Originally Posted by profootballtalk.com

POSTED 11:14 a.m. EST; UPDATED 11:18 a.m. EST, December 31, 2007

TUNA LEANING SPARANO?

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that Dolphins football poobah Bill Parcells has told owner Wayne Huizegna that Parcells wants to hire Cowboys offensive line coach Tony Sparano to be the next coach of the Fins.

Actually, the guy at the top of the Tuna's wish list is Browns coach Romeo Crennel, but there's a growing sense that there's no way that Parcells will be able to pull off the move, given that Crennel is under contract in Cleveland for two more years.

But reports of Parcells' desire to hire Sparano could create problems under the Rooney Rule, which requires at least one minority candidate to be interviewed for each head-coaching vacancy. If word gets out that Sparano is the guy, the Tuna might not be able to persuade any minority candidates to sit for the job.

Complicating matters is that Huizenga didn't follow the spirit of the Rooney Rule in hiring Parcells, and Parcells apparently won't be adhering to the spirit of the Rooney Rule in chasing down Jeff Ireland, his former right-hand man in Dallas, to be the G.M. in Miami.

As to the G.M. position, the current Herald report contains a factoid that supports the rumor (as we heard it on Sunday) that current G.M. Randy Mueller already has been fired. Per the Herald, Mueller was seen driving away from the stadium with two minutes left in the season-ending game -- and he was nowhere to be seen in the locker room after the game ended.

POSTED 1:16 p.m. EST, December 31, 2007

COWBOYS PERMIT TUNA TO INTERVIEW IRELAND

Though some league insiders believed that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would fight, Jones in the end opted not to.

Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reports that the Cowboys have given the Dolphins permission to interview V.P. of college and pro scouting Jeff Ireland.

Per Glazer, Fins football poobah Bill Parcells is expected to offer the G.M. job to Ireland, and Ireland is expected to accept it.

Originally Posted by THEARCHIVES (Post 712594)

I think this may be the year that Jason Taylor finally gets the chance to go to a winning team. The Dolphins are rumored to trade him but I don't think teams will bite at his age. Instead, I see the Dolphins releasing Taylor and signs with the Patriots. Tom Brady and Matt Light will be happy campers.

Originally Posted by PatsFanSince74 (Post 712820)

no surprises there. i think he'll keep cameron around so he has someone else to fire if things don't get any better in the next 12--18 months. if it's all his own people, then he'll have to take all the blame.

Originally Posted by AzPatsFan (Post 712857)

PFS74

That is a very apt observation. The rebuilding of the Dolphins is a many year job. The team is really that bad.

Originally Posted by JoeSixPat (Post 713004)

The mantra to the fans will be its a many year job.

But while I don't consider myself an authority on the needs of the Dolphins, just a cursory view tells me we'd be wise not to write them off so easily next year.

Consider their injuries this year. Some guy named "Brown" at RB will be back next year. He's supposed to be pretty good I hear. And if you don't like him they've got their pick of the 2008 draft and could take McFadden and trade Brown.

They need a QB no doubt. I think there will be a few decent ones on the FA market this season and I expect Parcells to sign or trade for a proven QB as that is the most important ingredient on a team.

Now for WR they're not too bad their either - and with Chad Johnson likely looking for a move, add a good QB and an excellent WR that has the talent of Randy Moss and you're getting some serious attention from around the league.

I don't have a strong opinion on OL in Miami - I think they have some good and not so good players. I'd suspect Parcells will be able to improve their play and bring in some quality middle class guys there.

As far as defense, I suspect they'll try to convince Taylor to return. He holds some cards as he could threaten to retire outright if they refuse to trade him, and his cap hit isn't small either so they might be willing to get something for him rather than nothing - but that drama will play itself out.

Then I assume Zach Thomas is back as well. I again can't speak too knowledgably about the DL and secondary, but I do keep in mind that this Defense is one year removed from being the #4 ranked Defense in the league.

So with the right leadership and a few key personnel moves, I think the Fins have the potential to not only get back to where they were in 2006, but exceed it.

There will be no pressure next year I suspect, which is a perfect perscription to overachieve as well.

Just my $.02 but I think folks need to realize that the team we played last week is not the team we'll be playing next year - and many of the better players already on the team weren't on the field then.