Back to normal, post-Super Bowl

Yes, after 2 weeks of Super Bowl hype, South Florida can breathe again.  It was a long and fun couple of weeks.  I got sick and lost my voice a bit in the process, but it was all worth it.  Who knows when we’ll get another big game here in SoFla.  I’m hoping soon, but I won’t hold my breathe with the NFL putting pressure on the Dolphins.  Meantime, I’ll count the days until pitchers and catchers report and look forward to baseball season.  The draft is also around the corner, so Dol-Fans have plenty to think about.

Saints and Colts SoFla Bound…

Get ready for a heck of a Super Bowl in South Florida in 2 weeks.  The Saints thrilling overtime win over the Vikings now sets up a New Orleans-Indianapolis match-up.  It will be a battle of the top 2 teams in the NFL during the regular season.   It’s pretty rare these days for the Top 2 seeds in each conference to make it through into the big game, but these 2 teams are deserving. 

I’ve got plenty of time to discuss the sub-plots to the game, but it will be interesting.  Peyton vs. Brees.  The Saints playing for New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina.  3 former Canes coming back to town (Vilma, Shockey, Wayne).  Pierre Garcon playing for his native Haiti.  The list can go on and on.  Meantime, let’s just get ready for the hype.  And Dol-Fans, just be happy it’s NOT the Jets coming to South Florida!

Nolan to lead Dolphins “D”

Well, to no one’s surprise, the Dolphins officially announced today that Mike Nolan is the team’s new Defensive Coordinator.  As I mentioned in an earlier update on this blog, it’s a great hire for Miami and some real good luck as well.  Nolan parted ways with the Broncos on Monday, and the Fins were having trouble reeling in a person with solid experience as a DC.  All of a sudden, he falls from the sky and lands in Miami.  Nolan brings a real aggressive scheme that Tony Sparano will love.  Fins fans should be happy with the move.

Fins catch a break; Nolan available

Just a few hours ago, I was on the radio saying that the Dolphins had no real veteran options to fill the team’s vacant defensive coordinator spot.   All of a sudden, boom, one falls out of the sky.  The Broncos and Mike Nolan “parted ways” late Monday.  Within minutes, the word spread that Nolan would be interviewed by the Fins.  All indications are that will happen very soon and that the Dolphins want him for the job.  in my opinion, he would be a perfect fit!

Nolan is a proven guy, and he did a heck of a job as the DC for the Broncos in one season.  It’s pretty clear he had some differences with young Denver coach Josh McDaniels.  The Broncos loss is the Dolphins gain.  Nolan runs an aggressive defense and he knows how to adjust within a game.  Again, all indications are this will likely happen.  Go figure, it’s sometimes better to be lucky than good, as they say.  In this case, the Fins are lucky he became available.

Marlins Spend More; Keep Uggla

All of a sudden, the Marlins are just throwing money around like it’s water.  After an entire offseason where many speculated the team would trade 2nd baseman Dan Uggla, the Fish have signed him to a one-year deal for 2010 worth almost 8 million dollars.  The move keeps the team from going to arbitration with the All-Star 2nd baseman, and it once again sends a message that they’re listening to Major League Baseball.  Remember, just last week MLB told the Marlins they needed to spend the money they receive from revenue sharing.  Since then, they’ve re-signed pitcher Josh Johnson to a long-term deal and now kept Uggla around. 

Of course, the Fish could always still trade Uggla, but it seems unlikely to me after the pressure applied by MLB.  It’s something we’ll have to keep watching, but I’d say I’m leaning toward him being in a Florida uniform come spring training.

A Dol-Fans Nightmare!

The Jets, that’s right, the Jets are one win away from playing in the Super Bowl.  And even worse for Dolphins fans, it’s a Super Bowl in South Florida.  I know it’s easy for Dol-Fans to hate on Gang Green, but the reality is, the Jets deserve praise.

For years, the formula for winning playoff games in the NFL was a great defense and powerful running game.  Of late though, that formula has changed.  High powered offenses led by QB’s like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Brett Favre and Drew Brees are the new standard in the league.  Yet, here are the Jets doing it old school.  Again, I know Miami fans will want to hate, but this Miami guy can only give credit where credit is due.  The Jets are in the middle of an amazing run.  Will it stop in Indianapolis next week?   We’ll see.

Marlins pay Johnson $$$

How’s that for reacting to the threat from Major League Baseball?  Just a few days after MLB told the Marlins they needed to spend money, the Fish did just that by signing ace pitcher Josh Johnson to a 4 year deal, worth a reported 39 million dollars.   Pretty interesting timing, huh?

The team clearly had talked to Johnson about an extension in the offseason, but it’s also clear the pressure from MLB and the union put the front office on notice.  Remember, signing Johnson to this deal doesn’t mean the team couldn’t trade him in the future if they wanted to.  What it does mean is that this probably keeps MLB quiet for now.  Also, the deal is back-loaded.   Meaning, the Marlins are paying Johnson just under 4 million dollars in 2010. 

This really is a classic win-win situation.  The Marlins look like they’re listening to MLB and spending money, while Johnson gets some security, no matter if he finishes all 4 years in a Florida uniform.  Give the Fish some credit, even when they spend money, they still get creative enough to protect themselves long-term.

Help Haiti

By now, most everyone knows the tragedy that hit Haiti on Tuesday with a 7.0 magnitude earthquake near the capital city.  Thousands and possibly hundreds of thousands of people are feared dead.  I implore you to do what you can to help the people there.  I visited a part of Haiti in October.  The locals there were so proud of the progress the country was making after years of political unrest.  I was amazed by the beautiful beaches and the hope was to make Haiti a popular tourist destination in the future.  Clearly, that won’t be the case right now.  Instead, the citizens of Haiti just need your help to survive.  Living in South Florida for most of my life, I’ve already known for years that Haitian people are kind and hard working, despite the poverty that has affected their country. 

Plenty of charities have set up ways to help.  An easy way is to use your cell phone.  You can text the word “HAITI” to 90999.   A $10 donation will go to the American Red Cross relief effort.  You can also text “YELE” to 501501 for a $5 donation to the foundation set up by Haitian rapper Wycleff Jean.  The donation will be added to your monthly cell phone bill.

Baseball to Marlins: Spend more money!

Better late than never, I guess.  Major league baseball has announced that they’ve put the Marlins on notice to spend more money from the revenue sharing cash they receive.  Gee, thanks for the gesture, but it took baseball a pretty long time to finally figure out what Marlins fans have known for years:  the team is too cheap!  What it means short-term probably isn’t much.  The offseason is almost over, and the Fish have been unable to trade 2nd baseman Dan Uggla.  This probably bodes well for Uggla staying with the Fish.  I can’t imagine they’d dump his salary right after this agreement with MLB. 

Long term, I’m not sure it means much either.  It could be a sign that they’ll try and keep Josh Johnson with a long deal.   Then again, the new ballpark is right around the corner, and Johnson couldn’t walk for a couple of years anyway.  He’ll eventually get some BIG money in arbitration, so it’s something to think about.   The immediate impact is probably that Uggla stays and the team now knows they’re on notice.  Funny, all of us here in South Florida noticed this a long time ago!

Dolphins Fire Pasqualoni

In a minor surprise, the Dolphins fired Defensive Coordinator Paul Pasqualoni after just 2 seasons.  I say a “minor” surprise because the Fins defense lost steam down the stretch.  Of course, losing key players like Will Allen and Jason Ferguson certainly didn’t help, but statistically, the Dolphins defense was pretty average.  I think this move is more an indication that the team’s front office has someone targeted and not that Pasqualoni was that bad.

The obvious choice to me would be former Virginia coach Al Groh.  He, of course, was also head coach of the Jets and he is a Bill Parcells type guy.  It’s no secret the Dolphins czar is a fan and friend of Groh’s.  I could see the Fins going with an internal move and making Todd Bowles the guy, but I’m not sure he’s ready.  Romeo Crennel wouldn’t be a bad move either, but reports are he’s set to take the Chiefs D-Coordinator job.  We’ll have to wait and see, but I expect the Fins to act quickly.