After the disastrous 1-15 2007 season, Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter bought a luxury box at then-Dolphin Stadium to protect his wife and kids from angry fans’ not-so-friendly verbal fire. But coming off the 11-5 2008 AFC East championship season, Porter had no problem putting himself in the line of fire Friday.

In accepting half of the Dan Marino Most Valuable Player Award at Friday’s Dolphins Award Presentation and Media Brunch, Porter didn’t hesitate to talk up the Dolphins’ chances in 2009 and insisted they should be favored over perennial powerhouse New England. His words didn’t go unsupported by others in the organization.
“We proved the AFC East comes through Miami,” Porter said. Now with greater familiarity with the coaching staff and last year’s success bolstering belief all around, “we’re not just happy with going to the playoffs anymore. We’re thinking championships.”
And as for New England getting most preseason nods over the Dolphins, mostly because 2007 NFL MVP Tom Brady returns healthy and, reportedly, quite hungry?
“You know me, I get offended by everything,” laughed Porter, who admits to amplifying real or perceived slights for motivation.
“I don’t understand how you put someone in front of us,” he said. “We’re the AFC East champions. You’ve got to beat somebody to be the champion. We had to beat somebody.”
Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland was asked how he felt about Porter routing the AFC East title road through the Dolphins.

’FROM THE HEART’
“I just think he speaks from the heart, so Joey’s going to speak how he feels. That’s the great thing about Joey Porter,” Ireland said. “But it the division does.”
Quarterback Chad Pennington, who shared the Marino MVP award with Porter, might’ve had some idea of what was coming from Porter or just knows Porter likes sharing what’s on his mind. After giving several eloquent answers on leadership as he accepted the Don Shula Leadership Award for the 2008 season, Pennington was called back up to the podium to accept his part of the team MVP award. Pennington asked, “Do I have to say anything else? Because I want to hear what my man has to say,” as he pointed at Porter.
One of the other things Porter had to say echoed the compliments given to wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr.’s progress this spring. Porter said he thought Ginn was “ready for a breakout year” and would assume the No. 1 receiver spot.
Pennington certainly wouldn’t mind that. He could list it as one more thing that’s gone right since the Jets cut him as the preseason began and he landed with the Dolphins.
“It’s just been a fairy tale for me,” Pennington said. “My wife and I feel so blessed to be in South Florida.”

EARNING RESPECT
In introducing Pennington, Shula said he could see Pennington had the respect of his teammates and made sure all the details were in place with his offense — just as Peyton Manning does for Indianapolis. Pennington deflected much of the credit last season to the rest of the team, saying they allowed him to be himself and smoothed his transition into a leadership role.
“I’m here to serve my teammates, my coaches, the fans and the South Florida community,” Pennington said. “Because leadership is service, we all have an opportunity to lead.”
AYODELE HONORED
Linebacker Akin Ayodele’s service earned him the Nat Moore Community Service Award. Moore said Dolphins community relations staffers told him Ayodele, who is involved in several programs including Big Brothers Big Sisters, never turned down a request for charity or community work even on Tuesdays, the day of rest for players during the season. Ayodele said that time spent helping others “makes me recover a lot faster from games.”
Ronnie Brown won the Ed Block Courage Award for bouncing back from his 2007 season-ending knee ligament tear with 916 rushing yards, 254 receiving yards, 10 rushing touchdowns and one touchdown pass in 2008.
“Hopefully, this is the first and last time I get this,” Brown said.