July 13, 2008

 Unless you’re Joe Namath, “guarantees” in the NFL typically get greeted with either apathy or incredulity. But word out of Buffalo is that S Donte Whitner’s guarantee in a SportingNews.com story that the Bills will make the playoffs this season was marked by enthusiasm from his teammates. The Bills have made a host of fortifications this offseason, especially on defense, and the players have bought into the notion that it’s playoffs or bust.

 In trying to drum up support for the coming season, the Dolphins’ marketing department gets an “A” for effort … and an “F” for execution. Up until a week ago, the department had used the slogan “Respect the Code” as the mantra for its club. Problem was, nobody had any idea what that meant. Realizing the absurdity of having a slogan nobody understood, the department recently changed it to “A New Beginning.”

 According to a source close to the Dolphins, management will be keeping close tabs on LB Channing Crowder this season in determining whether he’s worthy of a long-term deal. Crowder, who’s eligible for unrestricted free agency after the season, had an injury-marred 2007 campaign but showed great promise in 2006.