Sports Agenda for Tuesday (8/27/13)
Top Stories:
Today is the first cutdown day for the Dolphins, hopefully they'll cut the guys before practice today. Johnny Football is in it up to his eyeballs with the NCAA. UM continues to wait…and wait….and wait….and….Plus, Keith Olbermann returns and everything else I can find.
Quote of the Day:
"This is the thing about sports, the greatest thing about sports is…You Play To Win The Game. Hello? You Play To Win The Game. You don't play to just play it. That's the great thing about sports. You play to win. And I don't care if you don't have any wins, you still play to win. When you start telling me it doesn't matter, then retire. GET OUT. Because it matters." – former NFL head coach Herm Edwards
Miami Dolphins: (next game, Thursday, vs. New Orleans Saints)
The Dolphins are set to cut around 15 players Tuesday.
The cuts are due by 4 p.m. and hopefully for the players sake, they'll be cut before practice.
That'd be pretty evil to make the guys practice and then cut them.
Don't worry, most of these guys are bottom of the roster guys even I would have a hard time identifying.
That said, I'm interested to see what happens at the running back position.
They'll keep Miller, Thomas, and probably Thigpen, past that though, it's anybody's guess.
At receiver, they'll keep Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson, and likely Marvin McNutt and/or Brian Tyms, Chad Bumphis, and possibly another.
Tight ends will likely stay at three, unless the Fins are ditching the tight end for a three receiver look, which might not be a bad idea with Keller out for the year.
Like I said yesterday, there aren't a lot of open roster sports left, but some of these guys will be key special teamers and in crucial backup spots this year.
Interesting note this morning about Randy Starks.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel said that according to Starks, his punishment for skipping OTAs and workouts is not starting.
Considering he's got a fully guaranteed $8.5 million contract for this season, I don't think he cares that much.
He'll form a nice trio of defensive tackles with Jared Odrick and Paul Soliai.
I stood beside the Dolphins defensive line at the game on Saturday night…I'm not small, but dadgum I'd hate to run into those guys.
And if you didn't read CBSMiami.com yesterday, which you should be doing every day because I update it multiple times a day, then you probably missed this nugget of information….
The Dolphins had nine draft picks this season.
Of those nine draft picks, the only one who is likely to start is kicker Caleb Sturgis.
I don't want to say that's bad, but that's really bad when only one draft pick makes enough of an impact to start….REALLY BAD.
Now, if Dion Jordan turns out to be a beast, all will be forgotten.
But I'm not sure Jordan can hold up at defensive end in the NFL.
As soon as the first cuts are made, I'll have them up on CBSMiami.com/sports.
Johnny Manziel/Texas A&M:
Ruh-roh Scooby.
The defending Heisman Trophy winner, Johnny Manziel, met with the NCAA for six hours on Sunday.
Obviously, the NCAA is looking into allegations he received money for his autographs.
First, let's set aside the lunacy of him not being able to sell his autograph if he wants. Those are the rules he agreed to play under.
Okay, has there ever been a more selfish player who won the Heisman?
Has he done anything this offseason that would benefit his team?
Everything he has done, from interviews that tell massive amounts of his daily habits, to text messages with the school, to how he talks about the coaches, it's just been about me, me, me, me.
Texas A&M has bungled handling him from the get-go, don't get me wrong. They've let him fall flat on his face and he's smacked pretty hard on the ground.
Now with the NCAA on his back, there's the question of do you play him on Saturday?
Remember, Dez Bryant was at Oklahoma State and had dinner with I think it was Deion Sanders and was suspended for 10 games.
So, logic would dictate that Manziel will be lost for most, if not all of the regular season.
The Aggies, full of Texas bravado, have said they won't sit Manziel.
I think that's a mistake because if the NCAA wants to, it can find a ham sandwich guilty of being turkey.
My gut tells me sit him until the NCAA makes a ruling.
On the same hand, if I was Coach Kevin Sumlin, I'd bring Manziel into my office for a talk.
I'd say, look kid, this isn't about just you anymore. This is about an entire team of guys who give it everything they have every day. This is about me and a bunch of other coaches, our livelihood. Now, did you take any money?
If he said no, and the NCAA later showed he did, I'd throw his butt off the team so fast it would make his head spin.
Even if he said no, I'm not sure I would believe him.
That's why I say sit him now. That way, if you go 2-0 to start the season, you don't have to forfeit those victories later.
Plus, it will give your backup two weeks to get ready for Alabama in Week 3.
UM/NCAA:
I'm so sick of this story.
I'm actually really glad the regular season begins this week so we can talk some football.
Something tells me though we'll get a note saying the NCAA will issue a ruling sometime in the next 10 days.
Don't know why, but sounds like something the NCAA would do right before UM has a big game against UF next week.
I think I'm really at the point of most Canes fans, just get it over with so we can move on.
But, and this is a shot at Canes fans….
Lose the #freetheu and related hash tags.
UM's not in prison, they don't need to be freed, the possibility of sanctions aren't hurting recruiting, and what will really stick it to people is just winning.
Keith Olbermann:
This will tell you how long the UM story is going on, when it started, ESPN still hated Keith Olbermann.
Last night, he debuted his new show which was essentially Countdown, except dedicated to sports.
Now, I'm a big Olbermann fan.
I know people say he's a jerk, but I like it because he's intelligent and in the modern media, that's a rarity nowadays.
The show last night was solid and man, I wish they would have him do sportscenter again.
It would give it credibility and maybe get rid of the crap they have on there.
All I know is I will now have to watch it and TiVo the daily show or vice versa.
Tough decision there.
Everything Else:
- UM Is Erecting The Great Wall Of Linemen (I think I wrote about this earlier in the summer)
- Jeff Tuel is your Buffalo Bills starting quarterback (He went to Washington State home to….Ryan Leaf)
- Does anyone have an easier start to the season than New England (vs. Buffalo and the Jets)
- Matt Harvey has a torn elbow ligament (He may require Tommy John surgery, ruh-roh)
Today in sports history:
Last year on this day, the New England Patriots signed tight end Aaron Hernandez to a five-year contract extension. How'd that work out?
