"Here, to me, is the hardest part of endorsing any coaching candidate for the Dolphins: The Other Guy has worked out better.

When the Dolphins hired the legend of Bill Parcells in 2008, Atlanta hired an unknown front-office guy, a small-ego coach and a quarterback with the regime's first pick.

It's in the playoffs for the third time in four years.

When the Dolphins chose college champion Nick Saban in 2005 and quarterback Daunte Culpepper a year later, New Orleans married itself to unknown Sean Payton and Drew Brees.

It won a Super Bowl. It's in the playoffs for the fourth time in six years.

This time, Jeff Fisher is the solid choice with solid credentials. He's known. He's knowledgeable. He has the kind of track record that explains why the Dolphins and St. Louis Rams are fighting over him.

Who doesn't agree he's the most complete candidate?

Joe Philbin is the other guy.

Actually, he might not even be that. He's just the guy interviewed Friday and Saturday.

No one knows the Dolphins plans for him. No one knows Philbin, either, other than he is the Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator."