Denial Ain't Just A River In Egypt

'Fins GM Randy Mueller on the fact that the team just basically sux and is going to do so for at least the next year:

Randy Mueller admits the Dolphins ''have a lot of needs to get better as a team,'' but don't mention to the Miami general manager that his team is in a rebuilding mode and has little hope of escaping the AFC East cellar next season.

''I don't see it that way,'' Mueller said during a nearly 20-minute interview with South Florida reporters Monday. ``Every year this business is changing and evolving into a reshuffling of your roster. I think you see change as part of the landscape in the NFL. So we're no different.

``Obviously we decided to make some changes. But we're definitely not considering that to be rebuilding changes. We're reshuffling. And we need change. We were 6-10. We can't sit pat on that hand. So we plan to make the right decisions to make us better and give us the best chance to win come September.''

Cripes! I know you've got to put a brave face on things, but I sure hope these guys understand in private that they've got a whooooole lotta baby steps to get through before they're competitive again. Frankly, I think the fans would appreciate that kind of honesty more than happy-talk.

And speaking of rebuilding teams:

Six days to go, Baybee!

Will the Nats fight off the Curse of Bobby Kennedy this year? It's Bobby's last hurrah, so you know he's going to be bringing everything he's got.