NEW ORLEANS -- One reason I love covering the NFL playoffs is this is where the best teams are, thus this is where the best players are.
I'm covering the Saints and the Cardinals today and some of the players I'll be watching are the ones that could be available to the Dolphins in the coming offseason via either free agency or trade.
This list of the top free agents shows today's game includes several free agents that will be restricted (assuming no collective bargaining agreement is reached). But there will be one guy -- Arizona inside linebacker Karlos Dansby that is completely unrestricted. He is the 11th rated free agent on the Scout.com list but you'll also note he is the No. 2 unrestricted free agent (players with six or more years of experience) behind only Julius Peppers of Carolina.
Another player I will try to catch up with after today's game is Arizona WR Anquan Boldin. He isn't playing today because he's injured. But he's here and on my radar. I want to ask him if he will renew his request to be traded after this season. I want to ask him his thoughts of playing for the Dolphins. As I have reported to you in the past, the Dolphins have much respect for Boldin and would consider adding him in trade if the price is right.
We'll see what happens.
Hopefully we'll see what happens together as I am conducting a live blog during the game. So join me here and we'll discuss the game with the community of thousands of Dolfans that regularly visit this blog.
Remember, the live blog begins at 4:30 p.m. ET. Follow me on twitter.
This offseason will remind us of what teams did when the Texans came in as an expansion team. Teams dumped a ton of salaries to get under the cap without penalty. Obviously, there is no cap, but teams can right themselves for the future by canning some bad contracts.
I wonder who those names are?
Posted by: Wayne Fontes | January 16, 2010 at 04:33 PM
Cards win the toss and get the ball first.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 04:33 PM
Kenny Albert and this crew SUCK as an announcing team....I would take a booth of Cefalo and Omar Kelly over these guys.
Posted by: Wayne Fontes | January 16, 2010 at 04:34 PM
Hope this a good game.
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2010 at 04:35 PM
Tim Hightower!?!?!
Posted by: Shane Falco | January 16, 2010 at 04:36 PM
Um, WoW!!!!!
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 04:36 PM
Is Dean Pees making the calls for the Saints?
Posted by: Wayne Fontes | January 16, 2010 at 04:36 PM
Saints need some better D.
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2010 at 04:36 PM
LOL at Wayne
Posted by: Shane Falco | January 16, 2010 at 04:36 PM
Man last week it was Rice, This week it is hightower. Two weeks back to back and 150 yards on the first play of two different games.
Posted by: Robert | January 16, 2010 at 04:36 PM
Nice, Baltimore started out same way
Posted by: bobbyd12 | January 16, 2010 at 04:37 PM
I cannot help, but think of the Miami Monday Nighter with all that energy and Manning goes play action for 6. What a kick in the pants.
Posted by: Wayne Fontes | January 16, 2010 at 04:38 PM
How didn't Marques Colston not make the Pro Bowl?
Posted by: Robert | January 16, 2010 at 04:38 PM
Those of you that were here for the live blog last week know we've got something of a streak going with this looong TD run on the first play bit.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 04:38 PM
Mando- I like the link for the free agency list. However, why is Ronnie Brown not on there? Omission on their part?
Posted by: Wayne Fontes | January 16, 2010 at 04:39 PM
Ronnie Brown is not a free agent if they don't have a collective bargaining agreement.
He is signed for $5 million.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 04:40 PM
Why is Siragusa on TV?
Posted by: Wayne Fontes | January 16, 2010 at 04:41 PM
Armando is Darren Sharper a FA and do you see Miami doing anything to sign him or Miami drafting a potential FS and allowing Culver and the player to battle it out make more sense.
Posted by: Robert | January 16, 2010 at 04:41 PM
Guys that is a WR
Posted by: Robert | January 16, 2010 at 04:43 PM
Sharper is a free agent. But they didn't make any effort to sign him last year when he was available for $750K so I doubt they make a try for him this offseason when he's one year older.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 04:43 PM
My bad, Mando. I get it...so he is not even a RFA?
Thanks.
Do you think he is back? I cannot imagine getting much value for him unless it is player for player trade. Which btw, will another interesting part of the offseason- the idea of not cap issues of player for player trades.
Posted by: Wayne Fontes | January 16, 2010 at 04:43 PM
Bush is playing like Balls
Posted by: Robert | January 16, 2010 at 04:44 PM
Wow. R. Bush is runnin hard. Where the h$$l is this commin from. He's usually soft as wet tissue.
Posted by: FinFan13 | January 16, 2010 at 04:44 PM
Shockey is such a doche.
Posted by: Wayne Fontes | January 16, 2010 at 04:44 PM
Kim Kardashins ass will make you play like that.
Posted by: Robert | January 16, 2010 at 04:45 PM
We got ourselves a shooting match, folks.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 04:45 PM
Agree with you Wayne.
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2010 at 04:46 PM
I thought Bush and Kardashian or however you spell it were no longer an item?
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 04:46 PM
Looking at these playoff teams, we've got a long ways to go.
Posted by: cocoajoe | January 16, 2010 at 04:46 PM
Robert,
Yeah. if you like dirty skanks.
Posted by: FinFan13 | January 16, 2010 at 04:46 PM
Loooong way on offense, cocoajoe
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 04:47 PM
We are in for another 51-45 matchup.
Mando do you see Miami making any attempt at interviewing Rob Ryan?
Also given Parcels history with Antonio Bryant do you see Miami trying to sign him. I have heard they have made up after the whole Dallas thing.
Posted by: Robert | January 16, 2010 at 04:48 PM
Keep dreaming Armando. AZ will slap a tag on Dansby. Book it.
Posted by: VA | January 16, 2010 at 04:48 PM
Cocoa,
Yeah, but not that far. If we can get our D together. And a few pieces on O, we'll be right there.
Posted by: FinFan13 | January 16, 2010 at 04:48 PM
VA, the rumor is that in agreeing to the be Franchise player the past two years, Dansby was given a promise not to be tagged a third year in a row.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 04:50 PM
Oooops
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2010 at 04:51 PM
woops, fumbleitis.
Posted by: FinFan13 | January 16, 2010 at 04:51 PM
what a shock, a loose ball in the new Orleans secondary and Sharper picks it up. That's what a true NFL free safety is supposed to do.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 04:53 PM
Rob Ryan? He's already a DC.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 04:54 PM
Mando who would you want more Dansby or Wilfork both are gonna want to be shown the money.
Posted by: Robert | January 16, 2010 at 04:54 PM
Armando,
You mean he's not supposed to get lost in coverage and get dragged down the field by TE's?
Posted by: carlito from golfito | January 16, 2010 at 04:54 PM
One guy in free agency to keep an eye on is Ben Watson of NE.
forgot to mention him.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 04:56 PM
Dansby on Colston is not a good idea.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 04:57 PM
I totally agree with Watson, but funny you have not mention Dean Pees as a possible defensive coordinator replacement.
Posted by: Robert | January 16, 2010 at 04:58 PM
Mando, y u so down on Fins? First u write Groh wouldn't work as DC cuz he's old school & when he signs elsewhere, you say fins I'm wrong direction by losing him?
Posted by: Robbyhenz | January 16, 2010 at 05:00 PM
Pees has physical issues right now.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 05:00 PM
FinFan13, yeah but we got to stop shooting ourselves in the foot. Looking at year 3 and no cap. Not much room for mistakes.
Posted by: cocoajoe | January 16, 2010 at 05:00 PM
Jeremy Shockey catches a TD pass and heads for the trainer. Story of his career in many respects.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 05:02 PM
Arizona looks confused.
Posted by: beerndrums | January 16, 2010 at 05:02 PM
Armando,
Watson is a tease. Talk shows up here constantly talk about how he's "underutilized" but he's not. Brady would find him if he was consistently open. He also has his fair share of drops. Not an upgrade to Fasano IMO.
Posted by: dinisa63 | January 16, 2010 at 05:02 PM
Armando I have you heard the retarded rumors of Parcels coming in to coach the defense. They are the funniest thing I have heard.
Posted by: Robert | January 16, 2010 at 05:03 PM
It is LOUD up in here!
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 05:03 PM
That's fair, dinisa63. I think he's better than Joey Haynos, though.
Miami could have Watson-Fasano on the field instead of Fasano-Haynos.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 05:05 PM
Are you at the game Armando?
Posted by: beerndrums | January 16, 2010 at 05:06 PM
Yup, I'm at the game, beerndrums.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 05:08 PM
Cocoa,
I think you can look at it two ways.
1) no cap means less FA and rich teams will outspend everyone else. This is the bad side of no cap.
2) We can dump players like porter and wilson with no cap hit. We can spend as much as the owner is willing to, to bring in the guys we want. This is the good side.
Posted by: FinFan13 | January 16, 2010 at 05:08 PM
... that's the reason I said I was going to go looking for Boldin afterwards.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 05:08 PM
Montreal,
NJ Fin Fan is mando's little lackey. Just ignore him. Pretty soon he will get drunk and fall asleep.
Posted by: Sporks are cool | January 16, 2010 at 05:08 PM
Who said Parcells is gonna coach the D ?
Posted by: beerndrums | January 16, 2010 at 05:09 PM
So many people are sour on Todd Bowles. He does not make me want to buy season tickets, but he is solid choice. I go by his 2008 work and he was superb. Working with 2 rookies at CB, losing Will Allen and Wilson's suckiness is not all on him.
Put it this way, IF they did have success with Wilson, Bowles should be a HC.
Posted by: Wayne Fontes | January 16, 2010 at 05:09 PM