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MIAMI (AP) -If a 1-15 season can produce a hero, Greg Camarillo earned that title in 2007 for the Miami Dolphins.
The third-string receiver scored on a 64-yard reception in overtime in the 14th game of the year, allowing the Dolphins to avoid the NFL's first 0-16 season.
"I get a lot of love for it," Camarillo said. "I get a lot of praise for keeping the terrible season away. I mean, it was a terrible season, but keeping the worst season ever away."
Terrible is an accurate description. If the Dolphins are worse in 2008, they might get shut out in every game. They might be sent back to the AFL. New boss Bill Parcells might throw up his hands in frustration and declare the situation hopeless.
It's more likely the Dolphins will show at least a little improvement this year. But that's not saying much, given that they had the worst record in franchise history in 2007.
"We have to let that go," linebacker Channing Crowder said. "We don't even think about it anymore. We're just going to get better. We're just going to win the AFC East, go to the playoffs and go as far as we can and be a great team - go back to the old Dolphins way."
No one takes Crowder's prediction seriously, because even the new regime led by Parcells concedes the Dolphins' rebuilding project will take at least a couple of years.
A complete makeover was needed after Miami missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year, a franchise record. More than half the roster has turned over since last season, and it's likely to remain in flux for some time.
The Dolphins are unsettled at receiver and in the offensive line. The secondary has been a problem for years, and the front seven must be revamped following the offseason departures of Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas, the anchors of the defense for the past decade.
As a result, the new regime is looking under every rock for help.
"We're just going to keep turning over stones and bringing in a lot of people," new coach Tony Sparano said. "It probably won't change for two to three years. We need to make sure we're doing our due diligence on players that are available."
Parcells, who took over losing teams with the Giants, Patriots, Jets and Cowboys and transformed them into winners, is back in the NFL for the first time since he quit coaching after the 2006 season with Dallas.
He worked there with Sparano, the Cowboys' offensive line coach, and new Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland.
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