Miami Dolphins Coaching Search: The No Mularkey Here Edition

Another day of waiting and not getting a decision as the Miami Dolphins search for their next head coach. However, it was a busy day on the coaching landscape across the league. There were hirings, firings, interviews, and, or course, waiting.

The Dolphins continue to circle in a holding pattern as former Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher weighs his choices. Fisher has been interviewed by both the Dolphins and St. Louis Rams, and is expected to decide between the two teams this week. But, the Dolphins have not been stagnant in their search waiting on Fisher.

On Tuesday, owner Stephen Ross, general manager Jeff Ireland, and "advisor" Carl Peterson met with Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Zimmer spent seven years as the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator from 2000-2007, before a year with the Atlanta Falcons, followed by his move to Cincinnati. During his time in Dallas, the same time that Ireland was with the Cowboys, Zimmer worked as the coordinator through multiple coaching changes, and even switched form his preferred 4-3 defensive scheme to Bill Parcells' 3-4 lineup.

The Dolphins had also lined up an interview with former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey for today. However, Mularkey was hired yesterday by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

And, that wasn't the only hiring to happen around the NFL. In Kansas City, the team officially removed the interim tag from Romeo Crennel's title, making him the team's head coach for 2012. Maybe the most interesting hire in the NFL yesterday - expected to be officially announced today - is the New York Jets hiring former Miami head coach Tony Sparano to be their new offensive coordinator.

With the lessons Sparano learned in Miami as the head coach over four seasons, especially this year when he changed from a conservative, ground and pound coach, into someone realizing he had to loosen the reins in order to succeed, the Jets could have picked up a very decent offensive coordinator.

Meanwhile, there were also firings around the league yesterday, including the Raiders "relieving" Hue Jackson of his head coach responsibilities.

Two possible candidates for the Dolphins' job, should Fisher decide to head to the Rams, both were denying reports yesterday. The first, Oregon's Chip Kelly, and the Dolphins both denied media reports that Miami had contacted Kelly's agent about setting up an interview. Then, in Cincinnati, offensive coordinator Jay Gruden turned down all head coaching jobs, despite interest from several teams. Gruden, the brother of former NFL Coach Jon Gruden, has stated previously that he does not feel he is ready to be an NFL head coach, and seems to be sticking to that mantra.

The Rams set up their first non-Fisher interview of the season, looking at Denver Broncos Dennis Allen. The fact that the Rams suddenly began working on their "Plan B" if the team doesn't land Fisher could signal a lack of confidence in Fisher's decision.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, continue to await word from Fisher, while simultaneously searching for other candidates. No interviews are scheduled for Wednesday with Mularkey heading to Jacksonville but the Dolphins will continue to reach out to candidates. So far, in just nine days since the end of the season, the Dolphins have interviewed Todd Bowles, Dave Toub, and Joe Philbin, to go with Fisher and Zimmer.