I understand that it's not the job of a football coach to be a warm and friendly ambassador of smiley faces, but it does seem like we're in an era of more player-friendly coaches. And if that is the case, then just call Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano a contrarian.

He seems like a high school football coach ... the kind who spends all day teaching Drivers Ed to the dumb kids, sending half his paycheck to his ex-wife every month, and having dinner out of a bottle.

But I guess when you go 1-15, any approach can be justified. If Sparano had Jake Long hanging upside down from the field goal posts and was beating him with a leather strap, he could say, "We were 1-15 last year, gentlemen," and I'd have to say, "Well I guess you've got a point there."

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