Phin Phanatic
FanSided

Miami Dolphins: A decade of controversy may finally come to an end

By Brian Miller

MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 13: Head coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins looks on prior to the game between the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 13: Head coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins looks on prior to the game between the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Michigan Wolverines Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh watches the pregame warmups prior to the start of the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Michigan Wolverines Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh watches the pregame warmups prior to the start of the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

The Plane to San Francisco – January 2011

It is a news headline that Stephen Ross wishes had never happened. It was my worst headline and the last time I ever wrote anything based on a “source”.  Tony Sparano had been fired and Ross was set to sign Jim Harbaugh as the Dolphins new head coach. My source was very much wrong.

What did happen though had a lot of repercussions for the team, Ross, and Ireland.

The plane to San Francisco was supposed to be a quiet trip for Stephen Ross and his general manager Jeff Ireland. It didn’t end that way.

Ross and Ireland traveled West to try and lure Jim Harbaugh to the NFL. The problem, he still had Tony Sparano as the head coach. Once it was out that Ross and Ireland were going after Harbaugh, all hell broke loose. It shattered the friendship between Ireland and Sparano, it would drive a wedge between coach and owner that was never fixed.

Ross failed to land Harbaugh and had to return to face Sparano. The team held a press conference with the trio and Sparano was visually not happy. The trip cost Ross money as well. He extended Sparano and gave him a raise to try and save the relationship. It didn’t work. Half-way through the next season, Sparano was fired and replaced by Toddy Bowles.

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