Bill Parcells Steps Down, Jeff Ireland In Control
By Brian Miller
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The Miami Dolphins have a shake up in the front office only days before their opening season kick-0ff. Out is Bill Parcells and in is Jeff Ireland.
The step down of Bill Parcells was inevitable. In fact, many believed this would have happened last season when Stephen Ross took over the franchise from Wayne Huizenga. After the off-season, it appears that Parcells has had enough. He will remain with the Dolphins as a “daily consultant” but the rest of the job falls on the shoulders of first time General Manager, Jeff Ireland.
Ireland was the top choice of Bill Parcells three years ago when he took over the reeling franchise and fired GM Randy Mueller and HC Cam Cameron. Ireland was a member of Parcells’ team in Dallas as one of the top personnel men. While the job in Miami was his first as a GM, he has had three years to learn the ropes from one of the better mentors.
While Parcells was the VP of football operations, it’s unlikely that Jeff Ireland will assume the “all-mighty” duties himself after this season. Ireland will likely remain the teams GM but the top spot will either go away, as it was created for Parcells, or it very well could be handed off to Carl Peterson who is a close personal friend of Stephen Ross. The good news is that Peterson and Ireland have a solid working history as well.
Still, it comes as a surprise that Parcells would make this decision only days before the 2010 season kicks into gear. At 69 years of age, I doubt that the NFL has heard the last of Bill Parcells.
The team release regarding the step down was as precise and simple as Bill Parcells’ media chats.
"“Effective immediately, Jeff Ireland will assume full control over all aspects and decisions in regard to the Miami Dolphins football team and support staff,” the statement read. “This was the intent of the structure put in place in the past. Bill Parcells will remain with the club on a daily consultant basis.”"