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.
Pats suck
Posted by: Miamimeanies | January 16, 2010 at 06:09 PM
Leinart looked pretty good on that drive. But I dont know if he has the intangibles or experience to bring this team back 21 points in the second half.
Posted by: AK | January 16, 2010 at 06:10 PM
Dan henning is either feast or famine. And can anyone explain to me why we would even consider our secondary coach as our dc? We should fire him. I don't care about the injuries or new starters. We had like three picks, and we got ate up every game. Horrible tackling. Davis is the only bright spot (don't know about clemons yet). Seriously, let's be honest here....is anybody else disappoint with Sean smiths year? No picks, right? And got burnt several times, looked confused. After the preseason he had, I thought he was a stud. One more thing guys, did u notice the wide receivers on the cards? Boldin and Fitzgerald, yes, but breaston and doucet (who was picked after turner) are Better than our 1 wr. So quit talking to me about lb please.
Posted by: Inimounts | January 16, 2010 at 06:12 PM
Game Over without Grandpa Warner in there.
I will take Dansby and Bolden and give up a very steep price of a 1st and a 2nd!!!
Posted by: Flipper013 | January 16, 2010 at 06:13 PM
Bemmdrums, Carpenter's pretty good. Do you not like him?
He only missed 3 kicks all year.
Posted by: AK | January 16, 2010 at 06:13 PM
Yeah Po, hope Parcells/Sparano knows some guys we don't know about. But it sure doesn't feel right.
Posted by: cocoajoe | January 16, 2010 at 06:13 PM
yea, theres no way Leinart can lead this team back
Posted by: Zach | January 16, 2010 at 06:14 PM
wow this could be Warners last game and he might not even get to finish it
Posted by: Zach | January 16, 2010 at 06:16 PM
Am not saying it will happen, but doubt anyone thought Frank Reich would lead Buffalo back against the Oilers either..
Posted by: LipsinToronto | January 16, 2010 at 06:17 PM
Mando will give us the scoop!
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2010 at 06:18 PM
Mando, Is Kurt(I want to thank my lord and Savior)Warner the Cards Ted (No jock strap Required)gINN OR IS IT MY IMAGANATION????
Posted by: cuban menace | January 16, 2010 at 06:19 PM
LipsinToronto valid point...
But I mean come on you got to admit Matt Leinart is no Chad 'Fourth Quarter' Henne
Hahaha
Posted by: AK | January 16, 2010 at 06:20 PM
Mando,
any word on the DC search?
Posted by: Zach | January 16, 2010 at 06:20 PM
oh, i doubt it will happen, but seeing as I remember watching that Bills Oilers game, I've seen crazier
Posted by: LipsinToronto | January 16, 2010 at 06:22 PM
I think Rackers has seen his last days in Zona
Posted by: Zach | January 16, 2010 at 06:22 PM
OK boys and girls . I'm back . Looks like NO will score 70. Anybody get a antrell rolle sightings ?
Posted by: NJ PHIN FAN | January 16, 2010 at 06:23 PM
Agreed about Rackers, he got bailed out last week.
Posted by: AK | January 16, 2010 at 06:23 PM
Besides the back of his jersey
Posted by: NJ PHIN FAN | January 16, 2010 at 06:24 PM
i know he's hurt.
Posted by: NJ PHIN FAN | January 16, 2010 at 06:25 PM
i didnt know you could decline a Delay penalty
Posted by: Zach | January 16, 2010 at 06:26 PM
Menace , another nice day in the tri-state area, You're welcome.
Posted by: NJ PHIN FAN | January 16, 2010 at 06:27 PM
Yea why did they decline????
Posted by: AK | January 16, 2010 at 06:27 PM
I'm going to give you guys a preview of what I'm going to write for tomorrow:
I believe the Dolphins cannot win with their current offensive approach. It is archaic. it is 1990s and we're in 2010.
The NFL is about throwing the ball and not that bullcrap the Dolphins are trying to do with ball control and wildcat.
Thoughts?
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 06:28 PM
How about that YAC from Doucet. None of the Dolphins receivers could do that...
Posted by: AK | January 16, 2010 at 06:29 PM
Mando , so lets get of the wildcat and the wildpat Right ? That's a start.
Posted by: NJ PHIN FAN | January 16, 2010 at 06:30 PM
Menace, Kurt Warner is awesome, dude. Can't be with you on that one.
Ted Ginn can't carry out the garbage for Kurt Warner's career.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 06:30 PM
Not sure I agree with you Mando...
Look at the Ravens and, as much as I hate to admit it, the Jets...
I just think we need to take some more chances down the field I can honestly count on one hand how many times we took a shot down the feild.
Posted by: AK | January 16, 2010 at 06:31 PM
Looks good Mando,
Now give copies of it to Ireland, Sparano, and Henning...heck, post it on a billboard in front of the facility
Posted by: Zach | January 16, 2010 at 06:31 PM
Ted Ginn couldn't carry garbage period. He would drop it everywhere, what a mess...
Posted by: carlito from golfito | January 16, 2010 at 06:31 PM
Armando,
I completely agree with you. We need to catch up to the rest of the NFL and air it out.
Posted by: FinFan13 | January 16, 2010 at 06:31 PM
I think I've come to the conclusion that Wildcat is something you do when you're quarterback isn't great.
Teams with GREAT QBs don't run the wildcat.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 06:32 PM
What is the score???
Posted by: Aofinforlife | January 16, 2010 at 06:32 PM
Here's the menace's want to be in the super bowl and why NO jets, Miami cant afford Rex(TWO TON)Ryan coming this far south with whats going on 350 miles south in Haiti, NO colts they let Two Ton in in the 1st place,NO Cards, Kurt(I want to thank my lord and savior)Warner makes me want to become a agnostic.No Chargers Norve (No way)Turner is a Moron.....Then there's the saints, I got nothing against these guys and I have nothing against the Vikings(Except maybe Brett(I'm Retiring)Favre, And the only thing I've got against the Ravens is there Offencive cord. AKA Cam (Cant win) CAMMORON. so i can care less just as long as the team I hate least(The saints)wins............
Posted by: cuban menace | January 16, 2010 at 06:33 PM
Spot on armondo!!!
Posted by: Aofinforlife | January 16, 2010 at 06:33 PM
we tried the pass happy approach against New England and it worked...sometimes i just dont understand our offensive philosophy
Posted by: Zach | January 16, 2010 at 06:33 PM
Mando,
When Ronnie was healthy and Henne was starting, we were scoring 30 almost every week. A playmaking WR or TE is all this offense needs.
Posted by: Bootang25 | January 16, 2010 at 06:34 PM
wow where has this Reggie Bush been the past three years or is it four?
Posted by: Zach | January 16, 2010 at 06:34 PM
Think you will get the answer this weekend Mando, Is it Great Defense and Ball control on the ground or is it Big time Airplay by the likes of Manning and Philip Rivers.
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2010 at 06:34 PM
I agree with you mando about the wildcat. As far as the Dolphins are concerned, I think we will start to see it less and less as Henne continues to develop. I think the kid is going to be the real dea, but like I said before we need to let him take shots down the field. Even if we dont convert every time, at least defenses will begin to respect us...
Posted by: AK | January 16, 2010 at 06:34 PM
I swear they go deep every other play!
Posted by: Zach | January 16, 2010 at 06:35 PM
long time reader first comment. love to read your stories for the most part there right on. I live in Boston cant stand the pats. hate brady and his dumb ass smile. I hope we get a good WR and move on from ginn. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK Armando.
Posted by: boston mike | January 16, 2010 at 06:35 PM
Defense still wins championships. Which defense is playing better today? Tell me the last team since the 99 Rams to be an explosive offensive team that won the Super Bowl? I'm just saying, it would be nice to have one of these offenses, but i'm much more concerned with our defense.
Posted by: Bootang25 | January 16, 2010 at 06:36 PM
I think the Bottom line is we need to be more aggresive on both sides of the ball
Posted by: Zach | January 16, 2010 at 06:38 PM
The Dolphins' offense frustrated me so much this year, just like their defense did in the late 80s. Too often I felt Miami played for a field goal. I'd love to see them be more aggressive, just look how New Orleans isn't letting up on the gas pedal. Very jealous!
Posted by: Jay-Mo | January 16, 2010 at 06:38 PM
The wildcat is useful in places like 2nd and 2, or goal-to-go. Nothing else. IMO.
Posted by: Bootang25 | January 16, 2010 at 06:39 PM
Botang, your facts are correct. But anyone who says that Miami's offense was clicking when Henne and Brown were healthy didn't really watch the games.
They had a game where they had like 105 total yards on offense against New YOrk. Yikes!
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 06:40 PM
And again, the idea of the wildcat is to have an extra blocker. Running it with a QB on te field is idiotic to me. I liked the power wildcat we saw at times this year. I think that has a place in our offense as well. Again, IMO.
Posted by: Bootang25 | January 16, 2010 at 06:40 PM
Welcome to the asylum, Boston Mike! Appreciate you participating.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 06:41 PM
Bootang25 ... Indianapolis had a pretty explosive offense when it won the Super Bowl a few years ago
Posted by: Jay-Mo | January 16, 2010 at 06:41 PM
WB NJ - good workout?
Hey Armando, I keep waiting for you to shout at us about the new blog post being up everytime it gets a little quiet in here.
Posted by: LipsinToronto | January 16, 2010 at 06:42 PM
Mando, Who do you like the Ravens or Clots tonite??? Same "Q" go's to you NJ, I've got a friend that's taking indy. I say the Ravens are playing great "D" and the colts Offense has been off for over a month, What are Your guy's thoughts????
Posted by: cuban menace | January 16, 2010 at 06:42 PM
Don't quite agree with you Mando...A great D will shut down the air game and where does that leave you??? I still believe a balanced attack offensively wins the big one more then airing it out..It's exciting football, but not enough to push u over most of the time...Eg: New England vs. Indy the last 10 years..I do agree with u on the Wildcat but as Henne develops we see less of the Cat..
Posted by: bobbyd12 | January 16, 2010 at 06:42 PM
Maybe that homeless guy that Parcells stops and talks to at the red light sometimes will get the Defensive Coordinator job...
Posted by: carlito from golfito | January 16, 2010 at 06:42 PM
Quite agree, Mando. But the sad thing is, I don't see it changing. This whole thing is Parcells philosphy. And as we've all seen, he's stubborn and not much if anything will change. Here's something else, Parcells, Ireland and Sparano are a package deal. You can't break up the set. Or am I wrong?
Posted by: cocoajoe | January 16, 2010 at 06:42 PM
Mando,
I definately wasn't using the Jets game as my point of reference lol. I just think if used correctly, it can still be a good part of what we do. Our offense never gets helped by the defense making plays that give us a short field, or a big special team return. It always has to be 80 yard drives, not good.
Posted by: Bootang25 | January 16, 2010 at 06:43 PM
I hate to bet against Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. Got much The U love for them.
But I just have a feeling the Colts are simmering about all this talk that they took too much time off and will be rusty. I think they'll come out firing.
I like Indy.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 06:44 PM
wow Fitz never lets that get away from him
Posted by: Zach | January 16, 2010 at 06:45 PM
Like the Colts CM.
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2010 at 06:45 PM
THE NEW BLOG POST IS UP ...
Just kidding. Not doing it that way today.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2010 at 06:45 PM
Cuban, boy I would love to see Indy get buried tonite, deseve to lose
Posted by: bobbyd12 | January 16, 2010 at 06:45 PM