When the Miami Dolphins released wide receiver Chad Johnson, some of the Dolphins veterans, led by linebacker Karlos Dansby, were upset with the team's decision. They voiced their displeasure to the media, and it resonated with the fans and within the organization. Clearly, something had to change within the organization.
Running back Reggie Bush approached head coach Joe Philbin during practice right after Johnson' release, asking for a chance to sit down with him, along with Dansby and "Big Jake," Jake Long. With that request and the subsequent meeting all caught on film for HBO's Hard Knocks, the fans and the media all got to watch as Bush, Dansby, Long, and Philbin discussed the idea of a leadership council, a way for the leaders among the players to meet with Philbin, both for information to Philbin from the players, and for Philbin to tell the players what he is seeing.
As Long put it, "The last couple of years, we haven't been good enough as players holding players accountable. We started getting better last year near the end of the year, but we need to establish that."
The four men agreed that they would keep the council informal throughout the preseason, with those three player the representatives and meeting with Philbin if needed. But, Philbin explained in the show, once the 53-man roster was finalized, they could look to formulate the official coucil.
That 53-man roster was finalized on Saturday (at least as "finalized" as a fluid document can be), so yesterday, when Philbin met with the media, it did not take long for someone to remind the coach about the council.
"We're still kind of formulating that," Philbin responded when asked if the leadership council would continue into the regular season. "If we decide to go with that, we'll probably start it up like next week, in another week or so, but haven't finalized anything in that yet."
Philbin was then asked if the council was likely to happen. "Yeah, I'm giving it consideration. I'm giving it serious consideration."
While it sounds like the coach is no longer fully behind the idea of a leadership council, it could also be a missing piece of the process still. In order for there to be a leadership council, there needs to be leaders. The Dolphins are expected to elect their captains this week, establishing the leadership within the players.
From there, Philbin can easily establish the leadership council if needed.
But, now the coach knows, the media is not going to let him forget about the leadership council. Of course, after tonight's season finale of Hard Knocks, there's no way to know if the council is meeting or not.