'Skins make playoffs, and Taylor's at their side

'Skins make playoffs, and Taylor's at their side
Sean Taylor wasn't on the field when the Redskins clinched Sunday. He didn't have to be. Alex Marvez says his presence is all around.

SMU considering Neuheisel

Larry Coker and Dennis Franchione are still in the running for the SMU job, but a source says that SMU is also considering Rick Neuheisel, despite his history, and that the school is no longer on edge about potential NCAA issues.

The Mustangs are waiting to see if Neuheisel goes to UCLA. Neuheisel is currently the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens.

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Cameron getting bashed on way out the door

Miami Dolphins coach Cam Cameron, who reportedly could be let go this week, even has lost some support from his staff according to a report in the Miami Herald.

''Some coaches aren't fans of Cameron — the religious stuff wears on them,'' one close associate of the staff said. (Cameron is religious and perceived by some as judgmental.) One player said he appears to second-guess defensive coordinator Dom Capers at times.

Longtime former Falcons/Raiders/Packers personnel executive Ken Herock said in Cameron, the Dolphins ''basically got a worse Nick Saban.''

Nolan or Smith: Who stays, who goes?
San Francisco 49ers owner John York spoke hurriedly Sunday in Cleveland of meeting with coach Mike Nolan today, probably in Santa Clara according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Nolan has two years left on a five-year contract he signed in 2005 that pays him a total of $8 million. His status as coach and power within the organizational structure in seriously in question.

If it comes down to a question of keeping Nolan or quarterback Alex Smith, bet on the quarterback staying since he's on the books for millions more than the head coach. The defining experience of 2007 for the 49ers was Nolan's mishandling of Smith in the aftermath of his separated shoulder on Sept. 30.

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Does Dorsey staying in Cleveland mean Anderson is going?

The Cleveland Browns signed third-string quarterback Ken Dorsey to a contract extension through 2010. The signing of Dorsey, who was cut by the team before the start of the season, could be meaningless or could be a prelude to bigger roster moves.

Profootballtalk.com continues to speculate that Derek Anderson could be allowed to walk in free agency to the Miami Dolphins, who would surrender draft picks as compensation. One of those picks could go to select running back Darren McFadden from Arkansas.

Dorsey is a friend and mentor to rookie quarterback Brady Quinn, who would take over the starting job if Anderson is allow to go elsewhere.

Kitna: "Firing Martz would be a mistake''

Quarterback Jon Kitna, who has taken beating after beating because of the lack of a running game, believes the Detroit Lions should keep Mike Martz as offensive coordinator according to a report in the Detroit News.

Kitna, the starting quarterback under Martz for all 31 games the last two seasons, said it would be a mistake for the Lions to fire Martz after this season.

Martz has been an enigmatic and controversial figure since coach Rod Marinelli hired him in 2006 to run the offense. The passing game has improved greatly but the Lions have not achieved the success Martz had in St. Louis, where he was offensive coordinator in 1999 and coach from 2000-05. They have also failed to develop a running game.

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