Interesting that Mike Nolan was the deal breaker, more than likely along with Jeff Ireland, but they clearly like the job Nolan did this season.
Also says the structure is in place to Ross's satisfaction, he was not thrilled with the job Tony S did in Ross's mind.
That's the problem with giving a guy - no matter who they are - full control. Cowher would likely get rid of Nolan just because he want's it HIS way. However, you have to believe that Cowher could do as well a job as Nolan with the pieces we have in place on defense. I still think Ross will reconsider if Harbaugh falls through. It's clear he was just gauging interest.
I think if Cowher walked into Ross' office and said, I will become Miami Dolphins head coach, you can keep Ireland as GM, but I need my own staff...Cowher would be the coach by tomorrow. It has more to do with giving a coach full control over personnel decisions IMO.
If you are hiring someone as a head coach, let them be a head coach. They should hire whom ever they want for the cordinators, and run what ever system they want. You want the O and the D working together. If you don't like what the Coach wants to do then don't hire them.
I think overall, Jeff has done a solid job. Short of the Dez' mother thing, he's hit on more than he's missed, and he's young too. Off the top of my head: Hits Jake Long Davone Bess Chad Pennington (for '08) Vontae Davis Sean Smith Brandon Marshall Karlos Dansby Brian Hartline Koa Misi Jarrod Odrick (Yes, TBD, but he looked very good in limited action - excited to see him next year) Misses Pat White Pat Turner Jake Grove (for injuries) Chad Henne (still TBD for final verdit, but not looking good) Questionable cuts/trades Samson Satale Matt Roth Ted Ginn, Jr. & family (could've used his speed this year) Not all of these hits/misses were all on Jeff, as he was but one part of the Trifecta/Bifecta .... but he did have input! Keep 'em coming Jeff! And think of the hits - outside of Penny, all of them could be around for a long time!!
Oh, I'm sure that's definitely a big part of it. Cowher forced out Tom Donahoe in Pittsburgh after the '99 season because of the power struggle over personnel. I think Cowher and Ireland could co-exist, there's just have to be some serious concessions on Jeff's part. It's a tough situation though.
It also points to the possible "throwing under the bus" by Ireland for Sparano. Ross & Ireland had more face time and Ireland, in trying to save himself, planted seeds with Ross that this season was more Sparano's fault than his.
Add to the misses - Philip Merling, Donald Thomas, John Nalbone, Justin Smiley, Shawn Murphy, please, he has been mediocre at best. Just as many misses as hits.
You'd like to think that cowher, if we're going to potentially pay him $8 mill per year, could at least meet with Ireland and see if they can get along. We could always get rid of Ireland later if things really aren't working out.
I like Merling! Well, on the football field anyway. I think he'd be better in a "TBD" category. Yes, Thomas, Nalbone and Murphy too, but even great GMs don't hit. Even the genius up in Foxboro has drafted some flops at WR (Jackson) and Merriweather at S. There are more too. Nobody is perfect. I think Jeff has done more good than bad, and figures to get better as he goes through more drafts.
Nolan I believe would be a dealbreaker; but they'd give up Ireland like a fat girl gives up new year's resolutions if Cowher said yes.
Its an ego Alpha Male thing. He wants complete control from the beginning. I can kinda understand it. I think I would like that too. That way, Ross has to fire Ireland, and Cowher doesn't have to go through all that unpleasantness and can concentrate 100% on winning.
With Murphy you have a point, Thomas, Nalbone, were late rd picks, Merling has been an okay player I'd call him more of a disappointment than a miss.
Jim Harbaugh would be a PERFECT fit. I think if he wants the job it is his for the taking. So long Sparano and so long Henning...nah, nah, nah, nah...nah, nah, nah, nah...hey, hey, hey...GOOD-BYE!
Who knows how long Nolan would be around anyway. If he is the only reason we didn't hire Bill Cowher they made a huge mistake. Hire Cowher and let him work his magic. Screw this we'll keep Sparano in the wings till we find someone better. You have someone better right there. To hell with the risk of losing Nolan or Ireland.
Actually what makes NE so great is the coaching after guys get there, and also picking and choosing others throwaways and finding creative ways to use players others don't think can play. They think outside the box more than any other team and that is why they win. They are always ahead of the curve. Like the two TEs they drafted last year. They already had a plan for them going into the draft. Now that is coaching !
Yeah he was on a decline by the end of the year. Again a miss by Ireland, and one that Sparano failed to "coach up" in his specialty position. You'd think that Sparano would be better than just about anyone at taking a raw OLineman and making him into a player. But he has failed so far in that job.
Yes, well now we're talking about coaching .... True, coaching and FO need to work together like hand in glove, and they've perfected that in NE. It can happen too here dammit ..... right??? please tell me it can, please please!!!
Yes, probably, but give me one more year to see if he improves. Certainly would be a stretch to imagine him as a future "hit" though.
Well. we now know that sparano is in for next year. I think he won becaue Ross wasn't willing to toss out the good with the bad. Mark my words, Mike Nolan is our HC next year. I promise it.
Ross better find a suitable replacement, because the longer this goes on the more emasculated Sparano becomes. It's like your girlfriend telling you she might break up with you if she can find a new boyfiend. If not, she'll still date you. Unreal. At this point I think they need to either declare Sparano the coach or cut him loose. This can't go on any longer.
Add to the hits...Cameron Wake (how could you forget him??), Tony McDaniel, Anthony Fasano, Dan Carpenter.
This is true for the most part, but I think to Sparano, the Dolphins represent the hottest chick he's ever been with, and he likely will never get one that hot again, so he's willing to wait a few days. That said, if they do keep him, they need to extend him through 2012, otherwise - if things go wrong to start next season - he'll simply be the "coach that ownership didn't even really want" to the players.
Agreed. If you're going to do something like Ross and company are doing now, you'd better do it quick. The longer this drags on, the more useless Sparano becomes if you have to fall back to him. Especially only on a one year deal. Then if you do go back to Tony, you almost have to extend him, but really what does that show everyone?
D'oh!!! I think my point is being proven overall, even w/ the added misses. Even good GMs don't hit on everything, but if you have more hits than misses, you are doing it right. And he is! He just needs to do it more on offense now!