Get Ready: Sparano is not a lock to be fired

[tubba marxxx]

Peter King seems to think Miami's getting a new coach:

During the first half of the season, checking in on Tony Sparano's job status with the Miami Dolphins was a weekly endeavor. In the time since, the team has shown some spirit -- and notched some victories -- which has quieted the pitchfork-wielding mob significantly. Nevertheless, there is a feeling that Sparano's job is in jeopardy this offseason.

If Sparano is let go, some believe that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross will want to hire a "big name" head coach, such as Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher or Jeff Fisher. However, within his "Monday Morning Quarterback" column, Peter King of Sports Illustrated had some other suggestions, all from the defensive side of the ball: Mike Zimmer (Cincinnati Bengals), Chuck Pagano (Baltimore Ravens), Perry Fewell (New York Giants), Rob Ryan (Dallas Cowboys) and Mike Pettine (New York Jets). It should be noted that Pagano, Ryan and Pettine manage units that run a 3-4 base defense, while Zimmer and Fewell currently helm defenses that run a 4-3; as we know, the Dolphins run a three-man front.

^  That was from ESPN insider

here's the King link

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/11/27/week.12/4.html

[Brian Fein]

Peter King is useless.  He didn't say anything there.  "potential names could possibly be..." blah blah blah.

No source, no facts, just speculation, and terrible speculation at that.  Rob Ryan's name should never be brought into a conversation pertaining to the Dolphins as long as Fat Rex is with the Jets.

[MikeO]

Tony Sparano will be fired after the year, that's real breaking news. Thanks Pete!

The team sucks and he was almost fired after last year.  Does anyone with a brain think he is going to survive and keep his job? It's comical

[tubba marxxx]

Tony Sparano will be fired after the year, that's real breaking news. Thanks Pete!

The team sucks and he was almost fired after last year.  Does anyone with a brain think he is going to survive and keep his job? It's comical

Unfortunately, our owner does not have a brain

[MikeO]

Unfortunately, our owner does not have a brain

but he was smart enough to know he wanted this clown Sparano gone last year, and he had the right guy targeted as well. He won't make the same mistake twice

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Sparano will not be back next year.  After the Harbaugh fiasco last year he must be fired before potential coaches will even talk to Miami. 

Based on the way your owner has been dealing with Sparano, Miami is not going to be anyone first choice, even with an opening. 

[Pappy13]

^^I'm not so sure about that. Yeah, the owner has made some mistakes, but I think he's also learned a bit from those mistakes and he has stuck with Sparano longer than I think most owners would have given him which I think won him some brownie points back. That also gives the potential coach more leverage to get pretty much whatever he wants, so it's a buyer's market so to speak.

And if I'm a coach, I'm not looking at the owner so much as looking at the team and deciding if I want to coach that team or not. I think Miami has a lot of untapped potential. They don't have a salary cap problem. They don't really have any "bad" employees in my opinion although maybe Marshall is a bit of head case. They'll have a pretty decent draft position in a year where there are a couple of potential franchise QB's which is probably the single biggest thing holding them back. 1 good draft pick and Miami could easily be the 2nd best team in the AFC East.

Miami also has a long tradition even if lately they've fallen on hard times. That means that if you can turn them around a bit, the fans will eat you up.

And I don't think the Harbaugh thing was as big of a fiasco as most would have you believe. The owner went after him, but Harbaugh had his heart set on San Fran. At that point Miami was never really in the running, but he didn't know that untill he tried. He tried to cover it up and ended up looking like an idiot, but there was no way for him to have known that Harbaugh had pretty much already made up his mind. If he would have landed Harbaugh and fired Sparano, it really wouldn't have been a big deal. The coverup was worse than the crime in my humble opinion and hopefully the owner learned from that mistake and won't make it again. If he fires Sparano right after the season and starts looking for a new one, I think he'll get quite a bit of interest.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

And if I'm a coach, I'm not looking at the owner so much as looking at the team and deciding if I want to coach that team or not.

My thought would be the opposite.  The owner is my boss.  I am the boss of the players. 

If he is supportive I can get rid of "bad players."  I can draft and sign free agents and build a team, hire the assistants I want. 

On the other hand, my first choice would not be an owner that would  interview for my replacement at the same time saying my job was safe.   

[Pappy13]

My thought would be the opposite.  The owner is my boss.  I am the boss of the players. 

If he is supportive I can get rid of "bad players."  I can draft and sign free agents and build a team, hire the assistants I want. 

But none of what the owner has done makes you think that he's not willing to do whatever it takes in that regard. The mistakes he's made have more to do with him opening his mouth when he shouldn't, like when talking about Henne and the Dolphins chances of going to a SB and what you mention below.

On the other hand, my first choice would not be an owner that would  interview for my replacement at the same time saying my job was safe.   

No question that was a mistake and one that coaches will remember, but you have to look at the whole picture not simply 1 small part of the picture. All else being equal then that's the difference maker, but when all else is NOT equal, that's not gonna be your first selection criteria, especially to coaches who typically have very large ego's. The last thing on their mind is "How will the owner treat me if I do a crappy job", it's more "How long before I can turn this team into a SB team".

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

But none of what the owner has done makes you think that he's not willing to do whatever it takes in that regard. The mistakes he's made have more to do with him opening his mouth when he shouldn't, like when talking about Henne and the Dolphins chances of going to a SB.
No question that was a mistake and one that coaches will remember, but you have to look at the whole picture not simply 1 small part of the picture. All else being equal then that's the difference maker, but when all else is NOT equal, that's not gonna be your first selection criteria, especially to coaches who typically have very large ego's. The last thing on their mind is "How will the owner treat me if I do a crappy job".

I am not saying that the Dolphins would be the last place I would want to coach.  Washington's owner is much worse, I would take Miami over the coaching for Dallas, but it wouldn't be my first choice either.  I would take the Jax gig over Miami.  Indy is likely to have an opening -- I would take that over Miami. 

[Pappy13]

I am not saying that the Dolphins would be the last place I would want to coach.  Washington's owner is much worse, I would take Miami over the coaching for Dallas, but it wouldn't be my first choice either.  I would take the Jax gig over Miami.  Indy is likely to have an opening -- I would take that over Miami. 

Why would you take the Jax gig over Miami? Indy I can see, although I think they have more issues than people realize. Manning was compensating for a lot of problems and if he's done, you have a LOT of work to do there even if you get Luck. Luck may be a franchise QB, but replacing Manning won't be easy if it's even possible.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Why would you take the Jax gig over Miami? Indy I can see, although I think they have more issues than people realize. Manning was compensating for a lot of problems and if he's done, you have a LOT of work to do there even if you get Luck. Luck may be a franchise QB, but replacing Manning won't be easy if it's even possible.

Cause I think the owner of the Dolphin's is an idiot.  I don't feel that way about the owner of Jax. 

[masterfins]

Sparano firing may have been moved up with the firing of DelRio.  If Ross is going to target Gruden, Cowher, or Fisher he'll have to fire Sparano first.  If other teams start firing their coaches they would have the jump on negotiating with these guys, and Miami would be left out if they don't act.

[Phishfan]

Cause I think the owner of the Dolphin's is an idiot.  I don't feel that way about the owner of Jax. 

Since the Jaguars are being sold, I doubt anyone involved in the NFL has much idea what to think about the new owner.

[fyo]

Cause I think the owner of the Dolphin's is an idiot.  I don't feel that way about the owner of Jax. 

Aside from the ownership change, And also committed to their GM, signing Smith to a 3-year extension. That will also factor into it.