While Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has played a large role in hiring Miami’s coaches in the past, that wasn’t the case this time around. Ross identified and hired Adam Gase on his own, but had nothing to do with bringing in new coach-in-waiting Brian Flores, sources told Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald. Instead, it was new GM Chris Grier who is solely responsible for hiring Flores, Salguero writes.
Salguero writes that Grier and Flores are longtime friends, and that now ex-Dolphins coaches told him it was “no secret within the organization that Grier was focused on Flores as the favorite to be Miami’s new coach even before interviews began.” Flores, the current Patriots’ defensive play-caller, and Grier both started as scouts in their respective organizations and Salguero writes that their paths crossed frequently, sparking a friendship. Miami is reportedly all-in on tanking in the 2019 season, and it’ll be very interesting to see how Flores fares.
Here’s more from around the league:
- While the contract Odell Beckham Jr. signed this offseason “became the new financial benchmark for wide receivers”, it “didn’t dramatically reset the market as some, including myself, anticipated”, opines former NFL agent and current CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry. In his piece, which is worth a read, Corry breaks down this offseason’s wide receiver market, and he thinks 2019 will be the year the market is truly reset. Corry writes that Julio Jones, Tyreek Hill, and Amari Cooper will likely all land new deals this offseason.
- Speaking of wide receivers, commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about Josh Gordon during his annual Super Bowl press conference. Goodell said ““right now the focus is what can we do to help Josh (Gordon) to get to that place (where he can play football)”, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Goodell’s comments suggest that Gordon, who stepped away from the Patriots earlier this season, could eventually play in the league again even though Goodell slapped him with an indefinite ban. It won’t come easily, but it appears Gordon’s NFL career isn’t dead yet, just on life support.
- In case you missed it, Goodell also had updates on two more embattled players, Kareem Hunt and Reuben Foster.
The smartest decision a HC made was when Bill B decided to not accept the HC position with the Jets. He realized, at that time, the Jets ownership was unsettled. Without good ownership and an owner committed to winning on the field; no HC can be successful. Look no further than Joe Gibbs as proof of that. HoF HC and 3 time SB winner w/ JKC. And, at best, average w/ Dan Synder.
All the 70-80% of the teams that constantly lose (AZ, Jets, Bills, Skins, Jags, Browns, Bengals, & Lions come to mind) is because the owners really don’t care about winning on the field. Its nothing more than entertainment rather than competition to them.
I don’t know the 1st thing about Brian Flores. But the odds of him being successful are slim. Look at the Dolphins this entire century for proof.
Your argument is on pretty shaky ground. JKC was not a particularly good owner but he was willing to open his wallet which certainly helped. Ed DeBartolo got SB rings but he was a crook and disgrace. On the flip side Ralph Wilson never got his due for helping to keep the AFL afloat in the early years and he cared deeply for the fans in Buffalo. Ultimately it’s the players who dictate whether a team succeeds or not.
You have some valid points. But all those teams I listed, plus the current 9’ers ownership have gone through GM’s, HC’s, & players in the dozens. Yet all continually lose this century, why? Heck a year or two ago, the 9’ers owner said (paraphrasing) “You can’t fire the owner.”
And all of those teams I listed, except maybe 1, will not make the playoffs next year. SB is tomorrow we already have a pretty good idea what teams will be bad next season.
Lets assume you are right. That would clearly make Robert Kraft the best owner. Now let’s suppose the Patriots had swapped rosters with the Browns 5 years ago. How much success would Robert have enjoyed even with Bill running things?
OK, Bill wouldn’t have drafted as poorly as the Browns have done! I mean they have drafted in the top 5-7 in all rounds since ’12 (Haslem’s 1st year owning them) & their ‘greatest season’ is last year at 7 wins? While they streamed porn throughout the building. And during the past 6-7 years, how many players, coaches, and GMs have circulated?
Just looking at the Browns, Haslem bought the team in 2012. In that time, they have drafted no lower than the top 10, usually top 5 every offseason. How is it possible to have that many misses on top end players, coaches, and GM’s?
JKC and the Skins were successful before the NFL instituted the salary cap, it’s a whole different ballgame now. SF were masters of managing the cap early on and were still able to remain good for a while.
True, the Skins won before the cap. But Dallas, NYG, and Philly all had plenty of money to spend in the 1980’s. Add in the 9’ers and their run. Denver was always good in the 80’s. Plenty of teams were successful during that time.
Before this season even ends, we already know these teams are going to be sub 500 net year. Cards, Jets, Bills, Skins, Jags, Browns, Bengals, 49’ers & Lions. 9 out of 32 is a bad sign. They all have changed QB’s, HC’s, coordinators, & GM’s at record pace this century yet all lose, why? Why don’t you see these teams go on 5 year winning cycles (above .500). Out of those teams, the best would be the 9’ers 3 years with Harbaugh. Otherwise they all have been bad.
The weakness in your argument is that if bad ownership produces bad season after bad season then logically good ownership should produce winning season after winning season. Aside from the Robert Kraft, who are these owners you see putting together an extended string of winning seasons?
Steelers, Ravens usually are good, GB, & Seattle is usually above 500. We’ll see how the new ownership in Seattle plays out. Throw in NE, & Philly had a nice run w/ Andy Reid (’99-’12) and then topped it off w/ a SB. 6 teams that usually are 500 or better. Not win it every year, but compete for division titles annually. There is a difference.
My numbers are 6 quality teams vs 9 bad ones. Leaving 17 teams to be up & down, that’s about right.
This century, have you seen 1 other team in the AFC East fight NE for the title? I haven’t. Lions are never favored, nor should they, for the NFC North title. Arizona had a 2 year run w/ Bruce A. as HC, otherwise they’re bottom feeders. Bengals were 4-5 one and done in playoffs, otherwise sub 500. The 9’ers built a brand new stadium and can’t even keep the grass green! That’s on ownership.
Shad Khan isn’t concerned that the Jags have 1 division title in 6 years and 5 years drafting in the top 10. Do you see him regretting his purchase? His motivation for buying the team was for entertainment more so than winning.
I think your numbers are probably reasonable but that isn’t particularly encouraging. 6 good owners out of 32. That is only a little better than 6 out of a possible 36 which would be the equivalent of rolling dice. Even if the league could upgrade ownership quality getting rid of the Khan types, I suspect that parity and the cap system would work against any team being dominate for an extended stretch. The recent Patriot dynasty is the last we are likely to see this century.
Hiring a buddy is a bad idea.