If you're a Miami Dolphins fan, this is a dreary, soul-crunching season, the kind that can make you wander the neighborhood at odd hours, wondering if you're part of some mythological sports curse.
Or, more likely, you're embracing the pain.
That's the conclusion of my very unscientific poll of 50 Dolphins fans headlined by the simple question: On a scale of 1-5, do you agree with the plan to lose miserably this year and rebuild with draft picks, including the Holy Draft Grail of a franchise quarterback?
Here was the idea: Quit pretending what the ordinary fan is thinking about this unordinary Dolphins season. Go ask the ordinary fan on an ordinary Sunday.
So I walked around the Hard Rock Stadium parking lot last Sunday, covered in sweat and handing out 50 sheets of paper with a few questions to tailgaters before the Dolphins terribly/thankfully lost to the Los Angeles Chargers.
There's the built-in bias in the poll. It was given to fans passionate enough to come to games. The ones still paying for parking and tickets. Judging by the also very unscientific estimate of the one-third empty seats at the game, many fans found other things to do on Sunday.
Of the 50 fans polled, 14 said they backed the plan to the highest five grade ("100 percent"). Another 15 fans said they supported it with a four grade ("Agree for the most part.")
So 58% of those shelling out good money for a bad product were on board with what the Dolphins are doing this season.
"Real fans understand what the team is doing," said Riy Behnam of Pembroke Pines, a season-ticket holder since 2011. "The other fans don't."
Others were more fatalistic.
"Why not _ nothing else has worked," said Matt Yerkis, a fan since 1990, of the plan.
Another 10 fans (20 percent) rated their support of the Dolphins plan at a three grade ("lukewarm").
"Don't like it, but I see why if they make it work," Paul Janzen of Miami said.
Meanwhile, at the other end, three fans graded their agreement with the Dolphins plan at two ("Not much"). Nine gave it the lowest grade of a one ("Don't agree at all"). So 22% aren't on board with the Dolphins' idea of losing their way to the top.
"Don't trust this will work," Monica Salzman wrote.
"Latest of years of dumb moves," said one fan who didn't want to give his name.
Of course, the fact even those in full disagreement were at the game was a statement. As Ilana Menendez of Westchester said, "You have to support your team. I'm still here."
Next question: Who should the Dolphins take if they get the No. 1 overall draft pick? Of the 50 polled, 44 answered this question.
The first choice with 17 votes (38.6 percent) was Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He received more than three times the votes of the next quarterback named. The only surprise might be he wasn't even more the people's choice.
"He changes everything," Robbie Garcia said.
The remaining votes for the top draft pick:
Nine _ "Whoever the Dolphins deem best."
Five _ Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Three _ Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm.
Three _ "A quarterback."
Two _ Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert.
One unnamed voter held out hope for this year by writing on the sheet of paper, "Depends on if (Josh) Rosen is good."
Four others said one year of losing shouldn't be the plan. Give it two years. Then Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be draft-eligible and the Dolphins should take him.
"Why can't we tank another year for Trevor Lawrence?" wrote Paul Stein, a season-ticket holder since 1968.
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Tank for Trevor?
As it is, Yefri Escobar, a season-ticket holder since 2007, wrote about the challenge of this one-year tank plan: "Need to hit on the first three rounds for the next three seasons," he said.
No, none of this passes the Gallup sniff test for a poll. But it gives an anecdotal guideline that 58% of fans agree with why the Dolphins are losing and 22% don't.
If the fan base is split on the plan, there's consensus on what Francisco Marron of Miami, a season-ticket holder since 1982, wrote:
"Just win. Tired of losing seasons."
