Holy crap! We talk about Ireland and Ross being scorned prom dates with their recent free agency exploits, and yet Dolphin fans are acting like the overly self-conscious, pimply-faced, paranoid dweeb with sweaty palms that came to the dance with a bunch of other dudes. Whatever your method for coping with stress, be it exercise or drinking or herbal supplements, then I suggest you go to the gym, get a fifth, or get some Pineapple Express. Here are a few things to consider before you start getting all worked up:

1. Ask yourself if you felt all this negativity before the media started calling us a "laughing stock". Are we really that upset that Peyton Manning chose someone else and passed on Matt Flynn who we knew more about than anyone else in the league? Peyton Manning personally chose the team he wanted to play for, spurning not just us but multiple teams, and the decision makers decided to not overpay for a QB who must have not fit the bill as a franchise QB. But apparently, this is the rationale for promoting the Dolphins as half-witted dumb asses. Does this make sense to you? Who has respect for the media anymore anyway? All they talk about is how infallible the Patriots are, Tim Tebow's holiness, and then anything they can possibly spin as scandalous, they do. It's not about sports information anymore, it's about gossip and controversy. Think for yourself. James Walker from ESPN and any other "expert" can suck a fart out of my butt if they think we are a laughing stock. I think our current label is egregious at best and I am surprised so many Dolphin fans are buying it.

2. I will agree that Ross and Ireland are pretty douchey in terms of personality. Yes, they have made questionable decisions (the courting of Harbaugh), made (in hindsight) bad draft picks and free agency moves, but what team hasn't? We pick Pat White, the Patriots pick Chad Jackson, the Jets take Vernon Gholston, yet only the Dolphins get the flak for it. We get AJ Feeley, the Patriots get Ochocinco, and the Jets get Braylon Edwards. But we are the only laughable dimwits. When it comes to the draft, the Patriots could take whoever they want and it will be God's gift (no disrespect to the St. John's basketball player) to the NFL draft. If I am Joe Philbin, I am putting all this Dolphins hate on the bulletin board day one of training camp.

3. Quarterback, quarterback, oh my gosh the quarterback position. Of course, we are the only team in the league looking for a franchise quarterback (heavy sarcasm). From my estimation, about half of the league is looking for a franchise quarterback. But somehow us feeble-minded sea mammals are the only ones getting criticism for it. We just get the heat because of our failed attempts from over 10 years of free agencies and drafts. (Are we dumb or just unlucky?) But from this humble man's perspective, the only season that matters is the one that is coming up and a lot of teams are in the same boat as us - being devoid of a franchise QB. It's not like we haven't tried. In my opinion, we have tried too hard and caused us to reach which has cost us in the salary cap and value in/quantity of draft picks.

4. The draft is coming!!! Because of our carousel of coaches and schemes, our drafts have not been as desirable because we keep trying to find players to fit the constantly changing systems we have. Regardless, the draft is the way to create a sustained, long-term winnning club. Free agency is so overrated. How's free agency worked for the Jets and Redskins? How has the draft worked for the Steelers and Packers? Get my point? The draft is way more important than free agency, so our future and our continued success is still undetermined. Let's hope we strike gold, whoever we take. There is hope in the draft (say it with me).

It is March. The season starts in September. The draft is in a month. Other personnel moves will be made. A lot of stuff can happen with this much time remaining (remember Chad Pennington?). We re-signed Soliai. Signed Richard Marshall who was considered by some sources to be the most important player on their defense. We traded Brandon Marshall. So what. The NFL is not the NBA where you have to manage egos and head cases. You can win without them. The integrity of the locker room is paramount. He had way too many drops and inconsistent play to have me gushing for him. Our new scheme does not require his skill set (he was more of a possession guy than a YAC guy in a Dolphins uniform anyway) and our locker room will not miss his distractions. I am just glad we got something for him. 3rd round draft picks are not chopped liver.

With all this said, I am EXCITED for the new season. This paranoia and doom-and-gloom is just annoying. Anything can happen in this league. Do we have holes to fill? Sure. Is this season a lost cause? F that. 4-12? Huh? We lost our first 7 games last year and still had a better record than that. Our QB, who had a shortened training camp, went 6-3. Our schedule next year is favorable. It's not all rainbows and butterflies from where I'm sitting, but it certainly isn't the apocalypse either. There is reason to be excited for the upcoming season and the draft, but if you are a negative person, I suppose you will find negativity everywhere you look. Things have been rough, but there's always hope. What else can we do? I am a fan no matter what happens, and I defend what I love. It's not like I have a choice. All this struggle will make it that much sweeter when we win. Get off James Walker's nuts and think for yourself. The Dolphins are ok. There is work to be done, but we are NOT the laughing stock of the NFL. So grab your workout shoes, your shot glass, or your bong (or maybe all 3) and CHILL. Peace as always. Go Dolphins!