Defending Steven Ross

[Dave Gray]

I see a lot of people taking a dump on Steven Ross.  ...that's fine.  However, there's one thing that he did that's being called a negative, but I actually think it's a positive: Jim Harbaugh

Ultimately, Harbaugh can only pick one team.  It doesn't automatically mean that any team he didn't pick is a failure.  As an owner, Steven Ross did what you would expect, and excelled, in my opinion.  1) He recognized Harbaugh as a talent worthy of looking at.  2) He interviewed him and decided he was worth pursuing.  3) He made a really good offer to the guy.

So, Harbaugh chose SF, presumably because he has ties to the area.

But, Ross did his job.  I think that's a good thing.  Not a bad one.

[Phishfan]

I agree in his recognition of Harbaugh. I don't think that is the complaint though. The complaint was his approach. It is a bit difficult to conduict a coaching search while you still have a coach.

[suck for luck]

Yes, it was the amatuer hour PR fiasco that had everyone in the country laughing at the organization yet again.

[Brian Fein]

You take any opportunity you can to improve your team.  I don't know why you crap on him for this.  Would you quit your job before you found a new one?  Or do you make sure you have something else lined up before you quit?

You'd have taken a bigger dump on him had he fired Sparano, went after Harbaugh and lost, and then ended up with some random unknown buffoon as the coach.

[Landshark]

You'd have taken a bigger dump on him had he fired Sparano, went after Harbaugh and lost, and then ended up with some random unknown buffoon as the coach.

Some random unknown buffoon would not have had this team start off 0-7 the way they did.  The Cleveland and Denver losses were flat out embarrassing.  Keeping Sparano around last year was staying the course, which was not good enough. 

[MikeO]

I see a lot of people taking a dump on Steven Ross.  ...that's fine.  However, there's one thing that he did that's being called a negative, but I actually think it's a positive: Jim Harbaugh

Ultimately, Harbaugh can only pick one team.  It doesn't automatically mean that any team he didn't pick is a failure.  As an owner, Steven Ross did what you would expect, and excelled, in my opinion.  1) He recognized Harbaugh as a talent worthy of looking at.  2) He interviewed him and decided he was worth pursuing.  3) He made a really good offer to the guy.

So, Harbaugh chose SF, presumably because he has ties to the area.

But, Ross did his job.  I think that's a good thing.  Not a bad one.

I agree with your general overall tone and premise, but two things...

1) You don't interview a head coach when you have a head coach. Total bush league and classless. He had other owners even turn on him with that move, which is why Miami isn't getting a Super Bowl anytime soon. He lost the respect of everyone in the league. Which haunts him to this day. Going after a new head coach and spotting talent and wanting it is fine, just how it played out was a disaster.

2) If Ross lands Fisher, all will be forgotten and forgiven with many people/fans. It will be chalked up to a rookie owner making a god awful mistake last year. But landing Fisher erases the slate for many (and it does for me) and we go from here. Because this will be Ross's first MAJOR hire and no more being handcuffed by Parcells or Sparano or Wayne. Make a big splash with Fisher which would be a solid move. Fail to get Fisher and make a bonehead hire and its just another chapter in the Stephen Ross disaster in Miami.

[Dave Gray]

^ Sure, and that's fine.  But it's like Ross is getting tried for double jeapordy, here.  Fault him for keeping Sparano -- fine, done.  But don't fault him for looking at Harbaugh, while keeping Sparano.  It's like people are pissed off about the same thing twice.

Better to keep Sparano and look at Harbaugh, than to keep Sparano and not look at Harbaugh, in my opinion.

[MikeO]

Better to keep Sparano and look at Harbaugh, than to keep Sparano and not look at Harbaugh, in my opinion.

That's not how this league operates though. You can't do that. He turned off so many other owners, players, and front office people that he has almost zero respect around the league. Which is why his stadium buddy  thing  which was a business that was taking off for a couple years is now a business that is failing, owners don't want to do business with him now. And why Miami isn't even being considered for super bowls anytime soon. Forget getting votes, Miami can't even get UP to be on the vote.

I understand your point, but reality is you can't operate an NFL team that way. Either you have a head coach or you don't. You can't be half-in. It's like being half pregnant, you can't be that.

If he wanted to look at Harbaugh, fine. Just fire Sparano and then do it. He didn't and it has cost him big-time. Which is why he is begging Fisher to come. Fisher is respected by all in the NFL and by hiring someone like that it will in turn in time hopefully fix and change the image of Ross around the league. Ross knows he is getting more than a head coach in Fisher, he is getting good PR and respectability.

[Brian Fein]

Some random unknown buffoon would not have had this team start off 0-7 the way they did. 

Oh this is the most speculative thing I've ever read.  So, I'm sure if YOU were the coach of the Dolphins to begin 2011, they would have won 1 game or more?

Right. 

[Landshark]

Oh this is the most speculative thing I've ever read.  So, I'm sure if YOU were the coach of the Dolphins to begin 2011, they would have won 1 game or more?

Right. 

One thing's for sure, they would not have cramped up on the field the night of the New England game.  I would see that they were conditioned properly, even on the lockout shortened training camp.  Also, fuck the new CBA saying they have to have the entire weekend off on their bye week.  With the way they performed, I'd make them work that weekend and pay the fine.

[Guru-In-Vegas]

^ This guy reminds me of someone...

Dave, awesome perspective.  Really does show fans are an insatiable lot.  On one hand you have the current sentiment that his epic bust of attempting to land Harbaugh was one of the biggest debacles in Dolphins history.  Mightily embarrassing to boot.  However, had he never publicly attempted with similar effort, you'd have the same crazies lighting their torches and sharpening their pitchforks for not trying hard enough to court someone of his caliber.

[CF DolFan]

You can't disrespect your current coach while courting another. If everything was equal that would have pushed Harbough away as I'm sure it did other coaches. When an owner is that unprofessional how do you trust them to have your back?

[Brian Fein]

You don't cut your WR while working out other WR's.  Teams bring new kickers in every year in camp to try to beat out the incumbent.  Why is it any different for the coach?

One thing's for sure, they would not have cramped up on the field the night of the New England game. 

Again, rabid speculation.  You're being ridiculous.  Hate Sparano all you want but you can not honestly tell me that you could pick one random idiot out of the stands who would have done a better job this season.

[CF DolFan]

Apples to oranges but if bad enough, it could create the same issues. Players are constantly competing for their postion while coaches expect some level of support and respect from the owners. If you were to disrespect players publically they wouldn't be lining up to come here either.

[Dave Gray]

You can't disrespect your current coach while courting another. If everything was equal that would have pushed Harbough away as I'm sure it did other coaches. When an owner is that unprofessional how do you trust them to have your back?

I get that that isn't done regularly in the NFL.  But not so much that it's unprofessional.  Jobs interview for positions while people are still on staff.  That happens.  The public nature of the NFL makes it harder to do that privately, is all.

I get the point that if Sparano isn't your guy, to move on first, and then look to hire.  However, Ross didn't want to be left coachless.