James Walker, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Stephen Ross, Ndamukong Suh, Ryan Tannehill thinking big

DAVIE, Fla. – Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was blunt when asked if he expects better results from his team in 2015.

"God damn right," the billionaire owner said, sparking laughter among the Miami media.

Ross isn’t alone. In talking with players and coaches, the entire Dolphins organization is tired of mediocrity. Miami has been 8-8 the past two seasons and 23-25 in three years under coach Joe Philbin.

Everyone from the top down said they are confident this is the year the Dolphins get over the hump and end their six-year playoff drought.

"We're not here to win a few games. We're here to win a championship," said Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who recently signed a $96 million contract extension. "That's what we're here to do. Each and every man on this team will tell you the same thing. We’re not out wasting our time each and every day, sweating, losing 10 pounds in practice to not be playing in January and February."

Said Dolphins coach Joe Philbin to ESPN.com earlier this week, "I came here to win championships. I didn't come here to be average and be 8-8. Steve Ross doesn't own the team to be average. Our fans don't want to be average. Our players don't want to be average."

This is the most optimistic the Dolphins have been in my four seasons in Miami. In the past, they shied away from expectations. This year they are embracing them.

Miami also has the most talented roster it has had in a long time, headline by Tannehill and Pro Bowlers Ndamukong Suh, Brent Grimes, Cameron Wake and Mike Pouncey.

“We look great on paper,” Suh said. “It’s always nice to look good on paper. But at the end of the day, it’s about what you do in those 16 games and obviously going into the playoffs, hopefully. But we got a lot of work ahead of ourselves in camp, first and foremost.”

Words such as “championships” and “playoffs” rarely were uttered publicly in training camp in previous years. However, Ross and Philbin have set the tone from the top and it has carried throughout the team.

“I bought a team for one purpose: creating a winner and doing it in a manner that we’re consistent and competitive every single year,” Ross said. “That’s been the approach.”

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