"Joe Philbin won the news conference on Saturday. He was energetic, he was enthusiastic, he was prepared, pleasant and even-keeled. Philbin did as well or better as any of the predecessors who have stood in front of the media and Dolphins nation since 1996 and offered hope, optimism and change.

Unfortunately, that's not a guarantee of success.

The winning quotes and laudable demeanor don't really mean much on game days. If they did, Jimmy Johnson would have won that Super Bowl he promised in three years or Nick Saban would have been as committed to the organization as he said on his first day.

Philbin's success instead will be determined, like every Dolphins coach, by how much talent he has at his disposal and specifically how large his quarterback's exploits become the next half-decade or so."