Stephen Ross: I have not reached out to Cowher

There have been multiple reports of undercover and backroom wheeling and dealing by owner Stephen Ross as he tries to land a new coach for the Miami Dolphins.

The latest is an NFL.com report citing an unnamed league source that states Ross has been in contact with Bill Cowher's agent about making the former Pittsburgh Steelers coach the next Dolphins coach.

The report is not true, Ross is telling The Miami Herald.

"I have not reached out to him in any way and will not so long as Tony [Sparano] is the coach," Ross said in a statement tonight. "I will not reach out to anyone so long as Tony is the coach.

"And," the short statement concludes, "I hope Tony wins and stays the coach."

I also contacted Dolphins CEO Mike Dee and he was aware of the owner's statement to me. Dee highlighted that the Dolphins are not making contact with anyone through any back channel, removing speculation team intermediaries might be working on the matter.

"As Steve has expressed in recent weeks," Dee said, "we remain fully supportive and committed to Tony and there is no discussion under way, either formal or informal, to talk to anyone."