There have been whispers about Tony Sparano’s job security in Miami. With all due respect…doesn’t that seem insane? This is the same Tony Sparano who took over a 1-15 club and immediately went 11-5 en route to a division title in 2008.
Yes, Sparano’s Dolphins are just 7-7. And thanks in part to a rash of injuries, they finished 7-9 a year ago. But, given the somewhat surprising inconsistency of quarterback Chad Henne, you could argu
e that the Dolphins have 7-7 type talent. They certainly don’t have the resources of the Patriots or Jets. However, owner Stephen Ross has not publicly endorsed his head coach, leading many in South Florida to believe that Sparano could be headed out. Ross has put a great deal of focus on bringing star power to the organization – we’ve all seen the celebrity minority owners of the Dolphins walking down the orange carpet lined by paparazzi before primetime home games. Perhaps Ross thinks he can get a headline-grabbing head coach like Jon Gruden or, more likely, Bill Cowher.
Sparano isn’t the only name being whispered about in Miami. With the Dolphins ranking 22nd in total offense this season, many believe that offensive coordinator Dan Henning’s time has passed. Henning, a longtime Bill Parcells confidant, joined the Fins as part of the Big Tuna regime change three years ago (Sparano, of course, was part of that regime change, as well).
There will be no need to fire Henning, however; multiple sources have said the 68-year-old plans to retire after the season. (To Dolphins brass, this must be like finding out that the girlfriend you haven’t had the guts to dump is taking a new job two time zones away.)
This, according to Jeff Darlington of the Miami Herald, is why Sparano has had no problem saying things like, “I think that Dan Henning for Tony Sparano has been tremendous, and I think that the guy has done a wonderful job here in my time here. I look at the entire body of work.''
Keep in mind, it’s entirely possible that Sparano’s praise for Henning is genuine. Henning is the same guy who coordinated a Dolphins offense that, though short in playmakers, managed to finish 12th in total yards in 2008. Everyone lauded him for his making due with the innovative wildcat two years ago.
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