Bring it on, Tuna!

This weekends match-up between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins took on a new dimension yesterday with Bill Parcells agreeing in principal to a four-year deal to be the VP of Football Operations for the Phins. Parcells rescued the Pats in the early 90's, giving them their first amount of respectability before leaving under turbulent circumstances just after Super Bowl XXXI. Clearly Parcells knows what he's getting himself into. Bill Belichick is believed to be signed through 2013, he's not going anywhere and seems focused on rewriting the history books. Belichick and Pats VP Scott Pioli have stated in the past that they have no intention of leaving New England. Parcells must know this as well since his daughter is married to Pioli. Either Parcells believes he has something to prove (seeing that he's never won a Super Bowl without Belichick on his staff) or he loves the challenge of facing a Patriots team twice a year that will have Brady and Belichick well into the next decade.

The Tuna will immediately improve the 1-13 Dolphins; we only need to look at the success the Cowboy team he put together is having this year to confirm that he knows what it takes. As a Pats fan, I say bring it on. No one likes a challenge more than Bill Belichick and clearly there have not been many teams this season that have provided much of one.

Parcells will most likely employ the same 3-4 defense that is run by the Patriots, Jets, Cowboys and Chargers to name a few. Competition for players who fit this system just got  a little more intense, especially with Patriots like OLB Rosevelt Colvin and CB Asante Samuel scheduled for free agency. It wouldn't surprise anyone to see either of them end up on the Jets or Dolphins in 2008. It also seems even more likely now that the Phins will take LSU Defense Tackle/End Glenn Dorsey. He's versatile like Richard Seymour of the Patriots with the ability to move to end in the 3-4. He would be the main building block on defense.

On offense is where Miami will face their biggest rebuilding challenge. Is Jon Beck the future? Most likely Ronnie Brown will be the centerpiece for Parcells to build around. As for Cam Cameron it's anyone's guess as to how safe his job is. Clearly he has not set the NFL on fire this year with his head coaching talents. We could be looking at an entirely new Dolphins team with the first overall pick in April. As for this Sunday's game this could be the last time we see the Patriots steamroll the Dolphins for a while. Signing Parcells instantly assures the Dolphins won't be the laughing stock of the NFL again next year but he certainly has his work cut out for him.