Whether it is warranted or not, and I believe it is, the Fins have become the laughingstock of the NFL, replacing the Browns (the Bengals and Lions have vaulted out of the conversation).

We've seen what has happened the past few seasons on- and off- the field. Front office members bailing left and right before finishing what they came here to do. Minority owners who are better suited to be American Idol judges (and one of whom actually is). An owner who publicly woos big-name coaches even though he has one under contract, then extends the contract of the very coach he tried to replace, then fires that coach. Players criticizing the front office. The front office making bone head move after bone head move. The recent inability to land any of the free agents the team set out to woo. I'm not saying I wanted Peyton or Matt Flynn to be the QB of the team, but they certainly stuck it to the Fins by so adamantly refusing their advances. Ireland and Ross came across as scorned dates at a high school prom.

We've seen what's been written about the team in recent weeks, relating not only to the team's inability to find a proper QB, but to the general ineptness of every single person associated with the organization. This isn't a case of a few bad moves or unlucky draws. This is systematic awfulness, and the media is calling us out on it. Warranted or not, the media has pinned the label of "laughingstock of the NFL" on the Miami Dolphins.

Don Banks even jumped on-board with his most recent Mock Draft, forgoing a description of the player and the reason he's being drafted, and instead taking a moment to twist the blade a little deeper into the Fins.

Recent Mock Draft from Don Banks: "The Dolphins have had a reverse Midas Touch of late, scaring away almost all of the big fish they pursue. But unless Miami is prepared to play the season with either Matt Moore or David Garrard at quarterback, Tannehill looks like a solid roll of the dice. His relationship with new Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman from their Texas A&M days should mean he's a known quantity, but then, we thought that about Matt Flynn and Joe Philbin, too. The good news for the Dolphins if they take Tannehill? He really can't say no to them." (my ital.)

I'm 30 years-old who lives in New England and I've been a fan since I remember being conscious, and the Fins are by far at their lowest point in my lifetime. It doesn't have so much to do with records or players. It has more to do with the ineptness of the people in charge. There is NO plan in place. We're on to our seventh coach in the past twelve years. Our GM is reportedly loathed by a majority of players in the league. We scrap bum heap after bum heap for our starting QBs. We sign players (Dansby, Bush, Burnett, Marshall (later traded)) to big contracts who should only be signed if you're approaching contention in the league. Without a credible QB to lead the team there is no point in over-spending at other positions.

There are fans on this site that defend the team regardless of how bad things are and there are fans who condemn the team regardless of positive progress made... Both sets of fans have blinders on. It's best to be a level-headed, commonsensical fan in the middle. The team you root for can be both good and bad. There can be good decisions and bad decisions. No team, except maybe the Browns, is down forever. You don't stop rooting when your team turns in a 1-15 season. But, you also don't have to ignore or refute stupidity and poor judgement just because you bleed aqua and orange. Ross and Ireland have NO IDEA what they're doing. They have NO PLAN. The team is drifting at sea with no destination in mind. It's ok to admit this. It's actually better if everyone does. I am a patient person. I have calmly and patiently watched the Fins my entire life, and it is obvious that this regime has NO CLUE as to what to do to turn things around. Ross can fire Ireland, and probably will sooner rather than later. Hopefully, Ross then retires and a new owner can come in and clean house and rebuild, because that honestly seems like the only option at this point. I'll continue to root, but it is impossible to ignore where this team is currently sitting. Take off the blinders. Both sides. Look at what Ross and Ireland (and Parcells, who I still blame, as well) have done.

Ross and Ireland have systematically turned the Dolphins into the laughingstock of the NFL.