What do Dolphins players think after the first few weeks around the new regime? Some of their observations:
• Even in his executive role, Bill Parcells is making his presence felt during the offseason conditioning program. Parcells often walks around the weight room while the players work out, ''and you know when he comes because everybody stands up erect,'' former 49ers guard Justin Smiley said. ``If they're slouching, they get up and everybody is doing something.
'He gives everybody a hard time, makes little comments. He kind of looks me up and down, like, `Are you working hard?' He doesn't say anything, but you know what he's thinking. But deep down, you know if you're here, you're one of his guys.''
Channing Crowder said Parcells joked, ' `I had heart surgery and I still run faster than you.' '' Parcells' presence initially surprised players. ''For him to be that high on the totem poll, you wouldn't expect that,'' Crowder said.
Receiver Greg Camarillo said of Parcells' and coach Tony Sparano's weight-room visits: ``It's slightly nerve-racking knowing they're watching every step.''
• Players said the offseason conditioning program, more grueling than last year's, will reap benefits. ''It will give us an edge early in the season when teams come here and get a little tired and we're running circles around them,'' Smiley said. ``That gets me excited just thinking about that. We won't be tired.''
Why? ''A lot of teams do three 300-yard shuttles when they bring the players back as a conditioning test, with a two-minute break in between,'' Smiley explained. 'We're running those every day of the week. Guys are like, `Man, we're running hard.' It's the toughest offseason program I've been in.''
Crowder said there's a lot more power-lifting and ``guys will come in shape and not use camp to get in shape.''
• Players said the mentality and atmosphere have changed because of the new regime and new ''guys like [ex-Cowboy] Jason Ferguson, who have won a lot of games,'' Vernon Carey said. ``We [had] to change the mind-set of losing . . . Now we have fresh guys with a different mind-set.''
Crowder said, ''At first, everybody was kind of on edge because of the changes. Now, there's more excitement and everybody is more motivated. People are competing now and trying to better each other. Before, it was lackluster and cruising through it.'' Jason Allen concurred, saying, ``Guys are not settling for being mediocre. [That message] comes from the top on down.''
• There is a fear of consequences, too. ''You are not going to do anything [wrong] because you know [Parcells] is a hard-nosed guy,'' Crowder said. ``And Sparano is a no-nonsense guy. You don't want to be the guy they make an example out of.''
• John Beck said he didn't perceive the Dolphins' drafting of Chad Henne as a lack of faith in him. ''I'm not taking offense to them bringing in another quarterback,'' said Beck, joined by the aforementioned players Tuesday at a fishing clinic for children. ``I'm working my tail off. The best guy will play. If they didn't want me to compete, they wouldn't have me here.''
CHATTER
• NFL team consultant Frank Coyle called this ''Miami's best draft in 10 years.'' But Mel Kiper Jr., on espn.com, gave Miami a B- as, ''I'm not sold on Chad Henne. He has accuracy issues and a long delivery and he isn't mobile.'' And he called third-round defensive lineman Kendall Langford ``somewhat of a reach after an average senior season.''
• Fox draft analyst Chris Landry, who consults for 11 teams, called Dolphins second-round pick Phillip Merling ''the best run-defending defensive end in the draft.'' . . . Several draftniks give fourth-rounder Shawn Murphy a realistic chance to start at right guard. (Smiley would move to left guard in that scenario) . . . The Dolphins -- who don't have an accomplished veteran guard to play opposite Smiley -- rejected overtures from ex-Dolphin Jeno James (out of the league last year) and haven't returned calls from unsigned Chris Liwienski's agent.
• Heat owner Micky Arison admits he ''thought about'' hiring a coach from the outside. ``But I felt comfortable Erik [Spoelstra] could do the job. He has impressed me as a bright young man with a very good work ethic.''
• The Marlins say they spend more than $10 million annually on advertising and marketing, more than any other team. So could they spend half that and use the other half to add a veteran player? No, president David Samson insists, ``because we need to advertise and be creative in our market.''
• More UM signings: Kyle Wright with Minnesota (which has three veteran quarterbacks and rookie draft pick John David Booty), and receiver Lance Leggett (Cleveland) and defensive tackle Teraz McCray (Buffalo). . . . FSU's Xavier Lee will go to Ravens minicamp, as they are willing to look at him as a quarterback initially.
• Sightings: Kansas City running back Larry Johnson spending $6,000 on champagne at club B.E.D., then giving away a lot of it to strangers.
