I keep seeing people say Philbin was hated and that was never the impression I got. In fact the rumor today is that some players are trying to keep Coyle. I know that what is actually going on with these guys and what is perceived by fans can be miles apart but I find it hard to believe they were as clueless as Joe seemed to be about getting let go.
Dolphins players found out in different ways about the coaching change that took place Monday, but their reaction was pretty similar.
The players say they didn’t see it coming.
"Honestly, I was a little surprised, just four games into it,” quarterback Ryan Tannehill said after practice Wednesday. “I have a ton of respect for Coach (Joe) Philbin and what he’s done here, not only on the football field but just what he represents for the organization, the way he carried himself. The respect that he showed everyone. Just a great man. Once they moved on, Dan (Campbell) is a guy who can bring a different element to the game than Coach Philbin did, and if anyone can get this turned around, he can."
Tannehill said he got the news from a friend, others found out via text, through the Internet or simply through a sports alert on their phone.
Center Mike Pouncey, who was having breakfast with tackle Ja’Wuan James when he found out, said he was shocked by the news.
“The fourth game of the season, you really don’t see that,” Pouncey said. “Obviously at the end of the year if you let go of a coach, guys aren’t really shocked by it because it’s the end of the year, there’s really nothing left for us to play for, but when you do it Week 4, a lot of guys are shocked. I love Coach Philbin. He’s a guy that stuck with me through everything. He made me a better person.”
Here’s a sampling of other player reactions to the coaching change:
Tight end Dion Sims: “Man, it’s crazy how the business goes. It’s just how it goes. We just have to move on. It’s time to turn it around and start winning games.”
Tackle Branden Albert: “I’m not going to lie, I was shocked. I really like Coach Philbin. I’m not saying that just because you (media) guys are here. I think Coach Philbin is a good coach and he really cares and he worked his butt off. Things didn’t work out. It’s just an unfortunate situation and you’ve just got to move on. And I wish the best for Coach Philbin, I really do. Ever since I got here, he always accepted me, he always treated me like a man, as a football player and I appreciate that from him.”
Safety Michael Thomas: “Unfortunate, but in this business when you don’t win, stuff like that happens. I feel like Coach Philbin probably took one for the team, it wasn’t probably necessarily on him, but as the head coach, you gotta take responsibility for it. But I feel like we should all be accountable and own up to it. As a player, I feel like we all didn’t play well enough, I didn’t play well enough. So it’s unfortunate.”
Defensive end Derrick Shelby: “Clearly there was nothing positive about the reaction I had. I can’t really describe it. A guy you’ve been with your whole career, you kind of get used to having him around. To not have him is just kind of different.”
Tackle Ja’Wuan James: “It’s sad to see anybody lose their job, but it’s on with Coach Campbell now and we’ve got to follow him now.”
Safety Reshad Jones: “I was kind of shocked. It happened in the middle of the season, but that’s part of the business and it comes along with the territory.”
Guard Dallas Thomas: “I’m pretty sure that caught everybody by surprise. Nobody expected that to happen. But it’s part of the game, you could say. We’ve just got to stand tall.”
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