Tag Archive for: Stephen Ross

Mike McDaniel has received an extension through 2028.

BREAKING: Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel receives extension through 2028

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Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has seen enough from Mike McDaniel, in the best way possible. On Friday morning, the third-year head coach received a contract extension all the way through 2028, per ESPN’s Jeff Darlington. The details of the contract have yet to be revealed.

In the past, Dolphins head coaches receiving extensions were preludes to them being fired. In 2011, Tony Sparano received a 2-year contract extension, only to be fired later that same year when the team underperformed. Similarly, head coach Joe Philbin received an additional year on his contract back in 2015, only to be fired after a 1-3 start to the season.

But unlike his predecessors, Mike McDaniel has led the Miami Dolphins to two straight winning seasons and two consecutive playoff appearances. The only other two coaches in Dolphins history to achieve that were Dave Wannstedt and the legendary Don Shula.

When the Miami Dolphins hired Mike McDaniel, it was after being the only team to even grant him an interview. The reward for that gamble is a top-10 offense in the past two years, and a franchise quarterback that has been rebuilt from the ground up.

During a recent interview with Dan Le Batard on his YouTube channel, Tagovailoa finally opened up about how beat down he had felt when Brian Flores was the head coach. His confidence had been destroyed, his desire to play the game had been all but eliminated. But Mike McDaniel stepped in, and on day one he made sure Tagovailoa knew he was going to get the support he was missing.

The result has been astounding. McDaniel tailored the offense around Tagovailoa’s best traits, and Tagovailoa responded by being one of the statistically best quarterbacks in the NFL the past two years. It also led to the Miami Dolphins deciding to reward Tagovailoa with a massive 4-year, $212.4 million contract extension with $167.1 million guaranteed.

The only thing that Mike McDaniel has yet to do – and it needs to be addressed to silence the doubters – is win a playoff game. Miami has made it to the playoffs the past two years, but they were eliminated immediately both times. The Dolphins are hoping that the team’s health will endure into the late months of the season this time around, rather than having to limp towards the finish line with a decimated roster.

Mike McDaniel’s story is one of growth, innovation, and a very real change of culture and atmosphere. The Miami Dolphins are no longer the league’s pushover or punching bag. They are a real contender, they are a destination spot for free agents seeking a championship, and that is largely due to McDaniel’s influence.

If he continues to evolve as a head coach, then Dolphins fans everywhere can expect to enjoy a very long tenure of success and excitement. The window to victory has never been more open.

Brian Flores is filing a lawsuit against the Dolphins and the entire NFL

Brian Flores files lawsuit against Dolphins, Giants, NFL

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The Miami Dolphins once again find themselves in the middle of a scandal. Late Tuesday afternoon, reports were confirmed that former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is suing the NFL in a federal class-action racial discrimination lawsuit.

Per the lawsuit, owner Stephen Ross is at the center of the issues in Miami. Flores alleges that Ross offered 100k per loss incurred in 2019.  Also, Flores calls Ross out for trying to make him violate league tampering rules to recruit an elite level QB to Miami. That quarterback is – according to reports by the Palm Beach Post’s Joe Schad – Tom Brady. Brady, obviously, went on to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers instead.

Beyond the Dolphins, Flores implicates the Giants and the Broncos. The lawsuit alleges that the New York Giants had already chosen Brian Daboll as their head coach before Flores had the chance to interview for the job. Texts from New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick are cited, congratulating Flores for earning the job when the texts were intended for Daboll.

As for the Broncos, Flores states that then-GM John Elway and President Joe Ellis arrived an hour late to the interview, extremely hungover. This indicated to Brian Flores that the Broncos never took him as a serious candidate before they hired Vic Fangio, who is white.

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Flores was still considered a finalist for the Houston Texans job before filing this lawsuit. In doing so, he may have destroyed any potential he had to coach in the NFL again, as he may be viewed as a pariah now. However, Flores soon issued a statement after the news broke, stating he understands the implications. He is also prepared for any potential consequences.

Flores’s lawsuit could rock the NFL to its very core. This will undoubtedly lead to an investigation and many, many lawyers will be involved given the seriousness of the implication. Reports are coming out that other minority coaching candidates could potentially join Flores in his cause. They can testify their own experiences in interviewing for jobs. Jobs they knew they would not get.

This sort of situation is precisely what the Rooney Rule – which mandates that all NFL teams must interview at least one minority candidate for job openings – was supposed to prevent. However, it seems to have only exacerbated the issue.

Naturally, the accused parties are pushing back against the accusations. The Miami Dolphins issued a statement refuting Flores’s claims against them.

The New York Giants and the NFL as a whole sent out similar statements.

From a broader standpoint, the entire NFL will have its hands full for the foreseeable future. Many have accused the NFL for not seriously considering minority candidates for decades. Now, this lawsuit will put the league under an uncomfortable microscope.

This situation will be watched carefully over the coming weeks.  It is yet to be determined how potential coaches or even players will respond to this scandal.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

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Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores has been fired

BREAKING: Miami Dolphins fire coach Brian Flores

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In a stunning turn of events, the Miami Dolphins fired head coach Brian Flores one day after the franchise secured back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2002-2003. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports speculated that Flores could be on the hot seat after failing to make the playoffs. He also stated that the franchise would be very short-sighted to do so.

Now, they have done so.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, the firing has nothing to do with the recent availability of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. In fact, Darlington claims the Dolphins aren’t even looking at Harbaugh to be Flores’s replacement. Instead, the firing has much more to do with the fact that Flores’s relationship with owner Stephen Ross and GM Chris Grier rapidly deteriorated over the course of the season.

Reports did periodically arise from various sources that Flores was difficult to work with. He has a tendency to come across as the smartest guy in the room, and that attitude sometimes grated on people. Also, reports indicate Flores was fired after refusing to comply with a request to make changes to his coaching staff.

On the other hand, Flores knew how to motivate his players. After going on a 7-game losing streak, he managed to turn the team around and put them on a 7-game winning streak. Unfortunately, he couldn’t lead them over the must-win game against the Tennessee Titans. That knocked them out of the playoffs.

Darlington also reports that the relationship between Tua Tagovailoa and Brian Flores had deteriorated. It got so bad, they did not speak to each other. It was obvious that Flores did not trust Tagovailoa. So, essentially, the decision to fire Flores is an implied commitment to Tagovailoa.

Brian Flores went 24-25 as Miami’s head coach, and he will likely be a very strong candidate for one of the other openings around the league. If he doesn’t become a head coach, he will definitely be a defensive coordinator. Now, the Dolphins will spend the beginning of this offseason looking for someone to fill that void.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

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Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at everythingtradeshows.com or call 954-791-8882