Factually speaking, we still have a shot at the playoffs.

The difference is that the questionable call in the Seattle game eliminated an end zone interception which had already occured. It was the ultimate bailout.

What you and Finascious are talking about are random holds not called and questionable PIs, which occur in every NFL game, every Sunday and happen to all teams.

We watch the Dolphins so you notice it, but I'm sure every team can ***** about those kinds of calls.

 

So bad calls that help the other team are legit, and bad calls that hurt a team with Ireland as the GM are nothing important. Got it. God save the narrative.

 

If you don't see the difference between the call in the Seattle game, which directly took an end zone interception away and the kinds of holds/non-holds you're talking about then I don't know what to tell you.

And quite frankly, there was only one PI call on Carrol in the Buffalo game that wasn't legit.

This has nothing to do with Ireland. I've already stated that even if we made the playoffs at 8-8 my opinion wouldn't change.

 

The first PI call on Carrol was legit. The next 2 weren't. The one Hartline wasn't. The one were we would have got passed midfield in the first half that wasn't called on Hartline should have been legit. All the Steve Johnson non-calls would have been legit since they called Hartline for the same thing with the game on the line.

No I don't see much of a difference between a bad call that gave one team a TD and numerous FGs vs a bad call that gave us a TD.

And, ftr, your stance on 8-8 and Ireland is absolute proof this has everything to do with him.

 

The Seattle game was a good call. Well a call that will be called every time. That is the rule.

 

I don't even remeber half these non-calls you're talking about.

They happen in every game. Good teams overcome it.

As to Ireland, I've been clear and consistent. I think he should be fired. If he isn't, then I hope he finds success and I will be happy to praise his moves when I agree with them.

 

Regardless, it was still a lucky break for us.

Put it this way, if it hadn't been called I don't know that anyone would have questioned it.

 

You remembering them or not has no bearing on the fact they happened.

They don't happen in every game to that degree. If good teams overcome every bad call, then stop defending the Seahawks.

Your motives are clear to everyone else, if not to you.

 

Okay, whatever.

The refs screwed us for reasons that are unclear. You happy now?

 

No. I never once accused anyone of a conspiracy. My point is that if you are going to say we shouldn't have won the Seahawks game because a bad call stopped us from throwing a pick and we still went ahead and scored on another play in that drive, then you damn well better account for the gift TD the Seahawks got, and the gift Td and FGs that the Bills got.

You're reluctant to do that. That's on you.

 

Pretty much. It kinda sucks too.

There are a lot of posters I respect who have, over the past few months, come to view EVERY team related topic within the prism of whether or not Ireland should be fired. Its a shame.

 

They are frustrated and rightfully so. We've either sucked or dropped the ball all the way back to Shula and it gets old. The problem is they are focusing all of that hate and rage on Ireland, who hasn't really been the problem. The problem has been (also since Shula) an improper power structure that brought in a long list of the wrong people. That only really changed this year. Its hard for them to see the difference between then and now, because what's left of their patience doesn't allow them to see past the W-L record. Philbin, Ireland and Tannehill are the right combination to turn this club around.

 

I agree with you. Bad calls happen to all teams, most of the complaining about bad calls come from teams/fans who just lost a game. What's different here is that you're citing a legit (IMO) call that went in our favor, thats the Seahawks fans' job, no? Fin D mentioned the holding call, there were several non calls on their OL. There was also the wrestling move that was put on Nolan Carroll by Golden Tate down the sideline. You explain those away as insignificant though so I won't harp on it.

IMO your POV falls apart when you say we would have lost the game if not for that call. There were 8 minutes left IIRC, and we were down 1 score. Hardly insurmountable. Second, Seattle still had a chance to stop the drive, they didn't. They still had a chance to possess the ball a few more times and score. They didn't. They had a chance to stop us from driving for the winning FG, they didn't.

 

Fair enough. But am I not frustrated? Are you not frustrated?

I don't view that as an excuse for taking a sledgehammer to rational thought. First it was all Henne's fault, then Sparano, now Ireland, and if he's fired it'll be someone else. Philbin, Ross, Tannehill, etc. The only thing that will stop the madness is putting a winning team on the field.

Watching the team play it's pretty clear to me that we are a few players away (WR/TE) from having a good team and a handful of players away from being a contender. I'd much rather be talking about how to make those improvements.

 

I'm very frustrated. I became a fan in 82, so I saw the promise of Marino and the one SB appearance...then nothing. I didn't get the joy of the early 70s, just the pain that is every decade since then. But people deal with that kind of stuff differently. I can see past my frustration with the team and view the situation rationally while others can't. Some people can deal with frustrating people on message boards where I can't.

But I'm trying, Ringo. I'm trying reeeeal hard to be the shepard.

 

If you guys are done congratulating yourselves on being "rational" I'll respond.

First, why is thinking Ireland should be replaced irrational? There is certainly an argument to be amde for his dismissal even if you don't agree, correct? You certainly cannot say that his job performance has been above reproach or criticism.

Second, back to the penalties, my original point was that most games in the NFL are close and that one or two plays will either go against you or for you and that accounting for that reality the two games you should really be pissed about aren't the overtime games, but rather the games against TEN and BUF that we should have won had we been better prepared, etc.

It was only then that the discussion of phantom holding v. non-holding calls came up which led to the Seattle game discussion.

I don't really have anything else to say on this topic since obviously I'm an irrational loon for thinking a GM who has been around for 5 years should have a better team put together by now. Continue patting each other on the back at your leisure.

 

There's nothing wrong with thinking Ireland has done a poor job. There's a difference between that and what actually happened though. People aren't saying we should question Ireland's record they are saying we should fire him by picketing and renting planes to carry signs around Miami calling for his job. There are people who have signatures and avatars devoted entirely to hasting Ireland. There are people (like yourself) whose Ireland hate is so strong you were willing to say we were gifted the Seattle game even though we weren't. Its even more weird here, because we've survived Wanny being our GM.

If you can't see and understand the difference then yes, you are irrational.

We can't be better prepared to beat the refs in the Bills home stadium.

 

And we'll survivie Ireland being the GM as well.

The only thing I've contributed is my money for season tickets, which at least in part help to pay the guy's salary.

So, I'm not irrational. I think he's done a poor job. If you disagree that's fine, but that doesn't make you more rational.

 

This proves my point. You just ignored what I said, and repeated the same thing you wrote before. Those are not the actions of a rational person.

 

How did I ignore what you said?

You went on and on about how people have sigs and avatars against Ireland and have contributed to banners and airplanes.

I responded that the only thing I've contributed is money for season tickets.

You then repeated your nonsense that we were beaten by the refs in Buffalo, which I don't agree with. And if you want to quibble about the call in the Seattle game then fine, but we were very lucky to get that call. I can't really go into more detail because unlike you I haven't mentally catalogued every bad call or no call that went against us in every game we lost.

 

Cataloged? No I didn't. That's another thing you should understand, I've only blamed the refs for a Dolphin loss one other time since 1982, that was the Pitt game a couple of years ago. i didn't memorize the Buffalo game, its just the officiating was so bad, I couldn't forget it because it stuck out.

The point you're missing is there's a difference between dissatisfaction with Ireland and hate of Ireland. You fall into the hate part, passed on your postings.

 

If you consider any criticism of Ireland hate, then fine. That's your perception, regardless of how incorrect it might be.

I don't hate Ireland. In truth I care nothing about him. His name could be "Random GM" and if he ahd made the same moves and non-moves I'd be calling for his ouster.

I just want the Dolphins to be good and I don't believe that Ireland is the GM who will get us the players we need. If he is retained in his role and he proves me wrong then fantastic. I'll be happy to praise him as we enjoy the victories.

I don't criticize Ireland just to have something to criticize. All my thoughts and opinions are related to the larger goal of the Dolphins winning. However that happens, I'm all for it.

 

Great. Then maybe now going forward you're posts will reflect that.

 

I believe they already do.

 

We do have a shot..we're gonna beat the bills..

 

Hey, its was fun that up until 4 pm in week 16 in the Season that we had a shot at the playoffs. Who thought that?

 

If we still had Jay Feely, we'd be in

 

Rapelisberger strikes again.

 

Feee-heee-heeeeeeee-heeeeellll-eeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

the steelers kicker is really good what are you talking about almost no one hits 50 yard fgs in that stadium i think the record there is 52

 

I thought it was a poor decision to kick that FG but thats just me.