Friday? Must be Happy Hour for Dolphins

Coach Tony Sparano's mood was better today. Fact is, it was good again.

After seeming gruff, curt and borderline ornery on Thursday, Sparano was his old self against today. His mood was good enough that I asked him why he is in such an obviously bad mood the day before.

"Terrible lunch upstairs," he said, tongue-in-cheek.

The fact is, as I wrote yesterday, the Dolphins are under much pressure. They realize they are 3-5 and that makes them a bad team, a team that isn't looking like a playoff team, much less an AFC East defending champion.

So Sparano has ordered something of a reset to make sure his players understand that 3-5 is not acceptable. The Dolphins have a chance to go from 3-5 to 5-5 in one week.

Sparano doesn't want his players to blow that opportunity by not being focused on their tasks -- on their jobs.

"I just made a specific emphasis that the fun and games need to be out there on the field," Sparano said when asked about the declining number of domino games in the locker room. "But I think these guys really understand the importance. They understand where we are. Concentration, all those things, paying attention to the details.

"Only thing I've asked them is I want the conversations around here to be a little bit more about football. There's nothing wrong with, and I am pro the players on their down time relaxing and interacting with each other, It's critical. But it's ok to talk about football, too. I talk about football all the time with my wife."

Sparano seems pleased with his team's preparation this week. He said the team had "three really good practices," and that Friday, "was one of the best practices in a long time."

Sparano said all of Miami's injured players were "a little bit better," today. But that was before the injury report came out.

Paul Soliai was limited in practice Friday after not practicing Wednesday and Thursday. Soliai is doubtful for the game despite the upgrade.

Justin Smiley (shoulder) and Erik Walden (hamstring) adid not practice and are also doubtful for the game. Anthony Fasano (hip) is questionable after being limited in practice all week long.

Comments

[ALoco]

CARLITO.

YOU SHOUD BUY A FRESH BIRD THE NIGHT BEFORE NOT DAYS IN ADVANCE TRUCKER .

I HEAR THAT SOME PEOPLE HERE THEY GO TO THE CHURCH TO EAT AND SAVE THE MONEY FOR RUM .

[carlito from golfito]

Aloco,

How is the food at the shelter for thanksgiving?

[Mark in Toronto]

You guys are late, thanksgiving was last month.

[cuban menace]

Aloco, whats the problem with that????

[NJ PHIN FAN]

Mark , NAH ! No misty .

[carlito from golfito]

The thanksgiving football games are pretty bad this year

gb vs det and

dal vs oak

I think the night game is a little better, but wow!

[cuban menace]

Mark, What do you guys eat for your thanksgiving??just wondering??

[NJ PHIN FAN]

They eat whale meat ! !

[NJ PHIN FAN]

LOL ! Just kidding

[ALoco]

can any one name the biggest turkey on the dolphins team ????????

[odinseye]

Mark in Toronto,

Don't go getting all oversensitive on us.

That wudn't ball busting.

I just saw the perfect set up for me to express my derision with Miami's lack of getting and sustaining any appreciable leads.

PS: I learnt them big words from Nathaniel(thanks Nathaniel!).

[carlito from golfito]

NJ, lol, I thought it was walrus and caribou?

[NJ PHIN FAN]

That too !

[ALoco]

cuban,
in old days you had to kill the turkey yourself and cleaned and cook it and eat it .

today,don't make me start .any farmer around to tell us how to know a good turkey from bad turkey ?

[cuban menace]

Ummmm Caribou stuffing......

[cuban menace]

Aloco, dont care how old it is or how it gets on the table, JUST BRING IT..........

[ALoco]

the vickings used to invade people's land and eat their turyeys lik pigs w/a lot of stolen rum.

[carlito from golfito]

Aloco,

I picture you as short and a little fat and bald on the top of head, but hair on still on the side with a combover and cheap shirt tucked in too tight.

Please tell me am I close?

[cuban menace]

And whats the problem there???

[ALoco]

CARLITO,
I PICTURE YOU AS A FRIEND OF MINE NAMED WILLIE .HE'S VERY GOOD LOOKING AND A GOOD PERSSON ALL AROUND .

[odinseye]

CARLITO.

YOU SHOUD BUY A FRESH BIRD THE NIGHT BEFORE NOT DAYS IN ADVANCE TRUCKER .

I HEAR THAT SOME PEOPLE HERE THEY GO TO THE CHURCH TO EAT AND SAVE THE MONEY FOR RUM .

Posted by: ALoco | November 13, 2009 at 06:04 PM

Aloco,

I try to tolerate all of my fellow human beings. Not for their sake, but for mine. You see, when my patience wears thin, BAD THINGS happen and yours truly has to pay the price.
That having been said, I resent the intent, behind your insinuations.
For the record, While Thanksgiving dinner at a Church would be absolutely Heavenly, saving money for Rum is definitively DEVINE!!!!

[phinfan1975]

jet fans having to make up new names over and over because there team sucks so bad they can never back up there talk wow can u blame them have you been to there web site just like there team sh*t

[carlito from golfito]

Why willie? You know my name is carlito and Henne the Hero and etc, etc..

[ALoco]

DO YOU GUYS HAVE JOBS ???
ODINSEYE
CARLITO
NJ PHIN
LOOKS LIKE THE CHURCH WILL BE BUSY IN THANKSGIVING

[carlito from golfito]

importer/ exporter with Vandalay Industries

[ALoco]

WE EXPORT CHIPS AND WE IMPORT MATCHES .

[odinseye]

the vickings used to invade people's land and eat their turyeys lik pigs w/a lot of stolen rum.

Posted by: ALoco | November 13, 2009 at 06:21 PM

Aloco,

You're just jealous because your women's favorite time of year was when us Vikings would come and raid their panties!!!!

This is the true spirit behind ThanksGIVING!!!!

[Buchter Froget]

the tampa game is not gonna be easy by any stretch:

- team out of playoffs; nothing to lose
- energetic 1st year coach; trying to prove himself
- 3rd string qb who probably shouldve started long time ago
- might have those tampa throwbacks on for good luck

better be ready

[ALoco]

to coach TS;

AN ADVICE FOR YOU ,
1-PLEASE WHEN A PLAYER HAVING A GOOD GAME DON'T PULL HIM OUT.
2-PLAT TED GINN THE WHOLE GAME NOT ONLY WHEN THE GAME ON THE LINE .
3-LEAVE HENNE THE HERO IN THE GAME ALL 4 Q .
4-RUN AND KEEP RUNNING .NO GIMMICKS

[odinseye]

One of my favorite press conferences of all time was Rich McKay, then head coach of the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Reporter: How do you feel about your teams execution today?

McKay: I'm all for it!!!!

[cuban menace]

did you just say play ginn the whole game???

[ALoco]

YES CUBAN,A WR SHOULD GET WARMED AND GET FEELING FOR THE GAME NOT LIKE THIS GIMMICK TRICKS THE COACH DOES .THESE 2 GAMES VS COLTS AND SAINTS FINS HAD THE BALL AND THE GAMES WON IF NOT FOR THESE GIMMICKS .DOLPHINS SHOULD BE 5-3 NOT 3-5

[cuban menace]

Aloco, You do know that Illegal drugs are Illegal???

[ALoco]

HANDS OF STONE????????

[cuban menace]

Just say NO brother, just say no..

[ALoco]

I JUST LOVE CUBAN WHEN HE'S DRUNK

[cuban menace]

No drinks tonite brother, just chillaxing...

[ALoco]

I AM RUNNING OUT OF DEEP THOUGHTS,GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK .

[Vox Verdad]

All of this is 'whistling-in-the-graveyard' type piffle, as the season is over, dead & buried.

I am seriously considering not commenting on this and other blogs, under this name or any of my other noms-de-guerre, but I think my voice is needed to balance out all the Playoff Pollyannas that congregate here.

[odinseye]

Aloco,

I work. This economic crisis is getting us all, but I manage.
I have a small automotive repair shop. Of course I had to lay everyone off besides myself.
If and when I run out of work, I do construction and remodeling for a company owned and operated by another Norse Viking Warrior.
In my "spare time" I work for UPCAP. It's a non-profit strictly voluntary organization that helps the elderly, handicapped and "shut-ins".
What do you do Aloco?

[Sammy]

banana budding .

[1ry]

i know this is another blog but booing porter is assinine at least hes done something since hes been here thats more than i can say for those bums akin odelye and channing crowder. at least when porters not doing good you notice it but when that bum crowder doesnt play you dont even realize hes gone so boo that loud mouth instead.

[1ry]

im sorry i forgot crowders a gator hes suppose to be over rated my bad

[Ace]

Did somebody say Wild Turkey??? 101 proof perhaps

[julius]

i enjoy a good story like anyone and i understand all the love being given to lousaka polite but when we need just one yard shouldnt ricky or ronnie be getting the ball? i mean seriously if polites converting every time rick or ron would probably bust a couple of those

[ceviche]

Odinsye he funny.

he say he own small repair shop
translation= he is a shade tree mechanic with a bozo parts gofer, he no ASE cert
he say he do construction /remodeling
translation= he is a day laborer sometime, sweep at const site
he say he work for UPCAP
translation= he is in rehab for AA, or he like old people

[ceviche]

who are the following?:
dying breed
misty
nj flim fam

[andre ck]

i love the fins but no one wants to admit that long smiley grove etc. are mediocre at best this 150 million dollar line just aint that good i watch alot of football and i just dont think our line is that great. just my personal opinion

[1ry]

did we sign andre the giant today?

[ceviche]

Ody no pay overtime to his workers and he still lay them off

[Ace]

1ry wrong we signed King Kong Bundy, no relation to Ted

[Sammy]

does Ace knows how to cook pasta ?

[Short Dick Butkis]

Is everyone on the new blog: Dolphins honor our military -- God bless them » ?

Or am I the only one that get there?

[Ithaca Phins fan]

he said they had a bad lunch, Armando?

Sounds like the whole team had lunch with the Big Tuna yesterday. the kind where the Big Tuna does all the talking.

[Short Dick Butkis]

Ithaca Phins fan

have you tried clicking on the new blog?

[H8dpats]

Ace what about Brutus the Barber beefcake? Who needs a haircut?

[Dolphins4life]

Kidding me NJPHIN,

This is blowout city 23-13?...More like 31-10 and the Dolphins will dominate. Bucs give up nearly 400 yards on offense and 163 yard a game on the ground, which as everyone knows is our strength, I know Ronnie and Ricky will get theirs I just hope Henne throws a few TDs and gt him going and maybe the WR get in on the action to build what little confidence they have. Why was Sparano so mad or grumpy, I bet it has to do with making sure we dont overlook the Bucs and come out swining, that and maybe he felt his players werent paying their due diligence and wanted to make sure they dont try to mail this one in. Have the troops ready no matter how easy the opponent is...the Bucs man come on you have to get these guys ready and not have a let down and thats why Tony Saprano called a meeting.
The players have been eating to much Goba Goo while playing poker and lounging Tony just wanted to make sure that they understood the situation and not let down the family. Grumpy mad whatever just do as your told and everthing works out.
After three good practices and one of the best on Friday, Carmela said that if we win big boys I will have your favorite waiting for yous guys, Goba Goo. Hey Jersie you know what im saying Tony wants the guys attention and got it. Now its time to go out and kick some ass and not look past these guys (Bucks) capice. Allright yous guys (Dolphins) go out and make the family proud.

[OverseasFan]

How many times do I have to tell you guys.

We will win this division with a 9-7 record.

[dougfinsfan72]

As far as I'm concerned any team that is a passing threat, or has a very good TE, or a decent pass rush (things the Dolphins lack) are not cakewalks for the Dolphins. Therefore we're capable of losing to any of the teams on our schedule unless we play very good football for 60 minutes.

I believe we have one spot open on the roster. Either a TE or Patrick turner will be promoted to the active roster this week. Hopefully Turner!!

[gunna]

i hope ted ginn can show us he can be that go to guy season not over for him to make an impact...