The following are up to the minute updates from the media who are present at Dolphins HQ:
12:00pm
Dolphins TE coach george deleone just walked out of the building with a handful of streetclothes.
30+ people here waiting for #Dolphins media roundtable to begin. 3 seats at the head of the table, presumably for Ross, Ireland and Sparano.
12:06pm
A fourth chair moved to the room. I bet CEO Mike Dee jumps in to correct the stammering of Ross.
Still no sign of the guests of the hour.
12:06pm
A fourth chair moved to the room. I bet CEO Mike Dee jumps in to correct the stammering of Ross.
Still no sign of the guests of the hour.
12:14pm
With media assembled, a cameraman in back of room chirped: "If the door closes and gas starts coming out of that vent, something's wrong."
12:17pm
Here we go. Ross, Ireland, Sparano enter the room
Ross says he's excited about "the future" of the team. 12:31pm
12:35pmJeff_Darlington Jeff Darlington
KLV760 Ken LaVicka
Ross now talking about organizational philosophy. "We're obsessed with winning.".12:37pm
Jeff_Darlington Jeff Darlington
12:17pm
Here we go. Ross, Ireland, Sparano enter the room
Steve Ross is here with Tony Sparano to his right, Ireland to his left. Sparano looks a little tense, maybe even ticked off
Ross says "owning a football team is like owning a utility company ... owe it to the community to make people proud"
CEO Mike Dee is here as well
12:23pm
12:26pm
12:23pm
Ross says he'd now like to clear up what's really going on. He's now going to attempt to "set the record straight."
Ross calls last 5 days "rumors" and "perceived inuendos".
Says he met with Tony at 2:30 pm on Monday ... "7-9 isn't satisfactory to anybody in this room, anybody in South Florida"
Sparano gave Ross "a plan, very exciting plan, but it doesn't ease the pain"
Ross said he talked with Michigan AD David Brandon, asked him his advice on team
Ross: "I've never been thru this process. And "being a michigan guy, I've always been about Harbaugh"
Ross says the word "Harbaugh" for first time, Sparano swallows hard and looks down .
Says Dave Brandon suggested Ross meet with Harbaugh ... Says they met for first time with Harbaugh on sideline before Mondays' OB game
Ross says he hasn't "contacted or spoken with a potential head coach". That includes Cowher and Gruden
Says he had a biz trip scheduled to go to California on Thursday ... "told Jeff, Why don't we stop by and meet with Jim Harbaugh"
calls Harbaugh "an outstanding young man" .. credits Nolan with having "one of the top defenses in the country"
Ross says he never presented offer to Harbaugh. Recommended he go back to Stanford.
Ross said he told Sparano Tuesday he'd have head coaching decision made by Friday
"Always knew Tony was the guy. Something would really have to pop out. ... " called sparano from the plane and "let him know he was my man"
denies "rift" between ireland and sparano ... says TS is "a great head coach ... knows football"
12:33pm
says he's "as disappointed as anybody out there" ... quotes his Super Bowl prediction from June ... "thought we had what it took"
"losing at home makes it more frustrating to the fans, to the owner. this is where you're supposed to put your best foot forward"
Ross: "I know there will be changes this year because there need to be changes. But the players who are back will be totally dedicated."
Ross: "I'm happy to really announce that Tony Sparano is our head coach." He announces the two-year extension. "I am committed to him."
says Sparano-Ireland "form a young, formidable team ... hard working, dedicated"
still haven't heard from tony or jeff. wondering when that might happen ...
Now Ireland is going to talk, reading off his script for now ... speaks of "due diligence to improve this organization"
says he "always felt tony sparano was the right coach" for dolphins
Sparano looks incredibly uncomfortable
12:39pm
Ireland: "There's no doubt in my mind the lines of communication should have be handled differently. I was in a tough spot. Tony as well.
12:39pm
Ireland: "There's no doubt in my mind the lines of communication should have be handled differently. I was in a tough spot. Tony as well.
MikeBerardino Mike Berardino
12:41PM
ireland says team will "be aggressive and committed" ... says new OC will be hired. Henning is out, as we knew
Ross: "Carl Peterson has absolutely had no input on the Miami Dolphins. I couldn't do that. Have not asked him to get involved"
Ross blames agents, writers for misinformation that got out
"If i offered Harbaugh the job at those dollar amounts, he sure signed for a lot less" laughs
12:44pm
Sparano: "from my end, the emotions are from communication and communication process"
Sparano says he's been "fired 4-5 times in this business, not my first rodeo ... thinks communication end probably could have"been handled different" ... TS "We don't place blame. We're trying to solve problems" .."
Sparano: "I had alot of emotions throughout the week. I have the best job in the world, and I don't take it for granted one day."
12:47pm
Ross asked if actions of week were professional. "I shouldn't have been talking to coaches until I decided that I should make a change."
Asked if Harbaugh would have said he wanted the job, would he have gotten it, Ross says, "We never got to that point."
says he didn't offer the job to harbaugh "because i realized we have a great team here"
12:48pm
12:48pm
Sparano said he received 45 to 50 text messages from his players encouraging him throughout the week.
No wonder they didn't televise this thing @AdamSchein Boy - the dolphins are a total embarrassment. Stephen Ross has no clue. None.
"We're going to try to move on (a new offensive coordinator) really fast," Sparano said. He noted he'd still take his time to get right guy.
tony says he wants to "open this thing up, be more explosive" on offense
12:53pm
Ross said Eric Mangini asked to speak to him, not about coaching. Didn't want to "farm on his land".
Sparano continues to reference the breakdown in communication during the last week. Clearly still bothered
12:58pm
12:58pm
Ross' send-off: "I will deliver a winner. That is my commitment"
THE END
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