Dolphins Ross Needs To Get This One Right
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins are still searching for a new GM. Owner Stephen Ross said that the new guy or gal will have full control over personnel but stopped short of saying that person would also have control over Joe Philbin. At least it’s assumed that means this year.
The Dolphins are trying to be as transparent as possible and have announced that they have interviewed Brian Gaine who was Jeff Ireland’s right hand man, Omar Khan of Pittsburgh, Jason Licht of Arizona, and Ray Farmer of Cleveland. Some in the Miami media believe that Farmer is the number one guy for Stephen Ross given his background and associations with Carl Peterson. Others believe that Tom Gamble is the number one choice. Yesterday the Dolphins asked permission to interview Gamble and have been granted.
For Ross, it’s a matter of getting it right this time around. The blame thus far on Miami’s inability on the field has been passed off on former CEO Mike Dee, Jeff Ireland, and OC Mike Sherman. This is Ross’ one chance to get it right. The Dolphins don’t need an “up and coming” NFL executive. They need someone who is ready which is why Gamble would be one of the best signings the team could make.
Gamble has cut his teeth in San Francisco and in Philadelphia and is viewed by many as one of the top personnel evaluators in the NFL. Which is exactly what Miami needs right now. The question is can the chaos and confusion of the past week bring in the top talent at that level? If so, can Steve Ross close the deal?
A master at closing business deals Ross has failed to land Jim Harbaugh, retain Bill Parcells, lost out on Peyton Manning and Jeff Fisher. Earlier this week the Dolphins asked to speak with Eric DeCosta of the Baltimore Ravens who quickly declined. Or so the rumor went. Other media outlets contended the Dolphins never officially asked.
For Ross it’s more than simply getting a guy in who will fit within the new structure of the organization he needs to get someone who will pull Miami out of the funk they are in. Restore the image of the Miami Dolphins and end a decade long history of bad mistakes. How Ross proceeds through the interview process will determine the route he goes with his choice for GM. How much input he will take from Dawn Aponte who succeeded in getting Jeff Ireland out of town is not known.
Ross has had far too many at bats to steal a baseball phrase and frankly it’s questionable if he has actually hit anything out of the infield. It seems that a lot of consideration is going to go into the relationships between GM, Aponte, and Philbin but what should be asked is whether or not the GM is the best person for the job period. The infighting in Miami wasn’t always present so it’s likely there won’t be any to start but you never know where that rolls to.
Ross is expected to have a new GM in place by the Senior Bowl on January 20th.