The 1-15 Dolphins are a thing of the past, and the team has its sight set on winning the AFC East.
They probably can't do that without Jake Long. Despite losing the No. 1 pick of the 2008 draft on Thursday night against the Cowboys, the left tackle does not think the injury is serious.
"Not concerned," he told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel when asked about his left knee. He added of his status for the regular season opener: "I'm confident."
Long suffered the injury in the second quarter, after which he was examined by team doctors.
It didn't take long for the critics to begin taking their shots at Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, who opted to play his starters well into the second quarter.
"The Dolphins coaches kept playing their starters against some Dallas players who will be unemployed after the final cuts are made this weekend with the apparent hope and purpose of getting good work and sharpening their players," wrote The Miami Herald's Armando Salguero.
Whether the decision will really harm the Dolphins won't be known until Sept. 12, when the Dolphins travel to Buffalo to open the season.
