Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross yesterday made his "fifth significant hire" since buying the franchise in '09 by naming Mike Tannenbaum VP/Football Operations, according to Omar Kelly of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. In the "structure Ross will put in place as of Feb. 1, when Tannenbaum officially comes on board," the 45-year-old will be the "go-between for Ross and Miami’s football staff." Head coach Joe Philbin will report "directly to Ross, and has full control over his coaching staff, and decides who plays." GM Dennis Hickey, who "hasn’t even been in his position a full year," will report directly to Tannenbaum, but has "full autonomy over the Dolphins’ 53-man roster." Tom Garfinkel will remain in his position as President & CEO, "running the business side." Pro Football HOFer Dan Marino will continue to work with Garfinkel as a "special advisor to Ross." Tannenbaum, who spent 16 seasons ('97-12) in various roles for the Jets, will be "responsible for tying it all together." Tannenbaum's "ties to the Dolphins' top brass run fairly deep," as team BOD Vice Chair Matt Higgins "worked with him" with the Jets. Last year, Ross "had trouble replacing Jeff Ireland because four candidates for the GM vacancy turned down his job offer." Most of those candidates "weren't comfortable with the power structure within the Dolphins organization, and wanted the power to hire and fire the head coach, which Ross wouldn't grant." However, it is "unclear if Tannenbaum now possesses that power," and Ross "wouldn’t specify" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 1/7).
SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED: In Miami, Adam Beasley writes the "surprising news was a significant shake-up to the team’s front office that hasn’t had a traditional hierarchy" since former Exec VP/Football Operations Bill Parcells "left the team" in '10. The hiring of Tannenbaum "left many around the league in shock," but for those closer to the situation, the move was "just the next logical step." Sources said that it "became clear in the last couple of months" that Tannenbaum "wielded influence on matters beyond simply analytics and sports science" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/7). In West Palm Beach, Andrew Abramson notes the hiring of Tannenbaum is essentially a "demotion" for Hickey. He still "will oversee the draft and free agency." However, Tannenbaum yesterday also said that it will be a "group effort." Abramson: "Sounds convoluted? Tannenbaum insists it’s for the best." Tannenbaum: "Everybody’s going to have input, but ultimately who we pick and when we pick, the roster decision will rest with (Hickey).” A source said that "any doubts Ross has about Hickey are not primarily regarding his ability to make personnel decisions but about running the football operation on a day-to-day basis" (PALM BEACH POST, 1/7). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde writes, "The confusing issue isn't so much Tannenbaum, per se. It's his role. It's the flow chart owner Steve Ross has structured for this franchise. It has enough arrows and off-ramps to leave me dizzy." Now there are "three people in charge" in Philbin, Hickey and Tannenbaum. Hyde: "Did Hickey fit more as a super-scout ... than a visionary builder? Maybe. Or maybe Ross just wanted to do something. Who knows?" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 1/7).
TIMING IS EVERYTHING: In Miami, Armando Salguero writes, "I have no issue with the hiring of Mike Tannenbaum on its merits." But the "problem comes in that the Tannenbaum hiring was a misguided measure at exactly the wrong time and manifested in exactly the worst possible way." This season "came after Hickey did solid work against long odds in his first offseason" as GM. Ross "should have either stayed the course or handed the whole package to Tannenbaum and told him to remake it all." But not knowing which was right, Ross only "made a national mockery of the Dolphins at a time all seemed relatively quiet" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/7).
GHOST RIDER: In West Palm Beach, Dave George writes Ross continues to regard Parcells as the "ghost of Super Bowls past, trusting in Parcells disciples, structuring his organization the way Parcells did." Yesterday's promotion of Tannenbaum to a "position of control over the Dolphins’ football operations is just the latest homage" (PALM BEACH POST, 1/7).
