Was the Tuna in FULL control while he was here???

[Vaark]

IMO Ireland was Parcell's ceremonial front man, hatchetman and water carrier - a lot like whomever it was who finally accepted the Rams so-called "GM" job who is essentially accountable to Coach Mediocre - the reason that several turned down opportunities to interview.

Ireland is as much a victim of Parcells as anyone. The Tuna came here trying to show he smart he was as a franchise rebuilder by revitalizing a contemporary version of the Wing T formation. However, when the WC sputtered, he took Ross's money, started deflecting and shifting blame and ultimately left everyone including Jeff holding the bag while he slithered out like a thief in the night.

That's not to say Jeff didn't **** up royally in a number of ways and doesn't deserve some (but certainly not all) of the criticism he's attracted as the fall guy. However, IMO it's fair to let this season and last seasons play out before we can fairly judge Ireland.

 

[J Tes]

Wait...I kept hearing how Philbin/Sherman have been in charge by deciding to only offer Flynn so much money and instead decided to draft Tannehill.

Now you are telling me it is Ireland that has full control? WTF...kind of kills a lot of people's philosophy as to who has been in charge of player personnel this entire off season.

What? Who tried to say that Philbin or Sherman were in charge? I'm guessing you misunderstood someone.

If you're implying that Philbin wanted Flynn and Ireland low balled or missed out on Flynn, then you're reaching. If he wanted Flynn, he'd be a Dolphin. You're crazy if you think the GM isn't going to his HC to ask about a player he helped develope.

 

[ChambersWI]

It is noted that they had their differences on a lot of picks. For instance Parcells wanted Long and Jeff wanted Ryan. I have always liked Jeff and this draft just shows others he knows talent and that he isn't holding the team back. Would all of you still go protest now?

actually, Parcells wanted Chris Long because he was coached by his good friend Al Groh (would not have been a bad pick though), and Ireland insisted that Jake should be the pick.

Isn't most of that just hearsay? Again, I would love to pin all of the blame on Parcells, but what percentage of the bad signings were 100% on Bills over the protests of Ireland? Does anyone know? Can anyone ever know?

The only things that I will pin 100% blame on Parcells for are:

- Tony Sparano
- Dan Henning and building around the Wildcat (well documented that this was all Parcells' idea going back to his time at ESPN)
- Pat White (see: Wildcat)
- Being a thieving sack of crap


Let's not whitewash Ireland's record. He was the general manager during the Sparano years, and those were not good years for our football team. He seems to be doing much better on his own, but again, let's let him redeem himself rather than revise history and say he was a great GM for 4 years.

looking back and reading some of the things when we were going to hire Henning, really irritates me now. Tony wanted his mentor Chris Palmer, then he wanted Pete Carmichael Jr (who had coached with in the past). Parcells basically insisted Henning be the guy.

 

[mills]

Hate to say it but we would have been better off without the Tuna.

 

[Spesh]

I had a feeling this subject was going to come up.

I think its safer to say that the cards fell right for Ireland, not that hes some genius personel wizard(especially since we are paying a backup corner $5 mil a year while Wake holds out).

Our method of drafting is completely backwards from some of the more successful teams in the league. We draft for need but temper it with our board. On the completely other side of the spectrum, the Lions draft for talent...period. Other teams fall somewhere in the middle, such as the Ravens who seem to draft completely on talent but will choose the player with higher positional value if the players have the similar rankings on their board.
This was an excellent draft. But alot of those excellent players fell to us for various reasons. Tannehill is raw. If he had more experience there is no way he would have fallen to 8. Many offensive lineman fell in this draft(Reiff to the Lions, DeCastro to the Steelers?!?!) and Martin has some strength issues. Vernon was suspended or he might very well of been a second round pick. Miller has injury concerns.
Now, its to Irelands credit that he pulled the trigger. Other then the Martin pick, Ireland was damn near uncharacteristic in this draft. With his job on the line he did what he was suppose to do: got players with huge upside. Unprecedented in Miami. Thats what a GM is suppose to do, what is best for his team and not necessarily whats best for his job security.

For those enjoying the arm afterglow of a vigorous night with the Miami Dolphins draft and our GM, i do apologize for what i have to say next. Those suggesting that Parcells was holding Ireland back, let me remind you of a fact: it wasn't Parcells who brought and signed Marc Colombo.

 

[p1800]

The Tuna thing still pisses me off. He essentially stole money from the Dolphins Org. and screwed over the fans. There is some justice though, his original plan was to create a football consulting group (unlike anything we see now), however from what I hear nobody will as much as talk to him now.

I can honestly say I've never heard the "original plan" consulting group story. Care to post a link. It sounds like a good read.

 

[ohall]

Isn't most of that just hearsay? Again, I would love to pin all of the blame on Parcells, but what percentage of the bad signings were 100% on Bills over the protests of Ireland? Does anyone know? Can anyone ever know?

The only things that I will pin 100% blame on Parcells for are:

- Tony Sparano
- Dan Henning and building around the Wildcat (well documented that this was all Parcells' idea going back to his time at ESPN)
- Pat White (see: Wildcat)
- Being a thieving sack of crap


Let's not whitewash Ireland's record. He was the general manager during the Sparano years, and those were not good years for our football team. He seems to be doing much better on his own, but again, let's let him redeem himself rather than revise history and say he was a great GM for 4 years.

I think it's fair to say Parcells had final say on all BIG decisions. Like what players to draft, BIG trades and BIG FA signings. Where Ireland made day to day decisions like signing undrafter FA's and the 53rd roster spot.

However IMO Parcells controlled everything down to who cleaned the training facility.

 

[daniel3]

We also ended the free agent gravy train once Parcells left as well. No more Brandon Marshall or Dansby type signings.

 

[finfan54]

Isn't most of that just hearsay? Again, I would love to pin all of the blame on Parcells, but what percentage of the bad signings were 100% on Bills over the protests of Ireland? Does anyone know? Can anyone ever know?

The only things that I will pin 100% blame on Parcells for are:

- Tony Sparano
- Dan Henning and building around the Wildcat (well documented that this was all Parcells' idea going back to his time at ESPN)
- Pat White (see: Wildcat)
- Being a thieving sack of crap


Let's not whitewash Ireland's record. He was the general manager during the Sparano years, and those were not good years for our football team. He seems to be doing much better on his own, but again, let's let him redeem himself rather than revise history and say he was a great GM for 4 years.

This is it right here for me.
Ireland was in control of the draft with Parcells as the final say. So alot of time was spent on debating between players IMO. With Philbin its a collaborative thing where Philbin lets him have final say but Philbin will speak his mind and Ireland works his best to get it for him. I think Ireland has shown Philbin just how much he knows so he leaves him to his expertise. Give and take.

---------- Post added at 06:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:57 PM ----------

We also ended the free agent gravy train once Parcells left as well. No more Brandon Marshall or Dansby type signings.

yep, the only free agents will be rookies or rookies cut.

 

[utahphinsfan]

I'm starting to think it was his way or no way. IMO, he set this organization back several years. I am starting to feel more comfortable with our front office, and think Ross is even getting it a little bit.

Agreed. All had to bow to Tuna's ego and how successful he was in 1987.

All in all, just par for the course under Huizenga's leadership-- the guy made ZERO good moves as owner of the team (aside from hiring Jimmy which wasn't a horrible move at the time, although it certainly wasn't a successful one).

Wayne allowed Jimmy to name Dave as his successor and that is when the descent began.

 

[Irishfinfan1]

Of course Tuna had full control, that is without a doubt. The biggest issues with this are the coaches that were recruited by Parcells couldn't develop talent, essentially given that fact any recruiter is going to struggle. Game management also cost us a few games, all on the coaches. The final issue to me was the philosophy, bigger, faster, stronger just doesn't work anymore and this was what Ireland and all the scouting network were tasked to do.
Ireland obviously had some say in things in the BP era but quite honestly I would give him a clean slate from that era, and just focus on what he has achieved when he is the principle decision maker.

 

[MP-Omnis]

The way it works is that Ireland stands in front of his board with the coaching staff on one shoulder and the scouting staff of the other. Both give suggestions, then Ireland makes the pick.

I imagine the reason we drafted so poorly when Tuna was here was because we only went with guys that Jeff and Bill both agreed on. I'm sure they vetoed eachother a lot, so we wound up with a bunch of linemen every year. Now at least the team has a direction. Philbin helps a lot too. BELIEVE IN THE BINDER.

 

[Lilseb93]

The last two drafts have been solid. This tells me yes.

 

[X-Pacolypse]

Bill Parcells the game passed him by well over a decade ago. I hope that fat sack of crap never makes it to Canton.

 

[dolfan91]

I feel after the last 2 drafts, Ireland has come out of the shadow's of BP. BP was all about Height/Weight; where now it seems, Ireland in taking Martin who is more of a slider/glider and more of an athletic OT in comparison to Long who was a mauler type. In Vernon, who stands 6'2" in height and not 6' 4" or better, would seem to indicate Ireland is drafting under a different formula. BP would not have looked at Cunningham and Matthews were Ireland saw guy's that fit a system. Tannehill would have been dismissed by BP, because he didn't start 30 games, whereas, Ireland saw raw ability and potential. It's nice to see Ireland put his own stamp on this team. Hopefully many of these last 2 draft classes will develop into a solid nucleus moving forward and perhaps take the heat off of Ireland for past mistakes.