HEADLINES

Joe Philbin

Dolphins To Retain Joe Philbin

December 21st, 2014 at 4:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Dolphins moved to 8-7 with a last-minute victory over the Vikings today, but they had already been eliminated from playoff contention thanks to the Chargers’ win over the 49ers last night. Despite that fact, the club won’t see a coaching staff overhaul, as owner Stephen Ross said after the game that head coach Joe Philbin will return for the 2015 season, according to the team’s Twitter account.

Philbin, 53, was hired as Miami’s head coach in 2012 after spending the previous five seasons as the Packers’ offensive coordinator. The club has a 23-24 record (and no postseason appearances) during his tenure, but there have been some positive developments. The defensive unit has been stout at times, and following the hiring of offensive coordinator Bill Lazor prior to this season, third-year QB Ryan Tannehill has shown significant signs of improvement. Still, it’s fair to wonder if 2015 will be Philbin’s final shot in Miami; if the team doesn’t make the playoffs next season, it will probably be tough for Ross to keep him around any longer.

2015, then, sets up as a make-or-break year in South Beach, and it’s unlikely that the current version of the Dolphins’ roster will see many upgrades. Over the Cap’s data shows Miami to have negative cap space in 2015, at nearly $2.2MM in the red. The club will obviously make some moves to be in compliance the cap; cutting players like Dannell Ellerbe, Brian Hartline, and Cortland Finnegan, for example, could save the Fins more than $14MM. But Miami probably won’t be able to make its typical splashes in free agency, meaning Philbin & Co. will have to rely on continued advancement from Tannehill and a dominant defense to compete next season. If not, general manager Dennis Hickey, hired earlier this year, would likely be given the opportunity to choose his own coach.

On a macro level, this news crosses off one possible destination for 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, who is expected to leave San Francisco at season’s end. Ross tried to bring in Harbaugh as the Dolphins’ head coach prior to the 2011 season, so speculation arose that Miami would once again be interested in acquiring the controversial head coach. However, given the expected level of interest in Harbaugh from the University of Michigan (who reportedly offered a six-year deal worth nearly $50MM), the Raiders, and a slew of other suitors, the Dolphins opted to stick with their incumbent coach. It’s just my speculation, but I would guess that Miami didn’t want to pursue Harbaugh for a second time, only to be publicly embarrassed yet again if he declined their overtures.

East Notes: RGIII, Eagles, Cutler

December 21st, 2014 at 8:43am CST by Rory Parks

It was not long ago that the respective futures of Robert Griffin III and Jay Gruden in Washington were in doubt. After one strong game against the Eagles on Saturday night, that no longer seems to be the case. Following a last-minute, 27-24 victory over their playoff-hopeful division rivals, Washington’s head coach and quarterback are set to return for 2015.

As Jason Reid of the Washington Post wrote just hours after the team’s victory, “Jay Gruden and Robert Griffin III are expected to return next season.” Reid went on to note that Washington’s reliance on the on the run game and DeSean Jackson allowed Griffin to be more comfortable in the pocket than he has been all season, which could have created a blueprint for the team’s success moving forward.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk adds that there was never any real doubt among the Washington administration that Griffin would be back, as the team continues to hope that he can be the franchise quarterback it once anticipated. So, as Florio writes, “the only remaining question is whether they pick up his eight-figure option for 2016 by May 3. If the goal is to support him, they either need to exercise the option or extend his contract.”

Now for some more noes from the league’s east divisions:

 

AFC East Notes: Ryan, Philbin, Patriots

December 19th, 2014 at 12:45pm CST by Luke Adams

As one of the AFC East’s most explosive offensive playmakers returns to active duty, let’s take a look at what else is happening around the division….

  • Sources tell Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter links) that current Jets coach Rex Ryan is viewed as a natural fit for the Falcons’ head coaching job, if the team decides to part ways with Mike Smith. Atlanta needs to upgrade its defense, and Ryan interviewed with the club in 2008.
  • Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin is on the hot seat in Miami, but Cole (Twitter link) points to one potential roadblock to the team making a change — owner Stephen Ross likes and respects Philbin a lot, and would like to establish continuity for the franchise. If the Dolphins take care of business in their final two home games against the Vikings and Jets, it seems possible that Philbin will get another year in Miami, though that’s just my speculation.
  • By playing in his 15th game for the Patriots this Sunday, cornerback Darrelle Revis will earn the remained of his $500K roster bonus, tweets Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald.
  • Mike Reiss of ESPN.com also has a Patriots-related contract note, tweeting that tight end Steve Maneri‘s deal with the club is just a one-year contract through 2014. Reiss views the signing as insurance for the postseason at an important position.

Latest On Joe Philbin, Dolphins

December 19th, 2014 at 9:30am CST by Dallas Robinson

With a record of 7-7, the Dolphins sit in third place in the AFC East, and while they’re not technically eliminated from playoff contention, a postseason berth is extremely unlikely — after Sunday’s lost to the Patriots, Miami’s playoff odds dropped from 21% to 0%, per Football Outsiders. Although parts of the Dolphins’ season have been encouraging — the development of Ryan Tannehill, a defense that played extremely well until falling off recently — it’s largely been a disappointing year in South Beach. Fans hoping for a coaching staff overhaul might be out of luck, however, as sources tell Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald that owner Stephen Ross hasn’t shown a willingness to fire head coach Joe Philbin.

The Dolphins have been linked to 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, who is expected to part ways with San Francisco after this season. Harbaugh has reportedly received a six-year offer from the University of Michigan, believed to be worth nearly $50MM. Whether or not Miami (or any other interested club) would be forced to match that total is unclear, as some believe that Harbaugh would prefer to remain in the NFL ranks. Ross & Co. have tried to lure Harbaugh to Miami before — the team tried to bring him into the fold in 2011, but ultimately gave Tony Sparano an extension when their Harbaugh efforts failed.

For his part, Philbin refuses to discuss his future with the team past 2014. “I’ve talked to [Ross] often, but what we discuss is private,” said Philbin. “I’m not worried about my future. I’m worried about the Minnesota Vikings (the Dolphins’ next opponent). That’s it.” Since taking over in Miami in 2012, Philbin has a record of 22-24, with the team finishing second and third, respectively, in the AFC East ’12 and ’13. The Dolphins have yet to make a playoff appearance during his tenure.

Beasley’s Herald colleague, Armando Salguero, is skeptical of the report, writing that it’s hard to believe that Ross wouldn’t want to acquire Harbaugh. In Salguero’s view, the Dolphins are merely signaling that they don’t wish to be used as leverage by Harbaugh, and that they won’t overpay for the 49ers coach. It’s an interesting theory, and one that makes some sense given both the recent failures in Miami and the club’s previous interest in Harbaugh.

AFC Notes: L.A., Dolphins, Workouts

December 17th, 2014 at 3:47pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chargers announced last night that the franchise would be remaining in San Diego for at least one more year, and that doesn’t appear to bode well for an NFL team landing in Los Angeles for the 2015 season, writes Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times. As Farmer writes, it’s “almost inconceivable” that Chargers owner Dean Spanos would make such an announcement so much earlier than necessary if he weren’t fairly confident that neither the Raiders nor the Rams would be moving to L.A. for 2015 either.

As we wait to see whether that’s indeed the case, let’s round up a few more notes from across the AFC….

  • If the Dolphins finish strong and end up with a 9-7 record, the head coaching picture for the team is murky, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. As Salguero explains, owner Stephen Ross won’t necessarily replace Joe Philbin for 2015 if he surveys the market and doesn’t identify anyone who would be a clear upgrade on Philbin.
  • According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), the Colts worked out a handful of players this week, including offensive lineman Terrael Williams, defensive back Demond Washington, and wide receivers Dan DePalma and John Chiles.
  • Wilson also passes along the names of the players who auditioned for the Raiders this week (Twitter link): defensive back Malcolm Bronson, offensive tackle Chris Faulk, defensive back David Van Dyke, and offensive tackle Tyler Hoover, who signed with the Colts’ practice squad today.
  • Defensive end Travis Chappelear tried out for the Chiefs yesterday, a source tells Wilson (Twitter link).
  • Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News looks into whether the Bills might take a shot at Bears quarterback Jay Cutler at some point, if the underachieving signal-caller becomes available via trade or free agency.

Latest On Joe Philbin, Dolphins

December 15th, 2014 at 12:53pm CST by Luke Adams

Alex Marvez of FOX Sports notes in his latest column that as of a few weeks ago, Dolphins owners Stephen Ross “wasn’t itching to make a coaching change,” and had spoken highly of Joe Philbin. However, since then, the Dolphins barely squeaked out a win against the Jets and then lost two key games against AFC contenders, all but eliminating their playoff chances. If Miami wins its final two games, Philbin could survive to coach the club in 2015, but if the team loses one or both, “all bets are off,” writes Marvez.

Although Marvez suggests there’s still some hope for Philbin in Miami, beat writer Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald paints a much bleaker picture, writing that the head coach’s “days are numbered,” and adding that it’s hard to imagine Philbin getting a pat on the back for winning two meaningless games to finish the season. For his part, Philbin says he’s focused on those two games, rather than his future, though he acknowledged that both he and Ross were disappointed after the team’s showing in New England yesterday (Twitter links via James Walker of ESPN.com).

As Philbin’s future in Miami hangs in the balance, it’s also worth keeping an eye on which members of the organization will have a say in the head coach’s fate, writes Salguero. According to the Miami Herald scribe, Dan Marino – a special advisor to Ross – and Mike Tannenbaum – a front office consultant – were both seen talking to the team’s owner after this weekend’s loss to the Patriots.

Pointing out that Tannenbaum still acts as an agent and has several potential head coaching candidates on his roster of clients, including Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, Salguero writes that Tannenbaum and Marino will “obviously have say” in what happens with the head coaching situation. As such, general manager Dennis Hickey finds himself in an interesting situation — Hickey was hired in January of this year, meaning he inherited Philbin, and it’s not clear how much input he’d have in the hiring of a new head coach. Typically, a team’s GM plays a significant role in that process, but with so many voices seemingly involved in the Dolphins’ decision-making, there’s no guarantee of that for Hickey.

Coaching Notes: Harbaugh, Coughlin, Philbin

December 14th, 2014 at 9:27pm CST by Rob DiRe

Whether or not the 49ers‘ window is closed, head coach Jim Harbaugh’s time with the team may be in its waning moments. His relationship with CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke has deteriorated, and questions have arisen over his future with the team since before the 2014 season.

Harbaugh expects to meet with the organization about his future, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.

“I’m always available to sit down with the owner and general manager, absolutely,” Harbaugh said. “Yes, at some point I expect that.”

Here are some other notes regarding coaches on the hot seat:

  • Giants‘ head coach Tom Coughlin has long been rumored to be at the end of his rope as the team’s head coach, due to his advanced age and the team’s poor performance. Ian O’Connor of ESPNNewYork.com believes coach Coughlin deserves one more year. O’Connor believes that his two Super Bowl rings have earned him the benefit of the doubt, and believes the organization owes him the opportunity to coach the phenomenal rookie receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in 2015.
  • After being blown out by the Patriots, the Dolphins should consider moving on from head coach Joe Philbin at season’s end, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. With the team’s playoff hopes nearly out the window, Salguero argues that anything short of two wins and an unlikely playoff berth would cement the season as another disappointment.
  • Buccaneers‘ head coach Lovie Smith has also been underwhelming, but the team would be unlikely to move on from him so soon, writes Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). Smith is in the first year of a five-year deal, and it would be unusual for the organization to make a move so early into the contract.

Coaching Updates: Coughlin, Philbin, Broncos

December 14th, 2014 at 11:09am CST by Rory Parks

Let’s take a look at a few items regarding two head coaches who are on the hot seat and two more who might join the head coaching ranks in 2015:

  • Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Giants head coach Tom Coughlin wants to coach for another season, and there is no guarantee that New York will fire its long-time sideline general. Steve Serby of the New York Post adds that it is not time for Coughlin to be replaced.
  • Rapoport tweets that Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin‘s fate will be determined by how his team finishes the 2014 season. If Miami suffers another December swoon, Philbin’s job will be in jeopardy. Rapoport adds (via Twitter) that if Philbin is fired, the team does not plan to pursue Jim Harbaugh, contrary to numerous reports stating otherwise.
  • Mike Klis of the Denver Post writes that the Broncos can expect to replace both offensive coordinator Adam Gase and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio after this season, as both are prime candidates to land head coaching gigs.

AFC Notes: Dolphins, Hoyer, Broncos, Bills

November 12th, 2014 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

The margin for error for Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin is “quickly approaching zero,” writes Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. A loss this week to the Bills would make it extremely difficult for Miami to make the playoffs, and the next seven games could determine the fate of several of the club’s coaches and players.

Pointing out that a half-dozen of the Dolphins’ starters are eligible to hit the open market in March, Beasley suggests the team hasn’t made much of an effort to lock up any of these prospective free agents. One reason for that may be that there’s no guarantee the same front office and coaching staff will be in place by March. As Beasley rhetorically asks: “Why green-light a multiyear deal for Charles Clay if you’re not sure whoever’s coaching the Dolphins in 2015 wants Clay on their team?”

Here’s more on the Dolphins, as well as a few other AFC teams:

  • Within the aforementioned piece, Beasley also writes that Philbin won’t necessarily lose his job if the Dolphins miss out on the playoffs. However, the team would probably have to finish with a winning record and show signs of trending upward.
  • The Browns have an opportunity to get a deal done with quarterback Brian Hoyer in the wake of Carson Palmer‘s season-ending ACL injury, argues Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio suggests that Hoyer, who had a season-ending ACL injury of his own last year, may be more inclined to secure some guaranteed money after seeing what happened to Palmer, and speculates that perhaps something in the neighborhood of two years and $18MM (fully guaranteed) would work for both sides. That sort of contract may look modest, but I doubt Hoyer will get much more fully guaranteed money than that on a longer-term deal.
  • Joel Corry of CBSSports.com touches upon the Browns‘ quarterback situation in his look at several contract predicaments teams will face this offseason. The Broncos‘ franchise tag decision and the Bills‘ defensive line issue are among the other dilemmas he addresses.
  • Jets head coach Rex Ryan expects a strong second half from his team, and knows that without one, he’ll almost certainly be looking for work this winter. “I need every [win] I can get,” Ryan said, according to Danny Knobler of ESPNNewYork.com.

Dolphins’ Internal Strife Continues

September 28th, 2014 at 8:38am CST by Rory Parks

Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin was at the source of some mild team controversy earlier this week, when he was asked about the job security of starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill but gave an ambivalent response. Philbin later expressed regret that his noncommittal approach to the question created a distraction for the club, which has fallen to 1-2 after a promising opening week win against the Patriots.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, however, a deeper and more troubling internal struggle may be brewing in Miami. La Canfora writes that Dolphins players have expressed concerns with Philbin and his coordinators, and the relationship between Philbin and team executive Dawn Aponte has become frayed. Aponte hired former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum as a team consultant, but since Tannenbaum’s primary job is as an agent representing coaches–like Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who will likely be on the list of top head coaching candidates after the season–it is fair to wonder how much longer Philbin will be roaming the Dolphins’ sidelines.

La Canfora adds that owner Stephen Ross has not, as he promised after the Richie Incognito/Jonathan Martin debacle, taken a more active role in the guidance of his team, but he is said to be covertly trying to lay the foundation to trade for current 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. Between those rumors and Philbin’s apparent wish to play backup signal-caller Matt Moore–which has displeased the front office, who have committed to Tannehill–the Dolphins may soon be in for a second front office overhaul in as many years.

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