"I know we need some pieces to continue to get better," Sparano said. "That was the plan when we came here; we knew we weren't going to solve everything in Year One.

"We were fortunate to have a little success, but we will have a tougher road this year. It's hard to tell. When you look at this whole thing down the road, I'm not sure where it will take us, but it's our job to make sure the team is better and is as well-prepared as we can when we get out there."

Sparano and Parcells know that their 11-5 season won't be easy to duplicate next year because they'll be facing the league's most difficult schedule in which they play teams with a collective 152-104 record, including games against AFC North and South champions - Pittsburgh and Tennessee. They'll also play the 12-4 Colts, the 11-5 Patriots twice, and the 11-5 Panthers.

The Dolphins won seven games by seven points or less, including five against the league's bottom-feeders. Offensive coordinator Dan Henning was able to mask Miami's offensive deficiencies with the Wildcat formation. He mostly got away with it except when they came up against the smash-mouth defense of the Ravens, who weren't surprised by anything Miami did.

Parcells said recently that he expects another roster overhaul of at least 18 new players.

"Get more players," was Parcells' short answer when asked how he could turn the Dolphins into a consistent winning franchise like the Super Bowl champion Steelers.

The new regime did accomplish their No. 1 goal and that was to establish a winning culture filled with tough, disciplined, hungry players. Sparano said most of the players were already working out on their own and eager to pick up where they left off.

"You don't do that if you finish 3-13," he said.

So expect more turnover as the Dolphins spend some of their $23 million-plus salary cap funds in free agency as well as the draft to fill in the blanks. Some of their more glaring needs include: a play-making receiver, another mammoth offensive tackle to complement Jake Long, a shutdown cornerback to learn under veterans Will Allen and Andre' Goodman, a young nose tackle to nudge Jason Ferguson into retirement and a hybrid linebacker to take some pressure off Joey Porter in the 3-4 pass-rushing scheme.

"I don't like visiting these things," Sparano said about the Super Bowl site. "It's a heckuva event and it's terrific to be a small part of it this weekend but next time I come back I hope it's for a different reason."

Next year, Super Bowl XLIV is in Miami, so Sparano wouldn't have to travel too far.