Dave Hyde: The most damaging season in Dolphins history finishes in an awful fashion

"Congrats, it's over. You can open your eyes now. You survived another Miami Dolphins season. You didn't even need to watch their 38-10 loss at the New England Patriots, because you've seen the movie so many times through the years you have the ending memorized: On one sideline the New England celebrated their 14-win season, celebrated their winning coach-quarterback combo and really celebrated the coming home playoff game. On the other sideline, the Titanic sunk."

"All the monsters can go away now or just go hiding under the bed where they'll conveniently be forgotten amid the coming happy talk for the next eight months. The offseason is here. You made it. Dolphins seasons have been mostly various forms of calamity for most of this millennium. But offseasons have become a fascinating haven of rebuilt hope and optimism and belief good things will happen again."

"1. The quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, who you gave a four-year, $212 million contract shrunk right before your eyes to the point he was benched, forgotten and would be an afterthought moving forward except he's owned a NFL-record $99 million coming up. 2. The 2020 and 2021 drafts will probably have one survivor after this offseason. Those are the drafts the Dolphins tanked for in 2019 to get five, first-round and four, second-round picks Receiver Jaylen Waddle looks like the lone survivor."

The Dolphins finished the season with a 38-10 loss at New England that crystallized a long-troubled campaign. The season effectively collapsed weeks earlier, leaving fans to enter an offseason of mixed relief and cautious hope. The campaign ranks among the most damaging in franchise history due to lingering roster and organizational problems. Star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's massive four-year, $212 million deal unraveled as he was benched and became an afterthought despite a remaining $99 million guaranteed. The 2020 and 2021 drafts produced few long-term contributors, with receiver Jaylen Waddle appearing the likely lone survivor. Offensive tackle Austin Jackson faces uncertain recovery from injury.

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