Now do you believe me?
Two weeks ago, I predicted 0-16 was where this tank trail ends and no one agreed. Last week, after a 49-point loss to Baltimore, I apologized how even 0-16 seemed optimistic. Still, few agreed.
Now, after this Sunday, are you ready to hop aboard for the long trip down?
Everyone agrees the Miami Dolphins looked better on Sunday, showed some nice defensive progress and actually played like a real NFL team for a half against the mighty New England Patriots. But how did that affect the bottom line?
Patriots 43, Dolphins 0.
That kind of back-to-back score makes most teams lose their minds. But the Dolphins haven't lost theirs. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who wants to be traded, was asked if he would be dealt to another team soon and had an inspired answer.
"I'm not a genie," he said.
No one in the slow-footed media was nimble enough to ask if he had three wishes, any three wishes, what team he'd like be traded to and whether he'd use the other two to intercept Tom Brady. Besides, since Fitzpatrick isn't a genie, my against-the-grain belief is he doesn't get traded at all.
I don't think any team will meet the ransom the Dolphins will want for him _ or should want for him, anyway. Let's see if the Dolphins actually are playing the only game they can here, allowing Fitzpatrick's agent to shop him around and attempt to come up draft riches no team would cough up.
Then again, how many more good players can this team trade?
Looking at the roster, I'd say four players. That's about all the good players they've got left, assuming running back Kenyan Drake is one of them. He's rumored to be on the trade market, too, but the bottom-line is unless there's draft riches coming in return the Dolphins shouldn't make any more trades.
Besides, if we have to watch this, shouldn't they?
Let's be honest, it's 13-0 at half, and you're relieved it's not a blowout. That was the mindset early Sunday. You never thought the Dolphins had a chance to actually win, of course, because the Dolphins offense had two first downs at half.
On five drives in the middle of the game, the offense totaled a minus-11 yards. It can't run, can't pass and can't do much of anything proficiently except get their quarterback sacked and drop the football. Fitzpatrick's face looked like it was mauled by a lion with bloody cuts after the game.
"It probably looks worse than it is," he said.
If only the same could be said for this season.
As for his receivers' drops, well, everyone had at least one _ Jakeem Grant for a would-be touchdown, Preston Williams for a would-be first down and ... Kalen Ballage? Is the Ballage Experiment over? Is it time to start Drake?
Second play of the game, Ballage drops a pass. Fourth quarter, he bobbles another and linebacker Jamie Collins returns it for a touchdown. That was the Patriots' second, pick-6 in 108 seconds against the Dolphins offense. That's more touchdowns right there than the Dolphins have scored in two games.
Then again, Dolphins coach Brian Flores helped create the Patriot defense that's given up three points this year. Safety Devin McCourty said it looked, "weird," seeing his long-time defensive coach on the Dolphins sideline. But compassion?
He chuckled. "I'd be lying if I said I wish we lost."
Meanwhile, Dolphins owner Steve Ross was smart to re-iterate the team's plan this year. Everyone needed to hear it.
"The goal isn't to try to patch some holes to go 9-7 and make the playoffs," Ross told the South Florida Sun Sentinel late Saturday night. "I want to compete for and win Super Bowls. We took an objective look at our situation at the end of last year and realized that we were a long way away from where we need to be. Our roster, salary-cap situation, everything.
"We've won 72 games in 10 years and that's just not good enough. I take responsibility for that, and as I said back in March, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. The moves that have been made were all made in the best interest in trying to build a championship organization."
To that end, they're on the route to the top NFL draft pick in 2020. There will be challenges ahead. Washington, Cincinnati and the New York Giants look awful, too. But let's end Sunday on optimistic note:
Two down.
Fourteen to lose.
