Dolphins accept cold-weather challenge

[IE]

To be assured of a playoff spot, the Dolphins must win two games in cold weather.






Wide receiver Brandon London doesn't deny that conditions for Sunday's Miami Dolphins game against the Chiefs in Kansas City won't just be chilly -- they'll be frigid.

But if you think the Dolphins intend to let a dip in temperature cause their season to sink, even in the coldest game-day weather so far this year, players will insist you've been spending too much time in the sun.

For the playoff-contending Dolphins, winners of three straight and seven out of eight, this isn't about being cold. It's about staying hot: Wins over the Chiefs on Sunday and the New York Jets the next weekend in the Meadowlands, another cold-weather venue, will bring Miami the AFC East title.

''You can go there and let the cold affect you,'' London said. ``Or you can go there, deal with it, suck it up, come back to the 80-degree weather and enjoy a Mai Tai on the beach.''

For Dolphins historians who recall many a dismal December when Miami's postseason hopes were ruined, it might not be so easy to accept London's laid-back approach to handling a projected kickoff temperature of 17 degrees. That's dangerously close to the 14-degree day in Foxboro, Mass., for the Dolphins' coldest-ever game, Dec. 11, 1977, against the New England.

The Dolphins have been a poor cold-weather team in recent years, and we're not just talking about last year's 1-15 debacle. Since 1996, Miami has posted winning records in December just twice. And only once since 1986 has Miami gone undefeated during that month. Key losses in December most recently ruined Dolphins seasons in 2002 and 2003.

COLD-WEATHER VETS

Dolphins defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday, who used to mix it up in the snow with the Chiefs and the Packers, looks back on those days fondly. 'I remember when a team from South Florida was coming in, you'd say, `These guys are in that sun and fun right now. If we can jump on them early, they'll want to get back on that bus and go back to the warm weather,' '' Holliday said.

This group of Dolphins sounds unfazed by the forecast -- high of 19 Sunday, low of 11 and cold winds of up to 22 miles per hour.

After all, the current team isn't a group of beach-going, thin-blooded South Floridians. Miami has kicker Dan Carpenter, who grew up and played collegiately in Montana; quarterback Chad Pennington, who logged eight seasons with the Jets; and half a revamped roster that played at points north before this season.

''A lot of these guys are veteran players that have played in those elements before,'' said coach Tony Sparano, another warm-blooded Northeasterner.

`A CAKEWALK'

Take linebacker Reggie Torbor. He played last year for the Giants, who battled the Packers in Green Bay for the NFC Championship with a kickoff temperature of -1. It was the second coldest game in Green Bay history.

''It was the coldest I've ever been in my life,'' Torbor said. ``We had water in cups on the sideline, and by halftime the water was frozen. So this one will be a cakewalk. It'll be like summertime for me this week. I'm not even going to wear sleeves.''

Everyone from left tackle Jake Long (a Michigan native) to left guard Andy Alleman (Ohio) scoffs at the idea that cold weather will hurt Miami against the Chiefs and the Jets.

London said he has played a game that was -7 degrees. Kicker Carpenter said it once snowed in his hometown in June.

''I'm from Helena, Montana,'' Carpenter said, laughing. ``Right now, the high is -6.''

`IT'S ABOUT WINNING'

Fair enough. Sunday's temperatures at Arrowhead Stadium might not faze most of the roster. But what about center Samson Satele? The native of Kailua, Hawaii, didn't see snow for the first time until the 2007 scouting combine in Indianapolis.

''This game is much bigger than the weather,'' Satele said. ``It's not about being cold. It's about winning. And actually, I like playing in the cold. I keep the AC at 60 at night when I sleep.''

So for now, the players are making a pretty good case for why the organization's problematic December ways might be behind them. Sunday, these Dolphins can prove they're a weather-resistant bunch.

''It's going to be cold,'' Alleman said. ``It's going to be cold for them, and it's going to be cold for us. But I'm still only worried about the guy I need to block. Not the weather.''

 

[IE]

Wintry weather will test Pennington's arm




After two shoulder surgeries, some doubted Chad Pennington's arm strength in cold weather. Now he has a chance to prove them wrong.






Perception will battle reality in a classic subplot to the Dolphins' frantic lean for the playoff tape.

Perception is represented by Jets fans who became convinced quarterback Chad Pennington was incapable of leading their team to a championship because his arm strength -- or lack thereof -- could not deliver victories in December's blustery weather.

Ultimately the Jets organization believed Pennington's two shoulder surgeries in 2005 prevented him from succeeding in wintry venues such as Buffalo, New England or even the Jets' own windswept home field in the Meadowlands.

''When he got nicked, I think people lost faith in him there,'' said Kansas City coach Herman Edwards, who coached Pennington with the Jets from 2001-2005.

The Dolphins, however, believe Pennington can throw just fine in windy or stormy conditions.

That is their reality.

''I'm not concerned about it,'' Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said Wednesday. ``In our stadium alone, taking the temperature out of it, the wind down on that field the last three weeks has been tremendous out there.

``We've really had to consciously think about the wind. It's been a part of my thinking. And Chad's thrown the ball fine.''

Everyone will be able to judge because the season's final two games will be played in what promises to be, well, terrible conditions.

Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium, Sunday's venue, can be like a frigid wind tunnel. Weather.com predicts 22 mph winds on game day.

BONE-CHILLING

''It can get cold like that, no doubt it,'' Edwards said. ``The wind can be like [the Meadowlands]. It was bad last week and then it got down to about 12 [degrees] with the wind chill.''

The Dolphins follow their Kansas City visit with a season finale in Pennington's former home, the Meadowlands, a place where softly tossed passes go to be intercepted.

''You can't really throw the deep ball there because the wind will take it,'' said Dolphins linebacker Reggie Torbor, who benefited from the elements when he played for the New York Giants. ``I remember quarterbacks would come out and try to throw it, but [the wind] would blow the balls across the field.''

Edwards said Pennington's experience in the stadium gives the Dolphins an edge. But in making the argument Pennington will be fine, Edwards admitted the quarterback did have to make adjustments in windy conditions.

''Sometimes we make a big deal and scouts make a big deal out of arm strength,'' Edwards said. ``But he can throw the ball all over the field.

``And the thing about Chad is he's very astute about when the ball has to come out of his hand. He is getting the receiver a lot of times before [the receiver] comes out of his break. So he's going to anticipate where that guy has to be and get it there.''

Pennington believes understanding the conditions is part of his job.

''If you're playing in windy conditions, you don't normally use a lot of air and a lot of loft in your passes because now you're leaving it up to the wind to blow the ball wherever it wants to blow,'' Pennington said. ``And so you have to be more precise. It's a little like playing golf.''

And while Jets fans might argue Pennington didn't really handle the elements well, the statistics make a less strident statement. He has thrown 32 touchdowns and 22 interceptions in December. His completion percentage, except for his rookie season, has never been lower than 65.3 percent.

WRONG PERCEPTION

Following the shoulder surgeries, Pennington's December quarterback rating was 82.2 in 2007 and 86.4 in 2006. He did, however, throw a total of seven touchdowns and seven interceptions those two years.

This December has not challenged Pennington with tough weather yet. He has completed 72.9 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

But all eyes will be on him the next two cold-weather games.

''It is a challenge when you play in inclement weather, and you have to be smart enough as a professional to understand we're not in 80-degree weather in a perfect day,'' Pennington said. ``So what type of football you have to throw to a receiver and what type of throws they can handle becomes really important.''