The Dolphins have a coach under contract at this hour. But they don't necessarily have a coach.
The negotiations I wrote about in the previous entry on this blog were apparently going fairly well around 3:30 this afternoon when the Dolphins decided to call a media roundtable for 4:45 p.m. to discuss the events of the past week and put a smile on all that has made you frown.
But ...
... at around 4:15ish those talks became a little heated, I'm told. They went astray, I'm told in that you had two sides pulling in different directions. They hit a significant snag in that the sides definitely were not agreeing on a final outcome. And so at that time, the hammer was dropped and coach Tony Sparano or his representative let it be known he wasn't comfortable returning to the Dolphins in 2011.
That serious.
And so, as I said earlier, the Dolphins still had a coach under contract because Sparano is tied to the team for 2011. But they didn't have a coach to put in front of the media with owner Stephen Ross and perhaps general manager Jeff Ireland.
That happy family portrait the Dolphins wanted and intended to put on display was not ready for public viewing.
So the Dolphins called off the round table indefinitely. A spokesman said it could be reconvened in five minutes or five days.
[UPDATE: Dolphins have just rescheduled the roundtable for noon Saturday. This suggests the hurdle the negotiations hit earlier has been overcome, or perhaps overcome to the point sides are very confident they will be resolved by noon Saturday.]
That's all I know.
I do not know the particular topic that caused the gap that kept the sides from having an agreement. I do not know if it was just legalese in a contract that eventually will be overcome by the legal experts -- I'm not betting on that one.
I am told, however, that the sides hope to get this resolved at some point.
So a state of uncertainty exists.
And you thought you'd seen uncertainty with the Miami offense? Ha.
GO Tony Go....PLEASE... LOL, Good he does have a set of balls after all.......
Posted by: Cuban Menace | January 07, 2011 at 06:01 PM
AWESOME!
Posted by: Marc | January 07, 2011 at 06:02 PM
These are the days of our lives...
Posted by: Marc | January 07, 2011 at 06:03 PM
Ireland and Tony need to go.....just clean the house that parcells built already....we pretty much are at that point again anyhow after this fiasco!!!!
Posted by: MADsuperPHIN | January 07, 2011 at 06:03 PM
Yahooo !!! Buy Bye Sparano. How much you wanna bet it was about firing some of his lame coaches like special teams or David Lee ? We might be saved yet, hang in there Sparano, you'll save this team yet with your firing !!!
Posted by: Kieth | January 07, 2011 at 06:03 PM
DID I SAY THE TALKS BETWEEN HIS AGENT ANF THE DOLPHINS HIT A WALL ?
GOOD JOB ALoco
Posted by: ALoco | January 07, 2011 at 06:03 PM
I Think The fist pumper is now "Playing" The Idiot Ross, Even Hollywood couldnt have come up with this... LMAOROTFF..........
Posted by: Cuban Menace | January 07, 2011 at 06:04 PM
Sparano should say he'll stay if Ireland goes.
Posted by: Swamy | January 07, 2011 at 06:04 PM
Thanks or the update. The longer this goes on the more embarrassing it becomes.
Ross and company really look foolish.....
At this point, don't see how they save face.
Posted by: Bill | January 07, 2011 at 06:05 PM
I CALLED IT! I SAID THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO CONVINCE TS TO COMEBACK! LOL...............
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 07, 2011 at 06:05 PM
WE HAVE NO HC AND NOBODY WANTS THE JOB! NEXT TO WALK MIKE NOLAN, WATCH AND SEE! LOL..........
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 07, 2011 at 06:06 PM
the reason for this .............TS WAS WILLING TO COME BACK UNTIL HE LEARNED OF MANGINI INTERVIEW
Posted by: ALoco | January 07, 2011 at 06:06 PM
2011 0-16 HERE WE COME! THE WATERBOY WILL BE COACHING IN 2011! LOL............
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 07, 2011 at 06:07 PM
Very sad!!.....this franchise is dasappointing me time and time again. They can't make things better without tripping over themselves. Get this figured out and let's move on. Time to make things better....
Posted by: Craig M | January 07, 2011 at 06:07 PM
Anyone who'd take field goal Sparano over Ireland is a fool.
Posted by: Jimmy | January 07, 2011 at 06:07 PM
sparano doesnt want henning to go, so hes in a stagnate place right now....no one able to pull his chords must seem new and awfully different to him...Just Walk Coach....Just Walk!!!!
Posted by: MADsuperPHIN | January 07, 2011 at 06:08 PM
Wow
Posted by: dishpan | January 07, 2011 at 06:08 PM
Cuban Menace, I love u bro! Tony has a set and he's juggling them! Go Coach!
Posted by: AJ in ATL | January 07, 2011 at 06:08 PM
I Think when they Asked Mangina his advice might have put the fist pumper over the wall.... You Go TONY, JUST SAY F@CK YOU ROSS...................
Posted by: Cuban Menace | January 07, 2011 at 06:08 PM
THE ONLY ONE WHO SHUT EVERY UP IS......THE TUNA
WHO'S IN HIS RIGHT MIND WILL ACCEPT THAT JOB ?
NOLAN IS OUT.
CARL PETERSON MUST GO
Posted by: ALoco | January 07, 2011 at 06:09 PM
WOW...............................
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 07, 2011 at 06:09 PM
Bye, bye Sparano good luck in your next job as an offensive line coach I'm sure your next employer will love the job you did this year with Miami's offensive line.
Posted by: mike | January 07, 2011 at 06:10 PM
Could it have been that Harbaugh, Cowher, and Gruden realized how much of a dooosh IRELAND is?
Coach Harbaugh...Is your mother a hooker?
Posted by: Marc | January 07, 2011 at 06:10 PM
FRACK!!! SPRANO!!!!!
Posted by: killerdolphin | January 07, 2011 at 06:10 PM
Imagine (if you will)
IF THIS MUCH
E N E R G Y
HAD BEEN PUT INTO FINDING AN
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR FOR 2011 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
.
.
Posted by: Yazzi | January 07, 2011 at 06:11 PM
Get out from under TS bed Mando!
Posted by: d-dense | January 07, 2011 at 06:12 PM
AJ you ole So-And-So, How things going up there in "HOTLANTA" ??
Posted by: Cuban Menace | January 07, 2011 at 06:12 PM
HA
What a laugh fest.
Can't wait to see what happens next!
Posted by: NHDolphan | January 07, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Which would be best for the FINS?
1)Sparano stays
2) Ireland stays
3) Both stay
4) Both go
Posted by: Swamy | January 07, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Yes, I've seen your resume...Quiet impressive, but, the burning question here is....IS YOUR MOTHER A HOOKER!
Posted by: Marc | January 07, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Why would you want Tony back now....This is Crazy! Ross has to be coked up... Were screwed and no good OC will ever come here now... Let the drama continue...
FIST PUMP
Posted by: Phinatic | January 07, 2011 at 06:12 PM
IF YOU NOTICE SINCE CARL PETERSON CAME INTO THE SCENE ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE.
Posted by: ALoco | January 07, 2011 at 06:13 PM
STEPHEN ROSS REMINDS ME OF ''Slugworth the gobstopper'' FROM WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY''
Posted by: BLACKCEROTE | January 07, 2011 at 06:13 PM
Maybe at 4:15 the dreaded is your mother a hooker question surfaced its ugly head and sparano said that's it!!!
Posted by: BoulderFinFan | January 07, 2011 at 06:13 PM
Chad Henne just called timeout
Posted by: dishpan | January 07, 2011 at 06:13 PM
LOL@ DISHPAN~!
Posted by: Marc | January 07, 2011 at 06:14 PM
This is what happens when Billionaires ROLL THE DICE and LOSE.
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY DON"T KNOW THE ODDS OF THEIR BET.
Parcells saw this guy coming a mile a way.
.
.
.
Posted by: Yazzi | January 07, 2011 at 06:14 PM
Honestly, as much as we want this thing put to bed, everyone should just take a break for a few days and not let emotions lead to any more bad decisions.
Posted by: JB | January 07, 2011 at 06:14 PM
noon saturday. The soap opera continues. Come back and join us tomorrow y'all.
Posted by: BoulderFinFan | January 07, 2011 at 06:14 PM
I have no idea whats going on here. One day we are pursuing Harbaugh and the next we say Sparano is our guy and want to hand him an extension. This is a mess. Either Ross saw something he didnt like in Harbaugh at the last second or he completely failed in recruiting him and now is trying to cover it all up. Instead Miami is disoriented, and now we might not have a coach at all. What is going on?!?!?
Posted by: mesag25 | January 07, 2011 at 06:14 PM
If Ross wants to sell tickets for something in 2011 and put a product out that someone will actually want to see, how about a steel cage match between Sparano and Ireland????
Posted by: Xpensive Wino | January 07, 2011 at 06:14 PM
This is more entertaining than a single offensive drive we had all year...Speaking of...Someone call Carpenter, we're in scoring range
Posted by: Marc | January 07, 2011 at 06:15 PM
THE TUNA IS THE SAVIOR
Posted by: ALoco | January 07, 2011 at 06:15 PM
This is hilarious..I mean didn't Ross and Jeffy Boy see this coming..this blog did about two days ago...comical clown of an owner
Posted by: cowkilla | January 07, 2011 at 06:15 PM
dear o dear.
Ross,Get this shyte sorted out now you idiot.!!
How the hell did Ross become a billionaire by acting this much of a clown?
Geez...
Posted by: Mark | January 07, 2011 at 06:16 PM
Awwwwwwwwwww.... all the teenagers here spouting off at the mouth as if they knew football from their own buttholes will be sooooooo disappointed:
MikeBerardino
1. Apparently the issues between Ireland and Sparano have been resolved (for now) 3 minutes ago via txt
2. Dolphins have rescheduled press briefing for noon Saturday. 7 minutes ago via txt
Posted by: twyger | January 07, 2011 at 06:16 PM
Damn I was hoping Sparano was leaving or maybe that is what's being announced at 12 tomorrow who the hell knows anymore with this freak show of a front office. Good luck finding and OC of any significance now.
Posted by: mike | January 07, 2011 at 06:16 PM
This stuff is happening so fast and furious that some of you are already forgetting what has already been reported.
Aloco, Sparano was scheduled to be AT the meeting with Mangini. It was NOT a job interview, just a brain-picking session.
This whole thing is a ball of confusion but we don't have to add to it by making false statements and/or assumptions on this blog.
Get your facts straight, people!
Posted by: KJ | January 07, 2011 at 06:16 PM
That would be nice, steel cage match...I think tony would beat the pink panties off of ireland
Posted by: cowkilla | January 07, 2011 at 06:16 PM
fire them both. then fire yourself
Posted by: bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com | January 07, 2011 at 06:16 PM
fire them all and give cowher the power and the money wants and deserves
Posted by: james | January 07, 2011 at 06:17 PM
all this over a 7-9 coach
he should be licking Ross' balls that he even still has a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: The poor fans | January 07, 2011 at 06:17 PM
Armageddon!!! Apocalypse!!! Armageddon!!
The end of this Dolphin World as we know it it's about time cause I can't take anymore!!!!
Posted by: killerdolphin | January 07, 2011 at 06:17 PM
NH, This reminds me of the show "Dallas" where everone tuned in to see "Who shoot JR", Only this is how much more can Ross screw up this team ?????The guys such a loser I bet he Cant get laid in a five dollar "HO" house with a fist full of fiftys....
Posted by: Cuban Menace | January 07, 2011 at 06:18 PM
I'm afraid we are witnessing the death of what was once a great franchise. And the killer? Stephen Ross. What respectable coach would want to come to this franchise after his stunts this past week? Welcome to the Oakland Raiders 2.0.
Posted by: Mike in Houston | January 07, 2011 at 06:18 PM
Last week, all they needed was an O.C. and a Q.B...
NOW THEY NEED A DEMOLITION CREW !!!!!!!!!
.
.
Posted by: Yazzi | January 07, 2011 at 06:18 PM
4 mins ago via text...Sparano send a hairy sausage pic to ireland and ross...
Bernardino doesn't know shyt
Posted by: cowkilla | January 07, 2011 at 06:19 PM
What pink panties?
Everyone knows he likes g-strings!
Posted by: Swamy | January 07, 2011 at 06:19 PM
KJ,
IT'S NOT TRUE ,SPARANO DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE MANGINI INTERVIEW .OTHER WISE WHY CANCEL THE MEDIA EVENT .IT'S NOW 2 SLABS AT TONY'S FACE /
Posted by: ALoco | January 07, 2011 at 06:19 PM
At the very least, the split end reverses on third and 8 at the opponents 25 to end the drive in a field goal ha prolly ended with the retirement of henning
Posted by: dishpan | January 07, 2011 at 06:19 PM