Everything at stake for Miami Dolphins as season set to begin

Well, here we go.

No more build up.  No more predictions.  Gone are the days of starters only playing one half.

In less than 24 hours, the full NFL season will be upon us.  In less than 24 hours, the passes become real, the turnovers become costly, the wins make a season, and the losses break a season.

And, in less than 24 hours, the stakes for the Miami Dolphins raise significantly.  With every loss, panic.  With every win, Super Bowl.  Every Ryan Tannehill TD, and he's Marino.  Every INT, and he's Henne.

Every win, and Joe Philbin's the second coming of Don Shula.

Every loss, and he's a more boring Tony Sparano.

Every win keeps the Ireland household off the market.

Every loss, and the embattled GM is one step closer to the unemployment line.

Get the picture?  Starting tomorrow, what's at stake for the Miami Dolphins?

Everything.

You see, there are three players in this poker game otherwise known as the Miami Dolphins 2013 season:  Ryan Tannehill, Joe Philbin, and Jeff Ireland.  Yes, in that order.

I've said it time and time again, as Tannehill goes, so will the Miami Dolphins.  If Tannehill doesn't produce a winning season, if the sophomore QB doesn't thrust himself into the RGIII/Luck/Wilson conversation by season's end, then Philbin and Ireland are, to quote Breaking Bad, "going to Belize."

They're done.  Fired.  Gone.  "Old-Yellered" (yes, another Breaking Bad reference).  See it now?  These three guys are married to one another.  Much like Tony Sparano, Chad Henne, and Jeff Ireland were two years ago, and we all know how that turned out.

The difference here is, Ireland won't get a free pass this time.  His contract ends this year, and Stephen Ross has no intentions of extending it until he sees results.

Results from Tannehill.  Results from Philbin.  Starting tomorrow, Ireland gives up the drivers seat that he's kept warm since January.  He gives up the control that he's had since the clock hit all zero's in New England.

Now, all Ireland can do is watch.  Hope.  Pray.  Because his future is out of his hands for the next five months.  His future, his job, his life, really, is now in the hands of Ryan Tannehill.

Same can be said for Philbin.

Same can be said for the entire organization.

The Miami Dolphins went all in during the offseason.

And now, everything is at stake.