HONOLULU -- Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas has a lot in common with one of Bill Murray's movie characters: No matter how much he tries to move forward, a familiar scenario repeats itself.

Seemingly every year, the Dolphins are a preseason AFC Super Bowl contender. They then raise expectations by posting an impressive record through October, but by late December or early January, their season is over and inevitably they must ask themselves "what happened?"

"It feels like 'Groundhog Day' except it should be called 'Groundhog Year,' " Thomas, in Hawaii for his fourth Pro Bowl, said of the 1993 Murray film.

	Thomas led the league with 156 tackles, but found himself on the outside of the playoff picture.

This past season was actually a little bit different. While the previous five campaigns ended in playoff routs, this Dolphins' unit -- with the addition of Pro Bowl running back Ricky Williams -- missed the postseason entirely.

"This was the most disappointing season I've had," said Thomas, a seven-year veteran. "The only other year we didn't make the playoffs was my rookie year (1996) when we were 8-8, but we didn't have the talent that we do now."

This year's talented crew includes Williams, this year's rushing leader (1,853 yards); Thomas, the NFL's leading tackler (156); and sack leader Jason Taylor (18½) -- three of the team's six Pro Bowlers.

Miami, 5-1 following an impressive last-second win over Denver, had it's season disrupted that very night when quarterback Jay Fiedler suffered a broken right thumb. The Dolphins lost their next three games, but eventually improved to 9-5 with a 23-17 win over Oakland in Week 15 that gave them the inside track on winning the AFC East.

However, two straight losses -- an upset to the Vikings and a stunning loss to New England in which the Dolphins blew a double-digit fourth-quarter lead -- had Miami on the outside of the playoff picture and Thomas, among others, scratching his head.

"I would be the coach if I had the answer," Thomas remarked. "Everyone has their opinions from the weather to whatever. It has nothing to do with that.

"Those are just excuses and I'm getting tired of excuses."

Thomas, like members of the other 31 teams that fell short of capturing the Lombardi Trophy, figures his team is lacking in personnel in certain spots. However, he wouldn't speculate on what positions he thought the Dolphins might look to upgrade this offseason.

"I don't want to call out players and throw them under the bus," a smiling Thomas said. "We have to get some better players or everyone that we have must step their game up a bit."

If not, Thomas and the Dolphins will be in the same position next January.

James C. Black is the assistant NFL editor for ESPN.com