With the Saints winning the Super Bowl after being dead last the year before, we are seeing the sports media making an attempt to see who will be the next “New Orleans Saints”. To me, the Saints (cannot call them the “Aints” any longer, can we?) were not that big of a surprise as I thought they were Super Bowl material the year before. Still, the Dolphins made a bold move by firing long-time Parcells friend PAUL PASQUALONI and hiring DC MIKE NOLAN. Nolan has a history of improving a defense just by being there … just like the Saints Greg Williams. Add to the fact that Parcells knows how to add playmakers to a defense and you have people wondering if we are close.

PETE PRISCO, of CBS Sports, thinks the Dolphins are one of 5 teams that can make the leap forward: Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Steelers. I pretty much agree with all 5 of these teams having the potential to take it to the Super Bowl, but I find the Dolphins and Falcons to be teams that would have it harder than the rest: too many holes to fill still. To me, the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers are two very dangerous teams that are loaded with talent and have Pro Bowl quarterbacks leading them. The Dolphins have to fight it out with the Patriots and the Jets, so, next year’s season will be like a playoff game each week.  It should be interesting in 2010.

Here are Prisco’s thoughts on why he feels the Dolphins could find them in the Super Bowl next year:

“Why they can: They have a lot of good, young talent, but the reason they can take the next step is quarterback Chad Henne. As a first-time starter last season, Henne came on as the season moved along. He has a chance to be a playoff-type quarterback for a long time.

What they must fix: They need to get him a big-play receiver. It’s clear that Ted Ginn is really a No. 2 receiver at best, so they have to find one this offseason. Maybe they make a run at Miles Austin or Vincent Jackson as restricted free agents or they draft one in this first round, which is usually not Bill Parcells’ style.

Player who must step up: Henne. The Wildcat offense will fall away as Henne continues to develop. I think he has a chance to be a really good one. He just needs more freedom from the coaches on early downs.”

A lot seems to be riding on CHAD HENNE and rightfully so. He is going to need a lot of help as he still is a very young quarterback. The offensive line needs another guard, but it is set. I fully expect to see Parcells add another receiver in free agency or the draft. I know that Boldin is a decreasing talent, but he is still better than any receiver that we will find in the third round, so, I would give up a 3rd round pick for him. Prisco has hated the “Wild Cat” so I expect a negative comment on it from him. What I do agree with him is that it is ridiculous to take your best quarterback out of the game for a play. I would do with Henne what we did with Pennington and that is to spread him out wide and out of the play. Then you can use him in the Wild Cat with a little trick play that the defense will have to account for. Oh, and yes, the Dolphins need a good tight end.

Just to put some balance to this story, the Miami Herald’s ARMANDO SALGUERO does not think the Dolphins are close . Salguero has really stepped up the quality of his reporting and it could be because Mike Marvez and Jason Cole left for better pastures. Hard work always pays off.

“NFL teams are judged by what they do through an entire season, not by what they do in one game. And during the 2009 regular season, the Colts were 14-2 while the Saints were 13-3. The Dolphins were 7-9. So Indy won twice as many games as Miami while the Saints almost accomplished the feat.

Both the Saints and Colts won their respective divisions and were No. 1 seeds in the playoffs. The Dolphins finished third in the AFC East and didn’t make the playoffs

The Dolphins aren’t close.”

While you cannot take away the fact that the Dolphins made both the Colts and Saints sweat out a victory, it is important to look at how a team played the entire year and how they finished off the season. I think if we had played the Colts and Saints in December, and those teams played their starters, we would have gotten our butts beat. The team we now have is not that close in my opinion. But, there is the hope of our young talent improving as the Cowboys did in the 90s. Plus, you know that Parcells has a reputation of putting together good teams and TONY SPARANO is being known as a good coach. During DON SHULA’s time as the Dolphins head coach you could never count out the Dolphins. I feel the same thing applies to Bill Parcells teams.

DANSBY NAMES THE FINS IN HIS “TOP 5″

Now this is interesting, because the position the Dolphins need the worst is the Inside Linebacker position. CHANNING CROWDER needs someone paired up with him who could make an impact and Dansby is one of the best in the league. He is going to be too expensive for the Cardinals to fanchise him, so, he should enter the free agent market free and clear of the Cardinals. It will not cost anyone a draft pick to get him.

I would love to see him in Miami, but I am wondering if it would be better for us to trade our 3rd round pick for WR Anquon Boldin and draft an ILB in the first round to fill those two needs. Still, Dansby is a sure thing.

Here are Dansby’s top 5 teams (I imagine the Cardinals are one of his 5 teams)

“Free agent LB Karlos Dansby called the Giants, Chargers, Dolphins, and Redskins possible 2010 destinations in a Friday interview with Sirius NFL Radio.”

I could go either way with him.

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