In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde writes Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross "finally got this first and fundamental step right," as the hiring of coach Brian Flores and promotion of Chris Grier to GM & Exec VP/Football Operations mark the "first time Ross structured things properly." Grier is the "one man at the top," with Flores "hand-picked by Grier." Their partnership "starting on the same timeline" is the "simple way it all should be and, oddly, the way Ross never has done it." There are no longer "questions of who's in charge or what the timeline to win is, as with every other season with Ross" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 2/6).
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: In Cincinnati, Paul Daugherty in a front-page piece writes the Bengals prior to naming Zac Taylor their new coach "needed a total-body transfusion ... a complete break from their clannish ways, to someone not beholden to or even aware of any Family tradition, good or bad." They "needed Zac Taylor." At the moment, the "best thing" about Taylor is that he "isn't Marvin [Lewis]." Taylor will "get a grace period" with the Bengals. Daugherty: "How long? Given the level of skepticism here, not very" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 2/6).
THEY DON'T BOO NOBODIES: In Baltimore, Peter Schmuck writes he has "grown weary" of the Patriots, but that does not mean that he does not "respect their accomplishments or don't believe that they have become the most dominant franchise in the history" of the NFL. Schmuck: "They certainly have and this past season -- and Super Bowl -- is proof of that." The Patriots "might be infuriating and entitled, but they didn't win those six championships by accident" (BALTIMORE SUN, 2/6).
