Getty ImagesAfter a dismal performance in the second half of a loss to the Patriots last week, there was talk that the axe might fall on head coach Joe Philbin when the season came to an end.
Things went better for the Dolphins on Sunday when they blocked a Vikings punt for a safety at the end of the fourth quarter to take a 37-35 win in improbable fashion. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross made it a merrier Christmas week in the Philbin household after the game when he said that Philbin would be back as the team’s coach in 2015.
“Here’s a Christmas present. You don’t have to ask me anymore. He has one year left on contract and is coming back,” Ross said, via Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post.
The Dolphins can’t make the playoffs with a win over the Jets next week, but they can finish 9-7 for the first winning season of Philbin’s tenure. It would also make two straight years of improved win totals and Ross appears to believe that Philbin can keep making progress in his fourth year on the job.
How Stephen Ross stole Christmas
As a Phins fan, this couldn’t possibly be more depressing. They beat a 1st year in rebuilding mode Vikings team by 2 points (a safety) and our clueless owner is gonna act like Philbin just pulled out a miracle…
Phins football is a joke.
This guy should have been fired after last year’s bullying scandal, when it was clear he had no clue what was going on.
No Harbaugh for you, Miami
He can thank an absolute garbage call at the end of the first half calling the TE out of bounds when I don’t think he could have been any more clearly in the endzone. Regardless, vikes D made tannehill look like Rodgers. Crazy ending as well, can’t say I’ve ever seen that.
Stephen Ross: “Joe Philbin will return (unless I can lure Jim Harbaugh for 10 million per year)”
Really they have been competitive in the losses. Looking at the talent they started the season with I’d assume they are beating most expectations.
I’m ok with it.
So he’s okay with another 2nd or 3rd place finish?
Thanks to the officials
Word must be on the street that Harbaugh has found a new home…
Thank you from all Patriots fans around the world!!!!!!!
Well, Mia has been getting better, and he didnt say the DC was staying.. just the HC. Even Tho i wish Mia has a new coach, I am Very Happy RT17 doesnt need to learn a new system…
This may be Stephen Ross FIRST smart move as the Dolphins owner to keep RT17 growth going.
But like every other Mia fan I’m very confused as to why Mia didnt throw the deep ball till week 15….this makes me scared about the HC, but maybe now they see it works and took them this long to feed Miller.. really??? Go FINS! all you RT17 Haters… He is the first QB since Dan M. 1998 to throw 4 TD in 1 game… BE HAPPY!
Whew! Thanks, Mr. Ross. I can now pencil The Patriots in for another AFC East title in 2015. Yeah, you’ll beat us in Miami next year, but you’ll still finish around .500 and admiring New England, again. Hee hee……. 🙂
My Phins have the worst owner in sports, and yes worse than Jerry and Snyder.
Tanny needs to go, Philbin too, but Tanny is a start
You need to give new coaches 3 seasons, they need to get their system in, the GM needs to draft players for that system, and it takes time for players to get comfortable in it. I say that, because everyone got all antsy last year with the seed of the Harbaugh schism getting planted.
Philbin has shown improvement along with his QB each year. The Cardinals had a good season and missed the playoffs last year, and are a playoff team this season, I think the Phins can make the leap to post-season next year, especially with a little bit easier schedule they won’t have to play the AFC West and NFC North next year.
Hopefully this means Michigan’s biggest benefactor is pointing JH toward Ann Arbor.
I’m so happy. Now we can just keep getting better. Ain’t no one got time to rebuilt
Can’t say I am overly happy with this news but I don’t blame Ross for making this call. Next year the playoffs or your gone. I think that’s a fair call. No excuses, no new offence to learn, no big upheaval across the board, things should sharpen up all round. If thing don’t go according to plan next time at least a new coach knows he can bring his own people inc a GM in and will be allowed time to get these guys winning.
Tannehill is a boss what are you talking about??? Pats fans don’t forget before philbin and tannehill got here yall used to whoop on us. The refs help you guys?? Haha sore loser how about them not ejecting Floyd for punching our player? Or that bs flag on Jimmy???
Let me preface this with, I believe Harbaugh will either be at UM or Oakland next year and rumor is he doesn’t want to leave the Bay area. Plus to get him would mean compensation to SF. Am I happy that Capt. Clueless is coming back ? Not really
But whats really out there ? Cowher doesn’t want to coach again and Gruden has decided ESPN pays better. There are really no lights out assistant coaches out there and if you go that route.
They have a first year GM who has made some good signings ( Albert / Satele / Delmas ) and some promising draft picks in all rookie first teamer’s Landry and James. With a decent draft class and some free agent moves this team is headed towards the playoffs. Is it perfect no, Coyle needs to be fired and Jordan needs to be moved to LB but with the right choices who know. Plus another year with Lazor and RT could really be something.
Maybe we will improve to 8-7-1 next year.
I feel sick.
Yay! Another year of an uninspiring substitute teacher at the helm! It really is Christmas!
Just Wonderful, I’m sure next year ticket sales will be record braking! I think I’ll go give my self an enema now. Thank you for the greatest X-mas gift of my life Mr. Ross.
So RT17 throws for almost 400 today, his completion % is one of best in the league, and he has to go? This kid is going to be a top ff player because his play is becoming consistent very good, and miller is proving he is legit, and all this behind an injury ravaged oline!
The defense appears to need some help, and Rex Ryan would be perfect!
Another good draft year and this team has the potential to not only to make the play offs, but do damage when they get there.
All you nay-sayers all need to go cheer for TB, Jacksonville or some other team who is going nowhere fast. Phins up!
What ever happened to hiring a General Manager & letting him call the shots?
Replace Coyle with Rex now…. Rex will bring a fire to the defense. And he’s a freak he and his wife will love Miami
Harbaugh is going to coach one more year in SF. Hopefully consistency will be a benefit. My concern about a coaching change would be if that meant losing Lazor and Hickey, who I think have earned a second year. That said, the defense that started out so great didn’t end up that way. I would say bring in Rex, since he’s so familiar with the AFCE. At least he would bring in some attitude.
Can we just sweep the Pats nxt yr? We can go 2-14 but sweep Pats
cafetero1075 says:
My Phins have the worst owner in sports, and yes worse than Jerry and Snyder.
________
If they’re “My Fins” wouldn’t that make you the owner?
In Miami mediocrity is clearly acceptable. This has been a disaster from the get go. He was in over his head from day one. He chose to start a college WR at QB and has stuck by him no matter how lousy he’s been. He’s been one of the worst coaches in the league, has allowed scandals, and is consistently outcoached. I think Rich Kotite would be an upgrade in Miami at this point. If Joe keeps his job after this year no one should be fired!
Has anyone paid attention to the injuries to the Dolphins oline, the loss of Mereno, Clay being hurt most of the year, the LB corp , the CB being hurt pulling guys off the street. They still kept things close in most games, you dont tear things down when you are so close.
Been a Fins fan since 1981. The Ross years may go down as the most painful in Fins history, even worse than when Wanny was HC and GM. Ross is incompetent and seems willing to accept mediocrity at all levels. Pathetic.
There’s one less player in the Harbaugh sweepstakes
The Fins have gradually improved under Philbin and are the best they’ve been in several years.
The problem is if they fire Philbin who do they get ? There aren’t a lot of fresh options for teams that want to change coaching staffs at the moment.
Philbin was saddled with Joni Martin and Philip Wheeler amongst others. Add he was handed a very raw qb, and over these past 3years, growth is noticeable. But only the schizo fan base would advocate blowing things up and starting over. Its why I life at the local faux fan base and their thoughts on Miami football.
Fishy.
As a dolphin fan I think I just threw up a little in my mouth..
Another year of Philbust the librarian #leaderofmen!!!
Sorry, Miami fans… Coach Highway is here to stay!
Yeah, the faux fan base is laughable. Hopefully a strong performance and a win next week, followed by an offseason where the Phins find depth and perhaps starters for the o-line and d-line, find another back who can truly share the carries with Miller, and we will make some noise in the play offs. I know one thing, I am picking Tannehill first in my ff leagues next year! Not so much the defense, though I did like seeing DJ out there making plays.
This is an emotional decision spurred by a close win. Not the way to run your franchise.
The way owners change Head Coaches after 2-3 seasons it’s no wonder their teams stay in the dumpster. In order to build a winning team they must find someone they feel has the attributes to be successful and STAY with them for 5 years. If in that time their record is going in the positive direction, then stick with them. Constantly changing offensive schemes is tough on QB’s and the rest of the players, same thing with defense.
The Dolphins are the first team to be eliminated from the 2015 playoffs.
Ross knows Harbaugh is coming to Michigan. Something the NFL writers refuse to accept.
Translation: I found out Harbaugh was in no way interested in coming to Miami.
Sure, Ross said HE didn’t talk to Harbaugh but you know his people put the feelers out.
It’s not Philbin who needs to go it’s Kevin Coyle.. Bring in Rex Ryan as the D coordinator it would be a huge upgrade..
I wanted Philbin to be fired after this year, however blowing up the team would have been stupid. The team needs stability and like it or not Philbin provides that. Since he is being kept, the phins desperately need some no BS leaders to fire up the roster on game day. We need a Ray Lewis kinda guy. There has been progress but there is no excuse for laying eggs in big games. Get a big receiver or at least a guy that can go up and get the ball. They need a NT for 1st and 2nd down to stop the run and then bring in wake and vernon on 3rd to rush the passer. That’s really all they need but guys will be lost in FL. The GM has done a pretty good job in getting players and deserves another year and wouldn’t get it if Roses wanted a guy like Harbaugh now. One year. If they don’t dominate next year, move on from laid back Joe.
You Miami fans need to get a life. Changing coaches and GMs every year and bringing in so called saviours does not work. Harbaugh is an ahhh not like his brother and really hasnt done much with San Fran – he was handed a championship caliber team and has taken it down 2 notches. Joe is pretty good on the offensive side of the ball despite the Oline harassment issues but he does need some help on the Defensive side. He also a few more offensive weapons (better tight ends) and perhaps another top Olineman. This team needs to learn how to win and they are doing that slowly but surely in a tough division. So instead of looking for saviours look for draft picks.
I like the decision to keep him for one more season, I don’t want to lose Lazor. No problem with Rex as a DC. But he will be a HC somewhere.
RT has been balling the last 8 or 9 games and wouldn’t want him to lose his OC and have to learn another offense AGAIN.
Get BA back and Moreno back next year and add add a few players to the D and It will be a competitive team. Wouldn’t mind seeing 68 come back to the OL to bring some attitude and fire to the line.
If he would of let Philbin go I would of liked to see Rex come in as HC.
Besides it being in his contract (“year left”), Joe Philbin should be a welcome return in 2015-16 for Dolphins fans.
Not just holding it together, but contending most of 2014 after the Bully-gate turmoil, sticking by his QB (Tannehill) when most in jr. media & fandom were panning his play, this gutsy win (8-7) on the road against a not-terrible Minnesota team where Ryan put on quite the show (35-47, 4td) and something short of a wealth of great coaching choices out there, made this a no-brainer for Ross.
Yea just like Jason Garrett had what 5 or 6 8-8 seasons now has a Division championship you can’t keep firing the head coach every 3 years you will never build continuity. Miami lost what 3 games in the last few seconds of each game. Plus it was Ryan’s first year in a new offence with Bill Lazer and a New GM that did a great job…
I’m cool with it actually. Many of the pieces are in place. Philbin is learning, and many of his “errors” we’re correct calls undermined by player execution. And the players are getting better too. Team has talent, needs a little more. Another year is cool with me.
Kevin Coyle has been very underwhelming as DC. If they keep changing assistants, maybe they’ll finally get it right. However, I can say the meandering GM search that landed on the so called underwhelming hire of Dennis Hickey seems to have turned out to be the best move they’ve had in many years. Just about every pick he made is contributing this year, so other teams remember that sometimes it’s not always the sexy name with all the media friends touting them who’s the right hire.
I am good with the decision. After a couple of the losses this year I wanted him to go but after a little time to cool off and giving it some thought I think it is the right choice. Tannehill is responding this year and who know what would happen if he had to learn another system. Philbin is also learning as he goes and just the way the team responded for him today shows the team hasn’t given up on him. I still would like to see some changes on defense though. Coyle just seems to give up points too easily to the 2 minute offenses. And the tackling has been atrocious. Maybe they can shed some salaries this year and rebuild the LB corp around Jenkins and Jordan. It will be an interesting off season though as they have some decisions to make to get some cap space. Maybe Rex can come coach the defense.
wonder who the #1 pick in 2016 will be? Fins may be in contention
Seriously, though…its not Philbin that needs to go, its Ross
Keeping Philben is the smart move. Making the announcement early was another smart. Philben, Ross, and Tannehill are all getting better.
Stephen Ross AKA “THE GRINCH!” It’s supposed to be Christmas, yet I think we all feel crucified here!
Lets see how many seasons in a row Miami can go 8-8 and lose out on the playoffs after a strong start. If they Dolphins go 9-7 by beating the Jets it will be extra painful.
Oh noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!
Were not getting Harbaugh!!!! I think Dan Marino will be more involved in the teams off season and development of Tannehill. We can not loose Lazor who has made Ryan a better QB and start all over with a new offensive system!!!! I look at the fact we drafted very well in 2014 and no one is going to say other wise!! (Landry, James, D. Williams to name a few.) May be should be asking to replace the DC coordinator and give Philbin one more shot. CJ Spiller and A. Peterson welcome to Miami. Draft a big WR 2015 and fill some voids on the secondary and lets go win the division in 2015 and make the playoffs. I am tired of changes every 2 seasons. Buffalo has no QB of the future nor do the Jets. Tom Brady is aging and we have an up and coming young QB that has brought hope to Miami. Lets give Philbin one more year!!!!!
I love this move because it keeps some consistency in the development of Tannehill. The offense does not need any more changes other than another elite O-Lineman rotations player and everyone to stay healthy… The Defense needs some help in the Middle both Line and Backers add some dept… and maybe an assistant coach to Philbin and we are in good shape…Indeed…
I’m trying not to read into it too much but T-hill said we are playing for pride. We can’t even do THAT right! Hell we have to be the most prideful team in the league by now. Playing for pride, you can stick that in the ol’ eye that stinks but don’t blink. Been a fins fan since I was like 4 or 5 and I’m 36 now. Cheers to mediocrity.
Awesome thoughts! I agree completely!
absolutely!
Interesting stat read today was Tannehill in his 1st three yrs starting has thrown for just under 11,000 yards. Only 5 other guys have ever done that. Payton Manning,Luck,Cam Newton,Marino and Dalton. Brady isn’t even on that list.