Will Dolphins coach Joe Philbin have final say on the club’s 53-player roster?
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, “candidates” for the club’s G.M. role “believed” Philbin would have the call on the roster.
Also, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reported that “several” candidates were informed that Philbin would have a role in personnel.
The Dolphins hired Buccaneers director of player personnel Dennis Hickey as general manager on Sunday, ending a search that lasted a little more than two weeks.
Just before the start of the search, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross seemingly defined the G.M’s role in a public statement. Said Ross: “The new General Manager will have autonomous responsibility for the 53-man roster and selecting players during the draft and will report to me.”
However, Ross also said the following: “Regardless of reporting structure, the relationship between the General Manager and Coach Philbin must be one of trust, respect, and collaboration, and this will be an area we will look closely at during the process. This individual also must be a person with integrity who is open-minded and creative.”
The questions now are whether Ross has amended his expectations for the General Manager’s role — and whether any more clarity is forthcoming.
UPDATE 4:13 p.m. EST: According to Salguero, the Dolphins have indicated Hickey will have control over the 53-player roster and personnel moves.