Ramblings Of A Broken Hearted Marlins Fan

My love for baseball really started when my uncle gave me my first pack of baseball cards. I opened it, and right below that petrified piece of gum, was a Roger Clemens card (1986 Topps, I believe it was his second season). That's the moment I became a baseball fan. My father even kept me home from school during the playoffs in 1990, so I could watch Roger Clemens pitch, only for him to get tossed early in the game for mouthing off to an umpire. That was my first connection to a player. Of course, years later we would all find out Clemens was a douchebag. My first love for a team was the closest thing we would have to a home team at the time, the Atlanta Braves.

The Marlins would not exist until 1993. Even those first couple of years, I still pulled for the Braves a bit, but I'm a home town guy at heart. Eventually I was fully invested in the Marlins, and began to actually root against the Braves because they were in the same division. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world that we finally had a baseball team. I still have (on VHS) the first Marlins game ever. A game in which a local Hialeah High grad, the knuckle baller Charlie Hough would be the opening day pitcher. It was love at first strikeout (which was the first batter BTW). I went to the second game the following night, which would be the first night game in club history. We sat in the outfield close enough for Darryl Strawberry (then of the LA Dodgers) to hear us chant, "DARRRRRYL! DARRRRRRYL! DARRRRRRYL!". This experience sealed the deal. The Marlins were my team, the home team.

In just 4 seasons, this young franchise was playing for it all against the Cleveland Indians in 1997. It became an instant classic, going 7 games, culminating in that final hit by a young Edgar Renteria, bringing Craig Counsell home for the series clinching run. What an outrageous night, with the sound of pots and pans ringing out through Hialeah, we had a team we could be proud of.

Than came the first heartbreak.

Former owner Wayne Huizenga had a fire sale the following year, dismantling the team with claims that he was losing millions with this franchise. Kevin Brown, Al Leiter, Gary Sheffield, Edgar Renteria, Bobby Bonilla, Devon White, Charles Johnson, Moises Alou, Livan Hernandez, and even Mr. Marlin Jeff Conine weren't safe the next year. All were gone either in the offseason, or by the trade deadline in 1998. The greatest fall from first to worst ever.

Since it's inception in 1993 to this point, they were consistently in the top 10 (in the NL) in attendance, but would fall to 13th and eventually 15th, which is where they've been ever since. Right at the bottom. Eventually Huizenga would sell the team to John Henry, who now owns the Boston Red Sox. Henry had really no success at all in Florida, failing to increase attendance, payroll, and losing his bid to get a stadium built. He had the club from 1998-2001, which is when Jeffery Loria, and David Samson would take over.

The Loria and Samson regime, with the baseball minds of Larry Beinfest and Mike Hill scouting for talent, quickly built a young contender. Behind great defense, stellar pitching, and discipline at the plate, they quickly rose toward the top 3 in the division. Once again in 2003, they were World Series Champions, beating the rich New York Yankees with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. They did try to keep this team together for a couple of years, only to be followed by another fire sale.

The second heartbreak.

During the fire sale, mainstays such as Mike Lowell (although his trade landed us Hanley Ramirez), Luis Castillo, an up and coming Miguel Cabrera, Juan Pierre, A.J. Burnett, Brad Penny, Carl Pavano, Josh Beckett, and on, and on, and on. Again crying broke, the names were different but it stung even more this time. There is a problem with both of these ownership groups crying broke. I've written about it previously that baseball, although it doesn't have a salary cap, does share revenue. It's a system that's meant to help the small market franchises benefit from the business of baseball in general. Now, in the case of Huizenga in 1998, I at least give him credit for selling as soon as it seemed he was going to "lose" money. Which I'm okay with in retrospect, at least he got out when he did. He claimed it was a bad deal, sold and got out of there. This team has benefited from revenue sharing to the tune of about $40 million dollars (average over the last few years), which hasn't reflected in the club's spending on players. Don't even get me started on how they got the stadium built. The only reason this group increased the payroll last season, was because Major League Baseball basically smacked them on the back of the head and said, "you better do what I tell you, or you won't be able to play anymore". And just when you think there's a glimmer of growth, with the long term signings of Josh Johnson, and Hanley Ramirez, something like this Dan Uggla situation happens.

At the beginning of the 2009 season, they had a chance to sign Uggla to a long term deal. They instead opted to let it go to arbitration, during which Uggla won his case and was awarded his market value at the time. As I said in a previous post, and arbitration hearing in baseball is usually the team saying they don't think you're worth as much as you think. In this case, the Marlins got it wrong, and it cost them. The story as I understand it is that, the Marlins offered him 4 years at $48 million dollars. Dan Uggla balked at the offer because he wanted a 5th year that the Marlins would not give. Uggla had made it publicly clear that he wanted to stay in Florida, when questioned on the subject of the 5th year, he said the Marlins simply stopped negotiating. What? That's right. They took their ball and went home. They had a chance with a perennial All-Star, an offensive juggernaut, and the fans favorite player since Conine, to show their new level of commitment to taking care of their own, and blew it. So we end up trading him to a division rival, for 5 cents and a can of beans. Oh but they solidified the bullpen? I'll take 30 home runs and 100 RBI's a year over a bullpen pitcher any day.

This was the move that could have cured a lot of ails, healed some old wounds, and gave the fans promise to the team that will open that shiny new ballpark in 2012. What does this mean for the young guys we have on this team now? My advice would be, Mike Stanton, Logan Morrison, Chris Coghlan, and Gaby Sanchez - RENT, DON'T BUY.

I want to cheer for my team, I really do. I just don't want to cheer for this front office. Maybe I need to apply my political view on this one, "it's okay to love your country, but not your government"?

Damn you Jeffery Loria, and David Samson for making me question my loyalty.

Dolphins vs. Titans Recap 11/14/2010

Who would have thought that, by the end of this game it would be Tyler Thigpen sealing the deal for Miami. In one of the most bizarre football games I can remember, Miami would use all 3 of there quarterbacks, en route to a 29-17 victory. The Chad Pennington comeback special was over after the first 2 plays, and it is safe to assume his career is likely over. This would be the 4th major injury to his throwing shoulder. I hate to see something like this happen to player like Pennington, a true professional , a great leader, and not to mention the most accurate QB in the history of the NFL. After Pennington went down, Henne reclaimed his job, and showed some flashes of fire he had yet to display on the field, but still showed some of his deficiencies with his decision making, and touch on the short throws. He did look like he was ready to lead this team though. Henne would eventually go down with a knee injury, and Thigpen would take his place. Pennington was never seen again, and Henne was seen wearing crutches after the game.

It's funny how things work out sometimes. Sparano inserted Pennington claiming that this offense didn't have any spark. It seemed like there was a spark with Thigpen at the helm. He would lead them 85 yards down the field for the games final score. Thigpen really isn't as obscure as you may think. He started 11 games for Kansas City in 2008, and threw for 2,600 yards 18, touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He also ran for over 300 yards, and scored 3 touchdowns with his legs.

Back to the game. If you would have said to me that , Ronnie Brown would only have 11 yards rushing, Anthony Fasano would be our leading receiver, Thigpen would be playing extensive time, and we would win the game, I would have said no way. But that's the way things are in the NFL, you never know. The Titans had QB troubles of their own, Kerry Collins went down with a calf injury at halftime, this after starting in place of the gimpy ankled Vince Young. Neither QB was very effective against the Dolphins' defense, throwing for a combined 18 of 38 for 143 yards with a touchdown, and a pick to match. All in all, 6 different players took snaps at QB in this game (Pennington, Henne, Thigpen, Brown, Young, and Collins). The real story of this game is all in the numbers. Miami out gained Tennessee 404, to 259 yards. Miami was also better on 3rd down, converting 52%, to the Titans 31%, had more time of possession by almost 10 minutes, had fewer turnovers, out tackled, and just plain beat up on the Titans for their first home win of the season.

Rarely does a victory leave a sour taste in your mouth, but after this game, this season is more up in the air than it was the previous week. The Possibility of losing your top 2 quarterbacks for a season is never good, no matter how well Thigpen plays. Also lost in the shuffle is Jake Long suffering a dislocated shoulder, it remains to be seen, but early reports are that it should not keep him from playing. This means the Dolphins will be have to pick up to more QB's from off the street to fill the roster spots. A couple of names that have surfaced already are Jamarcus Russell, Pat White (I just cringed a little), Daunte Culpepper (NO!), Jeff Garcia, and Patrick Ramsey. Russell and Ramsey are the most likely, but I have to admit I hope they sign Jeff Garcia. Ramsey, or Garcia provide the most veteran experience, which is what we need right now. I do feel like we are in capable hands with Thigpen right now. I think he is the best athlete of our current QB's, and will be able to extend some plays with his scrambling ability.

It was a bad day, but a good win. Let's see if Thigpen can be the spark this offense needs going forward.

Side notes:
Brian Hartline continued his improved play with a 5 catch, 98 yard performance.

Anthony Fasano had his best game as a pro, with 5 receptions for 107 yards and 1 touchdown.

Titans running back Chris Johnson became the fourth player to rush for 4,000 yards while averaging 5.0 yards per rush in his first 40 games.

Kerry Collins is now 0-5 against the Dolphins.

Vontae Davis has shut down Randy Moss again this year, yielding his first and only catch to him in this game.

Chad, Not Chad Named Dolphins Starting QB - UPDATED

In a move that's not shocking, but does come as a surprise, Chad Pennington will start against the Titans on Sunday. His first since going down with a shoulder injury, in week 3 last season against the Chargers. Since that game, Chad Henne has been entrenched as the starter. So much so that before the start of the season, coach Tony Sparano announced that Henne would be the starting quarterback, and made it sound non negotiable at that time. You couldn't really blame Sparano for this seeing as Pennington, would be 34 years old, and coming off a 3rd surgery to his throwing shoulder. Henne would go 11-10 as the starter, flashing signs of what talent he possesses, but hasn't really separated himself as the best quarterback on this team yet. Most fans' complaint would be; "Henne can throw the deep pass, Pennington doesn't have the arm. How are we gonna get the ball down field to Brandon Marshall?". Yes, Henne has a stronger arm, but how many times has he thrown down field this year? Bueller? Bueller? I don't remember many. In fact the only one I remember is the opening play against the Vikings.

In my last post, I mentioned that is was time to take the training wheels off of the offense. But the more I pay attention, it seems like they were trying to open it up. Hence, the run to pass ratio in the play calling. Henne appears to have plenty of time to make a throw, you can't tell me an NFL wide receiver can't make a play on the ball with that much time to work the defensive back. Maybe Henne is not pulling the trigger. See, some people think that what makes a good quarterback is a stronger arm. That's part of it, but most of it is timing, and trusting your accuracy. I also stated in my last post that this team does not have the personnel to stretch the field for 50 yard bombs. Brandon Marshall's big play from him catching 10 to 20 yards post patterns, in and out routes, and making a run after the catch. These kinds of throws are Pennington's specialty. Henne seems apprehensive to throw anything that is not obviously open, where Pennington will trust his accuracy, and is accurate enough to make throws that appear to be covered. That coupled with Brandon Marshall's ability to muscle catches away from a defensive back, could have big play potential. Henne never did show consistency with the short and medium range throws. So a big arm doesn't guarantee big plays.

I don't think that this is the end for Henne, maybe he needs some motivation, he hasn't been challenged as the starter, at least not publicly, since he's been awarded the job. Given the lack of a real deep threat, and Henne's reluctance to throw the ball deep and let his receiver make a play, this offense may be better suited for Pennington's type of game. The one good thing about this situation is that they are very close friends off the field, and seem to be willing to do whatever it takes to help the team. So we shouldn't have any disgruntled employees in the locker room. If there ever was a perfect example of how to be a pro it's Chad Pennington, and luckily Henne seems to be an enthusiastic student. In that sense, this could be a risky, but very rewarding move.

I actually think that Pennington can lead this team to wins, and that's where we come to the biggest difference between our quarterbacks. Leadership. Play close attention to the difference in the way the offense operates and responds to Pennington. He comes in a seasoned field general, a trait that Henne has yet to pick up in the NFL. Watch how he commands respect in the huddle, not to say they don't respect Henne, but there is a huge difference with Pennington on the field. Something else Henne could learn from the 11 year veteran. Hopefully, the student pays attention to the master.

UPDATE:
This is not an update of the news variety, but rather a response to a growing sentiment that this shows a lack of vision for the future of the Miami Dolphins. So which is it, do you want to win now? Or next year. You can't have it both ways. Also, this notion that they've given up on Henne is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. If he can't handle being sat for a game, than he doesn't have skin thick enough to be a starter in the NFL. Another thing at play here is that, Tony Sparano and Jeff Ireland may be fearing for their jobs if they don't make the playoffs this year.

This move was necessary. For all of Henne's physical gifts, we have the least amount of touchdowns in the league this season. Ask yourself honestly, has Henne done anything to definitively earn the starting job? If you think so, post your reasons why in the comments below, I would love to hear what fantasy world you've been living in. Look, I do like Chad Henne, I think he can still be our QB, but Miami needs a spark this season. I support Henne as our QB, but I also support this decision to win now. This is the right move, at the right time.

Florida Panthers A Better Team Than Their Record Shows

Well it's only just begun, but I have to throw my second favorite sport in town some love. The Florida Panthers are sitting at 5-7 through the first 12 games of the season, and have played much more inspired (despite the record), during these first 12 games of the Dale Tallon era. The architect of the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup run has made his presence known like no one else in franchise history. All you have to do is look at how this team skates, and hustles. Gone are the days of the Nathan Hortons of the world, those players with a world of talent but less heart than chihuahua. With us are the junk yard dogs, David Booth, Stephen Weiss, Brian McCabe, Radek Dvorak, Bryan Allen, Cory Stillman, and even Rostislov Olesz, who could've been Horton's twin a couple years ago, has shown some heart most thought he never had. These guys play almost reckless, it's like a controlled train wreck, if that makes any sense. Not to mention the addition of Marty Reasoner, who along with Dvorak is the Panthers highest scoring line. David Booth is starting to get his legs under him, after sitting out last year with a concussion, and Tomas Vokoun is off to a hot start, posting 2 shoutouts already.

One glaring weakness is the power play. The Panthers are 28th in the NHL with a man advantage. Luckily, they are 4th in penalty killing, so at least their not giving it up, as poorly as they are scoring in that scenario. Speaking of scoring, it may surprise some fans to learn that they don't have a scorer in the top 40 (yes top40!), they are 7th in the league in goals scored. Which tells us that the scoring is coming from all over the place. Consider that the top scoring team in the league (Colorado Avalanche), have 9 of their 24 skaters that have not registered a goal. The Panthers on the other hand, have only 3 players that have not tallied a goal just yet. Don't hand me the "assist count as a score" line. You can accidentally touch the puck and get at least 1 assist. It remains to be seen if that trend will continue, but promising nonetheless. Also, Vokoun is not facing as many shots as he has in the past, with the much improved defensive play that they've shown thus far.

It seems as though for the first time ever, there is actually a change of attitude on this team. We can only hope now that this new found hustle and attitude will translate to future success. Speaking of the future, let us not forget that they had what many consider to be the strongest draft in years. None of which have made their NHL debut yet, but I think we'll see the young goaltender Jakob Markstrom before we'll see any of the skaters. With Vokoun getting up there in years, I'm sure they'll want to give him a look this year, so they can plan for the future.

The Panthers host the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7:30 tonight on FSN, channel 39.

Marlins' Second Baseman Dan Uggla Rejects $48 Million Dollar Deal

It's true, Dan Uggla rejected a 4 year, $48 million dollar deal, and I can't say that I blame him. This management group has had ample time to make this happen, and like most other times did nothing until it may be too late. He may be just an above average defender, but he makes up for it by being arguably the best power hitting second baseman in this generation, and perhaps all time. No second baseman before him has ever posted 4 consecutive home run seasons (33 in 2010). In addition, this past season was his best for driving home base runners, knocking in 105 RBI's, placing him in the top in the top 5 in baseball in both categories. It's nice to see the Marlins reach out to one of their own once again, but it may be too little too late. This could play out a couple of different ways.

1. He is eligible for one more year of arbitration, which he'll assuredly be awarded at least a $7.8 million dollar tender. Which would squash any hopes of a long term deal. An arbitration hearing is usually a team saying, "we don't think you're as good as your agent says, so we'll to this to a mediator, and have them decide your worth". In most cases the player wins, and the team could be left with a less than enthusiastic player. In this case they could trade him during spring training and cut their losses before he walks.

2. They could simply sign him to a one year contract, keep him for the season, and receive draft pick compensation when he departs as a free agent.

3. This is the feel good scenario. The Marlins are pursuing Uggla pretty intensely, and do want him to come back. Uggla's representatives are believed to be seeking a contract in the neighborhood of the Phillies' Jayson Werth, who is a comparable player, at 4 years $66 million.

I feel that Uggla deserves his contract, and the Werth deal is a fair barometer. You don't get this kind of offense from a second baseman on a consistent basis. It would go a long way in the eyes of the fans to heighten their efforts to keep Uggla. They've slowly been keeping the young talent around the last few years. Giving long term contracts to, Josh Johnson, and Hanley Ramirez. If they can retain Uggla, along with the others, continue to develop Gabby Sanchez, Chris Couhglin, Logan Morrison, and Mike Stanton, the future could be very bright for this team. The elder statesman of this group is Uggla, at 30 years old, and still in his prime. In addition to his on filed performance, he is a tremendous dugout leader. He is not afraid to call people out, and let them know when he feels they're not giving this team all they can. As evidenced by a dugout spat with superstar shortstop Hanley Ramirez, in which Uggla called him out for tanking a ground ball during a game. A move that earned him his place as this team's leader.

I will never blame Dan Uggla if he decides to leave. His agent has been asking for this for a few years, and have been shot down every time. So you can see how they'd be a little jaded.

"HIS NAME IS DAN UGGLA!" (I love that call)

Dolphins vs. Ravens Recap 11/7/2010

Well, what can we say about this game. It was, quite simply, a clinic on how to lose in the NFL, with a trifecta of missed tackles, dropped passes, and turnovers. Miami started off going toe to toe with Baltimore, both teams starting with perfect scoring drives to start the game. The Ravens marched down to the 32 yard line, Willis McGahee took a simple screen pass for a ridiculous run after the catch, and just plain made everyone else look slower on his way to the end zone. The Dolphins answered with perhaps their strongest scoring drive of the season, going 3 for 3 on 3rd down, ripping off large chunks of yardage, and Ronnie Brown running untouched for a touchdown. A drive that featured huge catches by Brandon Marshall, and Brian Hartline to convert on those 3rd downs.

The Dolphins didn't look that good again for the rest of this game.

The rest of the 1st half lived up to the billing. A couple of physical knuckle dragging teams trading field goals, and playing to a 13-10 advantage for Baltimore at halftime. There were some nice defensive stops for Miami during the 1st half, particularly a 3rd and 1 stop by Karlos Dansby to hold them to 3 points on what was a strong drive by the Ravens. The next drive for Miami is moving along nicely until Chad Henne throws his first interception of the day. The defense held on after the interception and forced a field goal attempt, during which the snap was fumbled and Miami recovered. The Dolphins do nothing with the second chance, and punt it away. The next drive for the Ravens ends in a defensive stand punctuated by a sack from Cameron Wake. Dolphins get yet another field goal before halftime.

They would never score again.

In the second half, Baltimore pretty much had their way with Miami, and just were more physical today. Not to mention just an overall better team. The Dolphins were lucky the score was only 26-10 at the end of this one. Henne ended up with 3 interceptions on the day. One of which was his fault, another where Hartline slipped, and arguably could've at least broken it up. This brings us to the dubious 3rd interception. A pass across the middle was short-armed by Brandon Marshall, deflected off his hands, and was picked by Ed Reed. If you watch that replay, he was either scared, or just simply quit on the play. It didn't look like he even tried. Not saying that was the case, but hard to argue with the video tape. You're in the NFL, if the ball hits both of your hands, you should catch that ball every time. It doesn't help your quarterback, or the team if you're unwilling exert yourself, and take advantage of every chance to make a play.

What troubles me about this team is that they tend to be pass happy, and throw in situations when they shouldn't. Everyone saw Ronnie Brown movin' and shakin' in the first half, but only ended up with 9 carries. While Ricky Williams only touched the ball twice. I wrote in my last post that it was time to take the training wheels off the offense, but not at the expense of a balanced and effective game plan. Now, I'm not a coach but, the game was still within reach with enough time to stay balanced, and they seemed to drop back and throw on every play. Wouldn't you keep playing the hot hand? What happened to their "Feed the Wolf" (which makes me laugh every time I hear it), they talked about at the beginning of this season? They hardly threw him a bone in this game. The defense bent until they couldn't any more, and The Ravens just pounded them into submission. Missed tackles were the theme of the day today, together with the offensive turnovers, and dropped passes that doomed Miami throughout this game. Not to mention a Henne missing a wide open Anthony Fasano in the end zone, that looked more like a shot put toss than a NFL throw.

I'm not ready to blow up the roster yet, they're still 4-4 ( in a division with the Jets and Pats), and stranger things have happened, right? Right. This team still requires patience, but at the same time needs to show some kind of growth. There is still promise in a very young, and tough defense anchored by Karlos Dansby, and Cameron Wake. What this team lacks is an offensive identity. The Dolphins were billed as a run first team, as they should be, but seem way to quick to throw the ball. How you only give Ronnie and Ricky just 11 total touches is just beyond comprehension. Especially when it seems to be working. I'm glad I'm not the one that has to sort this offense out (you should be too), but whether it's a lack of creative game planning, personnel, or a young quarterback making poor decisions, these are the growing pains of a rebuilding franchise. Which they have proved so far this year, that they are indeed an unfinished product.

Sidenotes:
Brian Hartline had one of his best games today, 4 catches for 84 yards, and a couple of big third down conversions. His improved play on a consistent basis would be a huge help.

Dan Carpenter missed his first field goal in his last 14 tries.

Sean Smith started his second game in a row for Jason Allen.

The last time the Dolphins beat the Ravens was in 2007, on Greg Camarillo's overtime touchdown catch from the arm of Cleo Lemon. Their only win of the 2007 season (1-15).

Joe Flacco is now 3-0 against the Dolphins.

Dolphins Progress Report

This team can be as confusing as it's 4-3 record (4-0 on the road, 0-3 at home). This team should at least be 5-2, but we can thank the Pittsburgh Referees I mean Steelers for that. There are reasons for hope, and reasons for doubt. This team is tough, but still an unfinished product. Below I will break down (to the best of my limited knowledge) my views on the offense, defense, and special teams.

Offense:
Anyone who is rallying against Chad Henne, needs to be slapped in the back of the head, or maybe thumped on the forehead. No, he doesn't have flashy stats, but we have yet to lose a game because of him, or win a game in spite of him. They seemed to have pounded this idea of not turning the ball over into his head, which seems like it makes him apprehensive at times. But take an example of that last drive against the Bengals. In 2:49, he marched them 96 yards for the score by Ricky Williams. He ripped off big gains of 26, 30, and 22 yards with the efficiency of a sniper. Whenever they take the handcuffs off, and put the game in his hands, he more often than not has delivered. The shortcomings of the passing game are not Henne's fault. We don't have a receiver that can stretch the field. We have a top 3 wideout, Brandon Marshall, who was never known for streaking down the field, but rather creating after the catch, which he hasn't done so far this year. Davone Bess is beginning to get notice as the best slot receiver in the NFL, and Hartline is starting to show inconsistency. What we need, get ready to scream at your computer screen, is someone like Ted Ginn. I said it before, and I still believe it, trading Ginn was a mistake. Marshall and Ginn could've been a perfect combination. Offensive line is solid, the running game although not stellar this year, is always a threat. I think the lack of yards is due more to the play calling favoring the pass this year. In short, there is an explosive offense somewhere in there, they just need to turn Henne and the boys loose. Time to kick the training wheels off.

Defense:
Mike Nolan has taken a group that was near the bottom of the league, and brought them up to 8th overall at this point in the season. Cameron Wake has more sacks than the now departed Jason Taylor, and Joey Porter combined. They've got a scary group of young talent, that should keep us in games for the next 5 or 6 years at least. The only weak link is still the safety position, but it's not as dire as it was a year ago. Vontae Davis has earned respect league wide. So much so that when they asked Brett Favre how Jason Allen was able to intercept him twice, he responded, "I was trying to stay away from 21". That's the ultimate respect, and he's not the only QB to sing his praises. The addition of Karlos Dansby has lived up to the hype, some of you may remember him stopping Adrian Peterson on 4th and goal earlier this year, sealing up a victory. This side of the ball is the teams backbone right now, and it's definitely only going to get better.

Special Teams:
Well they certainly were "special" at the beginning weren't they? After the firing of Special Teams coach Joe Bonamengo, they've shown significant improvement. I think the opposing teams average starting field position has been diminished by about 8 yards. Which is huge in terms of field position. Punter Brandon Fields is like Johnny, dude could kick a hole in the sky it seems like. Placekicker Dan Carpenter just may be the best kicker in the NFL right now. All in all they went from bottom feeders. to an above average unit.

You have to like where this team is going. We finally have something that is built for the long haul. It's still in it's infancy, but with just a little more fine tuning, this team will be something to watch in the VERY near future. Perhaps even the second half of this season.

Oh, and everyone can stop crying over Randy Moss. He would have only been here for the rest of this year, and probably would not have been happy with the prospect of being a rent-a-player. He's not the kind of player at this point that gives out long term deals to players his age. If that was so, Jason Taylor wouldn't be a Jet. That being said, I would've done it, but I'm just a selfish fan.

2010 NFL Season - A Quick Look

On the heels of my Dolphins preview, I will now list my team rankings, by division, and a short explanation why I think they're at that spot. No records, just rankings.

Ready?



Go!

AFC

East
1. New England Patriots - Until proven otherwise, they are still the class of the division. A sub par running game, and an unhappy Randy Moss could knock them from the top spot. But, it's always hard to go against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, as much as it hurts to say.

2. Miami Dolphins - As stated in my Dolphins preview, this season will heavily depend on Chad Henne's right arm, and the play of a young, but talented defense. If the R & R Express has a full head of steam as well, they could make a case for the East title. They could just as easily fall to 3rd as they could push for first. (read my previous blog post for a more in depth Dolphins preview, http://steamingpileofsports.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-take-on-upcoming-miami-dophins.html)

3. New York Jets - As much as it pains me to say it, the Jets and the Dolphins could very well be interchangeable. The race for the division could be a tight one with the top 3. The Jets may even have the most talented roster on paper (insert puking sound here). With the #1 defense, and a strong running game in place, again a young QB, Mark Sanchez is the key to their success.

4. Buffalo Bills - Well well well. It's lonely at the bottom, and the Bills have been there for what seems like a decade. New coach Chan Gailey hopes to succeed where Dick Jauron could not. It seems as though Buffalo has had some promising young talent for years. They've just not been able to put it together. Quarterback Trent Edwards may be on a short leash this year, and a player to watch will be rookie C. J. Spiller.

West
1. San Diego Chargers - Phillip Rivers is an elite QB now. The running game should still be okay with rookie, Ryan Mathews, and Darren Sproles coming in to steal some carries. Shawne Merriman's health, and the play of the secondary will be the achille's heel of this team. Merriman may even be traded this year. Nonetheless, they are the best of the west.

2. Denver Broncos - Could it be "touchdown Jesus! (Tebow)" in Denver this year? Not if Kyle Orton performs as he did in the preseason. Although I believe we will see Tebow play a bit this year, and I think he'll be successful. The biggest concerns are injuries to their runningbacks, who's gonna fill Brandon Marshall's shoes, and the loss of sackmaster Elvis Dumervil for the year. Defense will still be strong enough to carry them to 2nd in the division.

3. Kansas City Chiefs - Quick, name one Chiefs player that didn't used to play for Miami (Chris Chambers), or Dwayne Bowe. Matt Cassel? That's it right? Don't worry, I had to look it up as well. After reviewing the roster there are some interesting pieces in place. Thomas Jones is a proven NFL running back, and the WR's are the strongest point of this team. The defense will resemble something like wet facial tissue this year, but the offense may creep up on some teams.

4. Oakland Raiders - The NFL is a better place when the Raiders are good. The only reason I put them last is because it seems that even with talent, they haven't been able to get it done. They have a tremendous amount of young potential on offense, but are relying on Jason Campbell to throw passes, who has proven to be mediocre to this point. They may have been big winners at this year's draft, but that won't show this year. Lastly, Al Davis just needs to step aside. He's been hurting this team's progress for years. The game may have passed him by.

North
1. Baltimore Ravens - This team is loaded on offense. Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, T. J. Houshmanzadeh, Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, and on and on. If Joe Flacco doesn't make the Pro Bowl this year, he should quit the NFL. On defense, as long as Ray Lewis can breathe he's the anchor of a dangerous unit. They should easily win this division.

2. Cincinnati Bengals - This team is going to be a traveling circus. When Chad Johnson (yes, I called him Johnson, THAT"S HIS NAME!), and Terrell Owens roll in to town, you know it's gonna be fun. Lost in all the firepower of the Carson Palmer lead offense, is a returning top 5 defense, and all in all one dangerous team. It will be a tight race with Baltimore for first place.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers - Big Ben will miss 4 - 6 games to start the year. Leaving them with Byron Leftwich, and Dennis Dixon. Who? Exactly! Steelers may surge lat, but it won't be enough this year, with the Bengals, and the Ravens in this division.

4. Cleveland Browns - Like the Raiders, the NFL is a better place when the Browns are good. If these rankings were based on fans, they would be in first place. Unfortunately, they are a rebuilding franchise, with Mike Holmgren taking over the football operations this year. They have a veteran QB on the backside of his career, but rookie Colt McCoy may benefit from Jake Delhomme's experience in the long run. This is a 2-3 year project to get to 8-8 for this club.

South
1. Indianapolis Colts - Peyton Manning. Enough said.

2. Houston Texans - I think the Texans take a giant step forward this year. Matt Schaub was at the top in passing yards last year, and has one of the best receivers in football at his disposal. A solid defense, and an average running game carry Houston to the playoffs this year, but are no mach for the Colts.

3. Tennessee Titans - Arguably this best halfback in football last season, even Chris Johnson can't make up for below average QB play. Vince Young can, and will win games. But he is more of an athlete than a QB. I just think that the Texans could be a more complete team at this point. But we'll see, won't we.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars - This is a make or brake year for coach Jack Del Rio. Sadly, I see them finishing last, and he'll be shown the door. They'll be exciting at times, but not good enough. This team will be in L.A. soon.

NFC

East
1. Philadelphia Eagles - With quite possibly the most well rounded set of skill position players, newly crowned QB Kevin Kolb will lead this top to the division crown. Hopefully they appreciate him more than they did Donovan McNabb.

2. Dallas Cowboys - Until Tony Romo prove otherwise, this team will always be in second place. In a QB starved league, if he under performs, he will probably keep his job, and Wade Phillips will be fired. They can challenge the Eagles, but I feel are just not as good overall.

3. New York Giants - Coach Tom Coughlin is another one on the hot seat. If the Giants finish where I think they will, he'll be out. The pass rush has not been the same since Michael Strahan retired.Tthe 3 headed monster at running back failed to produce, and Eli Manning has fallen back to his erratic play. If they fire on all cylinders, they could be the spoilers of the division.

4. Washington Redskins - Team chemistry is already a problem, with coach Mike Shanahan and Donovan McNabb (who is already hurting by the way) disagreeing publicly on the Albert Haynesworth situation. The combination of Clinton Portis, and Larry Johnson will be formidable, but the pass attack lacks a true threat. I want the Redskins to do well, but they don't have the juice to keep up in this the NFC East.

West
1. San Fransisco 49ers - The 49ers are poised to return to the playoffs this year. Frank Gore is one of the top 3 runningbacks in the NFL, Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree will provide Alex Smith with some potent weapons downfield. Defensive guru Mike Singletary will have his defense ready again, and finally earn the elusive division title. This franchise deserves it.

2. Seattle Seahawks - In his 1st season, Pete Carroll gets the luxury of falling in to 2nd place in the NFL's worst division. Matt Hasselbeck is still a good QB, but hasn't finished a season in a couple years. Aside from that, not much else to this team. A decent defense will keep them in games.

3. St. Louis Rams - Sam Bradford could be for real. He showed some flashes in the preseason, so we'll see if it translates to the real games. An All-Pro running game is already in place with Steven Jackson, let's just hope he hasn't been burnt out by carrying this horrible team over the last few years.

4. Arizona Cardinals - This team went from the best to a mess in just 1 offseason. Both of the top 2 quarterbacks from last year are gone, along with Anquan Boldin. They lost their top 2 defensive players as well. Too many holes on both sides of the ball will leave the Cardinals in the cellar.

North
1. Green Bay Packers - Aaron Rogers has been nothing short of spectacular since taking the reins from Brett Favre. Backed by a solid running game, and a headhunting defense, they should be just about unstoppable this year.

2. Minnesota Vikings - Brett Favre has proven that even pushing 40, he makes you an instant contender. Adrian Peterson in the backfield is as dangerous as anyone. But questions at the wide receiver position could doom them. They traded for former Dolphin Greg Camarillo, who we all know will NOT drop a pass, but won't break any big plays any time soon. They stand firmly in 2nd in this division.

3. Chicago Bears - Which Jay Cutler will show up? Can Brian Urlacher play this entire season? Will the 2008 version of Matt Forte show up? Can Devin Hester be a real wide receiver? Tons of talent, but tons of questions plague this team. If they hold it together, they can give this division a run for their money. They could sneak up on some people this year, and could crash the NFC North party. Until proven otherwise, this is where they stay.

4. Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford needs to take another step this year. They have an above average runningback, Kevin Smith, and one of the best young receivers, Calvin Johnson, in the NFL. But it will take more than that to climb out of the bottom of the barrel. The defense is essentially nameless, so we'll wait to see if there are any worth remembering by season's end.

South
1. New Orleans Saints - The defending champs are gonna be hard to beat again. With a rare combination of heart that matches their talent, it will be hard to bet against them. The main question is the off field distractions for Reggie Bush. If his head isn't in it, he may have an off year. Luckily, I don't think he really cares, so they should be just fine.

2. Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons are the only threat to the Saints in this division. Matt Ryan is a proven, winning NFL QB, and Michael Turner is a game changing runningback. The defense could be a weak spot this year, but they do have a good pass rush, which could mask some of the deficiencies. I still have them firmly in 2nd place though.

3. Carolina Panthers - Matt Moore will start the season at QB most likely, but look for Jimmy Clausen to take over, and provide some hop for the years to come about mid season. Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will provide a dangerous ground game, and I think they will show enough to save coach John Fox's job, at least for one more year.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Fitting that we end in Tampa. They will be the worst team in football this year. Hard to believe this is the same team that Jon Gruden and Tony Dungy enjoyed so much success with. Cadillac Williams is the only notable offensive player, and hasn't proved to be durable yet. Ronde Barber, the team's best defender, is on his way out, and I can't for the life of me think of 1 more good thing to write about this team, even after reading the depth chart. Tough time in the bay this year.


FIRST COACH TO BE FIRED
Jack Del Rio - Jacksonville

NFL MVP
Aaron Rogers, QB - Green Bay Packers

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Chris Johnson, RB - Tennessee Titans

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Vontae Davis, CB - Miami Dolphins

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Ryan Mathews, RB - San Diego Chargers

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE - New York Giants


MY SUPER BOWL PICK
We go old school this year in Dallas. I think it will be the Green Bay Packers over the Indianapolis Colts in an offensive shootout. Maybe even a record setting total points scored.

My Take On The Upcoming Miami Dophins Season

Well, it's finally here! What seemed like an eternity of waiting, will culminate with the kick-off of the 2010 Miami Dolphins' season at 1:00 Sunday afternoon. There are just as many reasons for optimism, as there is for concern. But the bottom line is that everyone is 0-0 right now, and even the Rams have hope.



Defense:
The Dolphins indeed bolstered their linebacking corps with the addition of Karlos Dansby, a perennial 100+ tackle player. They also lost a key player, in Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, in a youth movement that is all over the defense (notice the exclusion of blowhard Joey Porter). Defensive back Sean Smith seems to have taken a step back, while Vontae Davis looks like a world beater, possibly giving us the shut down corner we've lacked since the Surtain/Madison era. The pass rush will have to come in the form of Cameron Wake, who has shown improved, but still limited ability to go side to side to cover the pass. But hey, if he can deliver double digit sacks, I'll take his one dimensional game. Also a minor concern is the transition of Randy Starks from defensive end, to nose tackle. Which may work in our favor with his heightened athleticism against lesser interior lineman, but he may get mauled by the premier centers of the NFL. Paul Soliai needs to step up as he did in the preseason, to help alleviate some of that concern. I think the surprise player of this defense will be special teams ace Jason Allen (replacing Sean Smith). Has the light finally turned on for him? We'll see if his stellar play carries over to the regular season. I did not mention the rookies (Koa Misi, Jared Odrick) because until the big lights come on, who really knows what they're gonna do. The bottom line is, this defense is young, but full of potential. Full of great athletes, but we'll see if that translates to success on the football field.

Offense:
We all know the addition of Brandon Marshall makes them better by default, but they will still need to execute. This is still a downhill power running team, as it should be. When healthy, the Dolphins have the best backfield in football. Ricky Williams is an ageless wonder, as evidenced by last year's performance. The then 33 year old Williams carried the ball 241 times for 1,121 yards (4.7 avg), and 11 touchdowns. Williams also caught 35 passes, all in only 7 starts. That being said, if Ronnie Brown is healthy, he is the alpha running back for the Dolphins. When healthy, Brown is simply a beast, and the best wildcat triggerman in the league (it's not a gimmick anymore guys, so all the critics should shut their mouths). Have you ever seen Ronnie Brown fall backwards since coming here? I can't remember such a time. If the R & R Express (spread the word people, let's get the name to stick, lol) is in full effect, it'll make life that much easier for the offense. Back to Marshall now. He will eliminate the defenses ability to simply stack 8 men in the box to stop the Express. By default opening the middle of the field for clear running lanes, an already dangerous slot receiver in Davone Bess, and a pretty good pass receiving tight end with Anthony Fasano. This brings us to the most important Dolphin player of 2010, Chad Henne. This team will only go as far as Chad Henne can throw us. If he cannot be effective, opponents can revert to stacking the line against the run. He has shown flashes of the player we want, and think he cold be. But, he still shows the inconsistency of a young quarterback. Improvement on the touch throws, and the ability to look off the defense are the key issues for Henne. He has shown a propensity for locking on to a target, giving the lurking safties plenty of time to make the right move. All of the tools, and talent are his for the taking. We can be successful with average QB play. But we can be great, explosive even, if Henne can settle into this offense, and become the leader he needs to be. Don't be surprised to see Pennington play if Henne struggles. He's shown even in limited action that he can still lead us down the field.

This team could be 13-3 just as easily as it could be 8-8. My prediction is somewhere in the 9, to 11 win category. We will see some of the explosiveness on offense, but with a young (albeit talented) defense, we could see some letdowns on that side of the ball. Either way, we are going to witness the funnest team we've had down here for a while. What do you think?

:::UPDATE:::
Bill Parcells stepping down to a consultant role for the Dolphins. Don't freak out, this was always the plan. Jeff Ireland will assume 100% control over the personnel decisions. If he fails this year, ex Chiefs President Carl Peterson will take over. I'm 99% certain about that.

The King And His Royal Court

This was the moment that Heat fans have been waiting for, and dreading at the same time. The summer of 2010 was to be one for the history books, regardless of who went where. Never in the history of the NBA has the free agency talent pool been so deep. The first order of business for Miami was simple, do not let Dwayne Wade leave. Which was accomplished by obtaining the player Pat Riley had actually wanted to draft in the first place, Chris Bosh, and was enough to make Wade feel comfortable staying home. It was at this moment, that the pipe dream started to look more like a reality, and ultimately landed us the biggest fish in the sea, LeBron James. In an age where people kill athletes for chasing cash, and promoting their own brand, these three checked their egos at the door, along with about a combined 50 million dollars. Make no mistake, they are still paid quite well, but this was the ultimate act of unselfishness. LeBron, risking becoming a villain in his own home town, came to a team that is, and always will be Wade's team. Wade himself is humble enough to accept sharing the floor, and the glory for the good of a vision. Bosh had the least to lose of the three, but nonetheless is also willing to share the spotlight. They all knew they needed help. What it means in the end is less money, most likely a drop in personal statistics, but the rewards will be even greater. A dynasty, possibly the greatest team ever assembled, but can only be vindicated by championships. The expectations are gaudy, anything less than a finals appearance is a failure. All of these are things that are obvious. We all know about these players and what they can do.

What has seemed to have been lost in all of the madness, is the man that is responsible for it all. Pat Riley. This moment has been years in the making. Ever since the trade of Shaq, all guns were aimed at this target. Sacrificing years of mediocrity, for a chance at history, and risky one as well. All of the posturing for this summer could have left us high and dry. Wade could have left, and boom, it's 1988 all over again (the Heat's first year of existence). But Riley kept calm, and reminded his star player over and over, that he will do whatever it takes to give him the teammates he deserves. The last few years of poor draft choices and questionable free agent acquisitions, had left Riley's reputation as a General Manager in question, but he knew what he was doing the whole time. Like always, we did not have a clue. We saw the .500 teams, and first round playoff exits, and hit the panic button. Some even calling for the head of the man that made basketball relevant in this town. Riley has proven time and again that he can and will build a winner. Look how many different combinations of winning teams we have had as Heat fans. It always seems that as soon as the team declines, Riley has a plan in place to turn it around. Whether it was trading fan favorite Glen Rice for Alonzo Mourning, or breaking up a talented young roster after Wade's rookie year to acquire Shaq, Riley has shown he wants to win, and will do anything to do so. None of this happens without Riley, we would be the Clippers, and in all likelihood would not have enjoyed the 2006, or any championship for that matter. In this town, King James must relinquish his crown, for Riley is King.

So get ready Heat fans, we are the basketball Mecca. We are the bad guys now, and it feels so good, doesn't it?

Dolphins Finally Acknowledging The Past

Is this a ploy to take the smell off the Jason Taylor situation? Maybe. Could they finally really be embracing the past? Maybe. Either way you slice it, this is the right thing to do. The Miami Dolphins will honor what could arguably be, one of the most popular Dolphins in history. Zach Thomas will sign a 1 day contract and retire as a Miami Dolphin. The announcement will come at 4:00PM today.

Thomas joined the Dolphins as a 5th round pick in 1996. Listed at 5'11", 230 lbs (listed size for smaller players are usually exaggerated), most said he was too small to play in the NFL. All he did during his tenure in Miami, was make more tackles than ANY other player, become a 7 time Pro-Bowler, and a 5 time first team All-Pro. He has more tackles than any linebacker in the Hall of Fame.

His rookie season in 1996, perennial Pro-Bowler Jack Del Rio was brought in to man the middle linebacker position. After 1 preseason game, then coach Jimmy Johnson turned to Del Rio and said, "have you ever thought about coaching?" He went on to win AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Anyone who watches football knows the rest. With no regard for his own well being, he played like a mad dog, was the ultimate pro, and one of the best team guys you could ever want. He renegotiated his contract numerous times to make room for more players. For my generation (or for me at least), when I hear Miami Dolphins, I think Dan Marino, and Zach Thomas. No one else, not even Taylor (and no I'm not bitter that he left, in fact I endorse his decision).

Today we get to cheer for him as a Dolphin 1 more time. Look for them to retire his number in a game this year, and induct him to the Ring of Honor. I will be at that game. How about you?

Zach Thomas Speaks About Taylor

Zach Thomas spoke out in a big way, yesterday on WQAM-560 with Sid Rosenberg.

"You've got to get a better spokesman, I'm sorry," Thomas told Sid Rosenberg Tuesday on WQAM-560 AM. "I'm not trying to be hard on [Dolphins General Manager] Jeff Ireland. But he's saying it wrong, especially for a guy who has so much history with the Miami Dolphins. He's the all-time sacks leader among active players, and you're going to talk about him like he's a first- or second-year player. He should know how to respect guys that have been great to the game. ... That's fine if you don't have a need for him. But you tell him up front. And you don't go through the media and act like you're shocked that it's being brought up. I don't like the organization to look bad that way."

About their decision to address Taylor after the draft.

"If you're not their guy, that's fine," he said. "But you've got to know to respect great players. You've got to know that. Jason is going to be a Hall of Famer. He's going to be in the [Dolphins Ring] of Honor. His name is always going to be in Dolphin Stadium, and that's big. And you know what, you can do it in a different approach. It might not be their approach. But I get disappointed when I see guys that have put everything on the line for the Dolphins organization and have a Hall-of-Fame career like Jason Taylor and it goes down like it has the last couple weeks . . .

"I know [the Dolphins] called a meeting and then they just canceled it," Thomas said. "So that's just another thing. I just wish they would have handled it better. Just be up front and let the guy move on. Look, I know everyone's going to be in an uproar because everybody hates the Jets -- I hate the Jets -- but he has to what he's got to do and get respect. You're driven by respect as a player, especially the good ones. And he's got that from Rex Ryan. Hopefully, [the Dolphins] will learn from this."

Taylor did not want to go, but the Dolphins inactivity left him feeling slighted.

"He's sad," said Thomas. "He waited as long as he could. Everyone wants to feel wanted. Jason wanted to be wanted. The Jets wanted him. They're a team on the rise. I hate to say it, they've got the No. 1 defense and now they're going to be even stronger."

Thomas also criticized the Dolphins use of Taylor later in the year.

"You don't think Rex Ryan has a game plan for Jason Taylor? It's going to be better than the game plan they were utilizing him last year. I hated watching it, when they were taking him out on third down. It's like taking Bruce Smith out on third down. That was frustrating for me. I'm a fan now. You want to take one of the best pass-rushers of all-time out on third down! I don't know how Dolphins fans are now, but I'm frustrated. ... I'm always going to be a supporter. I'm going to cheer for the Dolphins all year long. I'm not going to be a bitter guy. But, right now, I will say when it crosses the line and the way they dealt with Jason was disappointing."

He spoke of his own departure from the team as well.

"The only thing that was like a punch in the gut to me was the day I was cleaning out my locker the day they cut me, [agent] Drew [Rosenhaus] asked them if I could just say thanks to the fans through the media at the Dolphins facility and their answer was, 'No, he's not a Dolphins player anymore, he's got to do it off premises.' That's when you know, like, 'Wow,' the whole loyalty and everything they preach with team and things like that goes out the window."

Remember the 2 are brothers-in-law, so Thomas has better insight than anyone.

Another side note in all of this is that, the Dolphins offered him an extension at the end of October last season. At the time Taylor had 5 sacks through a little less than half the games, which would have put him above double digit sacks for the season. It was presented to him, much like Ricky Williams, on a memo from Bill Parcells, who also requested that Taylor (like Williams) leave his agent out of the negotiations. One glaring difference is that Ricky was offered about 3.5 million, and Taylor's offer was for about 1.5 million. Taylor at the time stated that it was the middle of the season, and he wasn't concerned with his next contract. It is widely believed that since Parcells reached out personally, his ego would not allow him to accept this rejection. It should also be mentioned that Parcells has a history of coming in to town, and getting rid of the players that may challenge his stature as the alpha dog. After all of this, it's a funny coincidence that all of the sudden, they pull him out of the game during obvious passing situations. Was it a ploy to drive down his value by the end of the year? Who really knows, but it is a strange coincidence.

At the end of the day, Taylor did what he had to do, and I do not blame him one bit. They should have been up front with him, and all of this drama would have been avoided.

What Brandon Marshall Could Mean For The Dolphins

Well, the Dolphins finally did it. They went out and made that bold move that everyone said they wouldn't make, and possibly brought in the best wide receiver in football (arguably), Brandon Marshall, in a blockbuster trade with the Denver Broncos. His off the field issues are well documented, and those that have read my previous posts know how I feel about that. Though I do not condone their behavior, I still believe it is none of our business. I watch sports to be entertained by their performances on the field. So with that in mind here are some interesting facts.

There is always debate over who makes who look good. Is it the quarterback? Is it the wide receiver? I believe you have to look at individual situations, and you will find that it works both ways. Such is the case with Peyton Manning, who makes any receiver look like an all-pro. Do you really believe that we would know who Pierre Garcon is if it wasn't for him? Marvin Harrison would never have had that career had he played with anyone else. Some receivers have left their Pro Bowl caliber quarterback, and failed miserably. Deion Branch leaves Tom Brady, never heard about him again. T.J. Houshmanzadeh leaves Carson Palmer, did you know he was even playing last year? I could go on, but there is the other side. Terrell Owens has had success with multiple quarterbacks, so did Jerry Rice, and to a certain degree, Randy Moss.

With all of this in mind I looked up some numbers over the past few days, and found a trend that could bode well for our prospects this season. Marshall has played for both types of quarterbacks. The prototypical one (Jay Cutler), with all the physical tools and attributes to deal it all over the field. As well as the so called "game manager" (Kyle Orton), who is more like a coach on the field, and is simply counted on not to make mistakes. Here's a look year by year, at the stats for Marshall, Cutler, and Orton.

2007:

(Marshall, and Cutler's first full season as starters.)

Marshall - 102 receptions, 1,325 yards, 7 touchdowns

Cutler - 63.6% completions, 20 touchdowns, 14 interceptions

2008:

(Orton's first full year as a starter)

Marshall - 104 receptions, 1,265 yards, 6 touchdowns

Cutler - 62.3% completions, 25 touchdowns, 18 interceptions

Orton - 58.5% completions, 18 touchdowns, 12 interceptions

2009:

(Orton and Cutler are traded for each other, Orton now gets to throw to Marshall)

Marshall - 101 receptions, 1,120 yards, 10 touchdowns

Orton - 62.1% completions, 21 touchdowns, 12 interceptions

Cutler - 60.5% completions, 27 touchdowns, 26 interceptions

In their lone season without Marshall, Cutler's leading receiver was his tight end, (Greg Olsen - 60 receptions, 612 yards, 8 touchdowns), and Orton's was a runningback, (Matt Forte - 63 receptions, 477 yards, 4 touchdowns).

For a while, Cutler's tendency to throw interceptions was blamed on Marshall's poor route running. Yet when you look at his numbers, each year gets worse than before, and in his first year without him turns it over 26 times. On the flip side, Marshall scores the most touchdowns with Orton in their first year together. Coincidentally, Orton had his best year with Marshall. Keep in mind, there was also a coaching change in Denver from 2008 to 2009. The one consistent performer in all of these years is Marshall. Cutler has a gun, but makes too many poor decisions, Orton is very similar to Jay Fiedler (who really gets the shaft down here), and we all know what that's like. Not to knock Jay, or Orton, they both were good generals on the field, and did the more with less when they had to.

The bottom line is that Marshall is a game breaker. He's impossible for a corner to tackle one on one, and would be a challenge for most safeties to handle. He brings an explosive element that we have not had since Marino and the Marks brothers. He immediately makes everyone around him better by default. Can you imagine sure handed Davone Bess, Greg Camarillo, and Brian Hartline free to roam the field while they focus on Marshall? Oh, and defenses stacking 8 in the box is a thing of the past, leaving more room for the NFL's 2nd ranked rushing offense to gain some momentum. We will now know for sure what we have with Chad Henne as well. This has the potential to be an exciting offense.

It appears he's gonna be fun to hear from as well. Here's a clip of his press conference.




I'm not making any predictions, but this is gonna be fun.

Marlins and Tiger and Fins, Oh My!

I'll start of with hockey. I know it's not in the title, but it didn't fit into my snazzy, uber-catchy, rolls of the tongue title. Now that I'm done patting myself on the back, on with the post!

I love the Florida Panthers, just about as much as I love the Dolphins. They continue to be, in my opinion, the best ticket in town in terms of a live sporting event. There is nothing like a live hockey game. However, we are coming up on a decade since the last time they reached the playoffs. In their defense (or defence for my Canadian brothers), they had an over 90 point season last year, but in a stacked Eastern Conference, it wasn't good enough. For years, we have had excellent defense and goaltending, but no threat on the net. Not since Pavel Bure anyhow. They have a good young nucleus of offensive talent (let's see if they keep them around), but it still wouldn't hurt to have a veteran scoring presence to help mold these young guys. Now, things may have been different this year had David Booth had not missed 60 or something games stemming from a dirty hit against the Flyers early this year. As foul as that hit was, it came from him not keeping his head up and plowing forward full speed, something a veteran would've pulled him aside and informed him of. In short, I still remain hopeful of the future of this team. I think they have a good coach in Pete Deboer, but patience is running thin with the fans.

My thoughts on Tiger:

He's baaaaack! Tiger took to the course for the Masters, the first tournament since the revelation of his massive infidelities. He received a standing ovation on his first tee, and I'm actually glad for that. As egregious as his actions were, I am still of the belief that it is NONE OF OUR FREAKING BUSINESS! We have much more important things that we need to be informed of, that carry a hell of alot more weight than Tiger's "little black book". The only thing that we should be concerned with is his golf score, if you even care about that.

Marlins:

Baseball is upon us once again, and there is reason to believe in the Marlins. They have actually stepped up their payroll by about 20 million, and have shown a commitment to retain their promising prospects for the first time in a few years. They are loaded with starting pitching talent, which is also the youngest rotation in baseball. The offense/defense is pretty much identical to last year, which set franchise records for Home Runs, and scoring. The big question is still the bullpen. Already in the first 2 out of 3 games, they have blown big leads. The first game, Josh Johnson left the game down 2-1, a manageable deficit, until Pinto (as usual) came in and opened the flood gates for a 6-1 loss. The second game wasted a masterful outing by Ricky Nolasco, this time leaving with a 6-1 lead, and can you guess who ruined it? It took extra innings, to win the game 7-6, but a win is a win. They will not survive if this keeps up. In last nights game, we may have seen our best reliever, Burke Badenhop with a nice pair of 1-2-3 innings to set it up for Leo Nunez's first save. Unless they plan on using Badenhop over 200 innings as a reliever, this may be a horrible trend all year.

On a positive note, with last year's NL Batting Champ, Hanley Ramirez, Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan, Dan Uggla, and Jorge Cantu, we can slug it out with anyone in the batter's box. Can you imagine if prospects Cameron Maybin, and Mike Stanton work out?

Dolphins:

Let's start with the obvious. Jason Taylor may be a New York Jet. I'd hate to even say it, but I think it may happen, and I just threw up in my mouth a little. The Dolphins have shown him little love if any, and the Jets are closer to being a serious contender than we are, (now I actually threw up). I don't blame him one bit, he would fill an obvious position of need for us, and his leadership and wisdom for the younger players is valuable beyond his salary cap number. I have a bad feeling that , in the Jets defense he will thrive, and most likely come back to haunt us. There is no loyalty in sports anymore, especially not from the organizations, but that's a whole post by itself.

Anyhow, the draft is coming up soon, and I think our most glaring needs are on defense. There were too many games last year, that we scored enough points to get the job done, and the defense caved. Most notably, right up the center, starting with the Nose tackle position, Middle Linebacker (which they may have solved with Karlos Dansby), Outside Linebacker, and Free Safety. Way too many times we gave up chunks of yards, usually right over the top of our Safeties. Teams were able to come back with ease in the second half.

That being the case, there is one glaring need on offense, a true #1 Wide Receiver. There are no sure things in the draft when it comes to receivers, but I would take a chance on Dez Bryant at #12. He's the only one worth that high of a pick. There are plenty of others to be had in the second to third round.

One good thing is, we can simply take the best player available at that spot. No one position would upset me with that pick (unless they draft a QB, which is not going to happen).

With that in mind, I'm going to rank a few players by order of need vs. projected availability:

1. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee - Fills an immediate need for a true 3-4 Nose tackle. He'll absorb blockers and let the Linebackers run wild.

2. Rolando McClain - LB, Alabama - Pass rushing specialist that we need. Well coached (by Nick Satan), and a very intelligent player. Which is what this group of coaches likes.

3. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State - With size and good "football speed", would be a great addition to a corps full of excellent complimentary receivers.

4. Earl Thomas, FS, Texas - Has 4.37 speed in the 40 yard dash, ridiculous for a safety, and will not get burnt deep by a Tight End or slot receiver.

Those are the only players I would spend a #12 pick on. If none of these are there, I'd trade down. This is a draft that is deep at alot of positions, not necessarily top 10 guys, but plenty of solid football players that can play right away.

This is this regime's 3rd draft, it's time to see some major progress.

Jucied Players And Juiced Pockets

To no one's surprise, Mark McGwire came out and admitted to steroid use. Did not see that one coming, right? McGwire states that he took steroids, and HGH at various times during his career. He also claims that he toook them for recovery purposes, not for strength. The subsequent effect of speedy recovery, is that it makes it easier to get stronger. This is the same reason that 99% of athletes that take steroids, take them in the first place. However, I do agree with what he says in regards to steroids (or HGH) not giving you the hand-eye coordination to put the bat on the ball (or catch, throw, make a 3-point shot, a glove save, or whatever sport you want to apply it to).

Here's the closest thing to 2 identical (literally) examples I can give:
Jose, and Ozzie Canseco. Identical twin brothers, in genetics, and steroids. The Canseco brothers are both imposing figures, both standing around 6'3", and 220lbs of juiced muscle. If steroids was the only cause of someone being able to crush a baseball, it stands to reason that they should've had comparable careers right?

Jose's career stats: 17 seasons, 7057 career at bats, 462 HR, 1407 RBI, and a .515 slugging percentage. Gotta be the roids, right?

Ozzie's career stats: 3 seasons, 65 career at bats, O HR, 4 RBI, and a .292 slugging percentage.

Why didn't the roids work for Ozzie?.......Anyone?........Anyone?........Bueller?

Look, I understand that yes, they enhance your performance in that your ability to quickly recover adds to your strength, and stamina. But, to take someone to task for doing something, that almost everyone else was doing, and WAS NOT against the rules of the sport at the time, is just asinine. I also understand the plight of the players that did not partake in the "steroid era", and the fact that their accomplishments are called in to question because of those times.

The bottom line is that McGwire is right, you do not obtain natural ability with steroids. Question his motives all you want, but this is in no way easy on him or his family. Furthermore, baseball knew what these guys were doing, and let it go to help repair baseball's image after the strike. They used these players, and now want to turn around and put the players (and their families) through the ringer, for something they did 10-12 years ago? That was all common knowledge? Give me a break! We all knew it, and ignored it for the spectacle that they put on for years. Home runs put butts in the seats, not a pitchers' 1-0 duel (which I happen to love).

I like baseball, but sometimes it makes me sick, and here's another reason why right in our own back yard.

I wrote in my very first post, how the Marlins pocketed something like 45 million dollars that they pocketed in revenue sharing 2 years ago.

If you are eating something, swallow it now.

This past season, they have unspent revenue to the tune of, $150,000,000.

It's so bad that the MLB Union has stepped in and pretty much forced them to increase their payroll. Now, as I said before, I admire how they can turn around young talent with a low payroll and stay competitive. But this is getting out of control. The team is gonna pocket 150 million, and expect the taxpayers to cover the money for a new stadium? Okay, there is nothing we can do about the funding for a new stadium, that is done. This team needs to start spending money. If they limp into a new stadium, and all we have to show is Hanley Ramirez, 84 wins, and no playoffs, the new stadium smell is gonna wear off real quick. And all that ticket and concession money is gonna stop coming in, and the cycle will continue just as it always has. A competitive, yet mediocre franchise, with poor attendance, and on baseball's welfare list.

What they have done makes sense in the short term. It's hard not to imagine not taking the opportunity to pocket millions of dollars, but they will run themselves right out of town if they keep this cycle going. The Marlins franchise does deserve that stadium, but it's time they start taking initiative, and show us what the greatest minds in baseball can do when they spend some money.