Marc Serota / Getty Images

While Bill Parcells goes about his business quietly, the Miami Dolphins’ 8-5 record speaks volumes: Their first-year football czar might be having the best season of anyone in the NFL.

And he serves as a motivator.

“A great strength of Bill Parcells in my opinion has always been his ability to poke and probe players, coaches, probably family members,” Sparano says. “So there are a lot of times where he and I might have a conversation on how we want to get a message to a player, and sometimes I kind of like him to give that message. Having somebody like that around to be able to do those kind of things with our players is of tremendous value.”

Parcells signed a four-year contract, and when the new regime parted with Miami’s best players, Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas, the focus seemed to be on the long term rather than winning right away.

That makes it even more surprising the Dolphins could become the first team to win 10 games one year after going 1-15.

“With the situation that we came into, I think the natural reaction was that you were going to maybe rebuild, and this thing was going to take some time,” Sparano says. “Well, I know I don’t have the patience for that. I know Bill Parcells doesn’t and Jeff Ireland doesn’t.”

Impatient to end the longest playoff drought in franchise history, the Dolphins play their final home game Sunday against San Francisco (5-8), then visit Kansas City (2-11). They close against the Jets in a game that could be much more significant than anyone imagined when the season began.

Special feature Top waiver pickups Rotoworld.com's Chris Wesseling breaks down Week 16's top players to pick up. NBCSports.com

The Dolphins may not be ready for January. They’ve beaten only two teams that have a winning record, and they’ve outscored the opposition by a grand total of nine points. They have a shaky secondary, little pass rush beyond Porter, a makeshift offensive line and a group of wide receivers that has totaled two touchdowns.

But the Dolphins haven’t given up a TD in the past two games, they have the NFL’s best turnover differential, and they’ve been at their best in the fourth quarter. And even if they finish 8-8, the season’s a success.

It’s unknown what Parcells makes of the team he revived; the one-time quote machine hasn’t met with reporters since last December. He prefers to remain behind the scenes, where he can fix a franchise and let the results speak for themselves.

More news

NBC Sports

What's up with Alex and Cam?

  SportsTalk: 49ers quarterback Alex Smith rips on Panthers' second-year QB Cam Newton.

NBC Sports

Sanchez looking over his shoulder at Tebow?

  SportsTalk: Is Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez concerned about being benched for Tim Tebow? It's possible.

Headlines

• Label

PFT: Williams tape may hinder 'Hard Knocks'

PFT Live: Cardinals' DB Campbell is excited

PFT: Polamalu thinks kids should play football

PFT: Vanderjagt attacks kid for 'wide left' taunt?

PFT: Charlie Sheen says he didn't buy LT's ring

PFT Live: Is Cowboys' title window closing?

How does Nicks' injury affect Giants' offense?

SportsTalk: Which teams are under pressure?