By JIMMY GOLEN
AP Sports Writer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- It's not quite true the Miami Dolphins had
nothing at stake in the regular-season finale: They might have been
playing for Tony Sparano's job.
In what might have been the last chance
to keep their coach, Miami lost 38-7 to the New England Patriots on
Sunday -- a fitting end to a dud of a season. Neither Chad Henne nor
Tyler Thigpen could do much with the offense as the Dolphins fell
behind 38-0 before a late touchdown helped them avoid their second
shutout of the season.
"We did it to ourselves, coming into this
game, having nothing to play for, other than the pride thing and all
those good things," Sparano said. "You just don't want to be in that
situation. It's not what we aspire to be. We have a lot loftier goals
than that."
Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said any
decisions on the coaching staff would be made by owner Stephen Ross,
who did not make the trip.
The Patriots (14-2) had already clinched
home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs, and the Dolphins had
long been eliminated from postseason contention. But Miami (7-9) came
into the game with a chance to finish .500 and end the season with a
win that could help make the case for keeping Sparano.
Instead, the Dolphins defense gave up
touchdowns on two of New England's first three possessions. And, after
scoring on Julian Edelman's 94-yard punt return near the end of the
first half, the Patriots opened the second half with two quick
touchdown drives to make it 38-0.
"You never want to be in this position
again. I never, ever, ever do," Sparano said. "We shouldn't forget what
just happened to us out there. Not a good place to be."
Only New England's benevolence kept it
that close, with backup quarterback Brian Hoyer leading a 9 minute, 35
second drive to eat up most of the fourth quarter before the Patriots
ran the ball on fourth-and-9 from the Miami 19 instead of going for the
field goal.
"It was difficult, frustrating,
disappointing and embarrassing. It was all those things," defensive
lineman Kendall Langford said. "We let each other down, the coaching
staff and the organization. What went on out there is not acceptable at
all."
Sparano, who has one year left on his
contract, took over the Dolphins after they went 1-15 in 2007 and led
them to the AFC East title the next season -- their only postseason
appearance since 2001. But Miami is 14-18 since then, and Sparano lost
the support of the man who hired him when Bill Parcells gave up control
of football operations in September.
The Dolphins (7-9) lost to last-place
Detroit last week and finished 1-7 at home, matching the worst home
record in franchise history.
Sparano has said he is scheduled to meet
with Ross to discuss his future. The coach said he looks forward to
sharing his ideas for improving the team.
"He is such a good coach," cornerback
Benny Sapp said. "You just hate to see it go down like that, especially
when (he) works so hard during the week getting us motivated."
