(JP Correia) Ever since Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano took over this franchise, the Miami Dolphins have prided themselves on running the football with authority and stopping the run. A big piece of that ambition was Bill Parcells’ first Free Agent Acquisition as Dolphin VP, Justin Smiley. Smiley has been arguably Miami’s most consistent and reliable interior offensive lineman since arriving and has given Miami leadership on a very young and inexperienced offense and offensive line. The problem though with Smiley, just as it had been in San Francisco, is that he cannot stay healthy.

In 2008 Smiley broke his right leg in multiple places, thus missing the last 5 regular season games of Miami’s season along with a Playoff game against the Ravens in which the Dolphins missed him dearly. Last season Smiley sprained (at least we think) his shoulder; an injury that has led to Miami not letting him near the facility this off season to work out and to his departure. The Dolphins think his shoulder is shot; apparently Jacksonville didn’t.

The Jaguars have traded a conditional 7th round draft pick for Smiley, who passed his physical on Tuesday. Smiley’s departure opens the door for rookie OG John Jerry, last year’s starting RG Donald Thomas, OT/OG Nate Garner who impressed everybody last season with his play down the stretch, and OG/OC Cory Proctor who was just signed Monday. Right now the right guard position looks to be filled by Richie Incognito, however the LG spot is anybody’s game. In my opinion, I think Donald Thomas should remain in the starting lineup. While inconsistent, he has developed nicely over the last two seasons and has shown signs of dominance. It looks like John Jerry will get the job as of right now though.

While I am sad to see Smiley go, as he was one of my favorite Dolphins, Miami saved a lot of cap room for the future with this trade and it opens the door for younger players like Jerry and Thomas. Thanks for your time in Miami, Justin. Your leadership will be missed; hopefully your play will not be missed for too long.

Super Bowl 48 to be played in New York

First of all, you have to be kidding me. This is a joke, right? While some former players like Tedy Bruschi, Fran Tarkenton and Jerry Kramer have expressed their jubilation for a cold weather Super Bowl, I couldn’t disagree more with the NFL’s decision. Yes, the media/marketing aspect of the game will be phenomenal; probably better than any previous Super Bowl. However, it is just too risky. Sure, New England has winter days in which it is 50-55 degrees. It also has days in which two feet of snow fall and the wind blows at 25-35 mph. What if it snows? Can you postpone the Super Bowl? Can you play the game in those conditions? What is the wind-chill is below zero and the wind at 30 mph? Can two high powered offenses battle through those conditions? What if our Dolphins make the Super Bowl? Why should we get that kind of a disadvantage?

The bottom line is that conditions should not play a factor at all in the Super Bowl. None. Yes, you will get rain in South Florida every once in a while, but it rains all over the country all the time. But how can you expect the Super Bowl to be played in February-New York conditions? It just does not make sense. Chad Pennington compares this scenario to the “tuck rule” game. In other words, “bad idea.”

At least it isn’t in London…

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