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Matter Around the Water Cooler

Heading to the Super Bowl this weekend and worried about the safety of your family and friends? Have no fear! Thousands of officers and agents from more than 50 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies will be stationed at Dolphin Stadium, patrolling South Florida streets and cruising our waterways as the Super Bowl comes to town. A slew of security measures will be in store for the Feb. 4 extravaganza: No-fly zones over the stadium on game day. Magnetometers to screen some 70,000 fans. A week long boating ban in the Port of Miami-Dade. Gun-toting cops won’t be posted on every corner. Law enforcement and pro football brass say they don’t want to create a police state for the NFL’s marquee event. So now that you are all warm in fuzzy inside, let’s take a look and what’s floating around in the Water Cooler…

• Several NFL people have expressed skepticism about whether Daunte Culpepper — whose decision-making and ability to make quick reads have been questioned — will be a good fit for Cam Cameron’s offense.

• Eddie Jones has spoken to Memphis about a buyout, and the Heat is expected to explore a potential return if he’s set free. Friends of Jones say a return appeals to him.

• Tickets of America’s Michael Lipman said first-week demand is the highest in Super Bowl history, with upper-level end zone seats selling for $3,200 — $1,000 more than last year in Detroit.

• Practically everyone has a Super Bowl party here this week (including LeBron James on Wednesday at Mansion). The most star-studded? Probably the one by Shaquille O’Neal, who — with 790 The Ticket owner Joel Feinberg — is inviting 50 celebs to an exclusive dinner at Casa Casuarinas (formerly Versace Mansion) after Heat-Cavs on Thursday. Among those expected: Jennifer Lopez, Hillary Duff, Jamie Foxx, Beyonce and Matt Leinart. Feinberg bought exclusive rights to the mansion for the week; total cost (covered mostly by sponsors): $1.5 million.

• Look out Miami, apparently a guy nicknamed the Sex Cannon is here and it isn’t to play football.

• Kevin Federlines much talked about Nationwide Insurance commercial that is set to air during the Super Bowl is up now on Nationwides website. And its actually not awful.

• Rostislav Olesz has notched five points in the past five games and has helped Florida rejuvenate their power-play. Olesz was demoted to Rochester of the AHL in late November, but since returning he has been one of the top offensive Panthers. Rostislav believes it was his time in Rochester that helped his play out.

• Last but not least. Make sure you check out the fantastic wrap up of the Senior Bowl The Dude put together over on MSD. He breaks down the players and goes through each of the Dolphins picks in the upcoming draft. I was really looking forward to this preview as I did not get a chance to watch any of the senior bowl this year.

Hope everyone had a great day! Nothing on TV tonight in the way of South Florida sports. Check out the Rangers/Bruins game on Versus network tonight for some hockey.

See Ya!!!