Stephen Ross calls fan at home explains teams moves thus far

[MikeO]

Stephen Ross called one of the protesters from the other day and explained what the team has done so far in free agency.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-miami-dolphins-steve-ross-0324-20120323,0,5687471.story

Two interesting things he said. One was if they couldn't trade Marshall they were going to cut him. Second was Peyton Manning wrote Ross a letter explaining why he didn't pick the Dolphins

[Landshark]

A saving face move.  And getting rid of one of your best offensive weapons is a dumb move too.  Doesn't matter what he did off the field.  He excelled on it, especially with a quarterback who could get him the ball.

[Pappy13]

I agree with everything he said. Marshall would have been a distraction, that's okay for a veteran team with an established coaching staff, but this team is young and has a brand new coaching staff, he was not a good fit. Peyton would have been great, but he didn't want to come to Miami for whatever reason, that's out of their hands. I think mostly it had to do with how far away Miami was from a possible superbowl, Denver was much closer with no better of QB, Denver could be a superbowl contender next year which makes sense for Manning if he wants to get another chance at a Superbowl before he retires. Flynn was a risk/reward decision, obviously Philbin and Ireland didn't like him enough to offer him a big contract. Alex Smith has not proven he's any better than Moore and we're paying Moore next to nothing, might as well stick with him and see how he does in year 2.

Philbin and Ireland want to build the team through the draft. Philbin comes from Green Bay and that was their philosophy, build through the draft, don't overpay for free agents. So that's what they are doing. It can work. Other teams have done it as well, not just Green Bay. It does take time, it's not a quick solution, the number one thing about doing it that way is that you must develop the talent you draft. The coaching staff must be able to prepare them to move from a college game to a pro game. Now it's time to look forward to the draft and what they do there and then what they do in their first season with a new coaching staff. Not just from the draft, but from their existing young players. Can Moore get better with a whole offseason and all the first team reps? Can Daniel Thomas show improvement? How about Gates and Clay, do they show improvement. That's where we need to judge this regime, not on what they did or didn't do in Free Agency.

The only thing I will say where they screwed up is in setting expectations. Ross and Ireland spewed about upgrading the QB position, so everyone figured they were going to do that in free agency and they didn't. That was a mistake. They should have simply stuck to company line that they are always looking to upgrade where they can which is essentially what they did. You can rip them for that and I won't argue, but if you forget about what they said and just look at what they did, I don't really disagree with any of it.

[MikeO]

I agree with what Ross said too.

But as Gil Brandt said this morning on NFL Radio he shouldn't have said that they were going to cut Marshall if they couldn't trade him. He makes the Bears look bad in doing that and it reflects poorly on him to let that out.

The biggest problem the Dolphins have is they don't communicate well. Instead of talking about the "next Dan Marino" or the "next young Don Shula" they shouldn't set the bar at an impossible level to meet. If they were going to focus more heavily on the draft and not Free Agency, that's fine! Then go out and say something along those lines. Let the fans know the general plan. Not the details of we are talking to this guy and that guy, but not this guy and show all your cards, not what I am saying. But a general overview of what they want to do. Then it doesn't come off as a letdown to the fans and causes the outrage and anger.

The Dolphins need to understand they are in the customer service field and they are doing poorly right now in that aspect

[Doc-phin]

I like the move by Ross a good bit.  Break down barriers that money often causes between well off and the average man.  I don't necessarilly feel like he did it in a political way either.

I get that people are going to rip him for the whole Harbough thing, but overall I just see a guy that really wants to build a team that lost most of its luster.  I haven't had enough time to say I love him as our owner, but I feel fine saying I like him.

We just have a bad combo going of fans that have been disappointed for a really long time getting hopes up only to see the hopes die.  We got a taste of hope the 1st year with Parcells and then we thought we could land a top tier head coach.  We thought we were in it for Manning but never realized we really weren't.  We hope Flynn was the apple of Philbin's eye and that Philbin knew he was the real deal and it turns out Philbin wasn't even convinced. 

Essentially, each time fans make the mistake of getting their hopes up for something that might happen and then complain when expectations don't become reality only to place blame on the things that do happen. 

[Diehard_Dolfan]

I agree with everything he said. Marshall would have been a distraction, that's okay for a veteran team with an established coaching staff, but this team is young and has a brand new coaching staff, he was not a good fit. Peyton would have been great, but he didn't want to come to Miami for whatever reason, that's out of their hands. I think mostly it had to do with how far away Miami was from a possible superbowl, Denver was much closer with no better of QB, Denver could be a superbowl contender next year which makes sense for Manning if he wants to get another chance at a Superbowl before he retires. Flynn was a risk/reward decision, obviously Philbin and Ireland didn't like him enough to offer him a big contract. Alex Smith has not proven he's any better than Moore and we're paying Moore next to nothing, might as well stick with him and see how he does in year 2.

Philbin and Ireland want to build the team through the draft. Philbin comes from Green Bay and that was their philosophy, build through the draft, don't overpay for free agents. So that's what they are doing. It can work. Other teams have done it as well, not just Green Bay. It does take time, it's not a quick solution, the number one thing about doing it that way is that you must develop the talent you draft. The coaching staff must be able to prepare them to move from a college game to a pro game. Now it's time to look forward to the draft and what they do there and then what they do in their first season with a new coaching staff. Not just from the draft, but from their existing young players. Can Moore get better with a whole offseason and all the first team reps? Can Daniel Thomas show improvement? How about Gates and Clay, do they show improvement. That's where we need to judge this regime, not on what they did or didn't do in Free Agency.

The only thing I will say where they screwed up is in setting expectations. Ross and Ireland spewed about upgrading the QB position, so everyone figured they were going to do that in free agency and they didn't. That was a mistake. They should have simply stuck to company line that they are always looking to upgrade where they can which is essentially what they did. You can rip them for that and I won't argue, but if you forget about what they said and just look at what they did, I don't really disagree with any of it.

I like this post... makes me look at things much differently!  I was hoping Philbin had a plan but wasn't sure... I hadn't thought about Green Bay's building through the draft process. I kind of thought the past day or so they (the Dolphins) were looking to maybe trade down from 8th and get some extra picks.  I think the staff that Philbin put together is a staff of people that can develop young talent... they're mostly older experienced coaches.   I look at Green Bay as a team that has done more with less IMO... I mean Rodgers is a great QB but, the pieces around him aren't elite talent IMO. 

I've said this before that until Jennings started stepping up Donald Driver was the only receiver people talked about.  Now Nelson is making plays as well but, I think that's more a by product of having an elite QB and good role players.

[Brian Fein]

I think Ross and Ireland should keep their mouths shut.  They don't owe these a-holes an explanation, and shouldn't be giving one.  Of course those guys are tough guys when they are hiding behind a keyboard or paper bag but I bet when Ross got him on the phone he had not a word to say, other than "yes, sir, I understand."

I don't think Ross needs to be opening his mouth at all these days.  Kinda wish he'd just go away.

[Cathal]

It's a good thing management finally opens up and talks to the fans about why they make moves. When they're portrayed as not having a clue about anything and everyone wants them gone, they better start letting us know what they're thinking and where we're going.

[bsfins]

I think for as few "protesters" as there were,I think calling 1 on the telephone is a bit chicken shit, orchestrated,too easy to work off a script with PR guy.Either shut up,and don't give any credence to them at all then...

He should have brought them into a conference room,gave them a soda,addressed them all as a group at once....

I sort of feel like the owner even found away to screw this up....

[Cathal]

Did he talk to the guy that organized it or just one guy who happened to be there?

[Phishfan]

Doesn't matter what he did off the field.  He excelled on it,

This might go down as the opverstatement of the year. I would never say the player who led the league in drops excelled.

As for the call, I'm not sure if I like it or not. I like that Ross came out and said somethign though. Usually I can;t stand the things he says, but now all the "all we got was two third rounders for Marshall" and " the coach wanted Flynn" speculators understand things a bit more.

[Dave Gray]

I think that Ross did the right thing.

I have experience in reputation management, especially online, as my job has required in the past.  Burying your head in the sand can be disasterous, as the problem can compound on itself.  In my experience, the best way to deal with it is to confront the negativity head on, so that there isn't continued bad-mouthing.  This is true when you have a bad product.  If I'm helping someone sell something and someone goes online and trashes the product, a lot of times, the client wants me to try to supress what's being said.  It's more effective to reach out to the complainer, deal with the issue, and take away that ire.

I doubt that guy who organized the protests will still be protesting after the call.  It humanizes Ross and the organization.  I think that I have been on the receiving end of this, as well.  When the Dolphins invite the websites into their facility, look us in the eye, and tell us what they're trying to do and how they're trying to do it, it becomes harder to go back online and bash them as faceless entities.  It's not to say that I've stopped being critical, but I think it keeps me (and other critical sites) more fair.

I think it was smart for Ross to do this.

[Brian Fein]

It's a good thing management finally opens up and talks to the fans about why they make moves. When they're portrayed as not having a clue about anything and everyone wants them gone, they better start letting us know what they're thinking and where we're going.

Why?  who the hell are you?  He's the owner, he doesn't have to report to you.  If you don't like it, no one is forcing you to support it.

Do you think Bill Belichick calls up random Patriots' fans to tell them why he trades away draft picks every April? 

No.

Do you think Dan Snyder call up Redskins' fans to talk about why he got rid of Donovan McNabb? 

No.

This is ridiculous, how the fans seem to think they are the boss and they are owed an explanation.  Its their team, you have no say.

[Cathal]

Why?  who the hell are you?  He's the owner, he doesn't have to report to you.  If you don't like it, no one is forcing you to support it.

Do you think Bill Belichick calls up random Patriots' fans to tell them why he trades away draft picks every April? 

No.

Do you think Dan Snyder call up Redskins' fans to talk about why he got rid of Donovan McNabb? 

No.

This is ridiculous, how the fans seem to think they are the boss and they are owed an explanation.  Its their team, you have no say.

As people have pointed out to me on here before, we're the people that are important and if you don't appease us, how do you think your ticket sales are going to do? I think he has to start reporting to people when people are actively protesting outside of his office. I don't think Bellichick needs to report to anyone, especially when you never post a losing season, always make the playoffs, and have 3 superbowls. I think that's a little bit of an overreach on your part. I mean, if he makes a trade that appears weird, or has an interest in Tebow, people are like, "Well, if HE'S doing something, there must be something I'm missing." When Ross or Ireland do something like that, we're all saying they're fools because of how they've conducted themselves in the past.

I don't know why you are having a hard time thinking that it's a good thing management is actually trying to tell us why they're doing things when everyone in the media, fans, and players are calling them out as people with no clue.

However, having said that, you are most certainly in your right to keep watching a team suck and not even voice your opinion. 

[Brian Fein]

I am also in my right to not watch.  Its very simple.

If you go to the store and buy coffee and you take it home and it tastes like dog shit, you won't buy that coffee anymore.  Even if its your favorite coffee.  You wouldn't go protest their headquarters to make them make better tasting coffee.

Why is this any different?

If you don't like the product, don't buy tickets.  That's the only way Stephen Ross will learn to improve his product - by losing money.  The only way you convince a billionaire to change his ways is by threatening his billions.  Why do you think fans think they have control over one iota of team operations?