Well, like most Homers I thought we would be a little more substantial than we are by now. However, it was typical optimism for Dolphins fans: There have only been 10 losing-record seasons out of the four decades-plus we've had a team to cheer for. That is ridiculously-good.

What has hurt the Homer faithful is that four of those have come in the last five years. So, perhaps years and years of being spoiled rose-tints our aqua shades a bit. Or a bunch.

Regardless, we are one of the lower-tier teams again, so why not see what you've got? Right now our offense is as anemic as it can be. We do not stretch the field with any kind of vertical game. This in turn pinches the field so that Ricky and Ronnie have very little breathing room. Penny doesn't possess the arm to do it: that's not a singular opinion on my part. Henne does.

I don't buy into that stuff about how it was garbage time and he was playing against nobody etc. The kid wasn't ushered in with a ten point lead at home to just tend the ship 'til we made shore. He went in with his team reeling, lifeless and desperate for any kind of spark, and he did it in a stadium that was cranked because it was watching the best team it had seen in Cardinal red in years play well.

Did he hand off and go back to the huddle an empty figurehead ('here kid, just don't screw up')? Nope. He came out throwing and they weren't just screens. That out he hit was like thirtyfive-forty yards through the air, and the ball arrived with some zip. He took the team promptly down the field and scored. Efficient. Composed.

Will the kid make gaffs? Surely...all do when they first start. Not comparing them in any respect other than youthfulness, but Marino's first pass was an Int, and we did pretty good with #13.

This is a team struggling for anything to avoid implosion. Throwing deep OCCASIONALLY as opposed to NEVER will keep the defense honest, and I truly believe that is all Ricky and Ronnie need to make the ground game go.

This team has a long way to go to compete for anything post-season; why not see what you have in the cupboard? Aikman took his lumps (a 1-15 year). Manning (Peyton) took his lumps (3-13). Those that can play rise to the occasion. Those who can't fall by the wayside.

I know there is a strong desire on the part of some fans to see Penny keep playing. They would rather rely on the veteran than put the keys in the hands of a kid. I can understand. On the surface, it sounds like the 'smart play'.

For me, what have we got to lose? Penny is 0-2, it's not like we are lighting it up. He is 1-9 in his last ten starts, and was benched at 1-7 in favor of a kid who came in and went 3-5. He has done nothing in our two games to show that those numbers are an abberation. If everyone is accountable, Penny should be, too. Let the kid who started for four years in front of 100,000 people have a shot.