Dolphins Ryan Tannehill: “I’m Starting”

If I could fit the entire quote into the title I would have but instead I will leave it paraphrased. At least I didn’t put it in italics, right ESPN? Speaking with reporters following practice today Ryan Tannehill said what everyone knows and what Joe Philbin won’t say. He’s starting.

"“I’m taking the first snap of the game,” he said as reported on the Palm Beach Post."

There are a lot of adjectives that have been used on recent weeks to describe the Miami Dolphins starting quarterback but frazzled isn’t one of them. Tannehill has displayed his normal calm demeanor throughout his struggles and throughout his media chats. Today was a little different and some of those withheld thoughts might have surfaced just a bit.

Tannehill told reporters that he and Joe Philbin have spoken and that Philbin explained the rationale behind what he has been declaring to the media. In what could be the first showing of public defiance, or maybe the 2nd, Tannehill openly told reporters that he didn’t agree with that method.

"“Obviously it doesn’t feel good,” Tannehill said. “It creates a lot of stir, a lot of distraction in the locker room — mostly from outside.”"

Philbin has been regularly scrutinized by the media and by the fans and seems hell bent on continuing to confuse those within the organization, primarily his players. When asked a week ago why the Dolphins opted to not try and score with over two minutes left in the half with three timeouts, Tannehill stood sternly at the podium and said that was Coach Philbins decision and that he didn’t like it.

Philbin has created a mess in Miami with his “We are going to start the best 46 players” campaign and it’s not fooling anyone. If what Tannehill said is indeed true it’s causing unneeded friction in a locker room that has already reportedly started to take notice of how things are being run with the team. A loss this weekend could cause an internal implosion as the team heads into the bye week with Green Bay on the horizon.

Whatever the thought process has been for Philbin it has obviously not had the desired affect. Tannehill insists that his coach has not told him that he is danger of losing his job. Despite the fact that Philbin stubbornly defies the questions about who will. It’s an absurd pointless decision by a head coach who is making a lot of pointless decisions lately.

The Joe Philbin escapade has also been noticed by two individuals who do have the ear of owner Stephen Ross. Tony Dungy and Jason Taylor who was in the owners box on Sunday. Both former NFL’ers are confused about the tactic being used by Philbin.

"“I don’t think it’s good for Ryan Tannehill or the Miami Dolphins. One of the first lessons I ever learned as an assistant coach working for Chuck Noll, and then Bill Walsh and Dennis Green, is that you don’t start a quarterback controversy…you’re telling everyone, ‘I’m not sure I believe in Ryan Tannehill.” Said Tony Dungy as reported in the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson column."

Jason Taylor chimed in as well.

"“It’s kind of a head-scratcher to me. If you’re going to make the change, then make the change. It’s Week 3 – I don’t think that change is warranted yet…you’re playing with a rookie right tackle, a backup center…if you’re going to try and put some doubt in the Raiders’ mind? Who cares what the Raiders think. Know who your quarterback is, and if it’s Ryan Tannehill, show him that support so he can continue to grow. Don’t put that doubt in the back of his mind.”PFT analyst Ross Tucker: “This is garbage to me…there are only a couple possibilities here, and none of them are good. This is Joe Philbin outthinking himself. He’s trying to get creative…if you need to do this to try and beat the Raiders, are you really going anywhere this year?…if he’s doing this to motivate Ryan Tannehill, he’s not the guy anyway.”"

Joe Philbin is one of the top coaches on the media’s annual hot seat watch and while owner Stephen Ross may be a nice guy it’s getting harder to turn the other way. Philbin may very well be digging his own hole and anything short of a playoff birth might just force Ross to make a change that he was praying he wouldn’t have to make.