Dolphins’ Internal Strife Continues
Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin was at the source of some mild team controversy earlier this week, when he was asked about the job security of starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill but gave an ambivalent response. Philbin later expressed regret that his noncommittal approach to the question created a distraction for the club, which has fallen to 1-2 after a promising opening week win against the Patriots.
According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, however, a deeper and more troubling internal struggle may be brewing in Miami. La Canfora writes that Dolphins players have expressed concerns with Philbin and his coordinators, and the relationship between Philbin and team executive Dawn Aponte has become frayed. Aponte hired former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum as a team consultant, but since Tannenbaum’s primary job is as an agent representing coaches–like Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who will likely be on the list of top head coaching candidates after the season–it is fair to wonder how much longer Philbin will be roaming the Dolphins’ sidelines.
La Canfora adds that owner Stephen Ross has not, as he promised after the Richie Incognito/Jonathan Martin debacle, taken a more active role in the guidance of his team, but he is said to be covertly trying to lay the foundation to trade for current 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. Between those rumors and Philbin’s apparent wish to play backup signal-caller Matt Moore–which has displeased the front office, who have committed to Tannehill–the Dolphins may soon be in for a second front office overhaul in as many years.
L.A. Team “Certainly Within Five Years”
Dolphins’ owner Stephen Ross spoke about the possibility of Los Angeles getting an NFL franchise.
The idea of bringing the NFL to Los Angeles was reinvigorated after the Clippers were sold to Steve Ballmer for a reported sum of $2 billion. The NFL franchises should certainly be worth more than an NBA franchise in a similar market.
Ross sees it happening, definitively stating that it would occur, “Certainly within five years,” according to Kevin Clark of the Wall Street Journal (via Twitter). Ross also mentioned that the team Los Angeles inevitably will get will not be an expansion team, but a current franchise relocated to the city.
Ross clarified that the team moving would not be his Dolphins, but that a team would definitely be moving, reports Clark (via Twitter).
Dolphins Owner Responds To Wells Report
After taking the day to review the Wells report detailing the Dolphins bullying scandal centered around Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross issued a statement via the team’s website (full report here), saying, “I now have had a chance to read the report and obviously, the language that was used and the behavior as described is deeply disturbing.”
While Ross did not directly address the futures of Incognito or Martin, neither will play another down for the team, which is expected to place an increased emphasis on character under new GM Dennis Hickey. Although he’s a rookie GM, Hickey has a reputation as a trustworthy information gatherer in the college scouting process, according to former Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik, who was quoted in a story by the Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins at the time of Hickey’s hire in Miami.
“He got accurate information because people trust him,” Dominik said. “When he goes to a school he can talk to a coach to get accurate information about the kid’s character, his background.”
More On Dolphins’ GM Saga
New Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey will have complete control over roster decisions, a team source tells Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. This news comes amid reports that several Miami GM candidates opted against taking the position due to lack of clarity regarding personnel management.
Salguero also reports that Titans VP of Football Operations Lake Dawson and Patriots VP of Player Personnel Nick Caserio turned down the job due to potential conflicts with Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin. Dawson reportedly would have been agreeable to keeping Philbin on for one season before wanting to clean house and hire a new coach. Caserio, however, wanted to install a new regime immediately upon his arrival. Neither approach was acceptable to Dolphins ownership, as they wanted a GM who would continue to work with Philbin as the head coach.
Hickey presumably agreed to keeping Philbin on staff, and will likely have no say in coaching matters. Hickey will report directly to Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. Vice president of football operations Dawn Aponte, rumored to be gaining power behind the scenes, will report to Hickey on all matters, not just the salary cap, tweets Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.
More On Dolphins’ Front Office
3:07pm: Several Dolphins players have expressed an interest in leaving the team, tweets Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. The unidentified Dolphins are likely frustrated by the public dysfunction exhibited by ownership regarding the GM search and control over roster decisions.
1:55pm: Hickey was likely going to be fired by the Buccaneers after the draft, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). Additionally, many candidates for the Miami GM job may have turned down the position due to a lack of personnel control, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. It appears as though head coach Joe Philbin has gained more sway during the Dolphins power struggle, as Salugero also tweets that Philbin will have “some say” over personnel.
12:56pm: Dolphins assistant general manager Brian Gaine is not likely to stay with the team long-term, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Gaine was one of the candidates brought in for a second interview for the Dolphin’s general manager job, which was given to Dennis Hickey earlier today. Although the Dolphins would like to keep Gaine on board, Salguero further tweeted that Gaine understands he has no real chance of advancement with Miami.
Miami’s search for a GM would have certainly left Gaine with that impression, as the job was offered to several candidates who turned it down before Hickey accepted. As Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com tweets, Gaine did not have a chance to be Miami’s GM unless everyone declined it. A source told Marvez that Gaine is too connected with recently-departed GM Jeff Ireland.
CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora believes that whoever accepted the Dolphins GM job may not have that position for very long anyway. La Canfora tweets that, if the Dolphins stumble in 2014, it is believed that owner Stephen Ross will likely renew his pursuit of a big-name head coach. If he is able to land such a coach, the entire front office will probably be purged.