Miami Awaits Saban’s Decision

Miami Dolphin owner Wayne Huizenga flew to Baton Rouge, La., on Friday, then returned to South Florida nine hours later without Nick Saban.

But the Louisiana State coach might yet join the Dolphins.

Still weighing an offer the Dolphins made Wednesday, Saban met with Huizenga and team President Eddie Jones, then huddled with LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman, then said he needed more time.

“In the next 24 to 48 hours we’ll make a decision,” Saban said in a statement released by LSU. “We certainly appreciate everyone’s support, patience and understanding during this very difficult process.”

Shortly before Huizenga departed Baton Rouge, Saban briefly boarded the plane, then got in his car and drove away. Saban and the Tigers are scheduled to fly today to Orlando, Fla., for their Jan. 1 bowl game against Iowa.

The coach’s hesitancy in making the leap to the NFL is nothing new. He previously turned down overtures from at least five NFL teams, including Atlanta and Chicago a year ago.

It was unclear whether money was part of the negotiations. Saban is the highest-paid coach in college football and in the first year of an $18.45-million, seven-year deal, while the Dolphins’ offer is believed to exceed $4 million a year.

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In the twilight of his career, Emmitt Smith is still capable of grabbing the spotlight.

If he scores on the ground Sunday against the Seahawks in Seattle, Smith will become the first Arizona Cardinal player in 31 years to rush for 10 touchdowns in a season. Only five have done it -- John David Crow (14) in 1962, Ernie Nevers (12) in 1929, MacArthur Lane (11) in 1970, Johnny Roland (10) in 1967 and Donny Anderson (10) in 1973.

“I don’t know nothing about Cardinals’ history,” Smith said. “Hey, it would be nice to be in a couple of ballclubs’ record books, I guess. I’ll take them as they come. Any touchdown I can get to help this team win is one I’m proud of.”

The Cardinals’ 31-7 victory last weekend over St. Louis put them within reach of a division title and a home playoff game if they win twice and the Seahawks and Rams lose their last two.

Smith gained 71 yards in 19 attempts against the Rams. That left him 197 yards short of a 12th 1,000-yard season.

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Former Pro Bowl center Barret Robbins was arrested on suspicion of battery and drunk and disorderly conduct after he allegedly hit a San Francisco nightclub security guard, according to authorities.

The former Oakland Raider player allegedly struck a security guard after he was told the bar he was trying to enter was closed, according to the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department. He was arrested around 7 a.m. Friday.

Robbins remained jailed on $1,000 bond as of Friday evening.

The former All-Pro center is best remembered for his infamous disappearance on the night before the Super Bowl in San Diego in January 2003.

The Raiders lost to Tampa Bay, 48-21.

Robbins spent Super Bowl Sunday in a hospital and later acknowledged that he had stopped taking his medicine for depression and bipolar disorder.

He was released by the Raiders in July of this year, a week after he and two other players were fined three game checks for testing positive for the steroid THG.

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Seahawk quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was limited at practice by an elbow injury but is expected to start Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.... Jacksonville Jaguar running back Fred Taylor sat out his third practice in a row because of a sprained knee and remained questionable for Sunday’s game with Houston.... Buffalo Bill running back Willis McGahee practiced for the first time this week, and his status is unclear for Sunday’s game at San Francisco. McGahee is listed as questionable after bruising and hyperextending his right knee in Buffalo’s win over Cincinnati last Sunday. Coach Mike Mularkey said after Friday’s workout that McGahee’s availability would be a game-time decision. Backup Travis Henry ruled himself out of Sunday’s game because of torn ligaments in his right ankle.