Dolphins new captain steering ship in right direction

BOSTON-- Tony Sparano was a nice guy, he really was.  The players loved him, his coaches respected him, and he wanted to coach this football team as badly as he wanted to take his next breath.

But after what Joe Philbin's done over his first ten days as head coach, it's becoming increasingly evident why the Dolphins had losing seasons in three out of four years under Sparano.

Tony Sparano didn't have what it takes to be successful as an NFL head coach.

Joe Philbin, so far, does.

No, I'm not talking about the X's and O's part of Philbin's game, we won't have a good grasp on that until sometime in September.  But from a publicity standpoint?  Oh yeah, Philbin's got that part down, and that's something Sparano severely lacked.

Take last week for example.  Joe Philbin, GM Jeff Ireland, and CEO Mike Dee visited two of South Florida's biggest newspapers, The South Florida Sun Sentinel and The Miami Herald, to conduct interviews and let Philbin meet the Miami media for the first time.  This was the first time the Dolphins had ever done this.  Not during the Sparano era, not during the Jimmy Johnson era, and not even during the Shula era had a Dolphins head coach visited the media like this.

Joe Philbin hasn't even been in Miami two weeks and he's already doing things that his first nine predecessors failed to do over the last 40 years.

This is a good sign for Miami Dolphins' fans.

A very good sign.

Philbin has been busy on the football end of things as well.  Late last week he hired Mike Sherman and Kevin Coyle as offensive and defensive coordinators, both his first choices to fill the positions, and both widely respected as NFL coaches.  With the two most important positions filled it is expected that the remainder of Philbin's staff will be complete by February, in time for the NFL combine.

This shows initiative.  This shows ambition.

Two more things I won't say that Sparano lacked, but were definitely not his strengths.

Again, a good sign of things to come for this organization.

If you've watched any of Joe Philbins' press conferences than you know what I'm talking about.  He's a man of integrity, high character, and preaches excellence.  That being said, he's also got a dry sense of humor to him, and a father- like personality, which isn't hard to believe seeing as he's a father of six.

Will any of this transfer into wins come September?  Who knows.  But if you've followed the Dolphins over the last decade like I have (unfortunately), then doesn't it just feel different this time around?  Doesn't it feel like this team is finally growing up?  They finally hired a head coach who makes sense!  Nothing against Tony Sparano, like I said he was a nice guy, but did we really need an offensive line coach in 2008?  Don't think so.

On the other hand, Joe Philbin is EXACTLY what the Miami Dolphins needed this time around.  An offensive coach descended not from Bill Parcells, but from Mike McCarthy, who brings with him an aggressive, up- beat scheme.

"Aggressive," and "up- beat,"- two words that have been foreign in South Florida for the last decade.

Well it seems that Joe Philbin is bringing a lot of things back to Miami that have been foreign for a long time.  Right now its good publicity, smart hires, and an aggressive offensive scheme.

Let's hope in September he brings back the most foreign thing of all:

Wins.

Brandon Marshall dooms QB Matt Moore with postgame comments (with video) PLUS poll question

Brandon Marshall may have been outnumbered in Hawaii being only one of two Miami Dolphins' that participated in yesterday's AFC vs. NFC Pro Bowl game.

But then again, hasn't Marshall always been a one man show?

Marshall reeled in six catches, four of them for touchdowns, in his 177 yard MVP performance in the AFC's 59-41 win on Sunday night. But it wasn't only Marshall's actions that stood out, unfortunately.

It was also his words. I know, shocker.

“Quarterbacks make it easier for me,” Marshall told a NBC sideline reporter during the Pro Bowl. “These guys are putting it in the right places and I’m making plays. It’s easy right now.”

"Down in Miami, getting a feel for different quarterbacks, I had three or four of them throughout my two years there,” said Marshall, who caught 81 passes for 1,214 yards and six touchdowns last season. Marshall would also go on to say that "elite QB's put the ball in the right spot."

Ouch.


Marshall has a point though. In his first two years in South Florida the sixth year receiver out of Central Florida has caught passes from Chad Henne, Chad Pennington, Tyler Thigpen, Matt Moore, and JP Losman. Five different starting quarterbacks for a receiver who only had one, Jay Cutler, in four years with the Broncos.

His frustration is understandable.

That being said, if the Dolphins cannot sign a Matt Flynn or a Peyton Manning and are stuck with current starter Matt Moore, then yesterday's comments have the potential to become a problem. There is not a more important relationship then that between the QB and the number one receiver. Just take a look:

Brady and Welker

Manning and Cruz

Romo and Bryant

Newton and Smith

Stafford and Ca. Johnson

Rogers and Jennings

Shaub and And. Johnson

Ryan and White

Brees and Colston

Get the picture?

If Matt Moore should go into 2012 as the starter then one of two things will happen: Either both Moore and Marshall will get together and clear the air OR the two will have run- ins throughout the season building up to an eventual explosion. Owens and McNabb ring a bell?

 I don't see either of those two happening, however, because if Moore's fate wasn't already sealed before the game yesterday, between Marshall's in game actions and post game comments, it definitely is now.

Brandon Marshall doomed the fate of QB Matt Moore.  And that may be a good thing for the Miami Dolphins.

Check out the highlights of Marshall's performance and his post game comments below, and after that go and vote on our latest poll. Enjoy.

• Brandon Marshall Pro Bowl Highlights

• Marshall post game interview

Go vote on our latest poll question!

Which QB would better suite Brandon Marshall?

• Peyton Manning
• Matt Flynn
• Robert Griffin III
• Matt Moore
• Other

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Philbin family, Miami Dolphins need each other now more than ever

BOSTON-- Joe Philbin stumbled his way through the question that sends chills down the backs of parents worldwide. With GM Jeff Ireland sitting on his right and a camera positioned directly in front of him, Philbin had nowhere to go, nowhere to hide, nowhere to look but down.

"Obviously it's been a heartbreaking experience for all of us," Philbin said in response to his family's coping with the loss of their 21 year old son Michael just two weeks ago. "It's certainly not over, today I had to go look at the bio for myself in the media guide and there's my son's name in there, and ya know, how am I going to write that in my media guide?"

"I was in the office by myself and it was very, very difficult."

"Very difficult" is the lightest, most mild way of putting what Philbin and his family have been through over the last two weeks.

But then again, "very difficult" may have been the only words he could get out.

Visibly, Philbin is a broken man. The emotional toll of the last fourteen days has been the equivalent of the toll some people experience in a full year. Philbin lost his son, Michael, on January 9th from an apparent drowning accident in a Wisconsin river. Just six days later Philbin was on the Packers' sidelines for the NFC Divisional game against the Giants, a game in which they lost 37-20.

With his son gone, and his team given an early playoff exit, Joe Philbin was seemingly down and out.

"I came home Sunday night and really the TV hadn't been on in our house for a week. The Miami Dolphins maybe have hired a coach, I had no idea.  I walked down and I was talking to my son, Tim, and I saw he was kind of dejected and he asked me, ‘Dad what are the Miami Dolphins doing?' And I said I have no idea what they're doing. 'You're going to go after the job aren't you?' I said I don't know what I'm going to do. I was dejected on a lot of different fronts. He looked at me and said, ‘You better go after that job...

Your son, Mike, would want you to go after that job."

Just five days after that conversation, Philbin was on a plane, sent by owner Stephen Ross, to Miami, preparing his introductory speech at his first press conference as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

The Philbin family had been given a fresh start, one they desperately needed.

And what team to better take a fresh start with than the one that resides in South Florida? The one that hasn't won a playoff game in over a decade.

The one that hasn't won a Super Bowl in nearly four of them.

As badly as Joe Philbin needed the Miami Dolphins, the Dolphins may have needed Joe Philbin even more.

You see, football is more than just wins and losses, who's in first, and who's the best. Football is about new opportunities, second chances, and leaps of faith. Joe Philbin may not be the flashiest head coach ever, he may not have the most experience, and his name certainly isn't Jeff Fisher.

But sometimes, in football, none of those things matter.

Sometimes, the only thing that matters is a second chance, a fresh start, and a new beginning.

And for both Philbin and the Dolphins, those three things are what they need now more than ever.

Whether it be the loss of loved one, or the loss of a once premiere franchise, Joe Philbin and the Miami Dolphins found each other in their darkest hour.  With the Philbin family losing one of their own, and the Dolphins losing coveted coach Jeff Fisher to the St. Louis Rams, both parties had been knocked down, with two very different situations mind you, but knocked down nonetheless.

The Miami Dolphins took a chance on Joe Philbin, but a chance very much worth taking.  They've given the family a reason for hope, a reason for optimism, and the opportunity to recover.

Like I said, both parties have been knocked down in two very different ways over the last two weeks.

But both seem ready to help each other get back up.

Miami Dolphins name offensive, defensive coordinators

Joe Philbin has wasted little time in getting to work since being named head coach of the Miami Dolphins a week ago today.

Philbin and the Dolphins have reportedly finalized deals today with former Packers and Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman, and Bengals Secondary coach Kevin Coyle. Sherman will take over as offensive coordinator, all but ending Brian Daboll's brief stint in South Beach, and Coyle will fill the void at defensive coordinator left behind by Mike Nolan.

Both these hirings were Philbins' first as head coach, and on top of that both were reportedly his first choices as well.

Sherman, 57, has known Philbin for the better part of 30 years, teaching his English class in Prep School and giving Philbin his first NFL coaching job nine years ago when he was the Packers head coach. Speaking of that time with Green Bay, Sherman led the Packers to a 57-39 record in six seasons and a 2-4 postseason record before his firing after the 2005 season.

Sherman is expected to run the West Coast offense in Miami, which is the scheme he's run his entire career. This hiring will undoubtedly make the 'Matt Flynn to Miami' talk all more credible seeing as now both head coach and offensive coordinator have Green Bay ties.

On the defensive side, Kevin Coyle runs the 4-3 defense, which may cause some turnover on a defensive unit that's run a 3-4 scheme for the last two years under Mike Nolan.

This is Coyle's first time serving as a defensive coordinator. He's spent the past 11 seasons leading a Bengals secondary, which has developed top notch cornerbacks like Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall.

His unit has helped the Bengals record 160 interceptions and he's also found a way to properly utilize safeties Gibril Wilson and Chris Crocker, two former Dolphins safety starters that were major busts as free agent acquisitions.

Philbins' next major hire will come on the Special Teams side of the ball, and that may be the easiest one of all as reports out of Miami indicate that Philbin plans to retain current special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, who's unit was one of the best in football in 2011.

New Dolphin added to Pro Bowl PLUS question of the day

A relatively quiet Wednesday for the Miami Dolphins as owner Stephen Ross and GM Jeff Ireland continue to spend the week scouting and evaluating talent at Senior Bowl practice in Mobile, AL.

The only bit of news to report is Dolphins nose tackle Paul Soliai being added to the AFC's Pro Bowl team, taking the place of injured Ravens defensive tackle Haolti Ngata.

"It's an honor to be named to the Pro Bowl," said Soliai who combined for 27 tackles and two pass deflections this season.  "I am looking forward to going to Hawaii and representing the Dolphins as well as the AFC. I would like to thank everyone who helped me get here."

This is Soliai's first Pro Bowl selection.

Anyways..

Today's poll has to do with ESPN 2's controversial First Take analyst Skip Bayless. As you may or may not know, Skip has a running history with Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, who has come onto the show a number of times to take on Skip in a debate.

During Monday's show, Suggs phoned in to talk to Skip about the Ravens season ending loss to the Patriots just a day prior, and some ESPN analysts, not to mention any names Stephen A Smith, have accused Bayless of being disrespectful during the interview seeing as it came just a day after the loss to New England. Suggs apparently thought so as well, calling Bayless "a douche bag" during the interview.

So, watch the interview and tell me what you think. You can also write in the comments section if you either become a follower or leave your comment as "anonymous," or you can post your comments to our Facebook wall. Enjoy.

Was Skip Bayless "disrespectful" during the Terrell Suggs interview?

• Yes
• No
• That's just Skip Bayless

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Oh brother: Why a Giants win would be GREAT for the Dolphins

BOSTON-- Over the last decade, the Manning brothers have dominated the sporting world.

The first seven years were dominated by Peyton, the coveted first overall pick out of the University of Tennessee.  Bursting onto the scene in 1998 with the Indianapolis Colts, Manning struggled out of the gate, going 3-13 in his first full NFL season.

That would be his first of only two losing seasons since then.

Manning quickly established himself as one of the premiere quarterbacks to ever play the game, winning his first of four MVP awards in 2003, just five years into the league. Three seasons' later Manning led the Indianapolis Colts to their first ever Super Bowl title, beating the Chicago Bears 29-17 while being named Super Bowl XLI MVP along the way.

But like I said, there are two Manning's to this story, and while Peyton was celebrating his first Super Bowl title, brother Eli was slowly making a name for himself as well.

Drafted two years prior in the 2004 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, who then flip-flopped him for Giants draftee Phillip Rivers, Manning was thrown into the New York spotlight halfway through the year due in large part to his last name, not his first.  He went 1-6 in his first seven NFL starts, falling under immediate scrutiny from the New York media.

A year later, in his first full season, Eli bounced back, leading the Giants to the playoffs only to throw three interceptions in a loss against Carolina.

Again, Eli took the backseat to brother Peyton.

 It wasn't until January 2008, a full year removed from his brothers' Super Bowl run, that Eli Manning nudged Peyton out of the spotlight, and into the backseat where he'd sat for so long.  And maybe it wasn't even until he beat Brett Favre and Tom Brady in back to back games, on the road, that Eli Manning truly established himself in the NFL.

It took beating the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII for Eli Manning to finally garner respect for his first name, not his last.

So here they sit today, both with rings on their fingers' and both with Super Bowl MVP trophies on their shelves.  The only difference is, Eli is preparing for a date with the Patriots;  Peyton is preparing for a date with owner Jim Irsay to discuss his future.

And this is GREAT for the Miami Dolphins.

Assuming Peyton Manning is released, and reports out there speculate he will be, then the only thing left for the Dolphins to root for will be a Giants victory.  Not because it would signal the decline of the Brady/Belichick era, which is also a reason to pull for New York, but because of what would follow.

 Eli would have finally overtaken Peyton!  To the media it would be a changing of the guard, the rise of one Manning and the falling of another.  But to older brother Peyton, it will be one thing and one thing only:  Motivation.

Motivation to come back from his third neck surgery.  Motivation to return to the NFL, a league that was once his and has since been taken away.  Motivation to return to the limelight where he once had a seat reserved for him, only to since have the reservation name changed from Peyton to Eli.

Because right now Eli Manning has taken the lead, and Peyton knows it.

He also knows that with a win he'll [Eli] start pulling away on the Manning family spectrum while he stands hopelessly by in a therapy room watching his once untouchable legacy be smeared by his younger brother.

Ever heard of the term "brotherly love?"  Well throw that out the window if Eli beats the Patriots in two weeks.

Because whether he admits it or not, Peyton Manning will.

And that's great news for the Miami Dolphins.

The case for each QB

Yesterday I wrote that owner Stephen Ross has made it crystal clear that finding a franchise QB is at the top of his to-do list now that Joe Philbin has been hired:

"I'm not stupid," Ross responded to the question he's been asked a hundred times, "I'm looking for a franchise QB, that's the highest thing on our agenda!"

I also opened the latest poll at the Dolphinsider asking who you guys wanted to man the ship for the Dolphins in 2012- Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn, Robert Griffin III, or Matt Moore?  So please go vote now if you haven't done so already.

Now I'm going to expand on those four names, giving you the pros and cons that come with each QB:


  Peyton Manning:  Pros- Where do I begin?  A sure fire first ballot hall-of-famer, with two super appearances and one super bowl ring, the four-time MVP would turn the 6-10 Miami Dolphins of 2011 into an immediate playoff contender in 2012.  Cons- He's 36 years old, but age doesn't have as big of an effect on QB's.  The big concern with Manning is his neck.  If he can return to full health, and that's a big IF, then Manning has 2-3 good years left in him.


  Matt Flynn:  Pros- Flynn is only 26 years old, and on top of that he's worked closely with new head coach Joe Philbin being that he's from Green Bay.  While he's only started two games in his career, due largely in part to Aaron Rogers, he threw for seven touchdowns and over 700 yards in those games.  Cons- He's only started two career NFL games, two!  Enough said.


  Robert Griffin III:  Pros- The 2011 Heisman winner has a tremendous upside.  He's garnered a lot of comparison to Cam Newton, who by the way just made the Pro Bowl, and has shown he can do it all:  Run, throw, and think.  He could be the QB of this team for a long, long time.  Cons- As I wrote yesterday, it would take a a kings ransom from the Dolphins to move up in the draft to acquire RG3.  How good could he be without Jake Long and Brandon Marshall?  And with every rookie QB comes one thing:  Uncertainty.  There's no guarentee he'll pan out.


   Matt Moore:  Pros- His teammates love him, and how could they not?  Moore stepped in for a winless team last season and led them back to respect, going 6-3 after the 0-7 start.  Moore was also the league's 12th rated QB, and threw 16 TD's to only 9 interceptions in limited time.  Cons-  You have to ask yourself, will Matt Moore win this team a super bowl?  Does he scare opposing defenses like a Manning or Griffin III would?  There is no doubt that Moore will be on this team next year seeing as he's under contract, but it'll likely be as a back-up.

So now I ask you again, who do you want to QB the Dolphins next season?  If you haven't voted please go do so, and remember to like us on Facebook!

And the 2012 starting QB for the Miami Dolphins is..

Yeah right.

That question won't be answered until sometime in March, and maybe not even until late April will we truly have a good grasp of who will be under center for the Dolphins week one.

But we can sure talk about it until we're blue in the face, can't we?

Last Saturday with the hiring of Joe Philbin the 'Matt Flynn to Miami' speculation started up, only to be trounced a day later when word got out that Peyton Manning is "high on owner Stephen Ross' list."

Then there are still those who are on the Robert Griffin III bandwagon, who would take the blockbuster of all blockbuster deals to get.

And then there are those in the minority who still want to see what Matt Moore can do next year with a full off-season and training camp.

So I ask you, who do you want behind center next September?

Which QB would you like to see start for the Dolphins in 2012?

• Peyton Manning
• Matt Flynn
• Robert Griffin III
• Matt Moore
• Somebody else

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Miami Dolphins could be next seasons' 49ers

BOSTON-- Geographically speaking, the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers couldn't be further apart.  One resides on the most eastern, most southern part of the country in Miami.  The other is located on the other side of this great nation, in the wonderful city of San Francisco.

The two cities mentioned are a little over 3,000 miles apart.  On two separate coasts, with two different time zones.

Geographically speaking, the Dolphins and 49ers have nothing common.  But football wise?

Well, they may just be a carbon copy of one another.  Lets hope so at least.

January 2nd, 2011, the San Francisco 49ers final game of a disastrous 2010 season in which they finished with a 6-10 record and in search of a new head coach and new direction. 

 Sound familiar?  

Fast forward 12 months to last night, where those same 49ers came within a fumble of the Super Bowl.  That's all it took, one year, one season, 365 days to go from 6-10 to hosting an NFC championship game.

And guess what folks?  These 6-10 Miami Dolphins are just as talented if not more talented than those 6-10 49ers.  Don't think so?  Lets take a look.

Matt Moore (87.1 QB rating) or Alex Smith (90.7 QB rating)?

Brandon Marshall (1,214 yards, 6 TD's) or Michael Crabtree (874 yards, 4 TD's)?

Reggie Bush (1.086 yards, 6 TD's) or Frank Gore (1,211 yards, 8 TD's)?

Eerily similar, huh?

The 49ers had a dying fan base, an empty stadium, and a playoff record that read 0-2 since the turn of the century.  

Aren't we experiencing the exact same thing here in Miami? 

 The fan base?  dwindling by the year.  Sun Life Stadium?  Unless fans are all wearing the same shade of orange as the seats then I'd say it's emptying in multitudes.  And our playoff record since 2000?  2-4, with those two wins coming in 2000 and 2001, over a decade ago.

Again, eerily similar, no?

Last January the 49ers hired experienced yet unproven Jim Harbaugh as the team's next head coach.  This past Friday the Dolphins named Joe Philbin as the franchises 10th head coach.  Also experienced.  Also unproven. 

The Quarterbacks?  Alex Smith and Matt Moore.  Both journeymen, both maligned, both scrutinized.  Harbaugh did wonders with Smith in a very shortened off-season.  Philbin already has a better QB in Moore, and may even have, say, Peyton Manning at his disposal?  But that's another story.

Still need more convincing?  How about this one:  The type of offense both coaches run?

The West Coast offense.

The only difference in these two teams, besides where they call home, is the timing.  The Dolphins are a year behind the 49ers.  Joe Philbin is a year behind Jim Harbaugh. Couldn't the 2012 Miami Dolphins be the 2011 San Francisco 49ers?  

Man, it sure would be nice if they were.

And I, for one, don't think they're that far off.

      

Championship Sunday picks PLUS Peyton Manning on watch?

Another 2-2 weekend, I just can't seem to break that average barrier lately, can I?  Well, maybe third time's a charm...gulp.

Baltimore @ New England:  Truly a tale of two teams.  The Patriots are built around one person, and one person only:  Tom Brady.  The Ravens, on the other hand, are built around eleven people, all on the defensive side of the football.  This game comes down to one thing, and one thing only- Can the Baltimore defense contain the New England offense?  If they can, and that is a monumental if, then the Ravens will win this game.  If they cannot, which has been the case for most of the NFL over the last decade, then it could be a long, long day for Harbaugh and company.  My gut tells me the Pats will win this game, but I picked the Ravens to be in Indianapolis in my original playoff picks, so I'll stick with that here.  Pick: 24-23, Ravens. (Result: 23-20, Patriots)

New York @ San Francisco:  Why have I not jumped on the 49er's bandwagon yet?  I didn't like them throughout the season, and I didn't like them last week against the Saints, yet time and time again they've proven me wrong!  Alex Smith is no longer a liability, rather an asset, and that defense hits harder than any I've ever seen.  Throw in some good old fashion ground and pound football from Frank Gore and you've got yourself a Super Bowl caliber team.  So again, I ask myself, why haven't I jumped on the 49er's bandwagon? Well, it's because I'm already on one all the across the country in New York.  Enough said.  There's no way I'm picking against the G-men this weekend, not after what I saw last weekend.  Pick:  31-27, Giants (Result: 20-17 (OT), Giants..

One more bit of news before I go plop myself on the couch for the next seven hours.  ESPN's Chris Mortenson reported this morning that sources close to the Dolphins have told him that they will be monitoring Peyton Mannings' health "very closely" over the coming weeks.  Interesting Mort, very interesting.

Joe Philbin to coach Miami Dolphins

ESPN's Adam Schefter has learned that the Dolphins plan to hire Joe Philbin as the next head coach.

Again, nothing is officially confirmed yet, but Schefter has tweeted that Philbin will be hired.

[Update: Philbin has officially been named the Miami Dolphins head coach.  Below are statements from both Philbin and owner Stephen Ross]

Philbin: "I want to thank Steve Ross and Jeff Ireland for giving me the opportunity to become the head coach of one of the premier franchises in professional sports. I also want to thank the Green Bay Packers for all the support the organization has given me during my time there. The Dolphins have a strong nucleus to build around, and working with everyone in the organization, I know that together we will return the team to its winning tradition. I have seen how much the fans in South Florida care about the Dolphins, and that passion is one reason why I’m really excited to be here. I’m looking forward to their support, and I can’t wait to get started."


Ross: "We are thrilled to have Joe Philbin join the Miami Dolphins as our head coach. Joe has all the attributes that we were looking for when we started this process. Jeff Ireland and I felt Joe was the right choice to bring the Dolphins back to the success we enjoyed in the past. I know I join our fans in welcoming him as the newest member of the Dolphin family." 

Decisions, decisions, decisions

We are nearing the 2 o'clock hour here on the East Coast and still no word on who the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins will be.  Yes, rumors are flying around left and right.  Agent Drew Rosenhaus said yesterday on WQAM that he "would not be surprised if Mike McCoy is the next head coach of the Dolphins." Rosenhaus went on to say that he believes McCoy is the right man for the job, especially with his history of developing quarterbacks.

Rumors have also been started, and since stopped, regarding Packers OC Joe Philbin.  The Miami Herald's Armando Salguero reported earlier this morning that NFL insider Danny More has told him that Philbin "has been eliminated as a candidate."  This is not true.  Salguero goes on to say that a source close to Philbin "has not been told one way or another what [Philbins'] his status is with the Dolphins."

And ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this morning that there could be a decision made today, but nothing official has happened at this time.

So what do we make of all this?

Well, nothing.  All three candidates are, as far as we know, still in the running, and owner Stephen Ross is in Miami today after a weeks' worth of interviews in New York.  My prediction?  I'd say that Mike McCoy is named head coach before the day is over.  Until then, I leave you with the radio clip of agent Drew Rosenhaus' interview on WQAM.  Enjoy.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/videogallery/67485793/Sports/Drew-Rosenhaus-says-Mike-McCoy-will-be-the-Dolphins-next-coach

Zimmer out of running; McCoy very much in it

The Dolphins have scheduled a second interview with Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, this coming after the Miami Herald reported that Bengals DC Mike Zimmer, who many thought the front runner to get the head coaching job, is no longer a candidate for the position.

Along with McCoy, Packers OC Joe Philbin, and interim head coach Todd Bowles are the the remaining candidates for the head coaching job.

Philbin will meet with owner Stephen Ross on Wednesday in New York, while McCoy will meet with Ross the following day, also in New York.

Bowles will also get a second interview sometime this week, and Ross' decision will then come in the days following all three interviews.

So who do you think should be the next coach of the Miami Dolphins?

Who should the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins be?

• Mike McCoy
• Joe Philbin
• Todd Bowles

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Mike Nolan heads north, hired as Falcons DC

Mike Nolan's tenure in Miami has come and gone.  Hired two years ago by Tony Sparano, who has since been fired, Nolan led the Dolphins defense to consecutive years ranked in the top 15, along with a rushing defense ranked in the top 5.

Sources say Nolan will reunite in Atlanta with current head coach Mike Smith, whom he worked with in Baltimore.

Nolan was respected by players and coaches alike, and was reportedly disappointed that he did not receive a job interview for the current head coaching vacancy in Miami.

"I think I'm pretty damn good at what I do. I've done it a lot of places and we've done it pretty damn well. I don't doubt myself on that," Nolan said. "But again, getting a job, not getting a job. If you're the one handing out job then you get to decide that, and not me."


This loss could make Bengals DC Mike Zimmer a front runner to land the head coaching job in Miami, and rightfully so, because if Nolan is not replaced by somebody like Zimmer than this is a clear loss for the Dolphins.

Another day, another interview, another new head coaching candidate

The Miami Dolphins are currently interviewing Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.  According to Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinal, McCoy is thought of highly within the Dolphins organization:  "I've been warned not to sleep on his ability as a playcaller, QB developer, and his ability to put together a quality staff. He also has an existing relationship with Matt Moore and Brandon Marshall," Kelly writes. 


Looking at what McCoy did with the Broncos offense this year, especially considering the circumstances surrounding QB Tim Tebow, Kelly may have a point.  While McCoy's offense finished 23rd in the league this year in total offense, they finished 2010 ranked 13th.


The relationship with QB Matt Moore that Kelly mentions dates back to McCoy's years he spent with the Carolina Panthers, nine to be exact, which is where Moore began his career.


Keep checking back as reports continue to unfold from South Florida.

For Miami Dolphins, focus needs to be on QB, not head coach

BOSTON-- Ever heard of the old saying "An NFL coach is only as good as his QB is?"

Boy, has that held up or what?

For the last two weeks the Miami Dolphins have put all of their efforts, all of their focus into finding the next head coach to man the ship in South Florida, and so far owner Stephen Ross has come up empty.

Jeff Fisher is in St. Louis right now, fat, rich, and happy with a thicker wallet and a franchise quarterback.  In Miami, however, Stephen Ross and GM Jeff Ireland continue to do some serious damage control in the wake of losing out on another big name head coach, and both are facing the reality of having to hire another lesser known coach, much to the public dismay of Dolfans all over.

But folks, the next hire won't be the biggest, most important of the off-season.

The one after that will.

It seems that we've all gotten so caught up in the latest coaching carousel that the more important, more franchise- altering question has taken the backseat in Miami.

Come on, you all know what question I'm referring to.  It's the same one this franchise has had to answer, and subsequently answered wrong, for the last decade.

Who's the next quarterback going to be?

Scratch that, who's the next FRANCHISE quarterback going to be?

Wait, let me try one more time.  Who's the next franchise quarterback who's going to bring a Super Bowl back to Miami going to be?  There, that's the one I want!

Jay Fiedler, Brian Griese, AJ Feeley, Sage Rosenfels, Gus Ferrote, Joey Harrington, Daunte Culpepper, Cleo Lemon, Trent Green, John Beck, Chad Pennington, Chad Henne, Matt Moore.  Whew.  Let me pause to take a minute and shake out the carpal tunnel in my wrists.

Thirteen.  Go ahead, count em'.  Thirteen starting quarterbacks for the Miami Dolphins since number 13 hung it up in 2000.

Wanna know how many starting quarterbacks the Patriots, who are one win away from the Super Bowl, have had in that same time span?  One, Tom Brady.

The Colts?  One (No, this year doesn't count), Peyton Manning.

The Packers?  Two, Brett Favre and Aaron Rogers.

The Steelers?  Three, Kordell Stewart, Tommy Maddox, and Ben Roethlisberger.

What about Super Bowl rings?  Tom Brady?  Well, he's got three and he's been in four.

Peyton Manning?  Well, he's got one and he's been in two.

Aaron Rogers and Brett Favre?  Well they've got two combined and they've been in three.

Big Big?  Well, he's got two and he's been in three himself.

And now the stats on those thirteen starting quarterbacks for the Miami Dolphins?..

Well, they've got zero rings, with zero appearances, and with the exception of Jay Fiedler and Chad Pennington, their playoff record?  0-0, because they haven't even been to the playoffs.

Message to Dolphins owner Stephen Ross:  Elite quarterbacks win you Super Bowls, coaches do not.

Sure the head coach is important, but he's merely second tier to an elite QB.  You will argue that Tom Brady had Bill Belichick.  I will argue that Bill Belichick had Tom Brady.

You will argue that Peyton Manning had Tony Dungy.  I will argue that without Peyton Manning, Tony Dungy doesn't even win that division, much less the Super Bowl.

Without an elite QB a team will not win the Super Bowl.  Do you think Tom Coughlin has a ring without Eli Manning?  Not a chance.

The Miami Dolphins need to move on from the Jeff Fisher debacle and find their next head coach, and they need to do it soon.  Very soon.  Because without a head coach you cannot figure out who your next quarterback will be.

And without a QB, and a good one at that, you cannot win in this league.

Stephen Ross has a giant task in front of him at the moment.  Picking the next head coach of an organization is one of the most important decisions in all of pro sports.

But please don't think it's over when you've made it, Mr. Ross.

Oh no.

It's only just begun.

Playoff Picks: Round 2

Well, I went 2-2 last week.  That's average, and that folks is not acceptable here at the Dolphinsider!

Lets try again, shall we?

New Orleans @ San Francisco:  I may have only got two right from last week, but boy, I almost hit that Saints/Lions game perfectly, didn't I?  I don't know what it is about them, but I really like Sean Payton's team this year.  And that offense, holy cow, 5 possessions, 5 touchdowns in the second half last week.  Can you say unstoppable?  However, if they were to be stopped, Jim Harbaugh's 49ers defense would be the ones to do it.  They rank fourth in the league in total defense, and first in stopping the run.  Pretty good, huh?  To bad the Saints have Drew Brees, and the Niners rank 16th in stopping the pass, which could give the Saints a slight edge.  Playing on the road has been tough so far this season for the Bayou Boys, but in this league it's all about the QB's, and I'll take Brees over Smith any day of the week.  Pick: 31-28, Saints.  (Result: 36-32, 49ers)

Denver @ New England:  Oh the Tim Tebow mania.  What a week the national media, including myself, has had with the young man out of Florida.  316 yards, 3 total touchdowns, 31.6 yards per completion, and an OT win against the mighty Steelers?  Are you kidding me?!  If he can put those numbers up against the league's top ranked defense, just imagine what he'll do against the Pats and their 30th ranked defense.  But the problem won't lie within the Broncos offense this weekend, no, the real problems will come on their defense who has to deal with "Tawmy Terrific" as he's known here in New England.  The Patriots have some how flown under the radar this year, and especially this week with all the Tebow hype, and that doesn't bode well for the Denver Broncos, and for the other eight teams for that matter.  I like the Broncos in this game, I really really do, but if you think I'm picking against Brady, at home, on a frigid January night, then you're wicked crazy!  Pick: 35-28, Patriots.  (Result: 45-10, Patriots)

Houston @ Baltimore:  These Texans really screwed me up last weekend.  C'mon, TJ Yates?  Really?  My hat's off to you kid, really an impressive performance on a big stage like that.  But now you're facing a real team, one that I think will be in Indianapolis in three weeks.  Defensively, it doesn't get much better than the Baltimore Ravens.  Third in the league at stopping the run, which doesn't bode well for you Arian Foster, and fourth at stopping the pass, which really doesn't bode well for you TJ Yates.  Even if Joe Flacco struggles, which I expect he will against this Texans secondary, the Ravens will still find a way to win this game.  Maybe it's the home field advantage?  Maybe it's the sheer thought of staring Ray Lewis straight in the eyes?  Whatever it is, I'll give the edge to the Ravens in a defensive struggle.  Pick: 24-16, Ravens.   (Result: 20-13, Ravens)

New York @ Green Bay:  This is easily the game of the weekend.  No, don't give me the Broncos/Pats B.S., take Tim Tebow out of that game and it's a snoozer.  Now this one, this one here is a doozy.  The trash talking began earlier this week with BJ Raji calling the Giants "soft," this coming after a Jason Pierre Paul guaranteed win.  Oh boy, Lambeau is gonna be rockin' come Sunday evening.  The Giants have caught fire as of late, much like they did in their 2007 run.  Led by a suddenly rejuvenated defensive line, and an elite quarterback in Eli Manning (that's right, I said it), the G-men are primed for another Super Bowl run.  But in the words of Lee Corso, "not so fast my friend!"  Two words for you, Aaron Rodgers.  Talk about flying under the radar, how is it that these Packers, who went 15-1 this season, are flying under the radar?  Let me tell you something folks, you don't go 15-1 in this league by fluke.  These Packers are feisty, hungry, and they'll be ready to go come Sunday evening.  Pick: 38-37, Packers.  (Result: 37-20, Giants)    

Fish out of water: Ex Titans coach leads Dolphins on, then bolts for Rams

BOSTON-- Say what you want about Tony Sparano, but never in 13 years of coaching would the former Miami Dolphins head coach do what Jeff Fisher just did to South Florida.

No, I'm not talking about his decision to pick the Rams over Miami.  That I don't care about, that, put simply, is just business.  The way he went about it, however, only further proved what I have said time and time again...

Jeff Fisher is not the right coach for the Miami Dolphins.  Plain and simple.  He's just not.

Why should you, Dol-fans, settle for a coach who took 10 days to figure out whether or not we were the right team for him? If Jeff Fisher really wanted this job, if he really thought he could succeed here, then let me tell you something folks, he would've taken it the minute his interview ended last Tuesday.

But that's the reality, as harsh as it may be, of the situation.  Jeff Fisher didn't want to come to Miami, he wanted to go to St. Louis, and you know what, that's perfectly fine Jeff, really.  Just one question for you..

Why did it take 10 days for you to tell us that!?  Why be a tease?  Why hang the meat in the window but not sell it?  Why take a page out of the Peanuts' script and yank the football away right as we're about to kick it?

Okay, more than one.

Unprofessional doesn't begin to describe how you handled this situation.  Try selfish on for size.  Try immature.  Try egotistical.  And even those words still don't quite put your character over the last week into perspective.

Now I see why you've failed 11 times in your 17 year career.  Now I see why you have as many Super Bowl rings as I do.  Now I see why only two of six teams in need of a head coach interviewed you.

The truth is, Jeff Fisher, you're a mediocre head coach.  Respected, yes, but elite?  No way.  Not a chance.

A lot of you, most of you, will see this as a case of the Dolphins not deserving Jeff Fisher.  But after what I just saw the last week and a half, I don't think Jeff Fisher deserved the Dolphins.  Why does he deserve to be paid well into the seven digits by a team he wasn't even sure he wanted to coach?  Would you hire somebody who didn't really want to work with you?  Don't think so.

Again, I'm not knocking Fisher for choosing St. Louis over Miami, in-fact, I think it's a blessing in disguise for the Dolphins.

 Would he have brought that star-studded name back to the Dolphins sidelines?  Sure.  Would he have brought instant credibility to owner Stephen Ross?  Definitely.  But was he the best fit for what this team needs right now?  That I'm not so sure about.

I said it last week, and I'll say it again right now- Jeff Fisher may be a star coach (for reasons I'm still trying to figure out), but had he come to Miami it would have been a disaster.

He clearly didn't want to be here.

And I, for one, am glad he's not.

Let the coaching search continue.

Rams reel in Fisher; Dolphins fall to 6-11 on the season

ESPN's Adam Schefter, and SI.com's Peter King have both reported that Jeff Fisher has decided to bring his talents, not to South Beach, but to St. Louis for the 2012 season and beyond.

So who was at fault for the Dolphins not landing coveted coach Jeff Fisher?  Was it Stephen Ross, GM Jeff Ireland, the lack of a franchise QB, the lower draft pick, what?

Well, let's put it to a vote, shall we?

Who's to blame for Jeff Fisher choosing St. Louis over Miami?

• Owner Stephen Ross
• GM Jeff Ireland
• Lack of a Franchise QB
• Lower 1st round draft pick
• Other

Acepolls

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Fisher saga continues into Friday

The Dolphinsider was quiet on Thursday, and for that I apologize.

However, the Dolphins were quiet on Thursday as well.  Yes, that means Jeff Fisher is still undecided.  That means the waiting game continues into Friday, into day number 10.

Boy, can you say LeBron "decision" part two?

Okay, maybe not quite as dramatic (or overly-dramatic), but still, Jeff Fisher has all of South Florida wrapped around his finger, doesn't he?

For nearly two weeks now the Miami Dolphins have been flying in circles, put in a holding pattern by a coach who has six, SIX, winning seasons in 17 years.

Stephen Ross has been blasted by the media, Jeff Ireland hasn't said a word, which is nothing unusual, and the Miami Dolphins are still without a direction, without a game plan, without a captain.

C'mon Jeff, honestly, it's not that difficult of a decision.  This is getting ridiculous.  You're making a fool out of two organizations, and quite frankly out of yourself.  You have six winning seasons out of a possible 17.  You have won zero, ZERO, Super Bowls, and only appeared in one...11 years ago.

You know deep down where you're going next season, we all know you do.  You've known since last week, so why Jeff?  Why are you prolonging this?

We've already have one LeBron in Miami, we don't need two.

Make the decision already.

Fisher to Miami coming "soon"

According to Michael Lombardi of the NFL network, Jeff Fisher is expected to take the Dolphins head coaching job soon, "maybe as soon as Wednesday."

The report goes on to say that Fisher felt "more comfortable with the structure set in Miami."

I for one will believe it when I see it. There have been a lot of conflicting reports out there the last week or so folks, so I'd take this latest one with a grain of salt.

But that's just me.


Again, nothing has been confirmed or is official, but signs are beginning to point to South Florida for Jeff Fisher....maybe.

Keep checking back hourly as reports continue to unfold.

Fisher decision expected today

According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Jeff Fisher is expected to decide today where he plans to coach next season.

Salguero cites a source close to Fisher who has thus far "provided rock solid information."

Fisher has said he will coach in only St. Louis or Miami.

Zimmer, Fisher, RG3 and.. Chip Kelly?

The Miami Dolphins announced today that have indeed conducted, and since then finished an interview with Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer for the head coaching position.

Zimmer is a respected coach not only on his own team, but by teams and players across the league.  The Bengals defense carried them to the playoffs this year, posting the league's 7th ranked defense and 9th in points allowed (The Dolphins were 6th in points allowed).

The interest in Zimmer is a bit confusing however, as he is a defensive coordinator and from what I see is no better than current DC Mike Nolan, who would make more sense then Zimmer as the next head coach.

But what does my opinion matter to Stephen Ross?

Anyways...

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Jeff Fisher sweepstakes, currently held by the Rams and Dolphins, seem to "favor the Dolphins...slightly."  Schefter goes on to say that "it could, however, still go either way."

Fisher is back at his Nashville based home with his family and is expected to make his decision in the coming days.

Couple more notes for this Tuesday evening;  Baylor quarterback and heisman award winner Robert Griffin III confirmed today that he is indeed declaring for the 2012 NFL Draft.  Could this be good news for the Dolphins?

Only time will tell.

And one last thing, I promise.  Reports began to flutter today linking the Miami Dolphins and Oregon Head Coach Chip Kelly.  According to the Miami Herald, KEZI-TV in Eugene Oregon is reporting this morning the Dolphins have "contacted Chip Kelly's agent regarding the team's head coaching position."


As intriguing as that may sound, those reports are false according to a high ranking Dolphins source who said that they are "not true at all."


Well, there goes that small, small flame.

Sparano Jetting to New York?

A report in the New York Post today is saying that our very own Tony Sparano is being targeted by the New York Jets for, get this, the position of offensive coordinator.

No, seriously.

Stop laughing!

The report goes onto to say that, according to an ESPN report, Sparano along with Chiefs former head coach Todd Haley are being targeted as replacements for current OC Brian Schottenheimer, who is expected to be pursued by number of NFL teams as a potential head coach.

Sparano and Haley would be used as a "package deal," according to the report, with Sparano calling the running plays, and Haley dealing with the passing plays.

I have a question for Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum..

Have you watched the Miami Dolphins offense for the last four years under Sparano?

Unfortunately, I did, and I've got news for you buddy, it was a painful sight.  But hey, more power to you Mr. Tannenbaum, let me know how that works out for you.

I knew the Jets were a dysfunctional bunch, but really, Tony Sparano?  For offensive coordinator!?

This is good, scratch that, great news for the Dolphins, and for the rest of the NFL for that matter.

Okay, you may continue laughing now.

Is Jeff Fisher really what the Miami Dolphins need?

Yes, I get it.

Stephen Ross wants star power.  He wants, scratch that, needs to put fans back in the seats of Sun Life Stadium, and how else do you do that except by giving them a reason to come.

In Ross' eyes, that reason would be Jeff Fisher.  But is the former Titans coach really the answer this Dolphins team is looking for?

I for one, am not so sure he is.

Fisher is and always has been a defensive minded coach, and is known for running the 4-3 defense.  He always has run it, and he always will run it folks, so that would be change number one he makes here in Miami as the current Dolphins run a 3-4 defense.

Is that really what we want?  Taking an experienced Dolphins defense under Mike Nolan's scheme, and basically starting over?  Taking the league's third ranked run defense and throwing out everything they've known for two years?

Is that really the area that needs improvement on this Dolphins team, the defense?  If you think it is, then please go back and watch all 16 games from this past season.  Let's just look at some of them.

Week 2: Lost vs Houston, 23-13.  Only 13 points.
Week 3: Lost vs Cleveland, 16-13.  Only 13 points.
Week 4: Lost vs San Diego, 26-16.  Only 16 points.
Week 6: Lost vs Jets, 24-6.  Only 6 points.
Week 7: Lost vs Broncos, 18-15.  Only 15 points.
Week 8: Lost vs Giants, 20-17.  Only 17 points.

Still think our defense was the problem?  In that six game span I just showed you the Dolphins were outscored 127-80.  Yikes.

In today's league you have to score more than thirteen points a game, which is what the Dolphins averaged in that span, to be successful.

I'm not saying the offense is terrible, please don't misunderstand.  I'm simply saying that there are more holes offensively than defensively, and hiring a guy like Jeff Fisher, who will come in and make changes to places where changes don't need to be made, doesn't seem to make much sense.

Mike Nolan has this Dolphins defense ready to compete for a Super Bowl, and if Jeff Fisher comes in, well, Mike Nolan goes out.  And so does his 3-4 defense.

So I ask you, is Jeff Fisher really what Miami needs?

Is Jeff Fisher a good fit in Miami?

• Yes
• No

Acepolls

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Seeing is believing: Tebow pulls off the impossible

VERO BEACH-- Wow.

Maybe God does follow football after all.  How else could you explain what just happened?

Here's an ever better question:  How can you not be a believer of Tim Tebow now?

With every long pass he perfectly placed in his recievers' hands, he made you more of a believer.  With every hard fought, never-say-never run he had, he made you more of a believer.  And when he let go of his best, most flawless pass of the day, an 80 yard TD strike to Demarious Thomas on the first play of overtime to win the game, he made you more of a believer.

And shame on you if you're still unconvinced; still the ever so popular "anti-Tebow."  What more do you need?

Do you need him to take a once 1-4 team to the playoffs?  Oh wait, he's already done that.  Does he have to put together a winning streak?  Oh wait, he's done that too, winning six in a row at one point this season.  Do you want him to prove himself against an elite defense?  Well he just did that too, torching the league's number one ranked defense for 316 yards, and three total touchdowns.

And for those of you saying he still needs to win a playoff game to really win you over, well, consider yourself won because Tebow and the Broncos just knocked off Big Ben and the mighty Steelers.

Ready to jump on the wagon yet?  If you are you'd better hurry up and snag a seat, because folks, they are filling up fast and furiously.  And for those of you who aren't quite there yet, consider this- Tim Tebow's next opponent?  The New England Patriots.

Why should this sway you?  Well, this is a Dolphins website, is it not?  The name should be a dead giveaway.  Is there anything better than seeing Tom Brady and Bill Belichick knocked out of the playoffs prematurely?  I can't think of a much better scenario than Tim Tebow, of all people, going into the proverbial "House That Brady Built" and taking down the all-mighty New England Patriots.

A real David and Goliath story, wouldn't you say?  I know Tim Tebow would.

If for no other reason than that, you should be rooting for Tim Tebow now.  At the very least, the absolute minimum, he should have your blessing for this one game to go out and perform well.

It's the Patriots for crying out loud!

However, the fact is he shouldn't need to do anything more than he's already done to make you a believer now.  He just went out and won a game nobody, not one single person including myself, gave him a chance of winning.  And he did it fair and square.  No onside kicks, no fluke fumbles, no idiotic running back running out of bounds, none of that.  Tebow won this game with his arm, with his legs, and with his heart.

Still don't believe in Tim Tebow?  Still don't think God plays a role in sports?  Consider this one last thing.

One of Tim Tebow's favorite bible verses?  John 3:16.


For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.


On a night where Tim needed his faith more than ever, on a night where all odd's were stacked against him, he went out and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-23.


He threw for 316 passing yards along the way.


How can you still not believe?

Rams QB Bradford, Fisher meeting today

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that Jeff Fisher is meeting with Rams quarterback Sam Bradford on Sunday while he is also tours the Rams training facility.

As I reported yesterday, sources out of St. Louis are saying Fisher is on the verge of becoming the Rams next head coach, and by all accounts this only strengthens those reports.

Fisher told Schefter on Friday he is considering coaching next season in only Miami or St. Louis, and that decision could come as soon as tomorrow.

Dolphins to interview Mike Mularkey; Fisher not likely

Reports out of St. Louis say Jeff Fisher is "on the verge" of joining the Rams.  Fox sports' Jay Glazer also tweeted that he expects Fisher to join the Rams, but it's not done.

So there's that.  Do with it what you please.

Regardless of that outcome, the Dolphins have announced that they plan on interviewing Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey for the head coaching position.

 Mularkey spent two seasons with the Dolphins: as offensive coordinator under Nick Saban in 2006 (when Miami when 6-10) and as tight ends coach under Cam Cameron in 2007 (when the Dolphins were 1-15).  He also was the Buffalo Bills head coach for two seasons, going 9-7 in 2004, and 5-11 in 2005.


I don't know about you, but I see a lot of losing records on this resume.


Just saying.

Wild Card weekend PLUS Super Bowl XLVI predictions

It's Wildcard weekend around the NFL, and with the Bengals and Texans set to kick it off at 4:30 from Houston it's time for the Dolphinsider's picks and predictions for all the matchups this weekend has to offer, as well as my prediction for Super Bowl XLVI. Enjoy.

Cincinnati @ Houston: Well, this is a toss up.  Two rookie quarterbacks playing in their first ever playoff games going head to head with the season on the line. Gulp. TJ Yates started strong coming off the bench, winning his first three games filling in for the wounded Matt's (Shaub and Leinart).  However, it appears age has caught up with the first year man out of North Carolina, losing his last three games and throwing no touchdowns and two interceptions in that span.  On the other side, rookie Andy Dalton has had a sensational rookie season, leading the Bengals to nine wins and throwing 20 touchdowns to only 13 interceptions.  Both defenses are outstanding with each being in the top 10 in league, so expect a low scoring affair in this one.  I'll give the edge to Dalton and the Bengals, winning their first playoff game in nearly twenty years.  Their last playoff win? In 1991, against the Houston Oilers.  Pick: 20-13 Bengals (Result: 31-10, Texans)

Detroit @ New Orleans:  This game screams shootout.  Both offenses' are elite, with the Saints being 1st in the league and the Lions not far behind at 5th.  Drew Brees has been lights out this season, throwing for 46 touchdown passes and 29 of those coming at home, where he'll once again be this weekend.  Matthew Stafford has also put up tremendous numbers this year, which has really been his first full season due to past injuries.  Stafford led the Lions to 10 wins for the first time in over a decade, and thew 41 touchdown passes along the way, with 16 of those going to pro bowler Calvin Johnson.  With these two teams being very good on offense and very average on defense this game could easily go either way, but here's a stat that may sway your decision very quickly- The Saints are 8-0 at home this season, and that's where they happen to be again tonight.  On that note I'll give the edge to Brees and company in an offensive beauty from the bayou.  Pick: 45-34 Saints (Result: 45-28, Saints)

Atlanta @ New York:  What a season Eli Manning has put together, huh?  He called himself elite before the season began and certainly walked the walked, throwing for nearly 5,000 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 61% of his passes, not to mention setting the single season record for most touchdown passes (15) in the 4th quarter of games.  One word, clutch.  Speaking of elite quarterbacks, if Matt Ryan isn't there yet he may be with a win tomorrow.  Ryan led the Falcons to 10 wins this season, and has numbers that nearly mirror Eli's.  Rookie wide receivers will play a big part in this game, with Victor Cruz on one side and Julio Jones on the other expect a lot of double teaming from both defensive coordinators.  This game will come down to who can stop who more, and with that I'll give my edge to the Falcons 12th ranked defense over the Giants 26th ranked defense.  Pick: 28-24 Falcons  (Result: 24-2, Giants)

Pittsburgh @ Denver:  That was just an awful performance last week Tim Tebow, come on.  6-20 for 60 yards and an interception.  Are you kidding me?  Now the kid has to look the likes of Troy Polamalu and James Harrison in the eyes, yikes.  Tim, you thought that Chiefs defense was good?  Well, you ain't seen nothin' yet buddy.  This Steelers defense is fast, yet big.  Hard hitting, yet swift.  Feisty, yet patient. Needless to say, running on this defense will be about as likely as the Dolphins playing in a playoff game this weekend.  You do the math on that one.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this will be a walk in the park for Big Ben and the boys, because I don't believe it will be by any means.  The Broncos field a pretty good defense of their own, with Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller leading the charge Denver must control the game defensively if they want any chance at winning.  However, Brian Dawkins has been ruled out for this game, and with that Veteran leadership on the sidelines the final nail will be put in the Broncos coffin.  Pick: 24-9 Steelers (Result: 29-23 (OT), Broncos)

Super Bowl XLVI

Saints OVER Ravens:  I said it early on, the Saints have flown under the radar this season.  Up until Drew Brees came knocking on Dan Marino's door, nobody was talking about the Saints.  If you look at this team compared with the one that won it all in 2009, I believe this one is better.  Drew Brees, if at all possible, has gotten better since then and thats due in large part to added weapons such as Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles.  Brees has throw for 46 touchdowns this season, 4th highest all-time, and did you see that post-game speech he gave after his record breaking night?  How could you not pick these guys after watching that?  Something tells me the Saints just have "it" this year, and with the road to indianapolis going through Green Bay, I believe Drew Brees and the Saints are the only team capable of knocking off the mighty Packers.  Give me the Saints to win their second Super Bowl in three years, 31-23.