Quick Thursday morning update: The Dolphins won't be getting middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who visited with the team earlier this week. Jackson has agreed to terms with the Colts, according to a close associate. The Colts gave him a four-year, $22 million deal, with $11 million guaranteed.
Jackson told NFL Network he picked the Colts because of coach Chuck Pagano. "Great coach, better person," he told former Herald colleague Jeff Darlington.
The Dolphins had interest in signing Jackson and moving Dannell Ellerbe to outside linebacker. If they choose, they can now pursue an inside linebacker in free agency from a group including Jon Beason, Brandon Spikes and Daryl Sharpton. Or they can keep Ellerbe in the middle and pursue an outside linebacker to compete with Philip Wheeler or Koa Misi. (Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle has made clear how much Miami values Misi.)
Besides Miami and Indianapolis, Jackson also visited Denver and Tennessee.
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Notes on a Wednesday night:
### There are several free agent running backs who would be an upgrade over Daniel Thomas, and Miami isn’t necessarily opposed to adding another back in free agency or the draft, according to an official who spoke to the Dolphins. But they also have given indications that it's not a high priority.
New GM Dennis Hickey was a fan of free agent LeGarrette Blount and recommended Tampa sign him, so Blount cannot be ruled out for Miami if he's available at a reasonable rate. But Blount wants his first big NFL payday after making $680,000 last season, and it would be surprising if Miami spends big money on a back.
Here are the free agent backs available and their per carry average last season: Donald Brown (5.3), Blount (5.0), Rashad Jennings (4.5) Knowshon Moreno (4.3), James Starks (5.5), Toby Gerhart (7.9), Brian Leonard (3.9), Rashard Mendenhall (3.2), Ben Tate (4.3), Ahmad Bradshaw (4.5 before early-season injury), Peyton Hillis (3.4), Jonathan Dwyer (4.0), Felix Jones (3.8), Darren McFadden (3.3), Maurice Jones Drew (3.4) and Andre Brown (3.5).
Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey said recently that he likes his running backs, a group that includes Lamar Miller, Thomas, Mike Gillislee and Marcus Thigpen.
### With Indiana losing to Charlotte tonight, the Heat moved within 1 1/2 games of the Pacers for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. And the Heat and Indy are now even in the loss column.
### LeBron James wasn’t named Eastern Conference Player of the Week in any of the four weeks in February. But he won the conference’s February Player of the Month award on Wednesday in something of a no-brainer. In leading the Heat to a 9-1 record, LeBron averaged 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists and shot 57.5 percent from the field. He's only the second player to reach those levels over an entire month (minimum five games) –-- the first since Wilt Chamberlain in 1966.
### NBA TV’s Chris Webber predicts James' 61-point game against Charlotte will sway MVP voters: "It reminds me that we take LeBron for granted... LeBron has his imprint on every facet of the game. Even though he had 61, he still had seven assists. He still gets people involved, still rebounds."
NBA TV’s Greg Anthony chimed in: "Sometimes you start to take LeBron for granted. And it's almost as if you're looking for a reason not to vote for him. Kevin Durant is having a phenomenal season and if he were to win it, I wouldn't have an issue with it. But when you look at LeBron... LeBron James is shooting 58 percent. I don't think we appreciate how monumental that is.”
### ESPN's Keith Olbermann lampooned several Heat writers on Tuesday night, accusing them of overstating the significance of LeBron James' 61-point game. That seemed odd, because nobody hypes LeBron more than Olbermann's employer.
Attacked by Heat fans, Olbermann continued the narrative on Twitter on Wednesday.
Of 60-point games, Olbermann tweeted to one irked fan: "So far, Wilt has 29 of them and Kobe 4 to James' 1. Calm down, Homer."
One tweeted: "Who made u the fun police? You are now old, tired, and a has-been." Olbermann responded: "Whom you follow, Genius"?
Here was Olbermann's bottom line: "There have now been nine 60-point games in the last 10 seasons; two in the last 39 days. @KingJames was special Monday. Not immortal."
### Ryan Williams remains the front-runner for the UM quarterback job, but Kevin Olsen is clearly improved from the player who seemed hesitant and erratic during a couple of early December practices that were open to the media.
“Kevin is savvy, playing with a lot more IQ,” offensive coordinator James Coley said. “If things break down, he knows where he’s going.”... UM has its fourth practice of the spring on Thursday, then goes on spring break.
### Tom Koehler and Brad Hand entered camp as the favorites for the fifth spot in the Marlins’ rotation. But as he did last year, Kevin Slowey is again making a strong case to win a job. Koehler pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings Wednesday; in 4 2/3 innings this spring, he has allowed two hits, no runs and struck out five. There’s a decent chance Koehler or Hand (who’s out of minor league options) wins the fifth job, but Slowey still could stick as a long reliever.
### Marlins Park will host a college bowl game in December, but it passed on a chance to host a college basketball classic in November. The cost of converting the field proved too high to make it financially feasible. But Marlins Park officials would like to play host to a high-school football game before the bowl game.
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