The Last DOLPHAN to Post on this thread WINS!

Fantastic article by Price..

And FF4E just hummin' along, posting articles as if nothing's happening..

I just wish the draft would get here. For some reason this seems like the longest offseason ever.

That's because the focus (and discussion) turned to the off-season sometime in October.
Which is not surprising when you start out 0-7 or whatever it was (trying to forget)........but the fact we've been speculating on all these things for that long probably makes it seem like it had been forever. Outside of the new coaching staff, we're still waiting for answers to all the questions, and to this point it seems the actual off-season has raised even more questions.



Turns out enjoying a game at Wrigley today may have not been the best idea.
Or at least, deciding not to wear my heavier winter coat was not a great idea.
I'm not sure I have total feeling in my fingers as I'm typing this. 

That's because the focus (and discussion) turned to the off-season sometime in October.
Which is not surprising when you start out 0-7 or whatever it was (trying to forget)........but the fact we've been speculating on all these things for that long probably makes it seem like it had been forever.

You may be right.

And FF4E just hummin' along

I don't follow much American League baseball, and I generally do not comment on things I am not comfortable delving into.

I can say I hate the Yankees though. Just because. 

I can say I hate the Yankees though. Just because. 

That sir gets you a 5 star comment.  lol


Leaving the stadium today I saw my new favorite T-shirt.......

I thought it would be a bit presumptous to buy, and be one of those things that comes back and bites you in the ass (bad karma),
but it did make me laugh.

"Rose before Hoes".

Derrick Rose pic by his name.  The Hoes in Miami Heat font.......With a pic of Bosh, James and Wade from behind during their 'We're going to win Seventeen KaGillion Championships Pep Rally."

We'll see what happens with the Heat. I think they are a weak hearted team. Some may disagree, but I just am not sure they want to win bad enough some nights. 

Never knew there was a report in the first place..

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolp
hins_in_depth/

I do not believe it. I am sure the topic is discussed, why wouldn't it be? But, I doubt Ross is over ruling the personnel department. Unless, you are Jerry Jones, Dan Snyder, or Al Davis RIP, that is not the way it generally goes down. I do not think Ross is the meddling owner he is perceived as by the press. 

And, PFT is not the most trust worthy source of news.

I do not believe it. I am sure the topic is discussed, why wouldn't it be?

I agree, but it's getting a decent amount of press today...

Once PFT picks it up, it snowballs.

Jeff Ireland says Stephen Ross will sit next to him in Miami Dolphins draft room, but isn’t pressuring him to draft Ryan Tannehill

by Ben Volin

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland wanted to make one thing very clear on Monday – he is the one in charge of the Dolphins’ first-round pick, not owner Stephen Ross.

Ireland, appearing on ProFootballTalk.com’s live webcast today, shot down reports from PFT and Sports Illustrated’s Peter King that Ross will force the Dolphins to draft Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the eighth overall pick to help sell season tickets and ease the sting of a lackluster offseason.

The Dolphins may still draft Tannehill on Thursday night, but Ireland said it won’t be because Ross pressured him to do so.

“Steve is very engaged, but he’s also very supportive in leaving the decisions of the draft to me and coach (Joe) Philbin and our scouts,” Ireland said. “I don’t feel pressure from the owner, and he’s not pressuring me, for that matter. I don’t know where that’s coming from. He’s always allowed me to make the football decisions.”

“He understands the thought process, he stands by our draft analysis, he knows the kind of preparation that goes into it and he’s fully supportive of us making the best pick that improves our football team the best.”

But Ireland did mention several times that Ross is “very engaged” with his football team, and confirmed that Ross will be in the Dolphins’ war room during the draft.

“He’ll be sitting right next to me, I’m sure,” Ireland said.

Ireland said the two talk about football frequently.

“He throws some things out there, we discuss it,” Ireland said. “But they’re just conversations. They’re not recommendations by any means.”

Many observers believe the Dolphins need to draft Tannehill to solve the team’s quarterback conundrum and smooth over the team’s reputation among fans and media after failing to land Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn and Jeff Fisher this offseason. The Dolphins haven’t drafted a quarterback in the first round since Dan Marino in 1983, and cycled through 16 starting quarterbacks since Marino retired in 2000.

But Ireland reiterated that Ross has “absolutely not” put pressure on him to make football moves that would help sell season tickets, which are hovering in the 30,000s, their lowest level in three decades.

“We just want to win. That’s one thing that Steve is absolutely adamant on,” Ireland said. “And his commitment and support to winning is absolute. It’s not ambiguous at all. And he supports the people that are making decisions from a football standpoint.”

Ireland also confirmed that the team released defensive Phillip Merling on Monday morning. Merling, the first pick of the second round in 2008 (32nd overall), had just five starts and 3.5 sacks in four seasons with the Dolphins. Merling also had a domestic issue in 2010 in which charges were dropped, and he tore his Achilles tendon before the 2010 season in a non-football injury.

Merling signed a restricted free agent tender on April 10 that would have paid him $1.26 million this year, but the Dolphins had no plans to have him on the roster. They offered him the RFA tender with the hopes that another team would sign him, which would have given the Dolphins an extra second-round pick. Once no other team signed Merling to an offer sheet, the Dolphins waived him.

And Ireland said the team was not aware that linebacker Koa Misi was facing legal troubles in California when he was arrested last month. Misi, entering his third NFL season, pleaded not guilty to three felony charges last week, according to the Santa Barbara Independent. The arrest is related to a drunken altercation that occurred in April 2011, during the NFL lockout. Eleven months later, authorities charged Misi with battery with serious injury, residential burglary and dissuading a witness.

“We did not know that,” Ireland said. “I’m not even sure that Koa knew about the charges until he got arrested.”

“He throws some things out there, we discuss it,” Ireland said. “But they’re just conversations. They’re not recommendations by any means.”

Which is exactly what I was suggesting above. 

Ross kept Ireland for some reason..........
Despite a mediocre at best track-record, Ireland survived while everyone else took the fall.  It didn't make sense to much of the media and fan base......but Ross kept Ireland.

To answer the question of how much influence Ross has in these matters, you'd have to first answer the question of how in the world did ireland survive and keep his job.

To me there are two potential reasons.......

1. Ross 100% believes in Ireland.  He saw fault in Parcells and Sparano, he feels Ireland learned from mistakes and he can be a great GM.  If this is the case then there is no reason for Ross to stick his nose into matters.......He will trust Ireland and the other decision-makers.

2. Ross kept Ireland, because of an existing relationship a certain comfort level and the belief that he could be his puppet.  That Ireland's job was saved, because Ross knew he had a Yes man and he would be able to get his way.  In which case.......A Ross wants and will force Tannehill, could in fact be true.


I sincerely hope the answer to that question is that first option.

I honestly believe Ross is smart enough for the first option to be accurate.

But, as the guy with his finances on the line, of course you are going to question decisions being made, offer your opinions, and ultimately decide if the proper direction is the path they're on. But, as a business man, if you need a lawyer you hire a lawyer. You consult with him, hear his thoughts, and follow his recommendations based on the rules, recommendations, and legal structure in place. I would think it would be quite a similar relationship.  Ultimately, you have to decide if you have faith in him to continue the relationship.

I guess there is a third option too to what I included.

3.  There really is no plan, and Ross has little idea what he is doing.  He stuck with Ireland because there wasn't necessarily a more viable option at the moment.

Once again - I hope #1 is closer to the truth........and despite some evidence to support the above statement, I do tend to give Ross more credit then that. 

Unfortunately the 3rd option seems the most likely if recent history is anything to go by.

3.  There really is no plan, and Ross has little idea what he is doing.  He stuck with Ireland because there wasn't necessarily a more viable option at the moment.

I do believe they've always had a plan. With Parcells here the plan was his. Big, tough, and physical. 

The problem was they were trying so hard to fill that criteria they seemed to forget the skill positions. Then were left to try and trade, or sign them in FA. Certainly not the best cap friendly way to accomplish this.

Then once Parcells left and Ross felt the sting of lowering attendance, he asked both Sparano, and Ireland to open up the offense, and get him a franchise QB. They hired Daboll, fired Henning (Yeah, he quit, I know) and are still looking for that QB. Somewhere along the way Ross felt compelled to replace Sparano, for what reasons exactly nobody seems to know. Other then the obvious, he just did not win enough with the great talent they assembled.

Once this was decided it allowed Ross to rid himself of the Parcells approach. I am sure Ireland has been instructed to acquire talent that fits Philbin's system, rather then the outdated Parcell's model. I am sure Philbin was hired with repairing the offense in mind. 

So yes, there always has been a plan, and there still is. The problem is they have not found one that works. My fear is with Ireland there, they may never find one.  

So do we blame Ross for "forcing a change"?

That to me remains to be seen. 

Go Dolphins!

Selected TWO players from the University of Miami... It's been a while.

Let's see what Ryan Tannehill can do.  Coach him up, Philbin.

I agree with #1; Ireland really is a competent GM.

Competent is a good word to describe him. Great is not. He's good enough to where if he gets a little lucky we might one day win. But, I don't believe he is good enough to sustain success over a longer period of time. He is just not good enough in the lower rounds of the draft. I am not one to be too critical of a draft, but I am a little underwhelmed by this draft class. Like we've all agreed, the success of this draft will ultimately fall on Ryan Tannehill, as may all their futures here.