Imagine being given the task of telling a story.  A real story.  Imagine being given the task of telling the life story of someone you don’t personally know.  Now, make it not only believable, but emotional and true.  That is the very job that actor, director, and screenwriter Patrick Coyle has undertaken.  He is the writer behind “The Magician“.  The true story of former Miami Dolphins WR, Marlin Briscoe.  What he pens on paper is what we will see on screen.  A daunting task for sure.

Last week, after several scheduling conflicts Patrick and I agreed to an interview VIA Email.  Patrick has finished production on his latest directing effort and has moved into his post-production endeavors.  Today, we give you some insight into how Mr. Coyle has approached the telling of Marlin Briscoe’s life.  For more exclusive interviews and more on the progress of the Marlin Briscoe story, visit our special dedicated page here or visit www.MarlinBriscoeMovie.com.

PP: What is the difficulty in writing a script about the life of an individual, in this case Marlin Briscoe?

• PC: The main difficulty is—it’s an entire life, all of it interesting to me, and I have only two hours of screen time to focus on.  What to tell?

PP: In the case of the Marlin Briscoe story, is it difficult to maintain a un-opinionated approach.  His story has many levels that play on emotions.

• PC: I don’t believe there is any such thing as “un-opinionated” in screenwriting.  It’s highly subjective, and should be, otherwise you have newsreel on your hands.  Marlin’s story is beautifully complex, a screenwriter’s dream: hardworking, model citizen, hometown hero (to me) and drug-addicted street person in the same story.  You can’t make it up.

PP: Speaking of emotions, how do you write a script in a way to affect the emotions of the viewers?

• PC: With Marlin’s story, you just try to tell it truthfully.  If you do that, the audience’s emotions will be there.  It’s an amazing story.

PP: Is there an area of this story that you have been concentrating on the most, for example, are you focusing on his early life, the NFL years, the addiction years, or the recovery, or are you balancing this story from all aspects?

• PC: I tried to get to the core of Marlin the person, what motivated him to achieve so much and fall so far from grace and then find the strength to crawl back.  He’s a quietly driven, moral, complex, talented man, I believe, and I have endeavored to get under his skin.  His roots interest me the most, the impact of family—those present and those not, like his father—and friends and relations that helped shape him.

PP: How did you become involved with this story?

• PC: My friend John Beasley contacted me about writing the script.  Then I met producers Terry Hanna and Dave Clark.  We’re all from the same hometown, Omaha, NE, just like Marlin, and I was attracted to the idea of Omaha boys telling an Omaha story about an Omahan.  (typed Smiley here)

PP: You are currently in production on a film titled “Into Temptation”, in which you wrote the screenplay and are directing, how is that film progressing for you?

• PC: I just wrapped INTO TEMPTATION.  It stars Jeremy Sisto (LAW AND ORDER, SIX FEET UNDER) Kristin Chenoweth (PUSHING DAISIES, THE WEST WING) and Brian Baumgartner (THE OFFICE.)  I’ll be working on post production for the next several months and it will be released next year.   In my really biased opinion we have a beautiful film in the can.  It’s a funny, frightening drama about the power of forgiveness, a theme that is laced through THE MAGICIAN as well.

PP: Are there any other projects you are working on for the future?

• PC: Yes, I am developing another script titled THE PUBLIC DOMAIN I hope to shoot next year.

PP: Can you share with us how you have set up the opening sequence of the film, “The Magician”?  Perhaps a preview of the first few lines or time frame?

• PC: The opening sequence of THE MAGICIAN is a little microcosm of the rest of Marlin’s life.  He is threatened by forces bigger and stronger than him, he eludes them by being so clever and quick, he faces them down on his own terms in his own time, and he works his tail off to move on to bigger and better things, finding ways around all obstacles.  Marlin’s story is inspirational to me and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to tell it cinematically.

Round 1 ends with probably the most debateable 2 events in Miami Dolphins history, a playoff blowout and the hireing of perhaps the largest single coaching mistake in Dolphins history.

In 2000 the Dolphins entered the playoffs with zero playoff victories under Jimmy Johnson.  Miami would end that in round 1 with a come from behind 4th quarter comeback victory led by Dan Marino over the Seattle Seahawks.  The Dolphins entered the game with perhaps their best and final shot at a Super Bowl for their aging star QB.  They would leave defeated, morally, physically, and historically with a 62-7 loss at the hands of the Jaguars.

Marino would last only a portion of the game as the Jaguars not only took an early lead, but had the game put away and under control before halftime.  Complementing the big plays that put the Jaguars ahead by 31 points, were a 25-yard touchdown run by James Stewart, a blocked punt by Corey Chamblin and an 8-yard touchdown pass from Brunell to Jimmy Smith.  The Jaguars walked into the locker-room with a 41-7 lead.

The 2nd half would open with two noticeable changes on both sides of the ball, a fortelling of the future for the Miami Dolphins.  Dan Marino would play his final play for the Dolphins, and Jay Fiedler would make a stirring debut for the Jaguars.  That off-season, Fiedler would become the starter for the Miami Dolphins under new HC Dave Wannstedt.

The game was, at the time, the 2nd largest playoff blowout in the history of the NFL.  To add insult to injury, the sprinklers came on in the 2nd half and showered the Miami Dolphins offense while in the huddle.  Jimmy Johnson would say “”I guess this thing is full-circle,” Johnson said, once again referring back to the Dallas history he would not give up. ”I was on the other side of one of these where we got about seven takeaways from an opponent in the Super Bowl. It was a runaway, but I’ve never been on this side before.”  Johnson would quit football shortly after the game.

If the loss to the Jaguars was not bad enough, Jimmy Johnson left Miami and in his stead named his replacement, Dave Wannstedt.  Dave took over the team in the 2000 off-season and in his first order of business went shopping for a new QB.  After watching Jay Fiedler march up and down on the Dolphins in the loss to the Jags during the 2nd half in relief of Mark Brunell, Fiedler became the staple of the Dolphins for the entire duration of Dave Wannstedts regime.

The next order of business was to inform Miami legend Dan Marino that if he wanted to play QB for the Dolphins he would have to win the job from Fiedler.  Marino retired.  Dave Wannstedt was the anti-Jimmy.  He was friends with his players and was often relaxed in his approach to coaching.  Early on it appeared that Dave may be able to lead this team deep into the playoffs.  Utilizing a team that had been primarily built by Johnson, Dave was able to steer to the team to the playoffs.

While the Dolphins early on were still seeing season in excess of 9 wins, the Dolphins began a downward spiral that started with questionable draft picks that would haunt the team to the present day.  Jamar Fletcher, Eddie Moore, two 1st rounders for Ricky Williams.  2nd, 3rd, and 2nd day picks that would not make the roster.  In the end of all of Dave Wannstedts draft picks, only Chris Chambers and Randy McMichael would contribute at a level indicative of their draft slots.  Today, only Yeremiah Bell, a late 2nd day pick remains on the Dolphins roster.

After a dismal start to the 2004 season, Dave Wannstedt would resign during the bye week.  He would be replaced by interim HC Jim Bates and the Phins would finish with a then franchise worse record of 4-12.  Dave Wannstedt’s career in Miami would prove disastorous for the franchise.  No QB’s were drafted during his tenure except Josh Heupel in 2001.  Heupel would not make the team.  The events surrounding Dave Wannstedt would push the team into a continual rebuild that has entered its 4th off-season.

Often seen on the sidelines with his hands running through his hair, his lips puffed out, and a deer in the head-light look, Wannstedt often stood at a podium and told the media his plans for games and for personell.  In the end, fans loathed him, players questioned him, and while he was stripped of his GM duties in 2003, his reluctance to start anyone but Jay Fiedler added to his legacy.  4 years later and the Dolphins are still feeling his presence.

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Yes, I could have chosen those hot ass half naked twins for this blog entry, but I figured if I’m asking you for your dream double header, what a better offer than a nightmare to go along with it…or maybe this is your dream?  Shhhhh, we won’t tell.  Word is though, that Bill Belichick is looking at at least 3 of them for a revamped line…the other one, I think the one in green, is supposedly the real NY woman he has been sneaking off to see…or so I have heard.  I think the one on the right I believe has already been cut, apparently she is pregnant, Tom, Tom, Tom. But i digress.

The folks over at Fan-Sided Blogs, FSB for short, posed this question to some of our network bloggers, “what would be your dream double header?“  The only caveat is that it has to be plausible…in other words, the Miami Dolphins can’t win the Super Bowl and then turnaround and play another game and win the Super Bowl again. 

Most of the bloggers on this network have done the ” ‘insert baseball team’ here wins the World Series and I travel down the highway to see ‘insert football team’ here win their game.  That’s creative isn’t it?

So I challenge you more.  What are you two dream double headers, within reality, that does not include your favorite baseball team winning the World Series?  Try hard not to copout and put in your favorite basketball team either.  Remember this is a challenge. Simply leave your comments below. Continue Reading »

After dominating the early part of the 1970’s and then dissppearing for the rest of the decade, the Miami Dolphins in 1983 had returned to the Super Bowl.  After a strike shortened season, the Dolphins finished at 10-3 while the Redskins finished at 12-1.  Pasadena, CA was the site for the Super Bowl return of Don Shula.

The Dolphins ended the half with a 17-10 lead and appeared to be on their way to a 3rd Super Bowl title.  However, the 2nd half proved to be costly.  Starting with Redskins RB John Riggins.  Riggins would account for a then record 166 yards rushing, but it was the image of Riggins running on the outside, arm outstretched as Dolphins CB Don McNeal failed to tackle the bruiser as he scampered on a 4th down play to a 43 yard touchdown.  The Redskins had taken the lead after a field goal earlier by Mark Mosely.

The image of John Riggins bantering down the sidelines for 43 yards was a haunting reminder of what could have been.  The Redskins would score 17 unanswered points in the 2nd half  to beat Miami 27-17. 

Jimmy Johnson proclaimed “How ’bout them Dolphins“.  After leaving the broadcast booth after a quick stint following Super Bowls in Dallas, Johnson joined the Phins following the 1995 season and the “retirement” of Don Shula. 

While the ring wearing Johnson would declare a return to the Super Bowl in 3 years, the league was different than when he left it.  A salary cap was now in place and other teams were leary of making blockbuster deals with the man who wrote the NFL’s draft value chart.  It was what Jimmy did off the field that had many in the organization and some fans angered.

Declaring that no presence or mention of the Dolphins history would be around the training center, Johnson separated himself and the organization from the Shula years which had just come to a close.  David Cross, the teams official photographer told me that when Johnson came on board, the tension that was felt in the halls between he and Shula was thick.  At one point, JJ refused to attend a charitable event if Shula attended.  Shula refused to attend if Jimmy did.  This was to be the future of the Miami Dolphins.

After just 3 years, Johnson retired for 24 hours citing burnout.  Dan Marino would convince Johnson to return for one more season, and owner Wayne Huizenga would hire former Johnson assistant Dave Wannstedt to help him.  Johnson would quit football for good a year later. 

For all the fanfare and promises, Jimmy Johnson would finish his tenure with the Miami Dolphins with a 26-21 record and 1 playoff win, the week prior to the Jaguars loss.  Despite drafting Sam Madison, Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, and Patrick Surtain, Johnson left Miami with Dave Wannstedt.

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The Miami Dolphins were one of 4 teams that attended a pre-draft style workout for former Lions Kevin Jones.  Jones who has an injury history was released earlier this off-season.  He along with former NFL star Shaun Alexander are still without a team.

Phins GM Jeff Ireland was asked recently about the status of the teams players in attempt at an off handed question regarding Jason Taylor’s status.  Ireland said that all Miami Players are available.  On the surface it may raise some eye-brows until it is realized that of the Dolphins’ some odd 80 players, none would likely garner much interest at this point.

The Miami Dolphins have had their share of “unmemorable” events.  From horrid draft picks to bad coaching.  Some were one time affairs while others had a more lasting impact on the teams history.  As we wind down the first round of “worst events” in Phins history, we explore the retirement of a legend and a defection of 3 others.  All in an attempt to put these moments behind us as we move into a new era.

Don Shula is as much a father to the Miami Dolphins as our own fathers are to us.  He built the team that was, took us to perfection, and then, following the 1995 season and 33 years as an NFL head coach, Don Shula stood at a podium and announced he was leaving the game he loved.  I will not bore you with details of the mans career.  Frankly, if you don’t know about Don Shula and his impact on Miami then you really shouldn’t be voting in this entire poll at all. 

For Shula however, the retirement came for some a year too late, for others it should never have come at all.  The fall out of the 1995 season left owner Wayne Huizenga trying to decide the future of the franchise.  An out of work Super Bowl winning HC was sitting in a broadcast booth and wanted back in.  To this day, the retirement of Don Shula carries as many questions surrounding it as the Dan Marino retirement.  Was he pushed out, forced out, or did he call it game on his own terms?  As fans we will likely never know. 

After Shula left Miami, the team began traveling down a road that would erase the class, discipline, and aura that Shula had built over 20 plus years.

Don Shula’s retirement almost seems like a no-brainer, until you ask yourself what could have been in 1975.

The Dolphins had come off 3 consecutive seasons that saw them in the Super Bowl.  A loss to the Raiders in a “Sea of Hands” knocked them out of their bid for a 4th.  The Dolphins would not return to the Super Bowl until the 1980’s.  It was not the loss to the Raiders that knocked the Phins out for almost a decade, it was the departure of 3 key players on their roster.  Paul Warfield, Jim Kiick, and Larry Csonka left Miami to play in the World Football League.

The fledgling league had scored a coup when it landed two eventual NFL Hall of Famers’.  Offering more money than any NFL team, the 3 players quickly left the Dolphins after then owner Joe Robbie refused to cave into a salary demand that would have opened a flood of new contract demands both in Miami and around the NFL.

Paul Warfield, Larry Csonka, and Kiick headed across the northern border to Toronto but the team relocated to Memphis before any games were played.  They would play for the Memphis Southmen for the 1975 season and then finish their careers elsewhere.  Warfield would return to the NFL with the Cleveland Browns for 2 years.  Csonka would return to the NFL and play for the NY Giants before playing his final games for the Dolphins.  Kiick would return to the NFL with the Denver Broncos where he never excelled.  He would be cut in 1977 and sign with the Washington Redskins.  After one season he retired.

For their WFL stint the trio were given guaranteed 3 year deals, each played only one season as the league folded 12 games into the season.  Csonka’s salary was $1.4 million, Warfield’s $900,000, Kiick’s $700,000. 

In an interview with Larry Csonka for this site, Larry had this to say concerning his WFL stint and whether he would do it again now.  LC: “Yes, it was a business decision.”  You can read his full interview here. 

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We have all had one of those, doesn’t matter if your a male or female.  You buy the drinks, you accept the drinks, you spend your cash, you think he is single…it’s all a tease.  So I figured what the hell.

Coming this week is the final 3 Worst of events in Miami Dolphins history.  These final 3 days of round 1 will conclude on Wednesday.  Then a 4 day wait for the final votes and the following Monday will begin round 2. 

On Thursday, yet another part of our exclusive feature on the story of Marlin Briscoe and the film in development about his life called “The Magician”.  Patrick Coyle, actor, director, and the screenwriter on this film has taken time from his current directing endeavor to answer some questions about the former Miami Dolphin WR.

On Tuesday, don’t forget to check in at Finsradio.net as I, although on vacation, will, unlike the real “local” Miami media, still work…for you.  JL and I will be hosting Finsradio.net at 8Pm Eastern as we wrap up the fantasy football talk.  Offseason numbers are down, but that does not mean we can’t find something to talk about.  Give us a call at 1-646-200-0114.

While the surface may seem void of electric information, we here at Phinphanatic.com pride ourselves in the fact that we still dig.  Now if you will excuse me, my wife is making put down the computer….:(

Ricky Williams has spent more time peeing in a cup than he has picking up yards for the Miami Dolphins.  A retirement, a suspension, the threat of an 8 million dollar lawsuit, a reinstatement, a suspension, a failed drug test while on suspension, a delay in reinstatement, a reinstatement, an season ending shoulder injury.  Say that 10 times fast.  Now, it appears that Ricky Williams, in the tradition of a political candidate exclaims he wants “4 more years”.

Apparently the time missed while serving his suspension has saved the RB some wear and tear…of course the fact that after this season he will be a free agent has nothing to do with the decision to play football.  Williams seems to have found a renewed sense of worth as he has impressed the Miami Dolphins coaching staff with his off-season workouts, but will it be enough to earn him a contract with a new team?  A contract that might be able to supply his family with enough money to live off the rest of their lives?  The first is probable, the latter is not likely. Continue Reading »

It’s Friday morning and we now present to you the last event match-up for the week. Monday will start the final 3 ending round 1 on Wednesday. If you have not voted thus far, scroll the site and vote on those you may have missed. This is the 5th match-up of our first round. Today we give you, the 1974 divisional playoff loss to the Raiders vs. the NY Jets Monday night miracle.

The 1974 Miami Dolphins had been the AFC representative in the Super Bowl for 3 years running. Two back to back championships left the Dolphins wanting more and another trip to the Super Bowl was within reach. The first obstacle was the Oakland Raiders.

The 74 Raiders were 12-2 behind NFL MVP Kenny Stabler’s dominating #1 ranked offense. Shula’s 11-3 Dolphins were set for the challenge. The NFL was seeing the best two teams fight it out. The winner would go to Pittsburgh for the right to play in Super Bowl VIII.

With time running down and the Raiders ahead, the Dolphins drove the field to score the go ahead points. Don Shula would later say he thought he left too much time on the clock. Ken Stabler would take the Raiders down the length of the field when it came down to one play. With 24 seconds left and one play to make the score, Stabler was flushed from the pocket and as he was hit fluttered the ball toward the end zone. In what was dubbed the “Sea of Hands”, the floundering pass found its way through the Miami defenders and into the hands of Clarence Davis for the winning touchdown.

The victory by the Raiders knocked the Dolphins out of the playoffs and ended a 3 year Super Bowl run. While the season ended, Miami would say good-bye three players who would leave for the WFL. The Dolphins would not again return to the Super Bowl until 1983.

“The game is over!” Said Jay Fiedler to Jason Taylor. Taylor who was miked for the Monday Night Football match-up with the NY Jets just smiled. The Dolphins had just scored in the waning seconds of the 3rd quarter to open a commanding 30-7 lead entering the 4th quarter.

Fans had begun their journey home from the Meadowlands and the Dolphins Zach Thomas later explained that it felt like a high-school game. Then, the Monday night miracle began to take shape. A touchdown early in the 4th to Lavernous Coles was the first of 3 quick strike touchdown passes from QB Vinnie Testaverde. A John Hall FG just over 5 minutes remaining left the Dolphins clinging to a suddenly demoralizing 7 point lead.

In the now back and forth battle the Jets tied the game with 3 minutes and change left. The empty stadium that only moments before had left the stadium a hollow shell was quickly filling back up as NY Jets fans raced back into the stadium. Zach Thomas would later say that by overtime, the stadium was packed again…and loud.

Jay Fiedler would throw a late game TD pass to put Miami back on top, but the defense failed to hold the Jets at bay and with time running out, Vinnie Testaverde his offensive tackle Jumbo Elliot in the end zone. Elliot, an eligible receiver on the play, bobbled the ball, bobbled the ball again, and then, landing stretched out, reeled the ball in for the tying score. 42 seconds remained.

While many Dolphins fans had long surrendered to the 3rd quarter route and opted instead to watch the backs of their eyelids, the Jets were in the process of pulling out a miracle. The Phins opened the OT with a drive to put the comeback attempt on ice but Jay Fiedler who opened his mouth earlier about having the game in the bag, threw an interception. John Hall would put the final touches on the game with a 40 yard field goal.

Espn has ranked this game one of the top Monday Night Football games in history. For the Miami Dolphins, it is one game that never should have been a part of theirs. Zach Thomas summed it up best when he said, “It makes me sick”.

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There are, on rare occassions, a mixture of politics and football.  Arlen Specter and the New England Patriots come to mind immediately.  Yet while America turns it’s political attentions to this falls Presidential race and the skyrocketing prices of crude oil, our lives are supposed to go on as normal.  Yet normal these days are redefined…if not “refined“.

Take a trip around the NFL fan forums boards and you will see that Direct TV customers have received their renewal notice for the upcoming season and while the NFL Sunday Ticket is priced at about 250 bucks, the real pinch is coming in the form of season ticket sales at the stadiums themselves.

Gas prices at the pump are affecting football too.  Go to the grocery store and I am sure you noticed that prices have risen over the last year, pick up a box of Kellogs cereal and the box seems smaller, it is.  Movie prices are up to 10 dollars in almost every part of the country and even matinee prices are up to 6 before 5.  Now, explain to your significant other the reason you want to buy that Sunday Ticket or the annual season tickets to your favorite team.  Your work is cut out for you this year.  Hell you may not even bother to ask, knowing in your own mind that some things just have to give. Continue Reading »