http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2011/10/miami-dolphins-wrap-gossip-running-wild.html Miami Dolphins Wrap: Gossip running wild by: Omar Kelly October 26th, 2011 | 10:04 AM
Here’s a few tidbits of information that will become very useful to you over the next few months.
1. People in NFL circles, and those on the peripheral, gossip like junior high school girls.
2. The standards for what’s deemed journalism these days have become obsolete. Some outlets believe in it. Some don’t. And those who do have begun to fold to the pressure of those who don’t.
3. People in the media routinely get used to accommodate other people’s agenda. Just because you’re fed it doesn’t mean its right. But why bother with accuracy when it’s a juicy bit of gossip.
Put it out there and see your clicks dance.
That’s how the NFL game – the one that surrounds the game – gets played. Sometimes it gets messy, and the Miami Dolphins are at that point considering the franchise is off to an 0-6 start.
At this point you could throw just about any bag of poo against the Dolphins wall and it would stick. Media outlets would run with it, the fans would pick up their pitch forks, and true or not, reputations and credibility gets damaged for everyone but the person who wrote it.
I generally try to stay out of the muck because I value my integrity over clicks, but sometimes you’ve got to get your hands dirty.
There are reports from CBSsports.com that the Dolphins, through ”intermediaries,” have contacted people close to former Steelers coach Bill Cowher about replacing Tony Sparano.
This very well could be true because Steve Ross’ friend and business partner, Carl Peterson, is friends with Cowher. I’ve consistently informed you Peterson is the one football person Ross trusts and consults with, even if he’s not on the payroll.
Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, who still has affiliations with the Dolphins, sits next to Cowher every Sunday during their CBS broadcast. Marino certainly fits into the ”intermediaries”category and might just be gauging if Cowher’s FINALLY ready to come back to the NFL as a coach.
Let us not be naive to think Marino and Cowher haven’t talked about the Dolphins at some point during their seven weeks together this season.
Also, this could EASILY be a ploy by Cowher’s agent to drive up his television contract, or his asking price for when he eventually returns to the NFL. Hell, it worked for Jon Gruden two weeks ago. I hope you don’t think his new ESPN contract – which really means NOTHING – was a coincidence?
But those thinking Ross has anything to do with this gossip, especially after the Jim Harbaugh debacle back in January, are misguided.
Ross knows his NFL reputation is already damaged, and sources inside the organization say “he’s doing everything in his power to repair it in NFL circles.”
Talking to Cowher, or Jeff Fisher, or Jon Gruden, or any other prospective candidate about coaching or running the Dolphins - before firing Sparano - is tacky and would harm the franchise AGAIN.
Plus….here’s an important piece of information everyone is overlooking. We don’t even know which General Manager, or new team czar will be making this football decision. Ross is very aware he doesn’t have the skills to do it on his own, and the jury is still out on whether Jeff Ireland is safe.
But it is a good, juicy bit of gossip, and at this point the national media has taken on the pile on approach….so carry on.
I have no interest in denying it, defending it, pouring gas onto it. Just trying to help you understand the game we’re playing, and you’re watching.
While I might defend Ross on this topic, I am pointing the finger at him for creating an “every man for himself mentality” within the organization, which I suspect know has poisoned the 2011 team.
I’ve sat on that information/theory for a while, hoped the coaches, players, front office figured found a way to pull it together. That CLEARLY hasn’t happened.