SI's Peter King is one of the many who believe head coach Tony Sparano's seat is getting very hot. His exact line? "His seat actually has flames rising from it," King writes on Twitter. Omar Kelly says that Sparano's seat is not just hot, it's "blazing."



Fair or not, Sparano is clearly in the middle of a bad situation. This loss in particular has pissed off ownership. That's clear. Just read Jeff Darlington's tweets below from his conversation with owner Stephen Ross immediately after the game:

I spoke privately with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross as he left the stadium after Sunday's meltdown. He was very clearly upset. When I asked Ross about evaluation for Sparano & Ireland, he said he’s "starting to evaluate now. You’ve seen what’s going on, you know?"

Ross did not want to discuss specifics of his decisions when I first approached: "Don’t ask me now. I know what you want to ask me."

At one point, Ross turned to me and said that he's walking out of his stadium with a loss -- and he expected a win. The point was taken. As we finished our short conversation, Ross said he wanted to cool down before making evaluations based on Sunday. He wasn't happy at all.

. Let's get er done Ross. Blow em out.

dolfan1 Wrote:
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> At one point, Ross turned to me and said that he's
> walking out of his stadium with a loss -- and he
> expected a win. The point was taken. As we
> finished our short conversation, Ross said he
> wanted to cool down before making evaluations
> based on Sunday. He wasn't happy at all.
>
> . Let's get er done Ross. Blow em out.


Surely this isn't the first game this season he expected a win but walked out of the stadium with a loss. Personally, I can think of 7 times it's happened this year.

ghotirule Wrote:
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> Ross didn't even hire Sparano. Tony is not
> his guy.
>
That's the key. Tony is history.

If this is all a plan to bring in Carl Peterson in some sort of role I'll drive all the way to Miami from LA and kick Ross right in the sack.

Luis75 Wrote:
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> If this is all a plan to bring in Carl Peterson in
> some sort of role I'll drive all the way to Miami
> from LA and kick Ross right in the sack.


Something tells me that I believe you

I think it's fair to say Sparano will get another shot somewhere else if he is fired. I do think he is a very good coach, but when things fall apart, the head is the first thing to go.

Fair or not, that's just how it works.

To be honest, I'd like to see him stick around for one more year, assuming he can get a MODERN OC and another QB to push Henne, who I am teetering on the fence about.

As much as we like to look at the bad things, we have a pretty solid talent base and the last I checked, we're one of the best teams as far as not getting penalties. That goes a long way towards Sparano's coaching ability.

TheFutt Wrote:
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> I think it's fair to say Sparano will get another
> shot somewhere else if he is fired. I do think he
> is a very good coach, but when things fall apart,
> the head is the first thing to go.
>
> Fair or not, that's just how it works.
>
> To be honest, I'd like to see him stick around for
> one more year, assuming he can get a MODERN OC and
> another QB to push Henne, who I am teetering on
> the fence about.
>
> As much as we like to look at the bad things, we
> have a pretty solid talent base and the last I
> checked, we're one of the best teams as far as not
> getting penalties. That goes a long way towards
> Sparano's coaching ability.

I think the situation is like a few others have said. If we can get Cowher or Fisher, we lose Sparano.

If we can't get the HC candidate we really want, we keep Sparano one more year and change the OC, QB, and probably Special teams coaches.

JC,

How does Ross go about testing the "Coaching Free Agency" market, but yet, still keeping Sparano at the same time?

Also if he does test it, what does that do to Sparano's confidence?

Just wondering..

---------------------

"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

Aqua&Orange Wrote:
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> JC,
>
> How does Ross go about testing the "Coaching Free
> Agency" market, but yet, still keeping Sparano at
> the same time?
>
> Also if he does test it, what does that do to
> Sparano's confidence?
>
> Just wondering..

The best way to change coaches is to hire the guy you want then fire the one you don't. Much smoother transition. Either way the coach you fire is insulted and hurt but that is life.

I agree with JC. If you can't get the one you want then keep Sparano but insist on changing the OC at least.

Either way, Ross needs to do in quickly.

I've only got 2 problems with Sporano---
(1) he is a terrible game day coach, too many mistakes with TOs, challenges, conservative calls, etc
(2) he brought in a crappy OC and seems to do nothing to reign him in

Number (1) I think he can fix, and #2 could be fixed by a great OC. I see Sporano as a good motivator, but is he so great that we shouldnt' dump him for someone better right now? That's the key, are we sure someone else is better? Only names out there that would seem to be better b/c they've had some success in NFL are Cowher and Gruden, but as noted by others, there are issues with both.

Don't forget the Rooney Rule. I don't think Ross can simply offer a job to Cowher (my choice) or Gruden without going through a formal process and several interviews.

Agreed

They already have Dorrell on staff, bring him upstairs, ask him would he be interested....whether yes or no, there you go....fulfilled the Rooney Rule.

BTW, if he says yes, just say ok...we will get back with you. Then hire the guy you want.

---------------------

"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

Aqua&Orange Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> JC,
>
> How does Ross go about testing the "Coaching Free
> Agency" market, but yet, still keeping Sparano at
> the same time?
>
> Also if he does test it, what does that do to
> Sparano's confidence?
>
> Just wondering..


I admit I forgot about the Rooney Rule, but my answer would be:

Get Gruden and Cowher on the phone. Ask them if they would be interested in an *interview* (wink wink), since apparently they can't imply an offer is imminent. Get good faith confidential responses from them or their agents.

If either is interested in the *interview*, fire Sparano after the final game, then "interview" them along with a couple other candidates that would be fodder for the process.. But hey, fly them into town, it's Winter in Miami, what's wrong with a paid mini-vacation for a job interview.

If neither is interested, have a sit-down with Sparano after the game. Tell him the obvious, he's on the hot seat, he has one more chance, and it will be with a re-vamped staff. If the inquiries to Gruden and Cowher somehow leak out and Sparano finds out, GOOD. All the more obvious that he's on the hot seat.

JC Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Aqua&Orange Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > JC,
> >
> > How does Ross go about testing the "Coaching
> Free
> > Agency" market, but yet, still keeping Sparano
> at
> > the same time?
> >
> > Also if he does test it, what does that do to
> > Sparano's confidence?
> >
> > Just wondering..
>
>
> I admit I forgot about the Rooney Rule, but my
> answer would be:
>
> Get Gruden and Cowher on the phone. Ask them if
> they would be interested in an *interview* (wink
> wink), since apparently they can't imply an offer
> is imminent. Get good faith confidential
> responses from them or their agents.
>
> If either is interested in the *interview*, fire
> Sparano after the final game, then "interview"
> them along with a couple other candidates that
> would be fodder for the process.. But hey, fly
> them into town, it's Winter in Miami, what's wrong
> with a paid mini-vacation for a job interview.
>
> If neither is interested, have a sit-down with
> Sparano after the game. Tell him the obvious,
> he's on the hot seat, he has one more chance, and
> it will be with a re-vamped staff. If the
> inquiries to Gruden and Cowher somehow leak out
> and Sparano finds out, GOOD. All the more
> obvious that he's on the hot seat.


You would have to have the parameters of the contract in place for this to work, I think if your gonna move away from Sparano then just can him Monday and worry about his replacement later. Sure you could have assurances that your "guy" has some interest, but there will be competition for all the top names and i'm sure they will choose the highest bidder.

dolphaholic Wrote:
>
> You would have to have the parameters of the
> contract in place for this to work,

Right...rather unlikely, I'm aware. But I'm also sure that agents and Front Offices conduct plenty of "off the record" conversations that lead to deals later on, done by the 'rules'



I think if
> your gonna move away from Sparano then just can
> him Monday and worry about his replacement later.

But what if the replacement candidates are *sorry* retreads or other non-proven guys. We'd be taking another step backward.


> Sure you could have assurances that your "guy" has
> some interest, but there will be competition for
> all the top names and i'm sure they will choose
> the highest bidder.


Yes....we would have to be the highest bidder.

But the question is,

How popular is the Head Coaching job of the Miami Dolphins as it once was?

Are we the "place to be" for coaches? Are we still on of the great franchises?


Not so sure anymore.

---------------------

"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

Aqua&Orange Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> But the question is,
>
> How popular is the Head Coaching job of the Miami
> Dolphins as it once was?
>
> Are we the "place to be" for coaches? Are we still
> on of the great franchises?
>
>
> Not so sure anymore.


Well, as was mentioned in prior threads. Florida has no state income tax. that's , in effect, a few percentage points a higher take-home pay right there, unless the new coach is moving here from Texas, Tennessee, Washington state. Real estate is currently cheap.

It's also warm. Most coaches are older guys, right? Older than the players at the very least. What do older folks do in this country? Move to Florida, in droves. The weather is a huge plus, allowing leisure activities such as Golfing and fishing year-round. Coaching is a year round job, but they definitely get their rounds of golf in.

I'd say Miami is still desirable for coaches over other cities as a place to work and live. Not for me personally anymore, but I can see how someone would love to coach there.

I think the problem is, Ross is admittedly not a "football" guy and really has no experience with hiring the right football people. I'm sure his phone line is burning up to Carl Petersons this week looking for advice, if not offering him an advisors job. The guy is rich but it's been well documented that a regime change would cost him around 20 mil. (big bux no matter how rich you are).

I've said all along, be careful what we wish for, he could sheet-can Ireland/Sparano and fu#@-up on hiring a top candidate. Sparano could still be a good coach, but if I was Ross I would sit down with him and Ireland this week and have them lay out what their plan is on fixing our problems at QB, OC and Tony's allergies to TD's. If he likes the answers sign them to 2 yr extensions (before you all jump me, it's the only way to get a top-notch OC here as well as FA's) if he doesn't, can em on Monday and start your search for a replacement/s.