New York to Host Super Bowl XLVIII
How about this bucket of cold water in the face of every Dolfan: NFL owners have voted to send the 2013-14 championship game to freezing cold New York City. Does anybody else think this is a ridiculous idea?
The Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the other two teams bidding for the game (both of which makes sense), but instead teams voted that Super Bowl XLVIII (yeah, that’s 48, I looked it up) will be played in the new $1.6 billion Meadowlands stadium which is home to the New York Jets and Giants.
Yeah, that’s right, it will be played outdoors, too….in February.
It is the first time the NFL has picked a known cold-weather site that doesn’t have a dome. The current Super Bowl’s record for lowest temperatures is 39, which happened at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans in 1972. Remember that game, Dolfans? That was the one where we lost to the Dallas Cowboys 24-3.
The temperatures in East Rutherford, N.J., will no doubt be lower than 39 degrees in mid-February, instead of a comfortable 75 degrees in Miami. The bid also immediately gives an advantage to cold-weather teams, not that I’m complaining about that, but who really wants to be on the field if it’s icy and -3 degrees?
While I think it’s wrong to discriminate against northern teams, I think it could make for a sloppy game, which in turn could hurt the ratings. They could atleast invest money into a dome.
You’ve gotta believe the NFL considered that when they made the decision, but I still would rather have the big game be played in a newly refurnished Sun Life Stadium….at 75 degrees….and without a bunch of angry New Yorkers in the background. Wouldn’t you?
Dolphins Trade Smiley, Sign Procter: Jake Grove on Hot Seat.
So long, Justin Smiley. Hello, Cory Procter.
That’s what the Dolphins said yesterday in perhaps the most anti-climatic move of the off-season. A lot of motion in the ocean as the Dolphins try to shore up their offensive line. Is center Jake Grove now on the hot seat for his starting job?
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Two months ago, Miami Dolphins veteran guard Justin Smiley received a phone call from Bill Parcells, who told him not to report to OTAs because the team was looking to trade him.
After drafting Mississippi offensive lineman John Jerry and picking up free agent Richie Incognito, it was fairly obvious the Dolphins were ready to unload Smiley. So he went out and hired agent-shark Drew Rosenhaus, and then came the waiting game.
That game ended yesterday when the Miami Dolphins finally reached an agreement with the Jacksonville Jaguars for an undisclosed draft pick (presumably a late-round draft pick), pending a physical.
Smiley was drafted by the 49ers in 2004 and signed a five-year, $25-million contract with Miami in 2008 as an unrestricted free agent, but has since faced a string of injuries. He missed time last season with a nagging shoulder, and he also sat out part of the ‘08 season when he broke his right leg in a win over the St. Louis Rams.
Now awaiting a physical (which I was just told as of 3:00 on May 26 he did), Smiley will part ways with Miami and head up I-95 north where he’ll join his new team for mini-camp. All smiles, of course.
With Smiley presumably gone and Nate Garner out with an unspecified injury, the Dolphins signed Cory Procter in an effort to add some insurance to the offensive line.
Procter, who was cut by the Cowboys last week, spend five seasons with Dallas after signing with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He started 11 games in 2008 and appeared in 12 as a reserve last season. I’ve also been informed that he’s an avid musician, a drummer for the Dallas-based heavy metal band Free Reign.
A 6-foot-4, 311-pound center by trade, the versatile Procter has some experience at left guard and he also had experience (at least in practice) running a version of the Wildcat in Dallas.
Procter is the third University of Montana Grizzlies player currently on the Dolphins’ roster, joining kicker Dan Carpenter and running back Lex Hilliard. I have reason to believe those guys from Missoula, Montana, know how to play in all kinds of weather.
With Procter coming to Miami, it’s center Jake Grove who just got a wake-up call via a cold bucket of water. The Dolphins recently announced an open competition for his starting center spot, and with several able-bodies on the depth chart, Grove’s probably feeling a little “Under Pressure,” a la David Bowie.
Wakey Wakey Jakey,you can’t afford to make a big mistakey.
Dolphins Could Boost O-Line With Procter
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Free agent offensive lineman and avid musician Cory Procter visited the Dolphins this weekend, a team that’s definitely interested in boosting their offensive line.
Procter, cut by the Cowboys on Monday, also reportedly visited with the division rival New England Patriots. There’s speculation that Miami may sign him sometime this week, but any potential deal will most likely be reached before mini-camp on May 28, if at all.
A move would make sense. With Justin Smiley on the outs and Nate Garner out because of an unspecified off-season surgery, the Dolphins could use some insurance on the o-line. Plus, there is word of an open competition for Jake Grove’s spot at center, and Miami certainly likes versatility on the line.
A 6-foot-4, 311-pound center by trade, Procter also has experience at left guard, which would be a good selling point for the Dolphins, and he got some practice experience running the Wildcat in Dallas. As reported by the Miami Herald, he was active for every game in 2009 but appeared in only five total plays from scrimmage.
Procter was signed by the Cowboys off the Detroit Lions practice squad in 2005. The Lions originally signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Montana, where he played with kicker Dan Carpenter. According to Procter’s website, he plays drums in a Dallas-based heavy metal band coincidentally named Free Reign.
You can watch a video of Procter’s band by clicking this link.
Can’t say I’m a big fan of the music personally, but I like the intensity. Once again, though, the Dolphins are a big fan of versatility. Plus, I can picture Sparano as a closet heavy-metal kinda guy.
I Don’t Hate You, Jason Taylor
Jason Taylor crossed over to the dark side. The smog-filled, arrogant and evil dark side. And because of this there are a lot of Dolfans who now detest the one-time face of the franchise, and I can’t say that I blame them.
[picappgallerysingle id="648836"]As a Dolfan, it’s been my sworn duty to despise the New York Jets and Jets fans alike, but I can’t bring myself to hate this guy. Not after all we’ve been through (and I mean that as heterosexually as possible).
Am I disappointed that Jason is a Jet? Well, does Rex Ryan have an enormously thick gut protruding from his sewer-green windbreaker? There’s no question about it. It does kinda feel like getting cheated on – with your uglier, less charming step-brother. But no, I don’t hate Jason.
I honestly don’t know if it was Taylor or the Dolphin front office who got in the way of any kind of deal being made this off-season, but it really doesn’t matter much anymore since Jason decided to get all buddy-buddy with the team he’s claimed to hate his entire career. He even remarked how much “better” the team atmosphere is in New York, saying that it was like “night and day” compared to the Dolphins.
Now I don’t have access to all the behind the scenes activity in Miami, but I do know that it was good enough for Chad Pennington to take a paycut and the role of third-string quarterback, so it must not be too bad. I thought you had more class than that, Jason.
But I read a story yesterday about Jason Taylor picking a number for his new, god-forsakenly ugly jersey, and it put it all in a much better perspective. You see, his usual #99 was already taken by eight-year veteran linebacker Bryan Thomas, so Taylor chose to go with #95 in honor of the great Dolfin defensive tackle Tim Bowens.
“Timbo was one of my all-time favorites,” Taylor told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “He’s the most unselfish, underrated teammate I’ve ever had.”
A classy move reminiscent to Jason’s better days in Miami. Bowens, a two-time Pro Bowler, played 11 seasons with the Dolphins and retired after the 2004 season. He was a big (and I mean BIG) part of the great Dolphin defense that included Taylor, brother-in-law Zach Thomas, Brock Marion, and Sam Madison (to name a few).
That’s when it hit me. Things have changed in Miami since the Tim Bowens days; after Taylor departed in 2008 (presumably on bad terms), Bill Parcells and co. have turned things around – the atmosphere, the expectations and the mentality. Parcells hired a much tougher Tony Sparano, changed the offensive and defensive schemes and in doing so departed from the days of old (or atleast the one’s Jason remembers), and of course moved on from the awkward teenage years of Cam Cameron (thank God).
This transition all happened during Taylor’s stint in Washington, so when he came back last season we all (including Jason) assumed he would come back and be the same player he was before he left – the face of the franchise. His friends and family all lived in Miami, so it seemed as if he’d never left to begin with. Cue the warm and fuzzy nostalgic music.
That’s where the rift occurred.
You see, even though Jason is stuck in New York, his heart is still stuck in Miami and the year is 2001.
While we still love to think about the good ole days, we needed to move on. The new Dolphins are no longer a franchise that cares about individual faces. With Parcells in charge, the Dolphins have adopted a team-first mentality where things like missing training camp for Dancing With the Stars and individual egos are discouraged because they don’t benefit the overall good of the team (that’s not socialism, that’s football).
Yes, it’s a new era in Miami. An era that doesn’t include a much older Jason Taylor, as much as I hate to admit it. Sometimes it hurts to grow, but it’s an inevitable process of getting better. It was time for both parties to reach a clean break – a no-strings-attached divorce. I guess that meant Jason Taylor would have to be a New York Jet.
So no, I don’t hate you, Jason Taylor; I don’t even blame you for playing in New York, because it was the best (and maybe the only) offer on the table. In fact, I hope the Dolphins and Taylor can eventually resolve their issues and do the same thing Zach Thomas did this week – that is if Taylor stops talking trash about us.
But as for Jason the Jet, he is nothing more than the enemy dressed in puke-colored clothing, and while I wish him the best, I also wish him the bitter taste of defeat…it’s a little something I like to call FINDICATION.
Former Dolphin Works With St. Louis DBs
It was good to see Zach Thomas back in Miami for a change, and home to stay. It kinda reminded me of the good ole days, circa 1999, when life was great. It also got me wondering about some of the other players on that great Dolphin defense.
Like, for instance, where in the world is Sam Madison?
[picappgallerysingle id="1450558"]I read in a story from NBC Sports that St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo has invited former Dolphins corner back Sam Madison to work out with the team’s young defensive backs in OTAs this week.
One of my personal favorites, Madison was drafted by the Dolphins out of Louisville in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. In his nine years with Miami, Sammy recorded 353 tackles, 31 interceptions and two touchdowns, which was good enough to earn four-straight Pro Bowl selections (1999-2002).
Starting at corner opposite Terrell Buckley and Patrick Surtain respectively, Madison was an integral part of a smothering Dolphin defense that carried Miami to five-consecutive post-seasons from 1997-2001, including a career-high eight interceptions in 1998 (Buckley also had eight that year).
However, it wasn’t until two years ago that Madison earned his first championship ring with the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. Seriously, what’s with all our great former players winning rings with teams I despise? Buckley, Larry Izzo, Junior Seau to name a few.
On the other hand, at least Madison and the Giants did beat the New England Patriots. You’re welcome, ’72 Dolphins.
Madison, a 12-year veteran, reportedly says he wants to continue playing, but he’s still recovering from an ankle surgery that kept him out of the entire ’09 season. According to the report, if Madison doesn’t receive any opportunities this summer, the four-time Pro Bowler may take a coaching job on Spagnuolo’s staff.
A pretty good pick-up by the Rams in my opinion, I know I certainly wouldn’t mind if Madison came back down to Miami to show our young guys a few things. What’dya say, Sammy?
