dan Marino. Saban was polite in | | | | into his office to make sure that there were no |
| suggesting that his schedule was far too busy and | | | | issues that were going to affect the team's |
| that he has a major project on his hands which | | | | performance. |
| would be preparing his team for a brutal NFL | | | | The Dolphins are listed as 12-5 odds to win the |
| season. | | | | AFC East as the linemakers once again have |
| If you are a Dolphin fan then this is just the type | | | | Bellichick's Patriots the huge favorites. I love the |
| of attitude you want to hear resonating from the | | | | addition of Daunte Culpepper to the team, as this |
| Dolphins training camp as this suggests that | | | | guy provides a threat as both a passer and a |
| leadership is in place. Far too many times during | | | | runner. Second year back Ronnie Brown can fly |
| this off-season and even this past week the | | | | and I look for huge things from rookie receiver |
| reports out of several NFL cities is negative | | | | out of Arizona State Derek Hagan. |
| propaganda about player's arrests, contract | | | | The NFL season opens September 7th when the |
| squabbles and the personal agendas of the | | | | defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh |
| players. | | | | Steelers host the Dolphins. As popular as the |
| Even more impressive then Saban's rejection of | | | | Dolphins are, you know the bettors will side with |
| the White House was the news that defensive | | | | the home side at Heinz Field. |
| end Jason Taylor had also been invited, but | | | | Start the season off with a bang by playing the |
| decided that the dinner conflicted with team | | | | Dolphins as a live dog! |