National Football Post reports the Dolphins have signed veteran defensive end Marques Douglas to a 2-year, $2.5 million contract.
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent of the Baltimore Ravens — with whom he had three different stings — in 1999, Douglas has also spent time in New Orleans, San Francisco and New York. The 6-2, 290-pounder started 12 games for the Jets in 2009, contributing 64 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
The addition of Douglas, 33, comes days after Phillip Merling was lost for the season to a torn Achilles tendon.
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Writers who cover the National Football League have taken to heart Bill Parcell’s comment that “I do not want thugs and hoodlums on the team I really don’t, I don’t want bad character guys, I do not want problem children”.
And after a series of arrests of Dolphins players, Miami area writers and even Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio have joined in the chorus proclaiming the Dolphins Team “The Poster Boys of Bad Behavior”.
Five arrests in two offseasons of Dolphins players, the addition of Rich Incognito — winner of the Sporting News Dirtiest Player in the NFL poll of current NFL players — as well as the addition of Brandon Marshall, whose domestic problems while playing for the Denver Broncos are well documented, all combine to feed the perception that VP of football operations Bill Parcell’s had abandoned his principled position when hired in the Winter of 2007.
A condemnation of Bill Parcells? Not at all.
What most fail to accept is the fact that Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano make decisions on who to add to the Dolphins roster.
The perception that VP of football operations Parcells makes every player personnel decision is misguided at best and a case of sports media simply targeting the biggest NFL name inside the Dolphins organization to pile onto.
The fact that none of those players would be on the roster without Tony Sparano’s agreement is lost on those outside of the Dolphins organization. That puts accountability first and foremost on Tony Sparano for the players who are Miami Dolphins and have gotten into trouble with the Authorities, as well as making in-house decisions on discipline Head Coach Sparano’s responsibility.
In May of 2009, when Randy Starks was arrested and charged with a several offenses including nearly running over a off duty police officer at a Miami area event, Sparano demoted Randy Starks to the second team and publicly stated how disappointed he was in Randy Starks behavior and dropped him down the depth chart.
In May of 2010, Phillip Merling was arrested for domestic violence. And Head Coach Sparano’s response to questions was simply, “I’m not a judge, the League is involved and it is a process”.
Does that make Head Coach Sparano a hypocrite?
No, it does not. And here is why.
Head Coach Sparano is simply a football coach, not a social worker, probation officer, jurist, or rabbi. His job is to field the best team he can in his own judgment and experience.
In 2009 there was outrage over Randy Starks allegedly pinning an officer with his custom semi truck. However, when the process played out, all serious charges were dropped against Randy Starks and he paid a small fine for traffic offenses. That fact should mitigate hasty actions on Head Coach Sparano’s part in regards to Phillip Merling.
If Head Coach Sparano were a moralist then certainly, he should take action. However, he is just a NFL head coach. His responsibility is to the organization. And so far, the only player he has suspended for a single game was Joey Porter for in-house disciplinary reasons as well as on the field issues.
Which is exactly what Tony Sparano’s job is meant to be as at the end of the day. He is not a judge of anything but talent that can help the Dolphins win football games.
And Bill Parcell’s job is to decide whether or not Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano have populated the roster with problem children who do not perform on the field.
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