Dolphins

Producer-director Greg MacGillivray scaled the heights in more than one sense with Everest, one of the most successful Imax films yet released. With Dolphins, he proves equally at home in the depths. Of course, it's hard to imagine how a film devoted to the hidden lives of such photogenic and fascinating creatures could go far off course. Dolphins is both a compact survey of what science has learned about the way the animals communicate and a heartfelt plea to encourage their survival.

The new IMAX movie "Dolphins" doesn't have a bad word to say about its subjects. Dolphins are smarter than dogs, better at sign language than chimps, they think creatively, they are "graceful, powerful, majestic and intelligent," they call each other by name, and when separated, call out to each other "like lovers. " They also echo-locate invisible food, have eyeballs that move independently, and, while "tough," are "capable of incredible tenderness. " Given all that, I can't believe that George W. Bush is president, when just about any dolphin would be better qualified.

The last time the Dolphins played Buffalo at Joe Robbie Stadium, they came away with a 30-7 win. That was in the second game of the 1990 season. In the three meetings since, all at Buffalo and all defeats, the Dolphins have given up 103 points. That includes a 44-34 loss in last season's AFC divisional playoffs, and a 35-31 loss in this year's opener, where Miami led most of the way. The teams meet in South Florida again tonight (Channel 6, 9 p.m.). The Dolphins (5-5)

The Miami Dolphins canceled a trade for Chicago running back Rashaan Salaam two days after announcing it. Miami said Salaam failed to pass the Dolphins' physical. "After looking at Rashaan Salaam, we felt he was not 100 percent at this time. For that reason we decided not to carry out the trade. He remains the property of the Chicago Bears," Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson said. "They felt he was 90 percent. He'll be in this evening or tomorrow and we'll go from there," Bears personnel director Mark Hatley said.

The Miami Dolphins have asked Ricky Williams to return $8.6 million they say the running back owes the team because he has decided to retire, the Miami Herald reported yesterday. The star running back shocked the Dolphins by announcing before the start of training camp that he was retiring at age 27. The Dolphins had been hinting that they would ask for the money but only recently made the request formal in a letter to the player and his agent, Leigh Steinberg. The Dolphins and Steinberg both declined comment.

The Miami Dolphins acquired quarterback Joey Harrington from Detroit for an undisclosed conditional draft pick, giving the Dolphins a fallback position if new starter Daunte Culpepper isn't ready for the season's first snap. "We're pleased to have Joey Harrington join the Dolphins," coach Nick Saban said in a statement. "We will work with him to get him acclimated to our system as quickly as possible. " The Dolphins had been searching for a backup to Culpepper and targeted Harrington, the former No. 3 overall pick who didn't live up to expectations in 4 years as the Lions' starter.

Running back Ricky Williams will rejoin the Miami Dolphins next week after an 18-month suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Williams, 30, met with Dolphins coach Cam Cameron for seven minutes yesterday. They agreed that the onetime league rushing leader should begin practice Monday, the Dolphins said on their Web site. Williams, the NFL's top rusher in 2002, will not be eligible to play until Nov. 26, when Miami plays Pittsburgh. The Dolphins will play the Eagles on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

In its recent past, the only thing Miami's defense stopped on a regular basis was Dolphins winning streaks. "When I got here, the defensive guys were invisible," said David Griggs, the second-year linebacker from Pennsauken who is one of five new starters on the Miami defense. "All anyone talked about was Dan Marino, Mark Clayton and the offense. " In this surprisingly successful season, though, the once pass-crazed Dolphins have undergone a remarkable transformation. By stopping opponents consistently, they've started winning consistently.

The NFL's top defense, the Miami Pound Machine, was beaten absolutely senseless yesterday by the Washington Redskins. With brute strength and relentless efficiency, Washington pummeled the Dolphins, 42-20, reinforcing its bid for a wild-card playoff spot while sledgehammering some gaping holes in a Miami defense that has developed an alarming vulnerability against the run. "That's about as thorough a whipping as you can take," said...

A DO-WOP singer and a dolphin trainer. Now there's a combination for you. But Jimmy Mullen excelled at both. He was the baritone in the South Philadelphia singing group the Four Epics, which cut records and performed widely on the East Coast in the '60s. He later decided to exploit his love of animals and the sea to become a trainer of dolphins at the old Aquarama in South Philly, and in later years in California. "I thought I married a singer, not a dolphin trainer," said his wife of 46 years, the former Gerry Lewis.

BRIGANTINE, N.J. - Experts said Monday that they did not know whether the recent deaths of three dolphins found along the Jersey Shore were related. Officials with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine were notified Sunday afternoon about a common dolphin that was trapped between the rungs of a ladder underneath a dock in the Ocean City lagoon. Robert Schoelkopf, director of the center, said it appeared that the dolphin got caught in the ladder, the Atlantic City Press reported.

The Dolphins have hired Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin to be their next head coach, the Miami Herald, citing sources, reported Friday. Philbin, who has no head coaching experience, was one of three finalists, including Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and Dolphins interim coach Todd Bowles. The Dolphins would like to keep Bowles, the team's defensive coordinator prior to coach Tony Sparano's firing, sources said. Terms were not disclosed.

Almost two weeks after they put away the pads, the St. Louis Rams picked up their third win of a dismal season. They prevailed in a high-stakes competition with the Miami Dolphins and landed Jeff Fisher for their vacant head coaching job. The team said Friday it was finalizing a deal to hire the veteran coach who sat out the 2011 season after 17 years in Tennessee. His long stint there included a Super Bowl matchup against the Rams in 2000 in which Tennessee fell 1 yard shy of forcing overtime in a 23-16 loss.

The day after Black Monday was all about coaching as Miami intensified its pursuit of Jeff Fisher, Chicago fired everybody but Lovie Smith, and San Diego brought back Norv Turner. Fisher, the former Tennessee Titans coach, flew into Miami on owner Stephen Ross' helicopter, met with top team brass, and flew off several hours later. The Dolphins satisfied the NFL's Rooney rule requiring an interview with a minority candidate when they met Monday with interim coach Todd Bowles, the former Temple star.

This week's DVD releases range from a first-rate family film with a fish to a so-so concert movie offered with glee. Dolphin Tale, Grade A-minus: A young boy tries to help after a dolphin loses its tail. Harry Connick Jr. stars in this movie that's as remarkable as fitting a dolphin with a prosthetic tail. Director Charles Martin Smith has loaded the film with first-rate veteran actors, including Kris Kristofferson and Frances Sternhagen, who give the movie instant credibility.

For folks who vow that the New Year will include more exercise and fewer calories, Las Vegas can be a place where good intentions disappear like a $20 bill into a slot machine. However, for those determined to keep those resolutions, a few resorts and restaurants have come up with ways to make it more fun and tasty to honor those earnest pledges of better fitness and nutrition. At the Mirage Resort and Casino, guests can keep themselves in a self-improvement groove by attending yoga while focusing on the graceful and soothing movements of the dolphins who reside in the resort's dolphin habitat.

If you thought the Dolphins-Eagles game would get a head coach fired, you were right. Chances are, you were wrong on which one. Miami fired Tony Sparano on Monday, one day after the Dolphins lost to the Birds, 26-10. First, the front office let him hold his regular news conference, because that's the kind of pranksters they are. Sparano's dismissal came hours after the Kansas City Chiefs fired coach Todd Haley . Jacksonville fired coach Jack Del Rio on Nov. 29. Assistant head coach Todd Bowles will be the interim for the final three games and will get an interview.

A QUICK review of the Eagles' 26-10 win over the Dolphins while wondering what to get Andy and Tammy for Christmas:   The defense When Juan Castillo has deserved criticism, which has been often in his first season as the Eagles' defensive coordinator, I have criticized him. And when he's done a good job, I haven't hesitated to point that out either. On Sunday, Juan did a very good job. He had an aggressive and creative game plan against the Dolphins. Mixed up his coverages, attacked the Dolphins with a variety of blitzes, moved his front four around, occasionally lined up with just two players with their hands on the ground.

MIAMI - Andy Reid has his players sold on a concept: With four games left, they have a microseason in which to rectify a disastrous 3 months. The result: an all-out effort from the Eagles in an upset road win over the Dolphins, 26-10. "This is the start of our new season," said cornerback Asante Samuel, who forced a fumble that turned the game's tide. "We still believe . . . We believe we can still get in these playoffs. We're 3-1 in the division. " They're also 5-8 overall.