Not much to report from Miami. Been real quiet. Would love to say the calm before the storm, however that implies a certain level of fury and violence the Dolphins frankly don't deserve based on recent performance. The calm before the whimper be more like it. Hopefully that is starting to change. The team has a new coach, a new philosophy, a renewed dedication to toughness, a commitment to win... Basically déjà vu all over again. In South Florida we've heard that same crap four out of the last five years. And what's it gotten us? In 2007 we fielded arguably the worst team in NFL History, including Expansion and Replacement.

But alas, I digress. We do have positive signs.

First, this new regime has at least heard Football Cliché #1, which is: "It all starts up front." The Miami Offensive Line has been a joke for the last 4-5 years and previous regimes have been oblivious. (To wit: Cam Cameron giving the Dolphin Boosters the old "Thumbs Up" while they're booing him for Drafting Ted Ginn, Jr. with the 9th Overall Pick.) They will have a better Offensive Line. They will be able to run better, play ball control, keep their Defense off the field. Doesn't exactly sound like Rocket Science to me, yet Dave Wannstadt, Nick(head) Saban and Cam Cameron (a.k.a. Moe, Larry and Curly) couldn't seem to figure that out.

Secondly, judging from mini-camps new Head Coach Tony Sparano will probably (hopefully) field a better conditioned team, which is absolutely crucial in Miami. It is in fact the Dolphins' entire Home Field Advantage. Teams come in from the frigid Northeast, the balmy Midwest, the cool dry West - nothing can prepare them for South Florida's oppressive heat and humidity, which smacks you in the kisser walking out the sliding glass doors of the airport terminal. This is only an advantage, however, if your team is acclimated to such conditions. Another factor which seemed to escape the previous Three Stooges. Look at all the games ever played in the heat in Miami, the team who's Defense is on the field the longest in the First Half, specifically the Second Quarter, probably lose 90% of the time.

On the Fantasy Front it is doubtful you'll be leaning too heavily on anyone in a Dolphin uniform, however you may be able to get some value on a couple players.

Questions surround RB Ronnie Brown, returning from a knee injury, but as he demonstrated last year the guy can be an absolute Fantasy Monster. Even on that piss-poor team running behind an Offensive Line nicknamed The Tuna Net, The Widow Makers and/or The 7th Calvary, with the losingest Coach in NFL History platooning him with reclamation project Jesse Chatman, Brown was still the leading Running Back in Fantasy Football until he got hurt. He might be the strongest Runner the NFL's seen since Jerome Bettis and Christian Okoye, literally knocks Defenders down and steps on them. He scored a 4-5 Yard TD versus The Jets last year; the New York Safety had a clean shot, met him head on at the Goal Line. Brown knocked him ass over teacups. The guy landed on his head two yards deep in the End Zone. In addition, Ronnie Brown is a good receiver out of the backfield. I know there are risks involved, questions concerning how quickly he can get his chops back after knee surgery, but his Average Draft Position has him going in the 3rd Round. All things being equal (i.e. if he was healthy, his Offensive Line could block, his Coach had a brain) Brown should be maybe the 7th or 8th Running Back off the board.

On the surface I would not worry unduly about the possible impact of Hippy Dippy Running Back Ricky Williams. Assuming he lays off the banned substances and doesn't retire before (or during) Training Camp odds are Ricky won't be doing much more than change of pace and/or mop-up duty. Still he might be worth a late round flier. The Dolphins are re-building, may not want to risk their Franchise Back, and with an Offensive Line that can actually open a hole for him Ricky might do some damage, especially late in games after Defenses have been battered by Ronnie Brown. That, however, is assuming he's still got the jets. We won't know that until pre-Season.

A Key Question, of course, is Quarterback. You have to think when the Season opens the Dolphins will be starting Josh McCown. He's got experience, and he's shown some ability. He got shafted by Dennis Green in Arizona, buried by Mike Martz and Matt Millen in Detroit, but none of those guys are likely to show up on the payroll at NASA. This could be McCown's last chance to establish himself as a viable NFL starter, though it's doubtful he'll be worth a roster spot on most Fantasy Rosters. Should he perform well, however, lock up the starting job, and Miami actually plays competitively late into the Season he might become a worthwhile waiver wire acquisition, for his schedule through the Fantasy Playoffs (Weeks 13-16) looks pretty Soft. If second-year QB John Beck wins the starting job that will probably be a good sign for the team, and him, could make him a blip on Fantasy Radar, but if at any point Miami seriously considers starting Rookie Chad Henne you should run like hell from The Dolphins, for that will show the Coaches have concluded this Season is a write-off.

The other position you might find a decent Fantasy Starter is Wide Receiver, though again that comes with questions and concerns.

Ted Ginn, Jr. will undoubtedly start at one wideout. If you've read my column before you'll know I'm not a Big Fan of "Mr. Touch Football," who broke a grand total of One tackle all last year (and that was a Kicker, Shayne Graham, in the final game of the Season). The guy does have incredible speed, though, and if they use him correctly he might have some Fantasy Value. Cam Cameron talked about this kid's jets, then had him running Out Patterns and Button Hooks while they were sending Marty Booker (that renowned speedster) deep. Ted Ginn reminds me of Darryl Turner, used to play for Seattle, who'd split out wide, take off. Five or six times a year Dave Kreig would hit him with a 50-60 yard bomb. The Defense had to respect that. Turner went streaking down the field; there went a Corner and a Safety, left Steve Largent running around with single coverage. If the Fins come out slinging early, going deep, it'll be a good sign, and Ted Ginn, Jr. would be the logical beneficiary. Might bear some watching through Pre Season. Miami has not been throwing the long ball for the last few years and opposing Defenses have been creeping forward. If the New Regime has any sense they'll come out early, throw some deep bombs. Whether they connect or not it will get the Defenses thinking, keep them from stacking the box.

The other wideout will be either Free Agent pickup Ernest Wilford or Derek Hagan. Wilford may have some value in PPR Leagues, but if Hagan beats him out he might be worth a flyer. He's a big, tough receiver with decent speed, still holds the Record for Receptions in the Pac-10.

At this point, Tight End, Kicker and the Dolphin D are pretty much write-offs. The previous regime dumped Randy McMichael, brought in (game breaker) David Martin. Parcells and his posse have signed Anthony Fasano from (who else?) the Cowboys, but the chances either of those guys make any Fantasy Impact is remote. Jay Feely figures to be kicking Field Goals, but how many opportunities he's likely to get is anybody's guess. Unless you're his brother-in-law you can easily find more attractive options. And the once proud Dolphin D should (we can only hope) look better than they did last year, especially if the Offense can stay on the field more than 3 plays each "drive," but aside from a relatively weak schedule there is not much to recommend. With Ted Ginn, Jr. penciled in as the "#1" Receiver there's talk they will relieve him of his return duties, which takes a chunk out of any projected Fantasy Value the Defense might've had.

One piece of Fantasy Advice I will offer: don't expect the Miami D to be the Promised Land of Rushing Stats they were last year. I believe the Run D will stiffen. The Secondary might be the weak spot, and the Dolphins could be particularly susceptible to the long ball.

As Harry Flashman said: "Courage, and shuffle the cards."