Pro Football
Miami Won't Forget
TBO.com
Published: December 31, 2008
Some thought of quitting. Others were brought to tears. A few even stayed in their homes on their days off because they feared public ridicule.Published: December 31, 2008
The Dolphins' 1-15 debacle a year ago came with scars.
"It was the worst feeling of your life," OT Vernon Carey said.
Players from the 2007 Dolphins will never forget the torment of being a national punch line.
For most of the holdovers from that team, it has only made Miami's remarkable turnaround this season more gratifying. The Dolphins (11-5) have matched the 1999 Colts for the greatest one-year improvement in history, capturing the AFC East title and getting a home playoff game Sunday against Baltimore.
But the memory of being the league's biggest loser is still fresh.
"To be 1-15, it certainly makes you appreciate it, where we are now, so much more," DT Vonnie Holliday said. "There was nothing like it. Guys talked about questioning themselves, 'Do you still have it? Can you still play this game at a high enough level? Is it time to shut it down?'"
Rookie coach Tony Sparano has heard the horror stories.
"You hear guys like Vonnie Holliday say ... 'It was hard to go out,' or whatever it was, 'hard to come out of the house,'" Sparano said. "It's nice for those guys right now to be able to feel good about themselves."
COLTS: LB Gary Brackett will miss Saturday's game at San Diego with a cracked bone in his lower right leg.
It is the fifth consecutive game the defensive captain will miss. He hasn't played since Nov. 30, when he was hurt at Cleveland.
STEELERS: QB Ben Roethlisberger was on the practice field Tuesday, two days after sustaining his third concussion in as many years, but he didn't take any snaps or throw any passes.
The Steelers won't know until Sunday whether they will play the Colts, Dolphins or Chargers in a divisional playoff game Jan. 11 in Pittsburgh, so Coach Mike Tomlin said there's no need to rush Roethlisberger back.
The Associated Press