Jason Taylor Wins Walter Payton Award

You may have noticed Jason Taylor on the field during tonight's Super Bowl. Sadly, it wasn't as a participant. However, there's no shame in the honor he received in the annual Walton Payton Man of the Year award.

JT is a classy guy who does wonders for Miami on and off the field. I take great pride in the work he does and I'm glad he was recognized this year for his off-the-field achievements just like he was last year for his success on the gridiron. It's a pity that he and Zach Thomas have yet to taste glory with the Dolphins.

Matt Roth Arrested

Might as well sneak in the bad news while everyone is celebrating the Giants' victory. Matt Roth was arrested for public intoxication on Friday night in Iowa City.

There aren't many details regarding the arrest, but this is an interesting situation considering Bill Parcells wants high character guys. I doubt a little bit of drunkenness is a big deal to anyone, but Roth came into the league with a red flag or two for his behavior. There was a bar fight incident he was involved with in college, so perhaps this won't result in a lenient response from the Big Tuna.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

The big game is only 3 hours away. Soon we will find out if the Patriots can finish their tainted season undefeated or if the Giants can pull off one of the biggest upsets in championship history.

The hoopla surrounding the game has been enormous, and rightfully so. Rarely does a Super Bowl deserve the hype it gets. I mean, who really cared about the Pittsburgh/Seattle game 2 years ago? This game, however, means a whole lot to a whole lot of people. It means even more now with the emerging controversy regarding the Patriots first Super Bowl win 6 years ago.

If it's true that the Patriots videotaped the Rams before the title game and then benefited in any way, then the entire Patriots dynasty is tarnished. They will be branded cheaters forever. I'm not entirely sure that they could have their championships stripped even if they were to be found guilty, but in the minds of the fans they would no longer be the team of the decade.

However, for all we know, it was the coaching staff doing it all without the players' knowledge. If that were the case, I suppose I would feel sorry for the few Patriots I could ever muster respect for (and it's a small number at this point). Regardless, New England will have to overcome the scrutiny and beat a New York team that resembles a team of destiny.

My heart says New York. It really does, and not just as a Dolphins fan. They have that "it" factor, they've won 10+ straight on the road, and they played the Patriots tough in a game that meant nothing to them. And apparently, Eli Manning switched bodies with Peyton somewhere along the line.

However, sometimes the heart can misguide you into convincing yourself about something that really isn't true. We can't overlook the simple fact the Patriots are head and shoulders above the rest of the NFL. They are that good. I think it's a blowout. 38-13.

Panthers Spoil Luongo's Return

I don't usually post on the Panthers, but last night's game was a notable one. It marked Robert Luongo's return to the Bank Atlantic Center and it gave Tomas Vokoun a chance to prove his worth against his predecessor.

The game featured a fight between Panthers captain Olli Jokinen and Ryan Kesler, pictured left. However, the most exciting moment came in the final minute of overtime, where Vokoun stopped a penalty shot that would have otherwise left the Panthers with a 13th loss in 16 games at home.

From there, the game went to shootout where the Panthers prevailed 1-0 thanks to Tomas Vokoun's excellent goaltending.

Personally, I had a problem with the trade of Luongo. I'm not a big hockey fan, but I know the Panthers traded their best player for what amounted to a bag of chips and a used jock strap. We've experienced similar heartbreaks from the Marlins, so it was a shame to see it happen to another home franchise.

How About Javaris Crittenton?

Ira Winderman suggested it in his blog yesterday, and now the Herald has mentioned the possibility. You may remember that Georgia Tech point guard Javaris Crittenton was the Heat's popular projected pick in last year's draft. Unfortunately, he was drafted by the Lakers one spot ahead of us.

However, the recent Pau Gasol trade sent Crittenton to the Grizzlies. Thanks to the trade, Memphis has a huge overload at point guard. They just finished using their top 5 pick on Ohio State's Mike Conley, so there is no need for Crittenton on that team. Therefore, one might assume the trade was made in part so the Grizzlies could swing Crittenton elsewhere, like the Miami Heat.

Ira's suggestion was that Daequan Cook might have been held out of the game last night vs New Jersey in anticipation of a Cook-Crittenton trade that would reunite Daequan with his teammate at Ohio State. That would be a welcome trade in my opinion. I really like Cook, but the sad reality is that he won't ever be more than a 6th man on this team because he plays the same position as Dwyane Wade.

Acquiring Crittenton means we get a second chance at the guy we probably wanted the most in last year's draft. It also eliminates the need to draft a point guard in the upcoming draft (Derrick Rose). Combine that trade with a potential #1 overall pick in next year's draft, and you're looking at a Crittenton, Wade, and Beasley combo that would instantly make this team's future extremely bright.

If we land Javaris and don't get to pick Beasley, we could go after DeAndre Jordan, the center out of Texas A&M. Or we could dangle the rights to Derrick Rose for some proven talent and other draft picks. It's all speculation and pipedreams for now, but dreams are all we have left as Heat fans.

Liuget Drops Canes

A quick recruiting note while I watch the UM-Duke game: Manny Navarro of the Herald says that Corey Liuget has officially dropped the Miami Hurricanes from consideration. He was entertaining visits from schools like FSU, Rutgers and Illinois.

He had originally committed to Ron Zook and Illinois, but recently opened up his recruitment. There were some rumors of him going to LSU, and there was also word that he really wanted to play for the U. However, the circumstances (his mom's wishes for him to leave the state and a friend's shooting death) probably prevented that from happening. Good luck to him.

That leaves Miami with only one real option left at defensive end, Nick Perry. The problem is that he is likely going to stay in Michigan, barring some last minute change of heart. We can still land Gavin Hardin, but even if he decides to come here, he might not be able to be part of this year's class due to grade issues.

Parcells Hates Our Roster?

Apparently, Bill Parcells thinks less of our football team than I do. In my evaluations, I've suggested this team needs to cut about 60-70% of the roster as soon as possible. However, Parcells has reportedly told numerous people that he considers this team to have only 4 players, 3 of them coming from last year's draft.

Armando Salguero says those four guys are Ted Ginn, Brandon Fields, Ronnie Brown, and Samson Satele. I have quite a bit to say about this evaluation.

First, I think it's telling that none of these guys are on defense. It says that Parcells has no long-term plans for Jason Taylor or Joey Porter, nor does he have any faith in Channing Crowder or any of our young defensive lineman as the future of this defense.

Second, I think Salguero makes a good observation in that Parcells seems to have been pleased with the previous regime's draft. If he likes their selections so much, then why was he so quick to let go of Mueller rather than give him a chance somewhere else in the front office?

Third, how did he come to the conclusion that Ginn and Fields were keepers? I thought Fields was an awful punter. He never got balls down inside the 10, much less the 20. I think some stat showed that he had a shockingly low amount of fair catches called inside the 20. Something like 1 or 2 all season. I'll have to track that down.

Ginn proved nothing as a returner. He took one or two back this season, but needs excellent blocking to do his damage. His straight line speed is excellent but I haven't seen any shiftiness or moves that are typical of good returners. He doesn't create his own return like Devin Hester can. And as a wide receiver, he has improved but it still raw. I don't think he is a bad player, but it surprises me that he already has Parcells' approval.

Finally, I'm intrigued by the fact he doesn't have a high opinion of our offensive linemen or our quarterback. Jeff Ireland has said he was very impressed by John Beck, so it'll be interesting to see how that turns out. Ireland is theoretically supposed to have final say, but we all know who really is running the show.

As for the OL, I have always believed Rex Hadnot was overrated, and that Vernon Carey was ok but not great. I would still consider him a keeper, but I am not surprised that Parcells was not impressed.

So what does this all mean? It means that there is a very, very long road ahead of us as Dolphins fans. Expect a huge purge this offseason. If Parcells could get rid of 45 players before next season, he would. But his rebuilding project will take another 2 or 3 seasons to be complete.

Winslow to Have More Surgery

Not good news for fans of KII. Apparently, the stellar tight end will elect to undergo more surgery on his right knee. You might remember he tore his ACL in that knee and reinjured it in a motorcycle accident. He even had the dreaded microfracture surgery performed on it.

There is no suggestion that this is a serious injury, but even if he is going under the knife to clean up loose cartilage, it is a reminder that Winslow is not 100% and may never be. If that's the case, then it's a shame. Kellen is probably the most physically gifted tight end in the league and is one of the more misunderstood and unappreciated talents in the NFL.

Another Game, Another Loss

Combine tonight's loss vs the Nets and Minnesota's victory over the Clippers, and you've got yourself the worst team in the league in our Miami Heat. Hopefully this trend will continue. It'll be embarrassing for a few weeks, but then once we land Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley, the Heat will be back on track.

Dwyane Wade returned from his ailment tonight and produced a decent statline (15/7/6). However, he only managed to get to the foul line once and turned the ball over another 6 times. Without Wade at his best, there was little the Heat could have done to prevent this 94-85 loss.

Heck, they even got a 14 point performance from Alexander Johnson, who made all 6 of his shots. It still wasn't enough, which basically has been the story of the season. Nothing the Heat do is ever enough to come out with a victory.

The franchise truly is in a sorry state. Wade is killing himself out there and the young guys either have limited potential or are mind bogglingly inconsistent. Cook didn't even play tonight, and that doesn't surprise me considering his recent struggles.

On top of that, the team is already over the cap so outside of the draft, they have little wiggle room to improve over the next couple of years. Keep praying for that #1 pick, guys.

And no, I didn't copy that opening line from Ira's blog on the Sun-Sentinel. Funny coincidence, though.

Shaq and the All Star Game

The Big Diesel is missing the All-Star game for the first time since his rookie season. The snub is hardly that, as Shaq hasn't done anything to earn a selection in the past two seasons.

In response to the lack of a Shaq Attack in the All-Star game, Pat Riley suggested the NBA invite O'Neal as a special 13th player for all that he has done for the league.

Surprisingly, O'Neal did not agree with him. For once, he is not in denial about the lack of his production or diminished skills. Supposedly, had he been offered a spot, he would have refused it. Shaq might just be playing the PR game or being a class act towards guys like Dwight Howard or Chris Bosh, but if he is being earnest about his situation, then good for him.

Honestly, it will be odd not getting a chance to see Shaq at the All Star festivities. Even if he isn't the dominating presence he once was, he is still a welcome presence in NBA circles. Just look at this video from last year's game and you'll understand.

Kevin Everett to be at the Super Bowl

Nice story in the works here. Buffalo Bills TE Kevin Everett has accepted an offer from Roger Goodell to watch the Super Bowl live with him. It's a nice gesture from the Commish and a deserved reward for the courageous young man.

However, that wasn't the only invitation Kevin received. He was also asked to attend the State of the Union Address, but had to decline because of prior commitments. Everett has definitely earned these recent honors with his miraculous recovery.

Dome on Doak?

Happened to come across this, which suggests FSU might try to raise funds for a dome on top of the existing Doak Campbell Stadium. The idea was brought about by the combined lack of an indoor football practice facility and the lack of space on campus to build one on.

The project is expected to cost about $20 million dollars, but I would imagine that number will go up over time if they expect to build a decent roof on there. Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher plan to tour the state later this spring, and the duo will use that opportunity to attempt to raise funds for the proposed dome.

It should be interesting to see how this situation turns out.

Alonzo Lawrence to Bama

No surprise there. The 4 star CB opted to stay closer to home and chose Alabama and Nick Satan over the Canes. Good luck to him. Miami now has two options left at CB, Brandon Harris and TJ Bryant. Landing at least one of them is absolutely crucial to the future of this defense.

Additionally, the rumors about Ramon Buchanon might be true. He is on a visit to the U right now, I believe. That's an interesting move by someone who decommitted to UF less than two weeks ago. Perhaps Randy can pull a rabbit out of a hat and convince Ramon that he made the right choice with his original decision.

Not much else going on right now. Kendall Thompkins is taking a late visit to Nebraska, but I don't know how serious his interest is in that program. He is listed as a 2/3 star WR from Miami Northwestern. What little I saw of him was pretty good, but it's tough to judge considering the talent he had around him.

UPDATE: Per request, I have a small Jamie Harper update. The stud out of North Florida is going to choose between FSU, Clemson and Miami. He grew up a Noles fan, but Clemson is the favorite for his services. Good buddy Daniel Andrews already committed to the Tigers, and expect Harper to as well. However, he has a visit scheduled for today and may be swayed along with other talents like Ramon Buchanon and Nick Perry to come and play for Miami.

Gonzalez Deal Is Close

Three weeks ago I posted an entry regarding the Marlins potentially signing outfielder Luis Gonzalez to help groom some of the younger kids. After a few weeks of spurning our offers, the Sun Sentinel is reporting that Gonzalez has apparently run out of other options and is close to accepting our 1 year, 2 million dollar deal.

Like I said before, I have no interest in who the Marlins sign this year. It's all a joke anyway. I report it only for the sake of reporting it to those of you who might be genuinely interested. The truth is that Marlins have completely lost me as a fan. I'll still follow how they do in the standings out of a masochistic desire to see yet another Miami team finish dead last in it's sport, but I will never pay to see another Marlins game as long as it is owned by Jeffrey Loria.

New Commit For Canes

Vaughn Telemaque, the California safety I've been mentioning for a while, has committed to the U tonight. With him comes a potential package deal that includes fellow safety Herman Davidson. The latter will choose between UNC and Miami on NSD, but expect him to sign here.

Another safety of note is Ramon Buchanon, as there are rumors spreading that he has had another change of heart and wishes to recommit to the Miami Hurricanes. I have no reason to believe it to be true, nor do I have any reason to believe it to be wishful thinking from desperate Canes fans. Stay tuned to see how that situation gets resolved.

Aside from the safeties, I hear we also have a commit from WR Laron Byrd. The Louisiana prospect is a big target at 6-3 210, and runs a 4.5 40. Nothing is confirmed yet, though. It will be interesting to see how this affects the recruitment of guys like Martavious Odoms or Tommy Streeter.

Alonzo Lawrence will choose tomorrow between Alabama and UM, but expect the corner to pick to Crimson Tide.

As for the most important remaining guys, TJ Bryant and Brandon Harris, I have no idea where they will go. Most seem to think Harris is a Cane lock. However, he is still considering Ohio State so that in itself means he isn't a lock. Read this article about the kid. I was very impressed with the way he has gone about his recruitment. Even if he goes to Columbus, I won't be mad. I won't care for him much, as I hate all things Ohio State, but he hasn't jerked anyone around. Really mature guy.

Bryant is a mystery. Some seem to think we have an excellent chance at getting his signature next Wednesday, but I still think he is going to FSU. That Lincoln pipeline is a tough one to crack.

The last few guys I have yet to mention are all defensive ends. Corey Liuget is on the fence, but I think we've lost him. He's been entertaining visits from several programs and the death of his close friend to a shooting recently probably means he will be leaving Miami.

Nick Perry is also a tough call, with Shannon having been the keynote speaker at his high school awards ceremony. I'm not sure if the in-home visit will be enough to sway him to leave his home state.

If not, there is still a chance that we land OLB/DE Gavin Hardin, though reports are we will have to grayshirt him if he does decommit from Ole Miss. Finally, Booker T Washington DE Jonathan Jackson will probably not come here, so Hardin is a must get if we want another DE in this class.

In other news, the Gators lost a recruit and added another to replace him. Apparently UF has yanked DE Chaz Sutton's scholarship for academic issues and instead are planning to sign OLB/DE William Green out of Alabama. Both are rated 4 stars. No word if we have any chance at the spurned Sutton.