Dolphins, Sparano will talk contract 'adjustment'

And now it is time for the other shoe to drop.

With the Dolphins and their ownership turning their attention back to keeping Tony Sparano as the club's head coach,the idea now is to find peace within the ranks before presenting a calm, happy, united front before the media in a press conference that is planned for today but whose exact time has not yet been determined.

Well, to get that family portrait just right the Dolphins must make coach Tony Sparano a happy camper. And after a week in which ownership said some things and did others, kept Sparano employed but also sought ways to replace him, bringing the coach back to a state of joy is going to require some hard work.

And that is the work that is happening at this hour.

A source in the ownership group tells me the team is working on ways to soothe things over by, among other things, discussing the "adjustment of Sparano's contract."

I suppose in regular everyday English that means the Dolphins are going to talk with Sparano's agent Jimmy Sexton about some sort of contract extension or pay raise or some guarantees of some sort.

I also have been told some of the conversation in today's meetings are supposed to involve Sparano's coaching staff. I reported to you Thursday that offensive coordinator Dan Henning and the team have parted ways. So, obviously, names of possible replacements might be a topic as well as the job security of various other assistants.

All of Miami's assistants are under contract for 2011.

Another topic that would have to be broached is the relationship between Sparano and general manager Jeff Ireland. They were once joined at the hip. They were part of a trio, including Bill Parcells, that was supposed to turn the Dolphins into champions.

Well, Ireland disconnected from Sparano in recent weeks and found a way to find favor with ownership that Sparano did not. And Ireland was on that team that went to California to seek out Jim Harbaugh as a possible replacement for Sparano.

So there are some frayed feelings there. No, the relationship is not broken. But it definitely is different now. There are issues there now.

Those issues have to be addressed.

This is probably not going to be a one-sided conversation. So perhaps ownership will have items it also wants to vent about to Sparano.

I would be careful about venting too much, however. Otherwise, that happy family portrait the Dolphins are hoping to unveil later today might not look quite right ... or might not get unveiled at all.

Comments

[mikeoliver1313]

Go sparano it's ur birthday yes he is back

[KyleButler]

a Marshall Revolt would be nothing compared to what the clowns running this team have done this past week!

[mikeoliver1313]

Go sparano it's ur birthday yes he is back

[bobbyd12]

Not only that, Harbaugh went to the 49ers, 5 years, 25 million. I told u guys money isn't everything and u all said I'm full of shyt. Guess what? RIGHT AGAIN!!! Good for Harbaugh choosing where he wants to live and coach. Money Ain't Everything!!

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

he will be fired mid season, this team is awful and will get worse. plus players will know they can revolt against him during season. hes a lameduck. hope for 0-16 and draft luck with new coach. more likely we go 5-11 and get nothing

[Cuban Menace]

Bill, Even with a strike Miami will still lose 9 games....LOL

[ALoco]

ONE YEAR EXTENSION ? THAT GIVE US 2 YEARS TO MOVE OUT OF STATE ,NOT BAD .

D.DENSE........EVERY FAN SHOULD GET 1 UNDERPANTS AND A CHINESE FAN LIKE IN THE CIRCUS .

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

and jon no exp oc will even think of coming here

[DyingBreed]

ROSS MAY HAVE SINGLE HANDEDLY TAKEN US ALL THE WAY BACK TO EXPANSION STATUS IN A SIMPLE MATTER OF ONLY 4 DAYS! lol.................

[Scott C]

I have been a Dolphin fan for 35 yrs. Outside of Shula this is the best coach I have seen here... JJ had Marino and a great defense and didnt do much better. Sparano May not be flashy, but neither is that guy in NE, you know the one the browns fired cause he couldnt coach??? I dont pretend know if Sparano will be the answer or to be happy with the current state of OUR team but this is probably the best thing. The way we got here, not good. Ross is trying to make this team great, and probably will - he does have a record of success. I dont undertand why the fan base cant seem to get behind the TEAM ie Coach, Owner, Players. BTW - a new OC will = a new Henne. 2 steps back this year, but its to early to give up on him. Thigpen = Garcia just not enough snaps to show it yet.

[Jon]

And I hate to break it to you, but even if they fired Ireland there is no way Cowher would come here now, not for 10 mil a year. The guy running the show has the IQ of rain man, along with the personality. Yeah, we'll give you 7 mil a year. Lot of money, yea. Fire Sparano, yea. I dunno. Maybe. Like Ireland, yea. 8 minutes till whoppner. Uh oh, uh oh. Hot water burn fergie.

[kingsmith]

Turns out to be a good negotiating job by York. Harbaugh was probably going there all alone and was just using Ross to try and get them to ante up.

[Joe Schmoe]

Good for Tony!!! We have just what we need. A coach that can't see problems. But, can replace all his coaches & players year after year, rebuilding every phase of the team,when he finally does see it.

Not to mention an owner dumb enough to give him a pass! I wonder what Tony can rebuild for us next year?? lol

[Yazzi]

VIVA SPARANO !

...Cause if our BRIBE MONEY is
good enough for the IRAQIS.....its good enough for him !!!
.
.

R
O
T
F
L
M
M
F
A
O !!!!!!!!!!

[mikeoliver1313]

Go sparano it's ur birthday yes he is back

[NHFINSFAN]

I say we TANK the season a guarantee the #1 pick...grab Luck in the 2012 draft...fire Sparano and start the new dynasty in 2012.

[DyingBreed]

WE ARE NOW THE EXPANSION MIAMI DOLPHINS ALL OVER AGAIN! LOL.............

[mr kahn]

maybe this whole process will light a fire under ts,n he will become a better coach,i wanted him fired too but wit a new offencive cord n this whole experience he will become a better coach

[mikeoliver1313]

Go sparano it's ur birthday yes he is back

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

im with u joe, can u imagine if ross would of just fired ireland and hired cowher. we would be the envy of the league right now and talking playoffs next year. season tickets would be going like crazy

[KyleButler]

WHAT A F'ING CIRCUS!!!

[cowkilla]

The 49ers got harbaugh on the cheap

[oscar canosa]

Yeah, great, Yazzi.

[ALoco]

VIVA SPARANO
VIVA DOLPHINS

DOWN WITH THE HYENA

[Joe Schmoe]

Bill, the Miami Dolphins beginning in 2010, will be the Lions of the 2000's. LOL God I hope not.

[DyingBreed]

MAYBE COWHER'S SO PISSED ABOUT ROSS' OFFER TO HIM THAT HE'LL TAKE THE BILLS OPENING NEXT SEASON JUST TO WHUP THE PANTS OFF OF US TWICE A YEAR! lol.......

[ALoco]

COWKILL,

HOW IN HELL YOU FIGURED THAT 5 MILLION AS CHEAP ?

[DC Dolfan]

Unfortunately, looking at it all, Harbaugh made the right choice. Basically SF and us are in the same position (mediocre, no QB), but they have a MUCH easier division. Harbaugh can bring them back to the top in 1 season.

If he came here, he's in the toughest division, with no QB, and tons of holes to fix.

I don't want to extend Sparano's contract for 1 second, but I understand they're doing it just to get an OC.

Best case scenarios:
- Sparano learns from his mistakes, gets back on track.
- Team reverts to '07, 1-15, 1st pick in next year's draft, Andrew Luck the new face of the franchise.

Worst case scenario:
- Sparano does more of the same, next year looks like this year, 7-9, 8-8. If that happens, I'm burning all my jerseys, promise.

[Joe Schmoe]

The Dolphins deserve everything they are gonna get. I guess the consolation is that Cowher & Gruden should be available again next year. And ross can make himself look like an as* all over again.

[oscar canosa]

Mark in Canada, I am fickle, you are fickle they are fickle....

[ALoco]

THE HYENA WILL NOT GO TO THE BILLS ,YHEY WILL NOT GIVE HIM THE KEYes TO THE STORE ,ONLY IF HE COACHES ONLY .NO GM FOR YOU .lol

[UP DATE!]

Jeff is not in charge any more, My sorce tells me that carl is the one calling the shots ,So he will run the Dolphins in the groung just like he did the last team he was in charge of

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

least half of miamis games next year will be blacked out. hate being the joke of the nfl. even when we went 1-15 we had a new coach and the numnber 1 pick

[bobbyd12]

Guys gonna eat your words next year Ross will spare no expense to bring in the FA and Offensive coaches to turn this around. I GUARANTEE we see some big name, big talent FA coming in to make this right.

[cowkilla]

I have no idea why some of you all are so happy to have Tony back...another year of no playoffs. But let me guess...you will say, but there is no more henning things will be better..whatever, things will not be better. So more mediocrity, yay. More loosing yay. More FG's yay.
I want a damn Super Bowl...we did not get anything accomplished here. Sad stuff.

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

im with u dc, its luck or bust now.

[Martin]

I got a great deal on a skirt at Ross and with the money I saved, I got this beautiful wool blouse!

[d-dense]

Bobbyd,

Money isn't everything, but it sure does help.

I hope this whole experience will light a fire for Tony. My hope is he's learned something? You make adjustments as needed, the OC thing really bothered a lot of us. That change should have come at mid-season.

I know you're a big Henne fan, but I'm pretty sure Sparano isn't making that mistake again. Let's hope.

[Cuban Menace]

Dont know of any Off. Coach that's currently employed leaving the team there on to come down to the circus now being held in south Fla, only a guy that's just been canned would do it, and is that what we want???, Good job Mr. Ross, You Must have inherited your Money cause you Sir are just stupid.......

[Jon]

How is this team 2-14 all of the sudden? A bounce here and there and they easily could of been 10-6. And that was with a horrible O-line, 2 over the hill running backs, God awful Henne, no speed, and a moron calling the plays on offense. Considering they will both be jobless if they don't do well, you really don't think this team will be improved? If anything, Miami will be the most aggresive team out there.

[Martin]

...and matching handbag! Ross Dress for Less....I mean Settle for Less

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

bobbyd keep drinking that koolaid brother. im sure he will overpay for maybe one money hungry guy. but no, no big name ocord would ever even think of coming here unless they know sparano will be fired and maybe they can take over

[Martin]

I love to shop at ROSS SETTLE FOR LESS!

[NHFINSFAN]

Keep Sparano
Keep Henne
Keep Brown & the under achieving O-Line

2011 Record: 2-14

Fire Sparano
Cut Henne
Cut Brown

Hire new HC
Draft Luck with #1 Pick
Start new Dynasty

...pretty fool-proof plan to restore this franchise back to its glory days.

[Yazzi]

Maybe Parcells wasn't wrong for leaving....

How many ELITE Football People will want
to work for STEPHEN ROSS ??
.
.

[DyingBreed]

DC,

I would have have accepted Harbaugh but for all of the resons you stated is why I though Cowher was hands down best man for the job.

We all know of Cowher's 6 championship appearances, 2 SB's and 1 SB wins, and numerous playoff victories. But few here realize that sandwiched in between Cowher's highlight were lowlights he successfully bounced back from.

Cowher and Cowher alone was the man who could fix this mess. He many successes fixing many messes in Pittsburgh. That's what many have forgot.

[Cuban Menace]

Aloco, Why do you insist on posting as other people, Stop it, we know it's you....

[Martin]

Hey Ross!

Like they say in Real Estate...I guess this one fell out of ESCROW!!!

[bobbyd12]

d-dense, Harbaugh in the league for 15 years, average out his salary has been between 1 and 4 million a year. Guy has made about 30 million plus. Harbaugh chose happiness, Luck chose his degree over money. I hope both of them do well

[Craig M]

If SO many fans have given up on this team and lambaste the management etc...why do they still hang around on blogs all talking about the team. What does that say about them?

Good move by Ross, Ireland and Sparano to invite Mangini in as a consultant. Another bright young mind who'll have some thoughts about just how vanilla our offence has been and what needs to be done to change things. Another persepctive on this can't hurt.

[Ripasso]

Agree wholeheartedly with you Jon.

[joseph]

Harbaugh was never going to be leaving the Bay Area. I think Ross realized that at the Orange Bowl, but i think that he thought that if you flash an extra $2M in front of his face that would change. But i could tell along that it is too far to "commute" with having to uproot his family from Northern California. What Ross really did was for Harbaugh to leverage better offers from both Stanford and the 49er's.

[cowkilla]

Bobby for real man, are you still believing this crap? You are going to be the one eating your words. You forget about this...what players will not want to play with Tony? Who are these great FA's you claim will all line up to come play for us? Explain Bobby, I'd love to hear it. Also it's you that is in the minority here thinking this is all great. Besides us fans that have a brain and can see what is really going on here how do you see any of this as positives? Every single person from fans, to espn, to analysts, to dogs see how messed up we are now here in mia. Byt you see great things..hmmmm something fishy about that. Wave bye to Marshall too our biggest WR threat in the last 15 years.

[Andy NJ]

Hey what's up fellas,

I am on my second Heineken and kicking back this weekend.

Who cares about Harbaugh. He is a 49er now. They have more to work with offensively and have the same problem Miami does and that is a QB. Best of luck Harbuagh.

I hope Sparano comes out guns blazing although that it completely not his style. Who knows. I wonder what they do for an offensive cordinator.

[bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com]

what bobbyd and the one other guy who acts like they are happy we kept sparano keep forgetting is that we learned we also have the dumbest owner now in the nfl. its basically the 3 stooges running this mickey mouse operation

[Yazzi]

I still can't get over that meeting on Monday...

Football Operations Genius MIKE DEE sits in on
Ross's meeting with Sparano.

L O L.........!
.
.

[Scottyb]

Armando, I liked your column until I saw these recent posts.
Sparano shouldn't be TOO happy - his team collapsed - he had his 2nd 7-9 season
(Even Tom Cable got fired with an 8-8 season.)

He's a good coach and likable guy, but needs to step up and be a GREAT coach.
If the offense is slacking - Sparano as HC should TELL the OC to do something about it.
He didn't. He didn't take command of his team. There are some redeeming qualities about Sparano, but he needs to address his assertiveness. There is no more Parcells to ask and wait for approval from.

I agree there should be incentives added to Tony's contract next year, like a $250K bonus & extension if we hit the playoffs. Adding an extension now will do nothing but reinforce the ways things are now, AND make things even more messy at the end of next season if we go 7-9 yet AGAIN!

Win and you're in - its football mentality. Sparano knows this. No needs for rewards.

As for Ross... you got to like an owner willing to spend money on the team - whether its for Orange carpets, Nightclubs in stadiums. Waterparks or even high priced FA's like Marshall and Dansby. Have you ever been to a Jaguars game? Boring. You walk by dirt filled lots, you tailgate quite a bit away from the stadium, and if you're lucky enough can park at a coffee factory or pay $10 park at the Duval County Correctional Holding Facility 2 blocks from the stadium.

Ross saw a chance to get a hot commodity/proven college coach with a decent amount of NFL experience that wouldn't clash with other players & coaches, like keeping Mike Nolan!!!!

Cleveland needs a coach - they didn't make a move. Carolina could use a coach - same thing. At least Ross was looking at the best options available - either through Harbaugh, Cowher or Gruden - and for whatever reason things didn't work out.
Now maybe, Ross will focus his $$$ on some good FA's and a high priced, talented OC.

Please no more talk about Josh McDaniels to the Dolphins.
If Josh and Brandon Marshall didn't get along - why bring him in??
If Josh and Mike Nolan didn't get along - why bring him in??

At least Ross is trying to make things better.
It could be much worse... we could have Dan Snyder, Jerry Jones, Al Davis, or....

(BTW Armando your editor just interviewed me for your job - should we feel pity for you now????)

[Martin]

Baugh Baugh Black Sheep...Have you any Wool???

Yes I do sir $30,000.000 full!!!

Suckas!!!

[joseph]

They should just let Cowher take over now, let Ireland go. This is just a mess that Parcells has created. How can anyone not have seen Henning this year. Henne had his hands cuffed. It was just terrible. Parcells is way overrated. He is a joke.

[DyingBreed]

Jon,

No one forsaw 1-15 prior to the 2007 team neither! LOL................