GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND

1) It's SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8. Bit under the weather so not in with the Le Batard Show this week. Plan to be back on next Tuesday. 2) Join me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Hot Button Top 10, Dolphins fall in Cincy and Tua concussion controversy, new Greg Cote Show podcast, Mount Gregmore of columns.

GREG COTE SHOW PODCAST: NEW EPISODE OUT NOW. ZONK!: Our 42nd episode of 2022 and 133rd overall is out now! New episode drops every Monday at 7 a.m. ET on Apple, Spotify and wherever you pod. Find all 133 we've done so far HERE. In our newest episode: We are joined by Miami Dolphins legend Larry Csonka for an in-depth chat about the Perfect Season, his life after football and more. Also in the new ep: The Tua Tagovailoa concussion controversy, Hurricane Ian, Jumpin' Charlie surgery update, Barney the purple dinosaur, What constitutes a friend?, Pop 'n G, Dad joke of the week and more. Hit up GCS2242 for full story on latest ep, and watch our weekly YouTube preview. Thanks as always for the support, pod family. Please listen, review, follow, subscribe and so forth. We simulcast on Sirius XM, too, Mondays from 5-6 p.m. ET. And now our podcast has a website and merch store! Check it out at TheGregCoteShow.com and visit the store by clicking 'Shop'. New items including Greg's Lobos T-shirts and hats! Also check out our podcast's new YouTube channel.

Our NFL Week 5 picks: We're coming off our second straight double-digit wins week overall and a season best 9-6-1 mark against the spread. Visit NFL Week 5 Gems to find all of our latest picks for Dolphins-Jets, our Game of the Week Upset of the Week and all the rest. Got off an unlucky start in Thursday night's stinker. Denver led most of the game before falling in OT, 12-9. We had the Broncos winning and covering a 3 1/2-point line. Find that separate capsule at NFL Week 4 Thursday Gem. Oh well. Tally ho!

MOUNT GREGMORE OF COLUMNS: OUR LATEST FIVE:

NEW! Five Years In, Miami Marlins Rebuild Isn't Working. Here Is The Solution NEW!

NFLPA Firing Doctor For Concussion Eval May Mean Dolphins, Tua Are Victims Here

Dolphins Fall In Cincy, But Tua Hospitalized Puts Result In Perspective

No. 1 Dolphins, Fans Bask in National Attention, Ditch 20 Years' Irrelevance

Gamble Of Inaction: 5 Answers Will Judge Heat's Quiet Offseason

Hilltop: The five columns before that: What's Going On Here!? Dolphins Beat Rival Bills, Improved to 3-0 / Cristobal Honeymoon Ends With Thud As Canes Lose To Middle Tennessee / Everyone Loves Tua & Dolphins Now. But Can Bandwagon Survive Buffalo? / Tua's Career-Redefining Six TDs Lead Dolphins' Miracle Comeback / Hurricanes Let Another Chance For a Big-Stage, Signature Win Slip Away

Note: Mount Gregmore Of Columns includes opinion columns only. NFL picks, QB rankings and stories on latest podcast episode are among stuff not included.

NFL WEEK 4 RESULTS: HERALD PICKS 'N GREG'S LOBOS 'N QB RANKINGS:

Herald Picks: A second straight strong week after slow start -- We continued our recent surge in Week 4 with another solid 10-6 mark overall and season-best 9-6-1 ledger against the spread (with the Bills' win the push at 3 points). Bull's-eyed a nice outright upset with Titans winning at Colts, and also had Seahawks with the points at Detroit. Nailed the Dolphins-Cincy pic too; always especially like to hit the Miami game just right. Mojo back, now let's keep it rollin'!

Greg's Lobos: Lo lo lo your boat! 'Bos win third straight! -- The defending PFPI Fantasy champion Lobos, after an opening loss, won a third straight game in Week 4, 133-114. Tee Higgins (26 points), Cee Dee Lamb (21) and Nick Chubb  (20) all came through big for us. 'Bos at 3-1 are tied for first in our 10-team friends 'n family league, but alone on top based on the total points tiebreaker. Big start to season. Now let's "Lo, lo, lo your boat" and keep it going!NFL QB Rankings: Brady rises, Allen still on top, Tua slips: Tom Brady wins Week 4, Josh Allen weather a subpar game to stay on top and Tua Tagovailoa slips in the latest Miami Herald NFL Quarterback Rankings? Full Top 25 and more at NFL Week 4 QB Rankings.

GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND

1) It's SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2022. Wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversay this week. Best person I've ever known; best decision I've ever made. 2) R.I.P., Tim Rosaforte, golf journalist, gone today at 66 after battling early-onset Alzheimer's. Knew him since his start at the Palm Beach Post. Genuine, good guy. 3) Join me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow the Greg Cote Show podcast separately on Twitter, Instagram and now TikTok, too! 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Hot Button Top 10, NFL Week 18 picks, Greg Cote Show podcast.

GREG COTE SHOW PODCAST: TWO (!) NEW EPISODES THIS WEEK, BOTH OUT NOW!: Our 2nd and 3rd episodes of 2022 and 93rd and 94th overall both dropped this week and are out now. Our main, regularly scheduled epsiode, out Monday, features a fun conversation with friend Ron Magill (pictured) of Zoo Miami, and a season-finale Hard Knocks celebrating Greg's Lobos' PFPI Fantasy championship. Then, out today, is a shorter bonus episode -- the first we've ever done -- on the Dolphins' sudden and illogical firing of coach Brian Flores. Dan Le Batard joins us. But we've love you to listen anyway! A new pod drops every Monday morning at 7 ET on Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Stitcher, Megaphone, iHeart -- wherever you pod, and of course at MiamiHerald.com. Find all 94 we've done so far HERE, free. Thanks as always for the support, pod family. Please listen, rate, review and follow. (Our pod simulcasts on Sirius XM every Monday 5-6 p.m. ET).

NFL WILD-CARD ROUND PLAYOFF PICKS: ROAD TO SUPER BOWL BEGINS WITH 6 GAMES, 1 BIG UPSET!: Had four dog-with-points covers — by Dolphins, Broncos, Bengals and Seahawks — to close regular season, but still a rocky Week 18 overall that left us with a .635 winning percentage straight-up and .519 (10 games over) against the spread. I’m not throwing a party, but neither am I bemoaning those numbers in what was a tough NFL season that saw a record 34 games decided on the final play. We enjoyed an especially strong year on our Upset of the Week picks, going 11-7 overall and 13-4-1 ATS on upset specials. Now, unlike 18 unfortunate teams including Miami ... we’re on to the playoffs! For our picks on all six of this weekend's games including one big upset: NFL Wild-Card Playoff Gems.

STATE OF MIAMI SPORTS: GRADES FOR FINS, HEAT, PANTHERS, MARLINS, INTER MIAMI AND CANES FOOTBALL & MEN'S HOOPS: One team is in sudden flux with an unforeseen coaching change. One is chasing a championship and another might be. One has new life after major changes. One is the comeback story nobody’s talking about. Two others are still searching for the elusive map to victory. This is our sort-of annual New Year’s State Of Miami Sports, in which we grade each of our Big Seven teams based on where they are right now and the short-term, but also put in the context of the broader, bigger picture. We identify the Big Seven as the Miami Dolphins, Heat and Marlins, Florida Panthers, Inter Miami soccer and Miami Hurricanes football and men’s basketball. Sorry if we left your favorite team out. (But not that sorry). Here are our grade rankings, high to low, best to worst. For our full latest column including the team-by-team grades, visit The State Of Miami Sports: Every Major Team, Graded Top To Bottom.

DOLPHINS FIRING BRIAN FLORES THE UNJUSTIFIED TRAVESTY OF A CLOWN-SHOW OWNER: Unjustified. Unfair. Shocking. Egregiously premature. Embarrassing. Irresponsible. Dumbfounding. Not enough words have yet been invented to adequately and fully describe the national clown show the Miami Dolphins became Monday with the sudden and utterly stupid firing of head coach Brian Flores. Team owner Stephen Ross might as well have bought a billboard alongside Interstate 95 that depicts him wearing a big red Bozo nose and the word “INCOMPETENT” stamped across his forehead. The failed owner, good at spending money on facility improvements but very bad at fielding winning football teams, has sunk to a new low. Firing Flores was so out-of-the-blue unexpected that when I first heard the news I laughed at the ludicrousness, assuming it a joke. Decades in sports journalism have seen me rarely surprised by much, but this shocked me. The timing. The senselessness. Everything. For our full latest column, visit Dolphins Firing of Flores The Unjustified Travesty Of A Clown-Show Owner.

Our most recent other columns: Dolphins Win, Finish 9-8, Now Must Commit To Build Around Tua / Why Saban 'What-If' Still Haunts Miami 15 Years later/No Playoffs And No Idea Yet On Tua Worst Possible Way For Dolphins To End Season / Revealing My 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot / Canes Land Grand Prize In Cristobal, So No Excuses Left. New Glory Days A Must and 50 Years At the Herald For Me -- And a Lifetime Of Gratitude.

(*) OUR PICKS: ROUGH WEEK TO END REGULAR SEASON: A tough week to end our regular season, with an even 8-8 mark overall and a minus 7-9 against the spread. We did have a quartete of 'dogs-with-points in covers by the Dolphins, Broncos, Seahawks abd Bengals -- the latter a silver lning on our Upset of the Week pick. Time to get our mojo back as the playoffs begin!

(*) GREG'S LOBOS: STILL CELEBRATIN' OUR CHAMPIONSHIP!: Told ya last week but it bears repeating: Greg's Lobos are PFPI Fantasy champions for the first time in the league's 13-year history!

(*) HERALD NFL QB RANKINGS: BUCS' BRADY TAKES SEASON CROWN: Tampa's Tom Brady wins Week 18 to seal a runaway 2021 season championship to end our 24th year of rankings in the Herald. Miami's Tua Tagovailoa finishes No. 22. Details and our expanded final Top 40: NFL Week18/Season Final QB Rankings.

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GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND

1) It's SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 2022. When do we start looking at somebody funny for still saying Happy New Year? Not yet, right? 2) Join me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow the Greg Cote Show podcast separately on Twitter, Instagram and now TikTok, too! 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Hot Button Top 10, Dolphins routed at Tennessee and miss playoffs, NFL Week 17 picks, new Greg Cote Show podcast.

I was back in-studio this week on the Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz ... dressed as astronaut Jeff Bezos to pay off a Grid of Death punishment. Check out Tuesday's show podcasts or show YouTube channel.

GREG COTE SHOW PODCAST: SPECIAL NEW YEAR-END BEST-OF EPISODE OUT NOW!: Our 1st episode of 2022 and 92nd overall is out now! A new pod drops every Monday at 7 ET on Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Stitcher, Megaphone, iHeart -- wherever you pod, and of course at MiamiHerald.com. Find all 92 we've done so far HERE, free. In our new episode: It's GregFest: Our Best-Of Year-End Extravaganza (with new stuff, too). We relives out greatest hits from the past year: Interviews, Songs, Greg Doesn't Know Movies, Hard Knocks/Lobos -- the fun don't stop! Inlcuding a new Mount Gregmore of OUR favrite epsiodes. You won't want to miss it! Thanks as always for the support, pod family. Please listen, rate, review and follow. (Our pod simulcasts on Sirius XM every Monday 5-6 p.m. ET).

NFL WEEK 18 PICKS: DOLPHINS-PATRIOTS, BIG UPSET, FINAL PLAYOFF TICKETS, ALL THE REST: Our second-half heater resumed in Week 17 as went a big 12-4 overall (again) and 8-8 against the spread. Nailed another Upset of the Week in Steelers beating Browns  Monday night. With one week to go our overall season total has risen and our number against the Evil Betting Line is above what it was a year ago. Time to finish strong! For our Game of the Week, Upset of the Week, Dolphins-Patriots call and who's getting the final three unclaimed playoff tickets, visit NFL Week 18 Gems.

WHY 'WHAT IF' STILL HAUNTS MIAMI, 15 YEARS AFTER NICK SABAN LEFT THE DOLPHINS: He abruptly left Miami 15 years ago this week, quitting on the Dolphins after only two seasons. He lied about leaving, and South Florida hated him for that. Many among us still do. Some always will. But 15 years later we understand very well it wasn’t the lying we hated, after all. It was the leaving. It was all Nick Saban took from us that we have spent every day since trying, and failing, to recover. The relentless winning, the championships, the national stature — everything he created at Alabama could have belonged to the Dolphins and South Florida. Then-owner Wayne Huizenga was convinced of it when he hired Saban and convinced of it ‘til the day he died. When Saban packed for Tuscaloosa, he took what might have been with him. He took hope, and possibility.

NO PLAYOFFS, NO FIRM IDEA ON TUA IS WORST POSSIBLE WAY FOR DOLPHINS TO END SEASON. NEW COLUMN: These have been the three longest playoff droughts in the once-proud history of the Miami Dolphins: Seven seasons, from 2009 to 2015. Six seasons, from 2002 to 2007. Now five seasons, from 2017 ... and counting. College-age Dolphins fans have grown up not knowing their team to be anything but almost always bad. Even worse — irrelevant. They hear their fathers and grandpas with misty eyes reference “The Perfect Season,” but the words are a near-foreign language. Yellowed pages in a scrapbook. They hear the words “Marino and “Shula” said, but these are vague, distant deities who hold no sway in the modern age. They are but strong-yet-powerless memories, reminders of a fallen empire. And the Lost Century slogs on. For our full column -- which inevitably gets around to Tua Tagovailoa, and whether he's the solution or not -- visit No Playoffs, No Firm Idea Yet On Tua Is Worst Possible Way For Dolphins To End Season.

Our Dolphins-Titans column: Party, Meet Hangover: Tua, Dolphins Out Of Playoff Chase With Loss at Titans.

Our Orange Bowl column: Georgia Crushes Michigan in OB. The Bad News? 'Bama Next.

Most recent other columns: Revealing And Discussing My 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot / Also: Hey, America, After 7th Straight Win, Do Miami Dolphins Have Your Attention Yet? / Duuuuuke Lifts Fins to 6th Straight Win, .500 / Canes Land Grand Prize In Cristobal, So No Excuses Left. New Glory Days A Must / UM Legend Frank Gore Talks NFL Future, Cristobal, Boxing As He Prepes For Ring Debut / Tua Keeps Showing Dolphins How Silly They Were To Doubt Him So Soon / and 50 Years At the Herald For Me -- And a Lifetime Of Gratitude.

(*) OUR PICKS: SOLID OVERALL, EVEN A.T.S.: We went a solid 12-4 overall (again) in Week 17, and an even 8-8 against the spread. Finished strong with Steelers (+3) over Browns Monday night in our Upset of the Week. We've had a great year on featured upset picks: 11-6 outright and 12-4-1 ATS. 

(*) GREG'S LOBOS: YESSS! WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!: Greg's Lobos are PFPI Fantasy champions for the first time in the league's 13-year history, with a 136-130 title game win over my eldest son, Chris' Crown Me The Champ team. It was a close call into Monday night, with me very lucky Nick Chubb didn't have a bigger role. I got 57 points (!) from JaMarr Chase to carry me, but narrowly avoided an embarrassment I never would have lived down -- or forgiven myself for. I started inactive Lamar Jackson, getting zero points from th QB position. And won anyway! Wow.

(*) HERALD NFL QB RANKINGS: BURROW WINS (AGAIN); BIG RACE FOR 2ND: Cincinnati's Joe Burrow wins Week 17, his second straight weekly title, and joins a tight five-man race for second place, with Tom Brady soaring to the season crown. Details and the latest Top 25: NFL Week 17 QB Rankings.

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GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND

1) It's SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 2022. HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2) R.I.P. Betty White, gone on New Year's Eve. She missed 100 by 18 days. 3) R.I.P., John Madden. A football legend in so many ways. Had a chance to interview him once many years ago and he could not have been more generous or giving of his time. 4) Join me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow the Greg Cote Show podcast separately on Twitter, Instagram and now TikTok, too! 5) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Hot Button Top 10, NFL Week 16 picks, Greg Cote Show podcast.

GREG COTE SHOW PODCAST: SPECIAL EPISODE WITH BELOVED HUMORIST DAVE BARRY OUT NOW!: Our 49th episode of 2021 and 91st overall is out now -- and it's must-hear special. A new pod drops Mondays at 7 ET on Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Stitcher, Megaphone, iHeart -- wherever you pod, and of course at MiamiHerald.com. Find all 91 we've done so far HERE, free. In our latest episode: Pulitzer Prize-winning author and humorist Dave Barry (pictured) joins us for a lengthy conversation ranging from the inanity of his 2021 Holiday Gift Guide to a serious talk about some of the personal tragedy he's lived through and how that has influenced his humor. Also in the new episode: My Dolphins Christmas song, Fins' winning streak, Greg's Lobos update and more. Thanks as always for the support, pod family. Please listen, rate, review and follow. (Our pod simulcasts on Sirius XM every Monday 5-6 p.m. ET). We're taking the holiday week off -- no new episode out this week -- so it's the perfect time to catch up on our latest episode or back catalog!

NFL WEEK 17 PICKS: DOLPHINS-TITANS, 2 BIG UPSETS, ALL THE REST: Our second-half heater resumed in Week 16 as went a big 12-4 overall and a solid 10-6 against the spread. Nailed Titans’ upset of Niners and Colts’ miniupset of Cards, and also had Lions-with-points covering at Atlanta. Had some bad luck related to the fact our picks are locked in on Thursdays. That has hurt us some related to Covid protocols and also injuries, such as Lamar Jackson still with a shot to play when we picked last week. Anyhow, no excuses. With two weeks to go our overall season total has risen and our number against the Evil Betting Line is now above what it was a year ago. Time to finish strong! This week we call two more outright upsets. For those, our Game of the Week, our pick for Dolphins-Titans and all the rest, visit NFL Week 17 Gems.

A BASEBALL HALL OF FAME VOTER (ME) EXPLAINS HIS 2022 BALLOT: The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, is a quaint place lost in time. It’s a village with an estimated 1,750 people actually living there. It is a Norman Rockwell painting. You aren’t sure what decade you’re in. The Hall’s address is Main Street, although that might have gone without saying. Getting into the Hall of Fame is rather a quaint process, too. As if the Internet did not yet exist. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America mails the latest ballot every December to the 440 voting members — I am honored to be one — and they are due back by December 31. You fill out the paper ballot by hand. Old school, a self-addressed, stamped return envelope is included. For 53 cents (pre-paid), my ballot is mailed to an address in Bayside, New York, an upscale neighborhood in Queens, where a BBWAA official will count them by hand. Results will be announced January 25 and the 2022 induction held July 24. But who gets into sports’ most famous Hall of Fame and why — that is not simple, or quaint. Used to be, before steroids, when a voter had the luxury of just crunching stats, but all that changed with performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and their great influence over said stats. I reveal and discuss my 2022 ballot in my latest column. This is the final year for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens' eligibility and the first for Alex Rodriguez (pictured), so the vote will be under particular scrutiny. For my full column, visit: Revealing And Discussing My 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot.

Column off Georgia's Orange Bowl rout of Michigan: Georgia Wins 88th Orange Bowl. The Bad News? 'Bama Is Next.

Column off Dolphins' Monday night win: Hey, America, After 7th Straight Win, Do Miami Dolphins Have Your Attention Yet? 

Most recent other columns: Duuuuuke Lifts Fins to 6th Straight Win, .500 / Canes Land Grand Prize In Cristobal, So No Excuses Left. New Glory Days A Must / UM Legend Frank Gore Talks NFL Future, Cristobal, Boxing As He Prepes For Ring Debut / Tua Keeps Showing Dolphins How Silly They Were To Doubt Him So Soon / 50 Years At the Herald For Me -- And a Lifetime Of Gratitude

(*) OUR PICKS: BIG WEEK AS STRONG FINISH CONTINUES: Our recent hot streak resumed in Week 16 as went a big 12-4 overall and a solid 10-6 against the spread. Nailed Titans' upset of Niners  and Colts' miniupset of Cards, and also had Lions-with-points covering at Atlanta. Had some bad luck with timing of Covid stuff (our picks are in on Thursdays), but still did well overall.

(*) GREG'S LOBOS: A WIN SENDS US ONTO THE CHAMPIOSNHIP GAME!: After a first-round playoff bye the Lobos won big in the semifinal game last week, 139-121, over my nephew Joe, led by 40 points from Joe Burrow, a last-minute sub for injured Lamar Jackson. We are now in the championship game of PFPI Fantasy, our 10-team friends 'n family league. My opponent? Eldest son Christopher. He's going for his third league title and me my first. Go Dad!

(*) HERALD NFL QB RANKINGS: BURROW SOARS TO SEASON-BEST WEEK: Cincinnati's Joe Burrow wins Week 16 with a season-best 71.25-point game and Tampa's Tom Brady grows his overall lead in the Miami Herald's updated rankings. Details and the latest Top 25: NFL Week 16 QB Rankings.

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GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND

1) It's SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25. Merry Christmas! 2) Not on Le Batard Show this week; feeling a bit under the weather. Check out last Tuesday's (December 14) show podcasts for my new Dolphins Christmas song. 3) Join me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow the Greg Cote Show podcast separately on Twitter, Instagram and now TikTok, too! 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Dolphins win 6th in a row, Hot Button Top 10, NFL Week 15 picks, new Greg Cote Show podcast, Week 14 results for picks/Lobos/QB ranking.

Note to readers: I'm burning a bunch of unused vacation days throughout December so am having fewer columns out lately. But am still producing occasional columns and regular staples such as the weekly NFL picks, the podcast and this blog.

GREG COTE SHOW PODCAST: SPECIAL NEW EPISODE WITH BELOVED HUMORIST DAVE BARRY OUT NOW!: Our 49th episode of 2021 and 91st overall is out now -- and it's a must-hear special one. A new pod drops every Monday at 7 ET on Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Stitcher, Megaphone, iHeart -- wherever you pod, and of course at MiamiHerald.com. Find all 91 we've done so far HERE, free. In our newest episode: Pulitzer Prize-winning author and humorist Dave Barry joins us for a lengthy conversation ranging from the inanity of his 2021 Holiday Gift Guide to a serious talk about some of the personal tragedy he's lived thorugh and how that has informed his humor. Also in the new episode: My Dolphins Christmas song, the Fins' 6th win in a row, Greg's Lobos gird for fantasy playoffs and much more. Thanks as always for the support, pod family. Please listen, rate, review and follow. (Our pod simulcasts on Sirius XM every Monday 5-6 p.m. ET).

Dolphins-Jets column: Off Sunday's 31-24 Miami win: Duuuuuke Lifts Fins to 6th Straight Win, .500.

Our other most recent columns: Canes Land Grand Prize In Cristobal, So No Excuses Left. New Glory Days A Must / UM Legend Frank Gore Talks NFL Future, Cristobal, Boxing As He Prepes For Ring Debut / Tua Keeps Showing Dolphins How Silly They Were To Doubt Him So Soon / 50 Years At the Herald For Me -- And a Lifetime Of Gratitude

NFL WEEK 16 PICKS: DOLPHINS-SAINTS AND ALL THE REST -- AND A GOOD START THURSDAY!: Our hot streak cooled a bit last week at 10-6 overall and 7-9 against the spread, including an end to our remarkable six-game wining streak on outright Upset of the Week bull's-eyes. This week we call three more outright upsets, and nailed the first Thursday night to get our week off to a big start. We had @Titans (+3 1/2) beating 49ers, 23-20. And Titans won, 20-17. For all of our latest picks including Dolphins-Jets, visit NFL Week 16 Gems.

(*) OUR PICKS: HOT STREAK COOLS WITH A BIT OF A SO-SO WEEK: Our recent hot streak cooled a bit in Week 15 as went an OK 10-6 overall but a rough 7-9 against the spread (including 0-4 ATS on the Monday and Tuesday doubleheaders). That included an end to our fabulous six-game winning streak on Upset of the Week bull's-eye when Pats failed to win at favored Colts. Bright side: Nailed one other outright (mini) upset with Steelers over Titans, and had a quartet of 'dogs-with-points in covers by Lions, Jets. Texans and Ravens.

(*) GREG'S LOBOS: OFF PLAYOFF BYE, 'BOS AWAIT SEMIFINAL MATCHUP: Lobod enjoyed a first-round playoff bye after a 9-5 seaeson record earned the No. 2 playoff. That was important, giving QB Lamar Jackson time to -- I hope -- get healthy. Our semifinal opponent in PFPI Fantasy, our 10-team friends 'n family league, is my nephew Joe, a tough draw. Though he finished 8-6, Joe's team outscored me by an average of 19 points a game this season and handily won our lone head-to-head meeting. I need you, Luck. You with me?

(*) HERALD NFL QB RANKINGS: CHIEFS' MAHOMES WINS WEEK, STAFFORD NARROWS BRADY LEAD: Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes wins Week 16 and the Rams' Matthew Stafford cuts into Tom Brady's season lead in the Miami Herald's updated rankings. Details and the latest Top 25: NFL Week 15 QB Rankings.

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GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND

1) It's SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18. Had fun on the Le Batard Show this week, and debuted a new Dolphins Christmas song. Check out Tuesday's show's podcasts to hear it! 2) Join me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow the Greg Cote Show podcast separately on Twitter, Instagram and now TikTok, too! 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Hot Button Top 10, NFL Week 14 picks, new Greg Cote Show podcast.

Note to readers: I'm burning a bunch of unused vacation days throughout December so am having fewer columns out lately. But am still producing occasional columns and regular staples such as the weekly NFL picks, the podcast and this blog.

GREG COTE SHOW PODCAST: DOLPHIN MACK HOLLINS ON NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!: Our 48th episode of 2021 and landmark 90th overall is out now! New pod drops every Monday at 7 ET on Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Stitcher, Megaphone, iHeart -- wherever you pod, and of course at MiamiHerald.com. Find all 90 we've done HERE, free. In our latest episode: Mack Daddy! Mack the Knife! Miami Dolphins receiver Mack Hollins joins us and delights with his splendid unusualness. Quick hints: Sings Sinatra. Owns an 11-foot boa. Owns no car. Fun dude. Also in the new episode: Important discussion about ear wax; Greg apologizes to a dearly departed Monkee; Friday afternoon driving songs; Goodbye Manny Diaz; an ominous Lobos update and more! Thanks as always for the support, pod family. Most podcasts were off this past week for the holiday. NOT US!!! Please listen, rate, review and follow. (Our pod simulcasts on Sirius XM every Monday 5-6 p.m. ET).

Our most recent columns:

Canes Land Grand Prize In Cristobal, So No Excuses Left. New Glory Days A Must

UM Legend Frank Gore Talks NFL Future, Cristobal, Boxing As He Prepes For Ring Debut

Tua Keeps Showing Dolphins How Silly They Were To Doubt Him So Soon

50 Years At the Herald For Me -- And a Lifetime Of Gratitude

NFL WEEK 15 PICKS: DOLPHINS-JETS; GOING FOR 7TH STRAIGHT (!) UPSET OF WEEK; GOOD START THURSDAY: Our hot streak contnues! We're on a real heater lately to turn around what has been a tough season. The big upswing continued last week with a solid 10-4 mark overall and 9-5 against the spread -- including a sixth straight (!) Upset of the Week bull's-eye with Rams winning at Arizona Monday night. This week we call three more outright upsets. Will the featured one be our seventh in a row? Our week got off to a double-win start Thursday night. We had Chiefs winning and covering three at the Chargers and, with a rally (luck counts), they did. For all of our latest picks including Dolphins-Jets, visit NFL Week 15 Gems.

(*) OUR PICKS: YESSS! OUR SECOND-HALF SURGE GOES ON!: Tough season but we're turning it around the past several weeks. That continued in Week 14 with a solid 10-4 mark overall and a stout 9-5 against the point spread -- including a sixth straight (!) Upset of the Week bull's-eye with Rams winning in Arizona Monday night. Also had Ravens with points at Cleveland.

(*) GREG'S LOBOS: EVEN WITH LATE SLUMP, A 1ST-ROUND PLAYOFF BYE!: Lost a third straight close game (this one to younger son Michael) to end the PFPI Fantasy regular season 9-5. But that's still enough for a first round bye in the playoffs now upon us. The bye gives my guy Lamar Jackson time to heal. And he'd better for me to keep title hopes alive in our 10-team friends 'n family league.

(*) HERALD NFL QB RANKINGS: PACK'S RODGERS WIN WEEK: Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers wins Week 14 but Tampa's Tom Brady maintains a sizable overall lead in the Miami Herald's updated rankings. Details and the latest Top 25: NFL Week 14 QB Rankings.

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GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND

1) It's SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11. John Lennon was killed 41 years ago this week. 2) This week also marked the 80th anniversay of Pearl Harbor. A diminishing few aging veterans still with us lived through the attack. Bless them. 3) Join me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow the Greg Cote Show podcast separately on Twitter, Instagram and now TikTok, too! 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Hot Button Top10, Dolphins surge to 5th straight win, new Greg Cote Show podcast.

Note to readers: I've burning a bunch of unused vacation days in December so will have fewer columns out over the next few weeks. But will still be producing regular staples such as the weekly NFL picks, the podcast and this blog.

GREG COTE SHOW PODCAST: NEW EPISODE OUT NOW AND IT'S A QUIRK FEST!: Our 47th episode of 2021 and 89th overall is out now! New pod drops every Monday at 7 ET on Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Stitcher, Megaphone, iHeart -- wherever you pod, and of course at MiamiHerald.com. Find all 89 we've done HERE, free. In our latest episode: Quirk Fest! Listeners called into our show hotline to admit their strangest quirks, and we play the best. And Greg, Chris and Yeti's wives reveal their husbands' weirdest habits. Also, Greg on the Canes/Mario Cristobal drama, surging Dolphins and damned Nick Saban. Thanks as always for the support, pod family. Most podcasts were off this past week for the holiday. NOT US!!! Please listen, rate, review and follow. (Our pod simulcasts on Sirius XM every Monday 5-6 p.m. ET).

OUR NFL WEEK 14 PICKS: GOING FOR 6TH STRAIGHT (!) UPSET OF WEEK BULL'S -EYE: We're on a real heater lately to turn around what has been a tough season. The big upswing continued last week with an 11-3 mark overall and 10-4 against the spread -- our best overall week of the year. That included a fifth straight (!) Upset of the Week bull's-eye with Seattle beating San Fran. Nailed two other outright upsets with Washington over Vegas and New England over Buffalo, and also had two 'dogs-with-points in covers by Lions and Steelers. This week we call four big upsets. Unfortunately we missed on our first one Thursday night when Pittsburgh's rally fell short. For all of our latest picks, visit NFL Week 14 Gems.

Our most recent columns: Canes Land Grand Prize In Cristobal, So New Excuses Left. New Glory Days A Must and UM Legend Frank Gore Talks NFL Future, Cristobal, Boxing As He Prepes For Ring Debut (video below). lso: Tua Keeps Showing Dolphins How Silly They Were To Doubt Him So Soon / and 50 Years At the Herald For Me -- And a Lifetime Of Gratitude.

(*) OUR PICKS: BIG WEEK AS OUR SURGE CONTINUES!: Tough season so far but a big upswing lately, including last week's 11-3 mark overall and 10-4 against the spread -- probably our best overall week of the year. That included a fifth straight (!) Upset of the Week bull's-eye with Seattle beating San Fran. Nailed two other outright upsets with Washington over Vegas and New England over Buffalo, and also had two 'dogs-with-points in covers by Lions and Steelers. 

(*) GREG'S LOBOS: LATE SWOON BUT STILL IN GOOD SHAPE: Lost a second straight heartbreaker, 112-110 (to my brother), but we're still 9-4 and in second place. Need a win in our regular-season finale to clinch a first round playoff bye in PFPI Fantasy,our 10-team friends 'n family league.

(*) HERALD NFL QB RANKINGS: YEAR OF THE G.O.A.T?: Tampa Bay's Tom Brady wins Week 13 and grows his overall season lead in the Miami Herald's updated rankings. Details and the latest expanded Top 25: NFL Week 13 QB Rankings.

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GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND

1) It's SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4. Was back on Le Batard Show this week. I now have a clean-shaven back. Check out Tuesday's show podcasts and social media. 2) Join me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow the Greg Cote Show podcast separately on Twitter, Instagram and now TikTok, too! 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Hot Button Top 10, Greg Cote Show podcast, Dolphins and Canes and other recent columns & more.

Note to readers: I'll be burning a bunch of unused vacation days in December so will have fewer columns out over the next few weeks. But will still be producing regular non-column staples such as the weekly NFL picks, the podcast and this blog.

GREG COTE SHOW PODCAST: JOY, AGONY OF CHRISTMAS TREE SHOPPING. NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!: Our 46th episode of 2021 and 88th overall is out now! New pod drops every Monday at 7 ET on Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Stitcher, Megaphone, iHeart -- wherever you pod, and of course at MiamiHerald.com. Find all 88 we've done HERE, free. In our newest episode: Greg on the horros of Christmas tree shopping and his nieghbors' one-upsmanship on getting their lights up first. Also, real trees vs. fake. Also in the new ep: Surging Dolphins and Jaylen's waddle; the case for another year for Manny Diaz; Dancing Swords; sitting to pee; seasonal depression among chickens; the return of Mount Gregmore; and an ominous Lobos update. Thanks as always for the support, pod family. Most podcasts were off this past week for the holiday. NOT US!!! Please listen, rate, review and follow. (Our pod simulcasts on Sirius XM every Monday 5-6 p.m. ET).

Out most recent columns: Fins, Tua Win Again. And If 5-7 Can Be Impressive -- This is / At 7-5, Here Is Manny Diaz's Slim Path To Survival / and 50 Years At the Herald For Me -- And a Lifetime Of Gratitude.

OUR NFL WEEK 13 PICKS: DOLPHINS-GIANTS, 3 UPSETS, ALL THE REST: In a tough season overall I've been on a bit of a heater lately, including a four-game win streak on Upset of the Week picks. Will it continue? Time for our NFL Week 13 picks for Dolphins-Giants, our Patriots-Bills Game of the Week, our Upset of the Week -- three upsets in all -- and all of the rest. Got off to an uneven start last night. Correctly had Dallas winninig, but erred in thinking Saints would cover plus-4 1/2. For all of our latest picks, visit NFL Week 13 Gems.

NFL WEEK 12 RESULTS:

(*) OUR PICKS: SOLID BOTH WAYS AS NICE RUN CONTINUES: Tough season so far but an upswing lately, including last week's 100-5 mark overall and 9-6 against the spread. That included a fourth staright Upset of the Week bull's-eye with Denver beating the L.A. Chargers. Also nailed Dolphins' mini-upset of Caroina, and had Lions with points on Thanskgiving. 

(*) GREG'S LOBOS: OUCH. STREAK ENDS IN ROUT-LOSS: We'd surfed a five-game winning streak into first-place but that ended hard in a 122-90 loss to Cori, my daughter-in-law's twin. Never a good sign when your leading scorers top out at 16 points. We're now 9-3 and still tied for first in the PFPI Fantasy regular season, our 10-team friends 'n family league, with two weeks left in the regular season.

(*) HERALD NFL QB RANKINGS: DOLPHINS' TUA WINS THE WEEK!: Dolphin Tua Tagovailoa wins Week 11 honors and Tampa's Tom Brady maintains the No.1 spot overall in the Herald's updated rankings. Details and the latest Top 20: NFL Week 12 QB Rankings.

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GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND

1) It's SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27. HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEKEND! Hope y'all had a glorious Bird Day! 2) I was back on the Le Batard Show with a soup recipe Tuesday. Check out that day's show podcasts. 3) Join me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow the Greg Cote Show podcast separately on Twitter, Instagram and now TikTok, too! 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Hot Button Top 10, new Greg Cote Show podcast, NFL Week 11 picks, columns off Dolphins and Canes wins & more.

GREG COTE SHOW PODCAST: WORST THANKSGIVING FOODS, DOLPHINS' NO. 1 FAN! NEW EPISODE OUT NOW: Our 45th episode of 2021 and 87th overall is out now! New pod drops every Monday at 7 ET on Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Stitcher, Megaphone, iHeart -- wherever you pod, and of course at MiamiHerald.com. Find all 87 we've done HERE, free. In our newest episode: Meet orange-bearded Marc Angelo, the Miam Dolphins' nominee for 2021 NFL Fan of the Year. And Greg, Chris and Yeti share their picks for worst Thanksgiving foods -- the ones that should be kicked off the table. Plus, Chris' empty bags vs. Greg's umbrella misuse; Chris rips Scottie Pippen, Dolphins keep rollin', Lobos update and Quirk Line for you to call in. Thanks as always for the support, pod family. Most podcasts are off this week for the holiday. NOT US!!! Please listen, rate, review and follow. (Our pod simulcasts on Sirius XM every Monday 5-6 p.m. ET).

OUR NFL WEEK 12 PICKS!: Might not seem like it but this was the 16th year of Thanksgiving Day tripleheaders as Americans competed to see what they would be more full of come midnight: food, or football. The NFL has wrapped itself in the holiday since 1925, and the 1934 Bird Day game was the first to be broadcast nationally. Traditional host Detroit played in its 82nd game on the holiday, and Dallas hosted for the 44th straight year. Chicago made its 37th Thanksgiving appearance, Buffalo its 10th, the Raiders their eighth and New Orleans its fourth. Got all that? Quiz in the morning. We did lousy on our Bird Day picks, going 1-2 overall (got Buffalo's win) and 1-2 against the spread (got Detroit's cover). Hope we do better with the main schedule ahead. For all of this week's pick, visit NFL Week 12 Gems.

THIS THANKSGIVING MARKS 50 YEARS AT THE HERALD FOR US. AND A LIFETIME OF GRATITUDE: My mentor on these pages, the great Edwin Pope, left us almost five years ago at age 88. He used to write these heartfelt Thanksgiving columns every year that (full disclosure) made some of the younger writers roll our eyes a little bit. We loved and admired our leader so much, and yet we would smirk. We called these his annual “smell of new-mown grass” columns. The cynic would delight to note that the fresh-cut lawn scent we all know actually is produced by molecules released when plants including grass are damaged by insects, disease or other forces — like lawnmower blades. In effect, that pleasant smell is your lawn screaming it has just been cut in half. But I digress. The point is: Edwin had it exactly right. You appreciate the little things. You don’t overanalyze. You let your heart lead you to where your thankfulness and gratitude should go. You have faith it it will steer you right. I love Thanksgiving for the family and food and football, but mostly because it is the one holiday whose reason for being is to encourage that we stop, pause, reflect and appreciate. That can be tough at times. We have been surrounded by so much the past couple of years. The horrific COVID-19 pandemic we are still trying to get free of. The racial injustice and national discord that has turned civil to vile. Just Monday we awakened to the terrible headline involving a deranged SUV driver and a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The antidote is in the smile of my first grandchild, in her laughter and dance. She is not quite 4, and everything good and hopeful about the world and future radiate from her. She calls me “Pop.” I melt. For my full latest column -- a very personal one on a very special week: 50 Years At the Herald For Me -- And a Lifetime Of Gratitude.

Our other most recent columns: They're Alive! Dolphins, Tua Beat Jets For 3rd Straight As Revival Continues / and Diaz Smiles Through Rain & Pain As Canes Win,  Reach Bowl Game He May Not Be Around To Coach. Also: Hurricanes, Too Beholden to Past and UM Family, Need to Go Outside for new AD Hire / UM And Blake James Parted Ways With Class -- Which Butch Davis Didn't Get From FIU / and How Miami Dolphins Are Poised to Transform Their 1-7 Start Into Playoff Contention.

NFL WEEK 11 RESULTS:

(*) OUR PICKS: A STRONG WEEK BOTH WAYS FOR US: A down season for us so far, but an uplifting Week 11 both ways as we went 10-5 straght-up and 9-6 against the spread. That included a third straight bull's-eye on our Upset of the Week with Washington winning at Panthers, along with three other 'dogs-with-points covers.

(*) GREG'S LOBOS: LEAGUE-LEADING AND A 5TH STRAIGHT WIN!: The close games keep going our way. Lobos won 99-97 last week over Christie (Chris's wife), led by 21 points from Keenan Allen and 20 from Mike Evans. We are now 9-2 after five straight wins and alone in first place in the PFPI Fantasy regular season, our 10-team friends 'n family league, with three weeks left in the regular season.

(*) HERALD NFL QB RANKINGS: McCOY, BRADY AND TUA ON THE MARQUEE: Cardinals backup Colt McCoy wins Week 11 honors, the Bucs' Tom Brady maintains the No.1 spot overall, and Do,lphin Tua Tagovailao leaps five big spots in the Herald's updated rankings. Details and the latest Top 20: NFL Week 11 QB Rankings.

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GREG COTE'S RANDOM EVIDENCE BLOG: MIAMI. SPORTS. AND BEYOND

1) It's SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13. Join me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow the Greg Cote Show podcast separately on Twitter, Instagram and now TikTok, too! 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Hot Button Top 10, Dolphins end skid in win over Texans, Is Manny Diaz saving himself after 3rd straight win?, Greg Cote Show podcast & more.

GREG COTE SHOW PODCAST: LATEST EPISODE LIVE FROM LE BATARD SHOW FAN EVENT: Our 43rd episode of 2021 and 85th overall is out now! New pod drops every Monday at 7 ET on Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Stitcher, Megaphone, iHeart -- wherever you pod, and of course at MiamiHerald.com. Find all 85 we've done HERE, free. In our most recent episode: Greg's live on-stage routine (pictured) and more from Le Batard Show's mini-Mas Miami fan event this past weekend. Also: Latest Toy Hall of Fame inductees, Yeti live report from Braves' championship parade, how to pronounce "Tuesday," an homage to Villa Rose (R.I.P.), Big Bird gets the vaccine, NFL's wild weekend and the Tua worry, Greg's Lobos update, stern message from the National Respect The Pumpkin Foundation & more. Thanks as always for the support, pod family. Please listen, rate, review and follow. (Our pod simulcasts on Sirius XM every Monday 5-6 p.m. ET).

Watch for our UM-FSU column online and linked here soon after today's game ends.

My column off Thursday night's Dolphins upset win: Miracles Happen: Crushing Defense, Tua Off Bench Help Fins Stun Baltimore

Our other most recent columns: Oh Brother! Heat-Nuggets' Family Feud Spices Season / Fins End 7-Game Skid -- But Only Because Texans Were Even Worse / Is Manny Diaz Saving Himself? Coach, Comeback Canes Win 3rd Straight. Also: Dolphins' Watson Lust Ruined Season, Damaged Tua. And That Starts With Owner Ross / Buffalo's Late Classlessness Aside, Miami Out Of Answers In 7th Straight Loss / U-Turn: UM Season, Diaz Future Looking Up With 2nd Straight Big Win / andQuenneville Rightly Sacked as Panthers Coach Over 2010 Chicago Scandal.

NFL WEEK 10 PICKS: GAME OF THE WEEK, 2 BIG UPSETS AND ALL THE REST: NFL Week 10 is upon us with Dolphins hosting Ravens last night and winning, 22-10. That result blindsided; didn't think the Fins had it in 'em. Hope the rest of my week goes better! Here are our picks for our Game of the Week and Upset of the Week along with an additional upset and all the rest: NFL Week 10 Gems.

NFL WEEK 9 RESULTS:

(*) OUR PICKS: OK THIS IS GETTIN' RIDICULOUS: It's midseason and we're fighting uphill to avoid one of our worst seasons in 31 years (since 1991) doing picks in the Herald. Our 8-6 mark overall last week left us at .588 for the season, and our 5-9 against the spread left us at .478 ATS. Bad and bad. Last week I nailed my Upset of the Week with Giants beating Raiders ("Aawwk!"), and had Packers with points at Chiefs, but too little else went right. Good example: A close-don’t-count almost in picking Eagles to upset Chargers. The good news: It’s only halftime of the 2021 season. Lots of games left and a lot of fight left in us to find our groove and ride it to a strong second half!

(*) GREG'S LOBOS: YET ANOTHER WIN AND OUR ROLL CONTINUES!: Lobos won 116-113 last week, beating son Chris led by 31 points from Lamar Jackson. That made us 7-2 and in a two-way tie for first place in the PFPI Fantasy regular season, our 10-team friends 'n family league. Also got 23 from Keenan Allen. 'Bos are playoff-boudn and dreaming championship! 

(*) HERALD NFL QB RANKINGS: IT'S AN L.A., L.A KIND OF WEEK: Chargers' Justin Herbert wins the Week 9 title and the Rams' Matthew Stafford (despite an off game) edges past bye-week Tom Brady for the season lead in the Herald's updated rankings. Details and the latest Top 20: NFL Week 9 QB Rankings.

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Our most recent other columns: Buffalo's Late Classlessness Aside, Miami Out Of Answers In 7th Straight Loss /Hurricanes:U-Turn: UM Season, Diaz Future Looking Up With 2nd Straight Big Win / Quenneville Rightly Sacked as Panthers Coach Over 2010 Chicago Scandal / Dolphins Sabotaging Tua Season Over Misguided Infatuation With Watson / As Dolphins' Dysfunction Surrounds Him, 10 Ways Tua Is The Unluckiest Man On Earth / Tua Shuts Off Noise, Throws 4 TDs, But It Still Isn't Enough / Canes, Embattled Diaz Show The Fight Left In Them /State of the Art: Heat, Miami's Best-Run Franchise, Sails In Opener / and 'Time to Hunt': Cats' Hyped Season Off to Wild, Winning Start