South Florida Buzz

I was reading Miami Herald today and came across this article that has some interesting points regarding the Dolphins and Panthers. Thought I would drop it here...

Huizenga, Cohen in same boat

By BARRY JACKSON

For Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga and Panthers owner Alan Cohen, there have been plenty of painful parallels this fall: Both spent money freely, expecting long-awaited playoff berths. Both lost their star offseason acquisitions to injury (Daunte Culpepper/Todd Bertuzzi). Both have seen their offenses sputter.

Both spoke at length this week. Huizenga, who expressed disappointment to reporters Monday, addressed other topics in a phone conversation:

? Though the Dolphins often have resisted giving large signing bonuses to free agents, Huizenga said Nick Saban (with $17.8 million in cap space) will get as much money as he needs if he wants to make a splash in free agency: 'That's Nick's decision. The philosophy is you spend the money when you're only one or two players away. If Nick says he's ready, we've never said `no.' ''

? He indicated he's not agonizing about acquiring Culpepper instead of Drew Brees. ''We got advice from five or six doctors all around the country. I give our team doctor credit for telling us to talk to other doctors. Maybe it wasn't the right decision, but it could be too soon'' to judge.

? On his 13-year run as sole owner (114-90 regular season but 4-7 postseason and likely five consecutive nonplayoff years), Huizenga said, ``We're one of the winningest teams, but that doesn't mean anything to the fans. All they want to know is what's happening now. I wish we could have delivered more.''

? Beyond Culpepper's injury, he isn't sure why his team has disappointed. ''I can't explain what happened,'' he said, noting last year's six-game winning streak was ''with a different quarterback and different [assistant] coaches. When you see how they played against Chicago, you say we're just about there. But we fell flat'' Sunday.

Cohen, meanwhile, called this season ''very disappointing'' but unlike the past, said he won't replace key people.

Coach/general manager Jacques Martin ''will get as long as he needs to get a core group of players that know how to win,'' Cohen said. ``We're not locked into any bad contracts. We will be able to reshape the team pretty quickly. . . . This team has enough talent to win. We just need to change players until we find the mix that wins.''

Cohen, who raised the team's payroll this season from $29 million to $41 million, said when he became owner in 2001, ''I thought I could get us to be a perennial playoff team. The first three years . . . under the old CBA, the chances for success were limited. But the last two years, we . . . should have been able to make the playoffs.'' They're on pace to miss the playoffs for a seventh season in a row.

? The Dolphins (3-3 at home) draw a more difficult home schedule in 2007: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dallas, the Giants, plus the AFC East teams and the AFC West team that finishes in the same slot as Miami. On the road: AFC East teams, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, Philadelphia and an AFC South team.

? Tidbits: N.C. State, seeking a head football coach, has inquired about Admin Coker, among others. . . . UM assistant Mario Cristobal, in the mix for the FIU head coaching job, has been waiting to see if his friend Randy Shannon gets the UM job. . . . GM Admin Beinfest said the Marlins have ''kicked around'' the idea of moving right fielder Jeremy Hermida to center field. But that wouldn't solve the need for another starting outfielder. . . . Dontrelle Willis gets married Friday.

Source: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/16171683.htm

Key points in bold italic.