SOURCE: Sparano offered and accepts head coaching job (updated)

by Matty I on Jan 6, 2008 2:33 AM EST in News Comment 9 comments

**UPDATE**: ESPN's Chris Mortensen now reports that . Mortsensen says that, besides being against the Rooney Rule, something like this is againt league rules because an offer like this can't be made until the candidate's season is over.

Mortensen also said this report could be a trick by the Dolphins to scare off the Ravens from going hard after Sparano. Hmmm...

Meanwhile, the Palm Beach Post reports that a serious darkhorse candidate in this search is former Ravens DC Rex Ryan. This is according to an "NFL source" that spoke with the Post.

And the plot thickens...[end update]

According to the New Haven Register, Tony Sparano has been offered the Dolphins' head coaching job and will accept the offer at the conclusion of the Cowboys' season. The New Haven Register cites an unnamed source. Here's part of the article:

New Haven native Tony Sparano has been offered the head coaching position by the Miami Dolphins and will accept it at the conclusion of the Dallas Cowboys' season, according to a source.

The 46-year-old Sparano, who graduated from Lee High and the University of New Haven, is the assistant head coach for the Cowboys.

He was hired at Dallas in 2003 by Bill Parcells, who promoted Sparano to assistant head coach. He was the offensive line coach, running game coordinator and play caller in 2006.

Parcells was hired as the Dolphins executive vice president of football operations Dec. 20. He has already hired Jeff Ireland from the Cowboys to become Miami's general manager.

The Dolphins were 1-15 this season under first-year coach Cam Cameron, who was fired on Thursday.

Sparano also interviewed Saturday with the Baltimore Ravens and interviewed Friday with the Atlanta Falcons.

Of course, Dolphins' spokesman Harvey Greene denied the report, claiming that it is "100 percent false. In fact, we have a number of interviews scheduled in the next few days." But we really shouldn't be too shocked that the Dolphins are denying this report. The Dolphins have only interviewed Sparano and nobody else. They are scheduled to meet with Vikings' defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier on Monday. And until they do, the Dolphins are not complying with the Rooney Rule. Therefore, don't expect any official statement from Dolphin officials at least until next week.

Some may also wonder why a New Haven, CT paper would report this before any other news outlet, like a south Florida paper. But Sparano has ties to the New Haven area. He grew up in the area, went to the University of New Haven, and even coached there as both an assistant coach and as head coach. So it's very likely this "source" is a close friend or family member who tipped off the writer of the article, Dave Solomon.

So, again, we'll take the wait and see approach. But if this report is accurate, I'm sure it wouldn't surprise anyone.

By the way, a hat tip to "W NY Fins Fan" for posting the SI.com article in the diaries section to alert me of this NH Register report.

0 recs | Comment 9 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

It's well known

knowledge that the Fins are gonna hire Sprano. I think this article is just trying to be the 1st to break some kind of story. Just my opinon though.

by Neo on Jan 6, 2008 2:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Most likely going to happen eventually...

but let's pause a second. I know this is a different situation, but solid reports out Pittsburgh last year had Wisenhunt offered and accepting the Steelers job, and then Tomlin came out of nowhere. So a wait and see approach is the best at this point.

Like I said, it may very well wind up happening- but stranger things have happened as we all know.

The Jayfiss Report ...one fan's rants.

by NumberSeven on Jan 6, 2008 11:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I want Jack Del Rio

I heard he can opt out after this year.

It will NEVER happen though.

by Neo on Jan 6, 2008 11:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Rules Shmules?

this is againt league rules because an offer like this can't be made until the candidate's season is over.

Charlie Casserley on FOX just now said that although this is against league rules, it happens all the time.

by urbino on Jan 6, 2008 4:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Oops.

CBS. Not FOX. (James Brown's move still throws me now and then.)

by urbino on Jan 6, 2008 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Forest Gump and Glenn Dorsey

We should select Glenn Dorsey and here's why:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-0105dolphins,0,6302224.story

Excellent character, check.
Dominating at his position, check.
Plays hurt, check.

Dorsey will provide room for JT and Porter to attack the QB through teams constantly having to double team him. He will cause immediate improvement to our run defense.

by gophish on Jan 6, 2008 4:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Tuna always said

the draft is like a box of chocolates, you never really know what ya gonna get.

by Neo on Jan 6, 2008 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ya know

It might be the buddy system, but I like having these kind of buddies. We all know what Parcells brings to the table, and all I have heard was praises being sung about Ireland and Sparano. I haven't heard anything from anyone reporting in any negative way that the guys aren't capable of doing their jobs, and doing it well. They might be rookies, and by no means does all these articles mean that they WILL do well, but all things considered, it looks like there is a very promising foundation being put in place. A foundation that hasn't look so promising in years.

-- Interesting note, PFT is reporting that Crennel's agent is trying to cash in and force the Browns hand to give him a 3 years extension (striking while the iron is hot). Of course the Browns don't have to do anything with his contract, but Crennel, I think, is in a state of mind of, give me a extension, or I wouldn't mind going to Miami.--

by Neo on Jan 6, 2008 7:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

O boy, this is getting out of hand

PFT reports:

SPARANO LINING UP HIS STAFF?

As Fins football poobah Bill Parcells insists that he hasn't offered the team's vacant head-coaching position to Cowboys assistant Tony Sparano, given that to do so before the Cowboys' season ends would be a clear violation of league rules, we've gotten an anonymous tip indicating that Sparano might already be lining up his staff in Miami.

Though we're not reporting this as hard news, we've been advised to keep a close eye on a man named David Lee.

Lee is slated to be the next offensive coordinator at Mississippi under Houston Nutt. Lee served as offensive coordinator in 2007 under Nutt in Arkansas.

And Lee spent the prior four years working with Sparano and Parcells in Dallas.

There's a rumor that Lee has told Nutt that he won't be coming to Mississippi, and that Lee instead will be on Sparano's staff in Miami. As the rumor goes, Nutt already is looking for another offensive coordinator.

We'll let the "real" media do the rest on this -- with full knowledge that they'll take full credit for the scoop if they can corroborate our rumor, and that some of them will gripe about the fact that they've been assigned the task of chasing a story that showed up as a mere rumor on some Internet hack's blog.

Regardless, we suspect that Nutt will be getting a few calls tomorrow. He might even get a few tonight.

by Neo on Jan 6, 2008 7:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs