Brandon Marshall wants to see Tony Sparano return as the coach of the Dolphins. "I've never been around a coach before who gives me goose bumps in a team meeting during the week and in OTAs before season even starts," Marshall said. "His ability to motivate guys and be a people person and talk to guys and have his door be open is amazing. You don't always get that. I'm glad they brought me here." Significant changes are likely for the Dolphins this season. They will sit out the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years and rank next to last in the AFC in scoring.

The Dolphins have waived wide receiver Kevin Curtis and center Eric Ghiaciuc. In their place, Miami has signed offensive tackle Allen Barbre and linebacker Mike Rivera.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross says he'll "evaluate" coach Tony Sparano and general manager Jeff Ireland following the season. Ross verbalized his displeasure with the team's 34-27 loss to the Lions in comments to The Miami Herald on Sunday. "You've seen what's going on," Ross told the newspaper. Ross described his disappointment as "tremendous."

Ronnie Brown wants to remain with the Dolphins, but does the team want to retain him? "I haven't given up hope," said Brown, whose contract with the Dolphins expires after this season. "I know there's a chance I won't be back here. You know, that's something I think about. It's tough because I've grown so attached to this community and this area." It is believed that Brown would sign a less lucrative deal to re-sign with the Dolphins. "I do have to go into it with an open mind, realizing it is a possibility," Brown said. "I have to prepare myself so that if I'm not here next year, I won't go into any kind of depression or anything."

Former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas has accused the Jets of deliberately forming a human wall on their sideline to influence the Dolphins' gunner, Nolan Carroll. Carroll was purposely tripped by Sal Alosi, New York's strength and conditioning coach, but Thomas doesn't believe Alosi wasn't acting alone. "They had to be ordered to stand there because they're foot to foot," Thomas said Tuesday on Miami radio station WQAM. "There's four of them, side to side -- five of them, I mean -- on the edge of the coach's zone. They're only out there to restrict the space of the gunner. "But there's more to it because I'm telling you, the only thing [Alosi] did wrong was intentionally put that knee out there. If he just stood there, there would never have been a problem, even if the guy got tripped. But there's more to this. He was ordered to stand there. No one is foot to foot on the sideline in the coach's box."

The Dolphins have signed wide receiver Kevin Curtis to a one-year deal, according to agent Ryan Tollner. Curtis was treated for testicular cancer in September, but is now cancer free. He recently worked out for the Lions, Giants and Seahawks.

Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi intentionally tripped Dolphins cornerback Nolan Carroll as he ran out of bounds on punt coverage during Miami's win over New York on Sunday. "I made a mistake that showed a total lapse in judgment," Alosi said in a statement. "My conduct was inexcusable and unsportsmanlike and does not reflect what this organization stands for. I spoke to Coach [Tony] Sparano and Nolan Carroll to apologize before they took off. I have also apologized to Woody [Johnson], Mike [Tannenbaum] and Rex [Ryan]. I accept responsibility for my actions as well as any punishment that follows." Carroll said he was not angry about the incident, but his teammates were fired up. "They're cheaters," Dolphins inside linebacker Channing Crowder said. "They do what they do. They cheat. They talk junk. But we beat the hell out of them today. "I wish they'd tripped me. I'd have broken that old man's leg. I didn't see anything. He stuck his leg out and tripped him? He should be ashamed of himself. A grown man from the coaching staff? That's high character."

Jets pass rusher Jason Taylor, a former long-time member of the Dolphins, believes Miami should be giving the ball to Ricky Williams more often. "If I was the coach, would I give Ricky Williams the ball more? Yeah, I would," Taylor said this week when asked about Miami's woes on offense. "But I'm an old-school guy." Taylor, who signed with the Jets this offseason after Miami dragged its feet, insisted that facing the Dolphins is not a big deal. "It's a rivalry game, a division game, a home game, and we're trying to get into the playoffs," Taylor said. "So we have a lot at stake. I'm not even looking at the personal side of things."

Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall said he has been too boring this year, in part because he has only one touchdown catch. "I've got to get creative, man," Marshall said. "If I get in the end zone, I need to do some celebrations and some dances or something. If y'all have any ideas, let me know. ... Give me something. Spark some controversy. It has been too calm." Mending from a right hamstring injury, he said he expects to play Sunday against Cleveland. He missed last week's win at Oakland but practiced on a limited basis the past two days.