Wow.  What an exhausting week.  Starting with the broken heart that was last week's game through 19 hour days while training in the field, I finally got home late last night, and have to do it all again (without the broken heart part) next week.  Are we having fun yet?

Anyway, I've been thinking about this all week, after hearing Colin Cowherd from ESPN Radio, mention it on his show.  He was discussing baseball and the way teams finished the season and into the playoffs.  Basically, he lumped teams into three categories: Built to Win Today, Built to Win Tomorrow, Built to Never Win.  As I thought about it, I though it could very easily be a perspective piece.

As such, I thought about each team in the league, and figured I would make my own determination of where each team stands.  I'll save the Dolphins for last, as they are really the centerpiece, and the only one we really care about.  I also added a fourth category.  Instead of just "Teams Built to Win Tomorrow," I made it "Teams Built to Win Next Year" and "Teams Built to Win in a Few Years."  I think there could be a big distinction between teams we are starting to see emerge into today's winners versus the teams that a plan is obvious underway, but there's no guarantee they are ready.

Most of these teams should not be much of a surprise.

New Orleans Saints - This team can dominate just about every team and can win using their high power offense, or their underrated defense. 

Indianapolis Colts- Has anyone else noticed how quietly the Colts seem to be winning this year?  Maybe it's because they are there every year.  Whatever the reason, the Peytons are still a dangerous team.

New York Giants - The other Manning Brother.  The team may not be dominating, but still a team capable of making a run and grabbing another Lombardi trophy.

Pittsburgh Steelers - I'm never going to bet against Big Ben.  Simple put, the guy figures out how to win.

Philadelphia Eagles- The Eagles are another team that is quietly winning.  After the firestorm of the Michael Vick signing, the Eagles have continued to ride Donovan McNabb (and Kevin Kolb) to wins.  If they get hot, they could be visiting Miami at the end of the season.

Arizona Cardinals - The Cards are having a difficult start to the season, but still lead their division and are still the team that wet to the Super Bowl last year.  If they can shake the Super Bowl loser curse (and the Madden Curse for Fitzgerald), the Cards could return to the Big One, looking to walk away with the trophy this year.

New England Patriots - Although they seem to be on the decline, they still have the talent to win.  I don't think they will be in the "Team Built to Win Today" category in a couple of years, but right now, they are.

Minnesota Vikings- A team that doesn't seem to fit in any category.  The Brett Favre signing shows they want to win now, but I don't think they are ready.  I think they are the borderline between this category and the win next year category.  Once Favre is gone, this team will immediately take a step back.

Teams that are Built to Win Next Year:

These teams may not be Super Bowl Champs next year, but look for them to threaten to get there.

Green Bay Packers- This team is another borderline team.  I think a hold back they have right now is Aaron Rogers' inexperience.  With another year under his belt and, some improvements on defense, this team should be the class of the NFC North and ready to make a run at the best in the NFC.

Baltimore Ravens - The Defense is still strong, but getting older.  The offense, especially Joe Flacco, are promising.  They aren't ready to make a run this year, but another year and they could be.

Denver Broncos - This team isn't as good as their records shows thus far, but they are close.  Look for them to be a serious contender in a year or so.

Dallas Cowboys - This is really the first of the teams that confuse me.  They should be a team built to win next year, but there are enough issues that they could also take a step back.  I'll leave them here, because they have the talent to put it all together, but don't be surprised if it all falls apart.

Atlanta Falcons- A team very similar to the Ravens and Packers.  Good team, and if Matt Ryan gets more experience, they will move up, and fast.  Hopefully it's in time for Tony Gonzalez to ride it out.

San Francisco 49ers- I'm sorry, Mike SIngletary scares me.  Even if he is just on the sideline, he scares me.  This is a solid team.  If they lock down the QB position and get some more experience, they will be outstanding.

Cincinnati Bengals - See the Dallas Cowboys.

New York Jets - As much as I hate this team, and it pains me to say it, this team could be poised to become a powerhouse AFC team.  Mark Sanchez has shown that he has some great skill.  More experience and they will be ready.

Houston Texans- I like the Texans.  I think they could be very good.  But, they are way too inconsistent.  One year, they look like they could dominate, the next year, they are struggling to win.  They are going to move out of this category, but I just can't tell you which way.

San Diego Chargers - Maybe it's age.  Maybe it's something else.  This team has talent, but can't seem to get it together.  If they manage to figure it out, they'll once again be a deep playoff team.

Teams Built to Win in a Few Years

Seattle Seahawks - Another team that confuses me.  Sometimes they look like they are great.  Sometimes they look like a basement team.  They will get better, I think, but I don't see them as a Super Bowl contender anymore.

Chicago Bears- There is a lot of good things about this team.  Maybe if Urlacher were still playing this year, they would be in the "Next Year" category, but maybe not.  They are close to piecing it all together.  We'll see how it goes, especially as they get used to Jay Cutler behind center - and the gunslinger, interception-prone, Favre mentality he has.

Jacksonville Jaguars - A team that seems to have a plan, and at times looks like they have it figured out, but then they throw it all away and lose anyway.  A couple of years from now, they could very easily be back and completing in the playoffs.

Buffalo Bills- Maybe they aren't a great team, but they aren't a horrible team either.  The TO experiment seems to have made no impact, but I don't think it has really set them back at all either.

Tennessee Titans - This team is a mess, but really isn't all that bad either.  They have yet to win a game, and they still don't know what Vince Young really is to them, but they have talent.  Jeff Fisher will get them back in shape, even if he is wearing a Colts jersey.

Carolina Panthers - A team in disarray.  Give them a few years, and they will probably be back as a threat in the NFC.

Kansas City Chiefs- The Chiefs have just started a new regime, and have the quarterback they wanted.  They have potential to start putting the pieces together.

Teams Built to Never Win:

Cleveland Browns - Maybe the Man-genius isn't as smart as we all thought.  Maybe he has to figure out how to get rid of expensive and ineffective players before he can fix the Browns, but either way, this team is just bad.  Plain old bad.

Detroit Lions - I was very tempted to put them in the "Next Few Years" category, but they have only one once in a season and a half.  Give them some time, and they may move up. 

Washington Redskins - The team is a mess.  The front office is a mess.  The uncapped year next year maybe the only thing that can fix the Redskins.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - I don't really know why this team is this bad.  They have some talent and could be a few years away from winning again, but right now, they can't seem to get out of their own way.

Oakland Raiders - Al Davis.

St. Louis Rams - Time to gut it and start over.

YOUR MIAMI DOLPHINS:

Okay, why you have read this far.  The Miami Dolphins. 

This is a very young team.  They have an average age of about 26 right now.  They have rookies all over the place (and now at both starting CB spots).  They are young.

But they are talented.

I can very easily see this team, with some upgrades in the secondary and at wide receiver, being very good next year.  Deep run in the playoffs good. 

I'll put the 'Phins in the "Teams Built to Win Next Year" category.

Sorry that this was so late.  And I know that I still owe you all the gameballs for last week.  Look for those tonight or tomorrow before the game.  Hope you enjoyed this.  It's different than my normal Perspectives writeup, but it was kind of fun to do.