Greg Cote’s Hot Button Top 10: Dolphins-Vegas, Tyson-Paul, Panthers’ statement win, Prime to Cowboys?

GREG COTE’S HOT BUTTON TOP 10 (NOVEMBER 17): WHAT IN SPORTS HAS GRABBED US THIS WEEK: Our Sunday Hot Button Top 10 notes column brings you what’s on our minds, locally and nationally, but from a Miami perspective and accentuating stuff that’s big, weird, damnable, funny or otherwise worth needling as the sports week just past pivots to the week ahead. Welcome to the 82nd edition of your Sunday sports-potpourri notes column, the HB10:

1. DOLPHINS: Tua out to remind Vegas coach why he’s still playing: Most may not remember it. But I do. You know Tua Tagovailoa does, too. It was back in September, as Tua was in the midst of four games out with his latest concussion, when, across the country, Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce volunteered he thought Tua should retire because the risk is “not worth it.” That’s all but unheard off — an NFL head coach butting in to another team’s business like that. Sunday comes the payback. I expect to see a big offensive show by Miami against the Raiders’ 30th-ranked scoring defense. At 3-6, Miami with wins here and vs. Patriots next week would be back in playoff chase.

2. BOXING: Tyson made to look his age in loss to Paul: Jake Paul won a unanimous decision over Mike Tyson Friday night in Arlington, Texas, and it was a verdict that stressed the judges much. We old-timers nostalgically hoping the 58-year-old Tyson might marshal enough power for one telling strike saw no reward as the veteran didn’t throw or land many punches of consequence. Tough to see Paul the self-promoter validated, but he earned this. Question now: Did Tyson show enough to fight again and kindle a possible rematch?

3. PANTHERS: Statement! Champ Cats throttle soaring Jets, 5-0: In a statement result, Florida improved to an NHL East-leading 12-6 with Saturday’s 5-0 rout of the Winnipeg Jets, with five different goal scorers and the shutout by Sergei Bobrovsky. Jets have been league’s early-season “it” team and flew in with a 15-2 record but were not match for the Stanley Cup champions on their home ice. Cats face Winnipeg again Tuesday in the northwest.

4. HURRICANES: Still in charge, but might idle UM slip in CFP rank?: Though SMU and Clemson both won Saturday, idle Miami remains assured of reaching the ACC Championship Game against one of them if the Canes win out vs. Wake Forest next Saturday and then at Syracuse. Miami at 9-1 is No. 9 in the CFP rankings to make the 12-team playoff but could drop a spot when the new rankings come. No. 10 Alabama could leapfrog the Canes after winning 52-7. So might No. 12 Georgia after its big 31-17 win over No. 7 Tennessee.

5. HEAT: No Butler, but Miami rebounds from Spoelstra gaffe: Bam Adebayo popped 30 points Friday night as Heat improved to 5-6 with a 124-111 win at Indiana despite Jimmy Butler missing a third straight game with a sprained ankle. Win was needed after previous game was lost to Detroit in OT when coach Erik Spoelstra called a timeout Miami didn’t have, a technical foul that gave Pistons the winning free throw. Friday’s win made Miami 1-1 in the NBA Cup, the dumb in-season tournament in its second year. Heat play in Indy again today before heading home.

6. SOCCER: MLS playoffs slog on without Messi, Inter Miami: The MLS semifinals are set: No. 1 -seed Los Angeles FC vs. No. 4 Seattle and No. 2 L.A. vs. No. 6 Minnesota in the West, and No. 4 Orlando vs. No. 9 Atlanta and No. 6 New York City vs. No. 7 Red Bulls of New York in the East. Speaking for America (if I may): Nobody outside of the surviving cities gives a crap since Messi and Miami got eliminated early.

7. NFL: Irvin lobbying Deion Sanders as next Cowboys coach: Might Jerry Jones pull the big trigger with Deion Sanders as his next Cowboys coach? Iconic Dallas receiver Michael Irvin (the ex-Cane) is leading the push. During Friday night’s Netflix’s broadcast of the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight at the ‘Boys’ AT&T Stadium, Irvin lobbied Jones on the telecast. “Coach Prime” leading America’s Team? If Irvin has his way.

8. SOCCER: Washington in NWSL final; opponent set today: No. 2-seeded Washington Spirit defeated 3-seed and reigning National Women’s Soccer League champion NJ/NY Gotham FC 3-0 on penalties Saturday to advance to next week’s 13th league championship game. Opponent will be winner of today’s game between top-seeded Orlando Pride and No. 4 Kansas City Current.

9. CANES HOOPS: Miami women score first big win under new coach: UM women are 3-0 after Saturday’s big 83-73 win at Florida against a stout Gators squad, biggest win of the early season for new coach Tricia Cullop. Miami men are 2-0 but await an upcoming three-game test vs. No. 18 Arkansas on Dec. 3, vs. Clemson Dec. 7 in the ACC opener, and vs. No. 11 Tennessee on Dec. 10.

10. SOCCER: U.S. men’s team cashes in (real) debut match with new coach: USMNT and new coach Mauricio Pochettino beat Jamaica 1-0 in first leg of the quarterfinals of Concacaf Nations League tournament. Boss said, “The first step is done” but that his team must improve “in all areas.” Game was Pochettino’s second since taking over in September but first in a competitive match. U.S. and Jamaica play again Monday in St. Louis to determine which advances to the semifinals in March. Winning Nations League regional trophy would be nice start for a new manager building for the 2026 World Cup.

THE LIST: MARLINS MANAGERS: Clayton McCullough will be introduced Monday as the Miami Marlins’ 17th manager, including interims. The top five all-time based on total games managed:

Games Manager (Record; Seasons)

1,035 Don Mattingly (445-590, .430; 2016-22)

555 Jack McKeon (292-263, .526; 2003-05, 2011)

555 Fredi Gonzalez (276-279, .497; 2007-10)

506 Rene Lachemann (221-285, .437; 1993-96)

371 John Boles (165-206, .445; 1999-2001)

Notes: Others with 300-plus games were Mike Redmond (362), Jim Leyland (340) and Skip Schumaker (326). Leyland in 1997 and McKeon in 2003 won World Series.

Other most recent stuff from me: NFL Week 11 Picks // Tyson-Paul is ridiculous, a freak show. But we’ll watch // Herald NFL Week 10 QB Rankings // Defense leads Dolphins’ 23-15 win at Rams -- and playoff hopes live // Previous HB10 // Poll Dance: Marino or Wade // Messi, Inter Miami out in MLS playoffs’ first round a stunning disappointment // Unbeaten no more: Miracle comebacks run out as No. 4 Hurricanes fall at Georgia Tech // Cam Ward having Hurricanes’ best QB season ever, deserves Heisman // No points for ‘good try’: Buffalo curse lives on as Dolphins lose, 30-27, fall to 2-6 // ‘Who is that guy?’ Dwyane Wade deserves immortality of statue -- iffy likeness or not // Pete Rose wasn’t perfect, but MLB’s endless lack of mercy followed him to grave // Book it! Miami Hurricanes will vie for ACC title, make playoff in huge return to power // Jazz trade continues Miami Marlins’ losing cycle of talent-for-prospects cost cutting // And my latest podcast: