Tag: Miami Herald

Could the Vikings land a former Pro Bowler before the playoffs?

With the Miami Dolphins all but out of the playoffs, could Calais Campbell be on his way to the Minnesota Vikings for the stretch run?

The Minnesota Vikings are currently sitting at 12-2 and tied with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions atop the NFC standings. That makes Minnesota’s final three games the most pivotal of the season. If the Vikings win, they’ll not only take home the NFC North crown but will be the top seed in the NFC, earning them a first-round bye.

Minnesota doesn’t play Philadelphia, but thanks to tie-breakers, they have the advantage over them. The Vikings do play the Lions to end the season, and the winner of that game could determine whether Minnesota walks away with the #1 seed, or falls all the way to the #5. Some help could be on the way for the Vikings in the form of a former Pro Bowler.

The Miami Dolphins’ loss last week against the Houston Texans all but eliminated them from playoff contention in the AFC. There is still a slim chance, but they would need a lot to go right. With that impending elimination comes the idea that Miami could be parting with defensive tackle/end Calais Campbell.

According to Miami Herald reporter Barry Jackson, the Dolphins could opt to release Campbell once they are officially eliminated from contention in an effort to allow him to sign with a contender and chase a Super Bowl trophy that has eluded him throughout his illustrious 17-year career.

The Vikings have the cap space to make such a move, and doing so would strengthen an already great defense. Campbell could come in and immediately join a rotation at defensive tackle, giving the Vikings even more pass-rush prowess.

Over 14 games with the Dolphins this season, Campbell has notched 43 tackles and four sacks, adding nine quarterback hits in his age-38 season. He’s also provided the Dolphins with a forced fumble and has knocked down five passes.

Adding Campbell’s production to the likes of Harrison Phillips and their EDGE rushers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard could put the Vikings over the top down the stretch.

Notre Dame to open 2025 season at Miami

Get ready to pack for South Beach.

Notre Dame and Miami always will be tied together by the Catholics vs. Convicts game in 1988. Despite the storied history of both programs though, they only have met 27 times and not at all since 2017. That will change in 2025, and we now know when, too.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald is reporting that the Hurricanes will host the Irish to kick off the 2025 season. While the exact date is not yet known, the game will take place on Labor Day weekend.

The last meeting between the teams also took place in Miami, and it wasn’t a great game for the Irish. The Hurricanes dominated, 41-8, ending a seven-game Irish winning streak.

This game will mark the beginning of a renewal of the rivalry between the programs. They are scheduled to meet seven times between then and the 2037 season. While it’s a far cry from the 19 meetings they had over 20 seasons beginning in 1971, it still is something to look forward to.

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Follow Geoffrey on X: @gfclark89

Notre Dame-Miami game scheduled for 2024 pushed to 2026

Apologies to those who love to recall Catholics vs. Convicts.

Those who followed Notre Dame in the late 1980s remember the games against Miami all too well, particularly Catholics vs. Convicts. However, the programs haven’t met since the Hurricanes crushed the Irish, 41-8, in 2017. The good news is the rivalry finally will be renewed later this decade. The bad news is it now will take a year later than originally scheduled as reported by the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson:

This is perfectly understandable from the Hurricanes’ perspective. They aren’t going to drop any games against in-state rivals, and they sure won’t give up a home against Ball State just so they can go to South Bend. You don’t want to put yourself at any kind of scheduling disadvantage.

As for the Irish, they now need to find another home opponent for 2024. The remaining ones from the ACC are Louisville, Florida State and Virginia, and the Irish also play Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Pittsburgh and Wake Forest come to Notre Dame Stadium this upcoming season, so you can cross them off the list. 2025 will bring visits from NC State and Syracuse.

Maybe Boston College fills the spot since the Irish already are scheduled to travel to them in 2025? Or another Power Five school that has a 2024 opening? Perhaps a Group of Five school that’s never been to South Bend will get its chance? The speculation will run wild until a new opponent can be determined.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Report: Dolphins fond of small school draft prospect from Senior Bowl

Report: Dolphins fond of small school draft prospect from Senior Bowl

With the 2021 offseason featuring some abnormal conditions surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it can be expected that the Miami Dolphins, one of the two teams to coach players at the 2021 Senior Bowl, find themselves fond of several talents that they got to work with hand in hand for several days at the end of January. This year’s Senior Bowl will be the single biggest draft event of the cycle and Miami’s exposure to a full roster of talent will boost the confidence Miami has that they’re getting the right kinds of players for their program.

And now we have our first report of a Senior Bowl talent to catch the eye of the Dolphins’ team. No, we aren’t talking about receiver Devonta Smith or running back Najee Harris, either — but rather small-school interior offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz. The report, which comes from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, indicates that Meinerz grabbed the Dolphins’ attention during the week despite not playing any football in 2020.

“We hear the Dolphins really like Wisconsin Whitewater center/guard Quinn Meinerz, who played for the Dolphins coaching staff’s team in the Senior Bowl.” – Barry Jackson, Miami Herald

Of course they do. Remember, presumed co-offensive coordinator Eric Studesville is also an alumni of Wisconsin Whitewater — so there’s a natural tie in for Miami’s coaching staff. But Miami also likes big offensive lineman, which is another box that Meinerz checks. And, of course, this is a Dolphins program that is not afraid to take on players with more developmental projections than many other teams across the league. The Dolphins can operate with a certain level of comfort and stability thanks to their upward trajectory, the team success with outperforming expectations in two consecutive seasons and the commitment the team has from team owner Stephen Ross.

General managers and coaches on less stable teams from a job security perspective will be more prone to shy away from developing a Division III lineman, as they don’t have the time to see that kind of investment through if they don’t win games. The pressure lies in winning now.

For the Dolphins, they’ve proven they can do both. And so of course they would have a soft spot for Meinerz, who took extremely well to their coaching for a week in January. The question is how high the team will be willing to target him in April if they want to secure his services.

What If Notre Dame, Miami Finish Tied for Second Place in the ACC?

No one wants to imagine Notre Dame losing to Clemson, but you have to brace for the possibility.

No one wants to imagine Notre Dame losing to Clemson, but you have to brace for the possibility. At that point, the Irish would be playing for second place in the ACC and a spot in the title game. The most likely team they would have to battle for that spot is Miami, which has lost only once. These teams don’t play each other this season, and the follow three tiebreaker scenarios are irrelevant in this case, so the Miami Herald has broken down the fifth tiebreaker scenario should it come to that.

That scenario is higher ranking in the Team Rating Score metric from SportSource Analytics. The company is about as likely to publicly reveal that formula as Mr. Krabs is to hand over the one for Krabby Patties to Plankton. So it’s pretty much the Bowl Championship Series all over again, albeit on a much smaller scale. There’s nothing either team would be able to do with the result but accept it, and only one would be going to Charlotte.

 

 

 

Quinton Dunbar has 5 letters exonerating him in armed robbery case

Seattle Seahawks defensive back Quinton Dunbar has five letters which maintain his innocence in an armed robbery case.

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar, who has a warrant out for his arrest in Florida stemming from an accusation of armed robbery, has letters from five alleged victims which state he was not involved in the incident.

Dunbar’s defense attorney, Michael Grieco, says that five witnesses have signed sworn affidavits that exonerate Dunbar of any involvement in the alleged armed robbery that took place on Wednesday evening.

“I can’t believe Miramar PD did a virtual touchdown dance without investigating further,” Grieco told FOX’s Andy Slater. “I have never in my career seen a police department so excited about arresting a celebrity.”

The arrest warrant stated that Dunbar was seen aiding Giants defensive back DeAndre Baker, who was pointing a gun at party guests while demanding their money and valuables, including multiple watches. The warrant did not indicate whether or not Dunbar himself was also armed.

However, the five affidavits indicate Dunbar was not involved in the incident.

Greico went on to say he presented the affidavits to the Broward State Attorney’s Office, but prosecutors are still requiring Dunbar turn himself in to be jailed.

This story is continuing to develop.

[lawrence-related id=61195]

Report: Dolphins plan to attempt trade up to draft Joe Burrow

Report: Dolphins plan to attempt trade up to draft Joe Burrow

The Miami Dolphins are reportedly not just looking to make a big splash in free agency — we now formally have reason to believe that the Dolphins are going to try to make a big splash in the 2020 NFL Draft as well. The biggest of splashes, for that matter. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald is doubling down on a prior report that the Miami Dolphins will look to package their draft picks together and trade up to the 1st-overall selection. The object of their obsession?

Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow.

Whether or not the Cincinnati Bengals have any intention of hearing out Miami’s offers is another story. But at the very least, we now have a tangible report that the Dolphins will indeed try. From general manager Chris Grier’s point of view, this is why the team made the moves that they did this past year. So that the team could “do whatever (we) want” as it comes to both free agency and the NFL Draft. And so far, the team has successfully flexed that muscle in inking notable names like Byron Jones, Kyle Van Noy, Shaq Lawson and others to come to play in South Florida.

But this would be a whole different kind of flex. The Dolphins aren’t talking about trading up to 3 with Detroit or 2 with Washington anymore — they’re talking about moving up to get the big fish. Is there anything more “Miami” than that?

This team’s moves in free agency have, at the very least, bought Miami enough flexibility to take such a move in stride if they can convince the Bengals to climb down off the pedestal. Burrow comes without the red flags that plague Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and one has to wonder how much the country’s COVID-19 crisis and lockdown are motivating Miami to decide they’ll “go big or go home” if they’re going to cough up draft picks to move up and get a quarterback.

With no medicals or player visits to suss through, Miami must fall back on what is known — Burrow doesn’t have a dislocated hip issue and he’s apparently the top quarterback on the team’s board. So sure, try to go get him. But the Dolphins must proceed carefully and ensure they don’t marry themselves so an outcome that sees them paying obscenely to jump just a few spots in the order.

Stay tuned. The 2020 NFL Draft is 3 weeks away. If the Dolphins are going to pull this off, they’re running out of time.

Nate Diaz could take legal action against Miami Herald

Nate Diaz could take legal action against a major newspaper after a published story incorrectly linked the UFC star to a domestic violence case.

Nate Diaz could take legal action against a major newspaper after a published story incorrectly linked the UFC star to a domestic violence case.