A look ahead at the Dolphins' 2012 opponents

February really is the worst month for an NFL writer.  Free agency has yet to begin, the NFL Draft isn't until the end of April, and the players don't even return to the practice field until May!

Finding something to write about during this lowly month is about as easy as the Miami Dolphins finding the next franchise QB.. Or Tom Brady beating Eli Manning.. Or going a day without discovering yet another Jeremy Lin pun.. Or, well you get the picture.

While the 2012 season is still seven months away, and the official schedule's aren't unveiled until April/May, we can still gaze into the crystal ball towards next seasons' opponents, because while the dates and times haven't been announced, the who and where have!

So, without further ado, an early look at the Miami Dolphins 2012 opponents.  Enjoy.


  New England Patriots, home, away:  It's been a rough go of it the last two seasons for the Dolphins against their AFC East rivals.  Following 2010's winless campaign with two more losses last season against Brady and company, the Fins haven't knocked off the Patsies since December of 09'.  Ouch.  Could we see two Brady/Manning matchups next season?  Or perhaps maybe Matt Flynn returns to face the team he beat in his first career start?  Who knows, but one thing is for certain, Joe Philbin will have his work cut out for him next season.  Twice.  Gulp.


  New York Jets, home, away:  Tony Sparano's shoes certainly aren't that big to fill, but the former Dolphins head coach did best his current team four out of the seven times he played them during his tenure in Miami, including a season sweep in 2009.  Joe Philbin can quickly gain fan support by beating Rex Ryan, and for that matter Tony Sparano, at least once next season, if not both times.  This rivalry has certainly picked up in the last couple years, and next year shouldn't be any different.


  Buffalo Bills, home, away:  Two of the Dolphins better games last season came at the expense of Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills.  The first, a 35-8 drubbing in Miami, and the second a snowy 30-23 win in upstate New York.  Reggie Bush posted a career best 208 yards on the ground in the latter game, and the Dolphins defense forced two turnovers and a blocked punt for a touchdown in the former game.  The Dolphins swept the season series last year for the second time in four seasons.


  Jacksonville Jaguars, home:  Meeting up for the first time since the 2009 season, and the first time in Miami since 2006, the Jaguars and Dolphins in-state rivalry renews itself next season.  Both teams will feature a new head coach, and both are coming off disappointing 2011 seasons.  However, the Dolphins are above and beyond the better team, and provided Blaine Gabbert looks the same next year as he did this year, I think the Fins should take this one with ease.  But, hey, this isn't a predictions article.


  Tennessee Titans, home:  This promises to be a good game next season, wherever it may fall on the schedule.  Matt Hasselback's resurgence led the Titans to a 9-7 record last year, and nearly got them into the playoffs on his own.  With Chris Johnson's numbers dropping way off and Kenny Britt missing the majority of the season, one has to wonder if a healthy Titans team next year will compete in the AFC South.  My early guess is they absolutely will, and the Fins will have their work cut out for them when the powder blue's of the south come to Miami.


  Houston Texans, away:  Yikes.  The Dolphins have never, NEVER, defeated the Texans.  That's right, in six all-time meeting the Texans have bested the Fins every single time, with the latest coming this past season in week two's 23-13 win in Miami.  The two have played some memorable games though, with the 2008 29-28 loss coming to mind.  With the Dolphins up by six and less than twenty seconds on the clock, QB Matt Shaub scored on a quarterback draw from inside the 10 yard line to complete an uncanny last minute drive and foil the Dolphins hopes of a win.  I'll say it again.. Yikes.


  Indianapolis Colts, away:  This game could easily be the game of the year if Peyton Manning does indeed become a Miami Dolphin.  Could you imagine the build up to this one?  Peyton returning to the house the he built, against the team that he came up with, and against his presumed predecessor Andrew Luck.  The media would have a field day with this one.  However, this is just speculation right now as Manning is still a Colt and Luck is still a Stanford Cardinal.  Either way, this will be a good one, and a tough one at that for the Fins.  But again, just take a minute and imagine the possibilities. Boy, would it be a fun week.


  St. Louis Rams, home:  Sun Life Stadium is sure to be rockin' for this one. Jeff Fisher returns to Miami for the first time since his helicopter visit last month.  Remember how that turned out?  Owner Stephen Ross will have a special eye on this one, as will the rest of South Florida as they look to take down the coach who snubbed them for the Rams.  Assuming QB Sam Bradford will be back and healthy this game is no gimme by any stretch of the imagination, and the Dolphins will have added pressure on them seeing as it is Fisher on the opposing sidelines.  Expect fireworks whenever this battle takes place.


  Seattle Seahawks, home:  Returning to Miami for the first time since the 2008 season, the SeahawksMarshawn Lynch, the Dolphins are going to have to be on their toes in this game.  Luckily for Miami this one isn't in Seattle, where the Seahawks have dominated teams at Quest Field over the years.  Nevertheless, expect a good one from South Beach when the Hawks' come to town.


   San Francisco 49ers, away:  The argument can be made that this will be the toughest test for the Dolphins in 2012.  Going on the road to face the reigning NFC West champions who came within a muffed punt of the Super Bowl is no easy task.  Just adding to the story line is 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, who, like Fisher, also snubbed the Fins in 2010.  Although that one wasn't so much Harbaugh's fault as owner Stephen Ross crossed a major line pursuing a coach while still having one under contract.  Regardless, the 49ers defense led the league in almost every category last season and show no signs of slowing down next year.  If the Dolphins can knock off the Niners, in San Francisco mind you, then I think it's safe to say the team will be pretty good next year.


  Arizona Cardinals, away:  Rounding out the NFC West is the Arizona Cardinals, a team the Dolphins haven't faced since week two of the 2008 season.  The Cardinals came on strong towards the end of last season, and could ride that momentum even harder into next season when they get a healthy Kevin Kolb back under center.  The offense is always a nightmare matchup with All-Pro Larry Fitzgerald catching passes, and the defense continues to use it's speed and quickness to their advantage.  The Dolphins struggle with the Cardinals, especially in Arizona, and next season's clash should prove to be no different.


  Oakland Raiders, away:  Everybody should remember last season's game with the Raiders, it was quite possibly the best performance of the year!  On their way to a 34-14 massacre of Carson Palmer and crew, the Fins defense played lights out, holding Michael Bush to 18 yards on the ground and culminating in a Kevin Burnett interception return for a TD.  Reggie Bush ran for 100 yards and a TD, while rookie Clyde Gates nearly returned the opening second half kickoff for a TD of his own.  The Raiders now have a new GM and a new head coach in Dennis Allen, and if healthy could pose a serious threat in the AFC West.  Expect a closer game this time around from Miami.


  Cincinnati Bengals, away:  The Dolphins last traveled to Cincinnati in 2010, where they escaped their Halloween weekend matchup with a 22-14 win.  That team was a far cry from the one they'll see next season, as Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco, and Terrell Owens are all no longer with the team, and have been replaced with the likes of Andy Dalton, AJ Green, and Jermaine Gresham.  The Bengals found their way into the playoffs on the season's final week this past year, and will undoubtedly be a contender next season.  The Fins will have their work cut out for them when they travel to Paul Brown Stadium next year.



So there you go, your early early look at the Miami Dolphins 2012 opponents.  Do with it what you wish, and keep checking back daily for any news or updates regarding the Fins, but again remember that it's Deadruary, I mean February in the NFL, and boy, is it slow!

Again I ask you..

Is it March yet for cryin' out loud!?

ManningWatch 2012: The week in review

First of all, I've been sick since Monday, so I apologize for the lack of posts this week.

However, on that same note, it is February folks, which is notoriously the slowest month in the NFL, and if it weren't for Peyton Manning I would have no reason to blog right now anyway..

BUT, with that being said, the "ManningWatch" is in full swing right now in South Florida, so without further ado I present to you the week that was in the NFL regarding, you guessed it, Peyton Manning.

Monday: Just hours after his younger brother put the finishing touches on his second Super Bowl ring, reports surfaced that Miami was on the short list of landing spots for Peyton Manning in 2012. Reasons included the warmer weather, the fact that he and his wife own a condo in the area, and because the Dolphins play in the AFC, where Manning would ideally like to stay.

Tuesday: Well, that lasted all of 24 hours. A source close with the Manning family dismissed the earlier reports of a "short list," saying that "the idea that he's compiled a short list of teams that he's going to want to join is ridiculous." Later in the day, ESPN's Adam Schefter said that he thinks "Miami is the early favorite to land Peyton Manning." But again, Schefter reiterated, "it's just a hunch."

Wednesday: Nothing to see here, move along.

Thursday: Big day for you ManningWatchers. Two big reports hit the media world today, and both were equally concerning. First you had NFL Network's Michael Lombardi telling Bill Simmons that Manning is nowhere near where he needs to be: “He can’t throw the ball,” Lombardi said. “I’ve talked to people who’ve caught the ball for him. He can’t throw the ball to his left. He can’t throw the ball across his body, because he doesn’t feel it. People that catch the ball for him say he doesn’t really have velocity on the ball yet.” Then you had Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz going on the Tony Kornheiser show saying things like this: "I mean, the guy's arm is a noodle, he can't throw like an NFL quarterback, and by March 8th their will be no way of knowing if he's ready or not." Tough day for Fins' fans, huh?

Today: The only news so far today is that Kravitz has somewhat retracted those statements you just read. Take a look: "I was trying to be funny, flippant, basically saying you don't spend 35 million bucks on a quarterback with a noodle arm. In my head, I was thinking, 'He used to have a laser rocket arm, now it's closer to a noodle arm.'" What that translates to in my mind? "I was just trying to get attention and now I don't want it anymore"

What does this all mean? Well, nothing. Nothing at all. Nobody knows what Peyton Manning can do, when he'll be able to do it, and how effective it'll be. We can all speculate, and by golly we do, but until March 8th that's all we have.

Wake me up when that day gets here.

That's when the real fun begins.

And the winner of Super Bowl XLVI will be..

This one is a tough call.

I want to pick the Giants, I really do.  Overall, from an offensive, defensive, and special teams point of view they're the better team.  But then I keep going back to one question that keeps me from committing to them:

Does Tom Brady lose again?

Does lightning really strike twice on one of the greatest QB's the game has ever seen?

Does the Coughlin/Manning duo really beat the Belichick/Brady duo again?

Okay, more than one.  But before the pick, lets break this thing down a little bit, because honestly people, I'm torn here!

GAME BREAKDOWN:

Patriots offense vs Giants defense:  Purely based on statistics, the Patriots own the edge here.  Boasting the league's 2nd ranked offense led by Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, the Pats have been a matchup nightmare for teams all season.  However, the latter part of that duo is a big, scratch that, HUGE question mark in this game due to his ailing ankle, and with "Gronk" limited Brady will rely heavily on Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez.  While the Giants defense has carried them into the Super Bowl, especially over the last six weeks, I still know better than to pick against Tom Brady.  EDGE-- Patriots

Giants offense vs Patriots defense:  Eli Manning is elite, why this is still an argument is beyond me.  The kid's already got one ring and by midnight tonight he could have two.  He has weapons all around him in Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, and Mario Manningham, and he has one thing Tom Brady doesn't, a running game.  With two viable backs behind him in Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, and elite receivers all around him, Eli Manning should have a field day against the league's 31st ranked defense, or in other words second to last ranked defense.  EDGE-- Giants

Player to watch, New England:  I'm going to give you two players here, Matt Light and Nate Solder.  These two will be tasked with containing two of the best defensive linemen in the game in Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul, and how well contained those two are could very well dictate the outcome.  If Tom Brady comes out of the game with a relatively clean jersey then he'll be coming out a winner, but that's a BIG if.  Solder, a rookie, will be playing in his first Super Bowl, while Light is playing in his fifth, so I expect the Giants to go after Solder a majority of the time, and the rookie must protect Brady if the Pats want a chance at winning this thing.

Player to watch, New York:  Jake Ballard.  Unconventional, yes, but hear me out.  Ballard, a rookie tight end out of Ohio State, came on strong in the middle of the season, finishing with 38 catches, 604 yards, and 4 touchdowns.  However, he's been a virtual non-factor throughout the playoffs, culminating in a zero catch performance in the NFC championship two weeks ago.  I expect a bulk of the attention to go on the big three for the Giants- Cruz, Nicks, and Manningham, and Ballard could easily get overlooked in tight situations.  Call it a hunch, but my guess is you'll hear this kids name more than once before this thing is said and done.

P-R-E-D-I-C-T-I-O-N

So, as the headline states, the winner of Super Bowl XLVI will be..

Yes, as much as it pains me to my very core to say it, I'm going to give the Patriots a slight, slight edge this time around, 27-24.  My head screams out Giants, but my gut tells me that Tom Brady won't lose again.  I hope I'm wrong, I really do!  

But Tom Brady can't lose again...

Right?

The winner of Super Bowl XLVI will be..

• New England Patriots
• New York Giants

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Marshall's campaigning continues as Manning to Miami heats up

Brandon Marshall is at it again God bless him.

Just five days after his public outcry for a franchise QB following his MVP Pro Bowl performance, the Dolphins star receiver is reportedly in Indianapolis this week partnering up with Peyton Manning at the "Build Our Kids Success" program that took place on Friday.

My guess is Marshall's focus may be more so on Manning than the kids..

But that's just a hunch.

This is coming on the heels of an ESPN report yesterday that said Manning has been "medically cleared to resume his NFL playing career."

Another report by Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald is saying that a club source told him "that Manning has indicated several times during his career an affinity for the region and most recently put his money where his mouth is in that he and his wife bought a condo on South Beach."

The report goes on to say that "he [Manning] likes the area. He likes the vibe of the area more than you might think. They own a condo down here, and no other team that could be trying to sign him will be able to say that."

Manning is expected to be released by the Colts next month as you know by now, and while up to this point the 'Manning to Miami' rumors have seemed a bit premature, the possibility is quickly picking up steam.

Check back later for another Super Bowl Edition article and don't forget to Like us on Facebook!

Super Bowl Edition: The tainting of a legacy?

BOSTON--  To Mo Lewis, it was just another tackle, on just another ordinary day, in just another ordinary football game.  However, in one swift, bone-crushing take down of Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe, the former Jets linebacker forever altered the game of football.

On September 23, 2001, a legacy was born.  At the time nobody knew it, in- fact, I'm willing to bet that at the time nobody even knew who Tom Brady was.  Not the announcers, not the fans, heck maybe not even some of his own teammates!  To all of them, number 12 was nothing more than a sixth round pick out of Michigan who would only see the field if their QB got hurt, something that rarely happened to Drew Bledsoe.

Well, I guess Mo Lewis didn't get that memo.

But I bet he wishes he did.

You know the rest of the story.  Brady takes over, wins it all in 02', then again in 04', then again in 05', and then comes up three points short in '08.

Quite a run, huh?

Along the way he's racked up seven Pro Bowl appearances, and four MVP awards- two in the Super Bowl and two in the regular season.  Not to mention who his wife is, you know, that one billionaire super model?  I think her name's Giselle..

Not a bad resume for a sixth round scrub, wouldn't you say?  Three rings, four MVP's, and a super model to come home to every night.  Brady could stop right now and be considered one of the greatest QB's the game of football has ever seen, right?

Well, maybe not.

Since his Super Bowl run nearly four years ago, the great "Tawmy Brady," as he's referred to here in New England, has become more known, not for what he's achieved, but for what he hasn't.  With every year that falls short of a ring, and with every playoff game that leaves Brady walking off the field a loser, those great championship runs of years past become harder and harder to remember.

As hard as it is to fathom, to some, Tom Brady is running out of time.

To some, Sunday's game in Indianapolis will be one of two things:

The demise of the Brady era in New England.

Or the continuation of it.

After a decade of dominance, Tom Brady's illustrious career may come down to one game, four quarters, 60 minutes.  Nevermind the previous ten years.  Nevermind the 124 career wins.  Nevermind the 14 career playoff wins to only 5 losses.  All that, to some, goes out the window with another Super Bowl loss.

Because society today won't focus on the 14 wins.

It'll focus on the 5 losses.

You see, controversy sells in America.  It's the negative we tend to focus on, not the positive.  Look at Tim Tebow.  Look at Lebron James.  Look at Tiger Woods.  Look at Joe Paterno.  These are four of the biggest sports icons over the past year, but not for the right reasons.

Tebow went 8-4 as a starter this year, but he prayed to much.

Lebron is the second coming of Michael Jordan, but he hasn't won a championship yet.

Tiger is arguably one of the greatest golfers of all time, but he hasn't won in two years.

And JoePa has the most wins in college football history, but one bad decision ten years ago is all we can talk about.

We no longer see the good in the people, we only see the bad.  Society today searches, digs, and claws at the negative, while at the same time ignoring the positive, sweeping it under the rug like it never happened.

And the more we see the negative, the more Brady see's it.  Don't think so?  Did you see his last game?  Did you see his comments following it?

And now he's got Giselle asking for prayers for cryin' out loud!

Prayers!  For Tom Brady!  Since when has a three time champion, seven time Pro Bowler, and four time MVP award winner needed help from the man upstairs!?  The once unbreakable Tom Brady is beginning to crack.  No, he's not broken yet, but he's showing signs of fraying.

A win on Sunday will patch that crack right back up, and bring back to life a once unbreakable legacy.

But a loss, as unfair and ludicrous as it may sound, could forever taint it.

Super Bowl Edition: Prop Bets

Ah yes, the Super Bowl is quickly approaching.  T-minus four days until the 46th running of one of sports' grandest spectacles.

This means that over the next four days we will have daily "Super Bowl Edition" articles featured here on the Dolphinsider.  Yes, as much as it will pain me to cover the Patriots I'll bite the bullet for the next couple days, might as well considering I'm stuck here in the heart of New England having Patriots talk forced upon me every which way I turn!

Anyways..

Today we'll kick it off with something that's been linked to the NFL's title game for decades, betting.  No, not who'll win and by how much, those picks will come on Sunday.  I'm talking about Prop Betting.  For those of you unfamiliar with the term, prop betting is for people who want to bet on everything that doesn't have to do with the game.  That's right, anything from the national anthem, to the coin flip, and even the halftime show, if it does NOT have to do with the score or stats, then it's prop betting.

So without further ado, I present to you my top 7 Super Bowl XLVI prop bets.  Why seven?  I have no idea.  Enjoy.


1.  How long will it take Kelly Clarkson to sing the National Anthem?  The line here is 1:34, from her first note to when she finishes saying "Brave."  Honestly, how are we supposed to have any idea how long this will take?  Last year I believe it took Christina Aguilera nearly two minutes to sing it, and that's after she messed it up!  I'll go with the over here.

How long will it take Kelly Clarkson to sing the National Anthem?

• Under 1:34
• Exactly 1:34
• Over 1:34

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2.  What will the call be on the opening coin flip?  No, I don't care who wins it, just what the call will be.  I'll go with Heads, because I don't care what they say, Tails fails all the time.

What will the call be on the opening coin toss?

• Heads
• Tails

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3.  How many times will Peyton Manning be shown during the game?  From kickoff until final whistle, and only live shots, recordings and the halftime show do NOT count.  The line here is 3.5, and I believe that to be WAY off.  NBC will knock this one out of the park, I'm going with over.

How many times will Peyton Manning be shown during the game?

• under 3.5
• exactly 3.5
• over 3.5

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4.  What color will the gatorade (or liquid) be that gets dumped on the winning head coach?  This one is a toss up, I suppose you could go back and look at every one of the Pats and Giants wins over the season and see what color gatorade they use, but please, don't do that, have some self respect.  I'll go with red.  Why?  I have no idea.

What color will the Gatorade/liquid be that's dumped on the winning head coach?

• Clear/water
• Yellow
• Orange
• Red
• Green
• Blue

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5.  How many times will David Tyree's 2008 Super Bowl catch be shown on TV during the game?  The line here is 1, but I'm not even going to abide by that because I believe that will be easily surpassed.  Lets make it more interesting.  We'll go 0-1, 2-4, and 4+ times as the options, and I'll go with the 2-4 range.

How many times will David Tyree's 2008 Super Bowl catch be shown on TV?

• 0-1
• 2-4
• 4+

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6.  How many times will NBC cut away to show live coverage of bars in Boston and New York?  This is a good one.  Could be 0, could be 10, who knows?  I'll set the line here at 2, and I'll go with the under.

How many times will NBC cut away to show live shots of bars in Boston and New York?

• under 2
• exactly 2
• over 2

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7.  Who will the Super Bowl MVP of the game thank first?  This is during the post game trophy celebration only.  This one, again, is a toss up.  Some go with teammates, some go with religion, and some go with family.  I think whoever wins this MVP award will go with their teammates first.

Who will the Super Bowl MVP of the game thank first?

• Teammates
• Coach
• Family
• God
• Owner
• Does not thank anybody

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Let me know what you think, and remember this is only day one of our Super Bowl coverage, so keep checking back daily for more polls, analysis, and predictions!