Bill Parcells doesn't speak to local reporters and general manager Jeff Ireland rarely does, but Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered an assessment of his team and doesn't sugarcoat the deficiencies at receiver.

``We still have a lot of needs,'' Ross said before Miami improved to 4-5 with a win against Tampa. ``We're a few players away from being a major force. It's only been 18 months away from 1-15. We're rebuilding. Anyone would say [there's disappointment] to start 3-5. But we have a better team than last year. We've got a lot of good young players and we are going to become a force to be reckoned with.

``I don't think Bill has a timetable. He hasn't been happy. If you ask who's as unhappy about the record as anyone, it would be Bill Parcells.''

Dolphins officials know the team needs to upgrade at receiver, but Ross is the only one willing to say it publicly. When asked if he agrees the team needs a big-play receiver and more explosive passing game, Ross said, ``It's obvious.''

But is he convinced Parcells and Ireland will upgrade at receiver, even though they have been reluctant to trade draft picks to acquire one?

``Look -- Bill calls the shots,'' Ross said. ``I'm not going to tell him who to pick. It's obvious to everybody what our needs are. There's no question, to get an explosive receiver would be great. And I just hope some of our receivers catch those passes that have been dropped. We would have a totally different record'' if they had.

Ross, who spoke before his induction to the Miami Beach High School Hall of Fame, has been a good owner in his first year -- improving the game-day experience, not raising ticket prices, spending what's asked of him and not meddling in football.

``You buy a team and as a kid, you would love to make the trades,'' Ross said. But ``if you want to have a winning team, I don't think you need the owner making football decisions. I tell Bill what I think and when I get done on who we should get or who we should trade for, I say, `But you don't have to listen to anything I say.' He laughs. We have the best in the country running our football operations. I don't get in his way.''

He said Parcells hasn't told him if he's returning next season but ``I have no reason to think he's not. We have a good respect, get along well.''

CHATTER

• Though former Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman has successfully transitioned to receiver with the Patriots, Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said Tuesday, ``To take Pat White and put him out at receiver is not the answer.'' . . . Parcells hasn't said much to Chad Henne since he became the starter, so it meant a lot to Henne and ``gave me confidence'' when Parcells approached Tuesday and said, ``Way to go, way to bounce back from the interception'' in Sunday's game.

• Why was Joey Porter inactive Sunday? CBS said it was because he was seen out Friday night, and the Dolphins thought he should have been resting. NFL Network said he was excused to go home early one day last week, because he was not feeling well, but instead went elsewhere. The Dolphins want no more lapses in professionalism from a player who is on pace for 24 tackles, which would amount to $200,000 per tackle.

• Before the North Carolina game, a UM Board of Trustee member said the administration planned to discuss a contract extension with Randy Shannon (beyond next season) after UM's Nov. 28 regular-season finale. Unclear is whether a poor finish could risk that. . . . What players have come on and earned more playing time? Shannon cited two: defensive tackles Curtis Porter and Jeremy Lewis.

• Injured senior fullback Pat Hill, a key piece of UM's offense, should be able to get a redshirt and return in 2010 . . . No joke: Center A.J. Trump said officials have warned UM players not to flash the ``U'' sign or there will be 15-yard personal foul penalty.

• Clock management continues to be a problem at times for UM, which ran out of time in a late first-half drive against North Carolina, but never used its last timeout and didn't line up quickly enough after a first down. ``It was probably a mistake -- everybody had something to do with it,'' Jacory Harris said. Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple ``gives me freedom to use timeouts, but I look to him first.'' UM has no problem with Harris burning timeouts early in halves to get the right personnel in. Harris said ``something bad is going to happen'' if he doesn't.

• Curiousity about Michael Beasley apparently extends to the White House. When Dwyane Wade spoke with President Barack Obama recently, ``he asked a lot of questions about Beasley,'' Wade said. ``He told us to make sure we stay on him and lead him in the right direction. I called Beasley and told him, `The president is talking about you.' He was pumped. Hopefully, things like that will show him a lot of people want great things out of him.''