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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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 05: Rain delays the start of the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers at Target Field on July 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 05: Rain delays the start of the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers at Target Field on July 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The struggle for power – 2013 – 2014

Starting sometime during the 2013 season a power struggle developed in the Dolphins organization. With Jeff Ireland as the general manager and Dawn Aponte holding the ear of Stephen Ross and his checkbook as the chief negotiator of contracts, an internal executive struggle began.

As Aponte and Ireland butted heads the internal arguing began to surface publicly as local beat writers began covering the potential issues. It was then that head coach Joe Philbin became part of the push and pull. Philbin had supported Ireland and vice versa but Ireland had made some decisions that Philbin didn’t like, including pressure to fire offensive coordinator and Philbin mentor, Mike Sherman.

Aponte got Philbin on her side and on January 7th, 2014, Ross fired Ireland but it wasn’t Aponte who took his place. An off-season search for a new general manager would become another controversy in and of itself.

When the dust settled on the power struggle, Ireland was out of a job, Mike Sherman was fired, and Joe Philbin would follow a half-year later.

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