Stephen Ross Doubling Down on Dysfunctional Culture?

Steven Ross appears to be installing another system of failure… or maybe not?

Stephen Ross has major decisions to make this offseason

Stephen Ross has big decisions coming up

The rumor about town is Steven Ross will keep Adam Gase and fire Mike Tannenbaum. This is good news, if true… sort of. The reasons why Tannenbaum should go are legion and obvious. There’s little need for us to rehash them.

BUT, this rumor isn’t all peachy-keen, and in fact, it hints that the road of failure may stretch on into 2019.

Ross ready to continue the cycle of dysfunctionality?

Now, this concern has little to do with Gase remaining the head coach or otherwise. The Head Coach is just one piece of a large, complicated puzzle. Obviously, the HC is a key piece, but his success is dependent on the entire system.

Great coaches have been saddled by poor talent acquisition and good talent acquisition has been squandered on poor coaching. So the Head Coach isn’t the end all be all for success. While Gase does have his hand in these last two years of failure, it can’t all be laid on him.

Success in the NFL takes a quality owner, Front Office, and staff working under the right structure.

My gripe with this rumor is that it appears Ross is continuing a shoddy command structure with patchwork repair.

Steven Ross is a New York Dolphins fan who bought the team and doesn’t penny pinch. As a New York Dolphins fan growing up, I appreciate a New Yorker making good and the money he has thrown at the team… BUT, what’s frustrating about Ross is his bad habit of making executive FOOTBALL decisions that he’s not competent enough to make.

Obviously, Steven Ross is beyond competent in many areas of his life. You don’t become a billionaire on a lark. But in the area of football, Ross’ track record proves he’s a far better builder than football mind.

The primary blemish on his ownership of the Miami Dolphins is his tendency to override the football experts he installs… and end up wrong.

Here are some of Ross’ more famous usurping of command

1) Ross & Jeff Ireland tried (and failed) to do a covert courting of Jim Harbaugh while Tony Sparano was still the coach. This was phase 1 of putting the Scarlet Letter on this franchise to prospective employees.

2) When it was time to replace Ireland, Ross told prospective GMs that they had to keep Joe Philbin… this is why we went to the bottom of the barrel for Mike Tannenbaum. The real GMs won’t accept these types of stipulations. This was Phase 2 of the Scarlet Letter. Meddling owners push the best personnel away.

3) New GM Tannenbaum (and friend to Ross) wanted a veteran head coach to replace Philbin. Ross wanted Gase. GM takes a backseat.

4) Gase reportedly wanted to hire veteran Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio. Ross overrode this and told Gase to hire from within. This is why we have Matt Burke

Maybe the saving grace is Dan Marino to the rescue?

I enjoy X’s and Omar and watch it nearly every week. Dave Hyde and Omar Kelly spoke about maybe Dan Marino could be either advising Ross or be the guy to step into the role of Vice President. Pure speculation, but tasty nonetheless.

This could be an ace in the hole to make me swallow my words on Ross… and if it’s true, I would gladly do so with double helpings. I’m not going to bet with the pay per head services like www.AcePerHead.com on this one though.

Dan Marino as the Vice President or at least the consigliere would get me back on the bandwagon for whoever is chosen. Marino has earned that kinda’ trust and more.

Marino with an official Dolphins role would put a smile on my face.

Unfortunately, I think I’ve become a bit jaded because Marino rule sounds too good to be true. All I can see for a Miami future is Chris Grier being promoted and Gase coming back for another ho-hum season. If so, it’s time to lay the responsibility of failure lock, stock, and barrel on the shoulder of Stephen Ross.

Let’s hope this isn’t the case… the sound of Marino in charge makes for such a Happy New Year. Go Phins!!!