MIA in Miami: James, Simon and the kid they should be watching

Simon says ... nothing

Nobody seems to know what's wrong with Corey Simon. His teammates say they still don't know what illness has caused him to miss this season. His coach, Tony Dungy, says the Colts are still "trying to figure out what this illness is and get him going."

Where is Corey Simon? (Getty Images)

The Colts say the illness isn't related to football, and in October decided to withhold the balance of his $2.5 million in base salary. The NFL Players Association filed a grievance with the NFL on behalf of Simon, who was signed to be the Colts' run-stuffing defensive tackle.

Instead, the Colts traded in October for Tampa Bay's Anthony McFarland, who has filled Simon's role as effectively as Addai replaced James.

Simon? He's from Boynton Beach, Fla., 45 miles north of Dolphin Stadium. Maybe, if he stacks Edgerrin James' money high enough, he can see the game from there.

The Burlsworth void

Brandon Burlsworth should be here, and not just for the sake of Brandon Burlsworth. For the sake of all of us.

The late Brandon Burlsworth should be on center stage this week. (Getty Images)

Brandon Burlsworth was too good to be true, a former walk-on who became an All-American, an honor student who became the first Arkansas football player to earn his master's degree before playing his final college game. He played in Coke-bottle glasses with dorky black rims. He was a budding icon.

The Colts thought he would be an anchor on their offensive line for a decade.

That decade isn't up. The Colts are in the Super Bowl. Edgerrin James and Corey Simon should be watching Brandon Burlsworth on television Sunday.