Happy Wednesday!

🌧️ Today's weather: Chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high of 89 and a low of 83.

🎵 Sounds like: "Figa De Guiné" by Mari Fróes, who is performing at the Miami Beach Bandshell this weekend.

Today's newsletter is 845 words — a 3-minute read

The NFL season officially begins today, but expectations are low for the Miami Dolphins.

Why it matters: Coming off back-to-back losing seasons, the Dolphins are not projected to be competitive this year as they rebuild for the future.

Catch up quick: Miami has the league's youngest roster and owes $183 million to players no longer on the team, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

• The Phins — under a new general manager and head coach — cut or traded away many of their star players in the offseason, including receiver Jaylen Waddle and linebacker Bradley Chubb.

By the numbers: The Dolphins are projected as underdogs in all 17 games this year, according to ESPN's matchup predictor.

• The team is projected to win 4.5 games, the lowest in the NFL, per ESPN.
• Analysts are already looking ahead to the 2027 draft, where Miami could end up with the No. 1 overall pick if it loses more than any other team.

What they're saying: Coach Jeff Hafley said in a recent interview that success this season won't be measured by wins and losses.

• "I just think this year is so much about developing who we are as a football team, finding the right guys, and then just by the end of the year, saying, 'You know what? We got something really powerful going forward.'"

Names to know: Miami's best offensive player, 24-year-old Pro Bowl running back De'Von Achane, re-signed to a four-year contract and was voted a team captain for the first time in his career.

• The other team captains are new quarterback Malik Willis, center Aaron Brewer, left tackle Patrick Paul, defensive lineman Zach Sieler and linebacker Jordyn Brooks.

What's next: The Dolphins play their first two games on the road, against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday and the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 20, before hosting the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 27.

Share this story

The Dolphins are celebrating the start of the NFL season with fan events and watch parties this week.

Why it matters: Even though Miami is not projected to win many games this season, South Florida still bleeds orange and aqua.

Driving the news: The team will host pop-ups at Publix stores in Doral and Plantation on Wednesday from 5pm-8pm.

• T.D. and Dolphins cheerleaders will host co-branded Dolphins and Publix giveaways, a ticket raffle and hand out $150 store gift cards to a few shoppers at each store.

If you go: 5pm-8pm at Publix Super Market at Downtown Doral and Publix Super Market at Plantation.

🏈 On Sunday, catch the opening game versus the Raiders at Doral Yard and Bokamper's.

• Watch party begins at 3:30pm ahead of the 4:25pm kickoff.
• Each party will feature appearances from Dolphins cheerleaders, giveaways and more.

Tell a Fins fan

Authorities identified the five victims who died in Sunday's cargo plane crash at Miami International Airport. (The Guardian)

• All five were employees of aircraft cleaning company Professional Ocean Service Corporation. They were in a van that was hit by the plane.

The bodies of a Miami couple and their two grandchildren were found after their private plane crashed while flying back from the Bahamas. (Miami Herald)

🎵 Doral record shop Crazy Vinyl Records launched its own music label, releasing a limited-edition 7-inch from South Florida reggae-dub band RasPunk. (Miami New Times)

Nothing has improved my work and life more than my new operating philosophy: Simplify, writes Axios co-founder Mike Allen.

• I've seen such a dramatic improvement at Axios, and in my personal life, that I co-wrote a new book explaining step by step how it works. It's called "Simplify: Do 50% More with 50% Less."

Why it matters: Axios co-founders Jim VandeHei, Roy Schwartz and I dig deep into real-world experience and science to show you why most people waste years of their lives doing needless stuff out of habit or inertia.

• You'll learn the three-step Simplify operating system we've personally stress-tested: Confront what you do, Delete what you shouldn't do, and Amplify what brings you joy and achievement.

💡 Simplify is a method and a mindset — a set of power tools to help you kill complexity in your life and work so you can be happier and more productive.

• Smart Brevity, our first book, was about simplifying how you communicate. Simplify extends that superpower to how you lead, manage, work and live.

Preorder Simplify today from a spot in your area like Books & Books or wherever you get your books.

You don't want to miss out

🗓️ Mark your calendar with our Event Board.

Laser Evening at Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science Laser Evening at the Frost Planetarium on September 12: Groove to refresh playlists and mesmerizing laser visuals featuring Bruno Mars, Gorillaz, Dark Side of the Moon and Daft Punk.

Speaking of books ... shout out to everyone who correctly guessed Manny Jr. was at the great Books & Books in Coral Gables.

Martin and Sommer want to thank you for reading! See you tomorrow.

This newsletter was edited by Jeff Weiner.