In Parcells We Trust?

As everyone knows by now Bill "Big Tuna" Parcells has commandeered my beloved Miami Dolphins football organization. He didn't waste anytime canning GM Randy Mueller and replacing him with a "Parcells Guy" immediately. Jeff Ireland, former kicker for Baylor and a Dallas Cowboys executive, was tagged as the Dolphins new GM. Ireland worked with Parcells in Dallas from 2003-2006. Under Ireland's eye as a prominent Cowboys scout, Dallas drafted perennial Pro Bowlers Roy Williams, Andre Gurode, Terence Newman, and Jason Witten. Just one day after Ireland's hiring, Parcells fired first year Head Coach Cam Cameron after the abysmal 1-15 season.

Parcells has a history of turning teams around quickly. In his four previous stops as Head Coach, the Giants, Patriots, and Jets made the playoffs by Year 2 of the Parcells Era. He guided the Cowboys to the playoffs in hist first year as coach, finishing 10-6 in 2003. Dallas was 5-11 in 2002 under Dave Campo.

Unfortunately his new location is different for two big reasons. One, the Dolphins are nowhere near as talented as those bad teams he inherited. There is little hope of making the playoffs in 2009, his 2nd year with Miami. Secondly, he isn't the Head Coach. Will the players respond to the actual coach just because Parcells is calling the shots? Doubtful.

Parcells is lauded for his coaching abilities but his player evaluation is suspect. Hopefully he lets Ireland and Co. do the scouting. Parcells loves to wheel and deal with his draft picks, which is fine. But his selections are usually average; not too many standouts. The Tuna may actually be better at finding mid- to -late-round values than 1st and 2nd round studs. Parcells drafted WR/KR/CB Troy Brown in the 8th round in 1993, RB Curtis Martin in the 3rd round in 1995, ILB Tedy Bruschi in the 3rd round in 1996, NT Jason Ferguson in the 7th round in 1997, OT Jason Fabini in the 4th round in 1998, TE Jason Witten in the 3rd and LB Bradie James in the 4th round in 2003, WR Patrick Crayton and CB Jacques Reeves in the 7th round in 2004, and RB Marion Barber and DE Chris Canty in the 4th round in 2005. His first round selections are modest, with Willie McGinest probably his best 1st round selection.

I can't come to a final opinion on whether or not I wanted or though Mueller and Cameron should be fired. But I knew it would happen once Parcells was hired. He is the definition of a homer; someone who needs comfort and finds it in people he has dealt with in the past. He had never worked with Mueller or Cameron. See ya later. The odds on favorite to be the Dolphins Head Coach in 2008 should be Tony Sparano, assistant coach/offensive line coach of the Cowboys. If he bypasses or is bypassed for the Falcons job, the Dolphins will strongly consider him. Other candidates include Todd Haley, Rex Ryan, and Maurice Carthon.

Honestly, I know little about any of the candidates other than Ryan is the son of Buddy Ryan and former defensive coordinator of the Ravens and Haley is the former WR coach with the Cowboys who T.O. flipped out at in 2006. Beyond that, nothin'. As of now, I have no opinion on who should be the Dolphins coach...outside of saying it should be me ;-)

Parcells can right this ship. Will he? Who knows. He has done it before, but in a more active role as coach. If he finds an young coach that can be the medium for his ethics and opinions it could work. This offseason is one of the most dire in Dolphins history. They were the worst team in 2007. They have the #1 overall pick in 2008. What are you gonna do, Bill? Please make this work.