Miami Dolphins Add George Edwards To Coaching Staff As Linebackers Coach

New Miami Dolphins' Head Coach Joe Philbin continues to fill out his coaching staff in South Florida. The club announced on Monday night that the Dolphins had hired George Edwards to be the team's new linebackers coach. Edwards served as the defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills for the past two years, before he was fired and replaced by Dave Wannstedt earlier this month. Before joining the Bills, Edwards had served as the linebackers coach in Miami for five years.

In addition to Edwards, the Dolphins also announced that Zac Taylor was hired as assistant quarterbacks coach. Taylor had been a graduate assistant and tight ends coach at Texas A&M under new offensive coordinator Mike Sherman. Along with Edwards and Taylor, the Dolphins also announced that they would retain tight ends coach Dan Campbell, strength coach Darren Krein, and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi.

For more on the Miami Dolphins coaching staff, stay tuned to this StoryStream and please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Miami Dolphins Hire Coordinators Mike Sherman And Kevin Coyle

As expected, the Miami Dolphins hired new offensive and defensive coordinators on Friday as new head coach Joe Philbin continues to fill out his staff. Mike Sherman was named the offensive coordinator and Kevin Coyle was hired as defensive coordinator.

Both have a long history of coaching in the NFL with established connections to Philbin. Sherman is from the same West Coast tree as Philbin, and was a head coach in Green Bay from 2000 to 2005. He first hired Philbin in 2003, and with the Browns adding Brad Childress as their offensive coordinator, it freed up the spot natural landing spot for Sherman in Miami.

Coyle joins the team after serving as the defensive backs coach in Cincinnati, and has known Philbin for many years. He's done a solid job coaching up young corners such as Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph. Todd Bowles, who served as interim coach, will depart with the hiring of Coyle

Through the team, Philbin issued the following statement about the two new coordinators:

"I'm excited that Mike Sherman and Kevin Coyle have decided to accept the positions of Offensive and Defensive Coordinator of the Miami Dolphins, respectively," Philbin said. "They are exactly what I am looking for in terms of leadership, character, and teaching ability. They are both very passionate about the game of football and the players they coach, and that enthusiasm is evident in the meeting rooms and on the field. They are excellent family men and I'm thrilled they are joining the Dolphins' football family. I can't wait to get started to work with them."

For more on the Miami Dolphins coaching staff, stay tuned to this StoryStream and please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Dolphins Coaching Update: Joe Philbin Starts To Assemble Staff

Joe Philbin will be the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins, and while the team is busy scouting players at the Senior Bowl, Philbin has began building his staff; according to Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel. He speculates that Philbin could be interested in bringing Mike Sherman, his former boss, on as an offensive coordinator after Sherman was let go by Texas A&M this year. Here are some comments Philbin had to say about his new job.

"The real thing that intrigued me about these guys is they kept playing hard after an 0-7 start. That was as much of a draw as any one particular individual, or any one side of the ball," Philbin said. "I was impressed the guys stuck together. They must have good characters in the locker room. If you don't have character when you're 0-7 it can spiral out of control, and obviously that didn't happen."

For more on the Miami Dolphins coaching search, stay tuned to this story stream and please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Dolphins Coaching Search: Miami Set To Hire Joe Philbin, According To Report

It appears the Dolphins have found their man.

FOX Sports Jay Glazer tweeted Friday evening that Miami has chosen Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin as its new head coach and that a total, presumably money, has been agreed upon by the parties involved.

Philbin has been at the helm of Green Bay's offense since 2007 and has coached with the organization in some capacity since 2003. The 50-year old Springfield, Mass. native has made a number of other stops in his coaching career, including stints at Ohio, Northeaster, Harvard and Iowa in the college ranks.

Philbin's offense led the NFL in points, total yardage and passing yardage and quarterback Aaron Rodgers ranked among the League's elite, finishing with 4,643 yards, 45 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 122.5 passer rating. Philbin has worked with Rodgers every year that he's been the starter in Green Bay.

Philbin will leave the Midwest with a heavy heart, however, as the body of his son, Michael, was found dead in a Wisconsin river earlier this month.

For more on the Miami Dolphins coaching search, stay tuned to this story stream and please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Miami Dolphins To Make Head Coach Decision Friday; Down To Two Candidates

The Miami Dolphins have been mired in their coaching search for weeks now, but the end is finally nigh. According to the Miami Herald, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has personally interviewed the remaining top candidates, and he is flying down to Miami this morning to make the final announcement. He is expected to land in Miami around 11 AM, although it's unclear if he will have his new head coach with him or not.

After missing out on Jeff Fisher, the Dolphins turned their attention to three other main candidates: Mike McCoy, Joe Philbin, and Todd Bowles. McCoy has considered himself the front-runner recently, and reports began to surface last night that Todd Bowles had been eliminated as an option. This suggests that the final decision comes down the McCoy or Philbin, with the edge being given to McCoy.

Dolphins fans seem to prefer Philbin over McCoy, as he has a long track record of success running the Green Bay Packers' offense. McCoy has done well during his tenure as the offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, but as the Dolphins blog The Phinsider points out:

McCoy wasn't a very popular candidate with Dolphin fans and some may not have known who he was when he was first mentioned. His offense wasn't very impressive under Kyle Orton or Tim Tebow and he never did get much from Matt Moore during their time in Carolina. However, he's a well respected coach that gets John Fox's endorsement and he deserves credit for adapting Denver''s offense to Tebow.

So who will it be? Stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay via Twitter or Facebook to hear the latest breaking news.

Dolphins Coaching Search: Mike McCoy Believes Himself To Be Favorite, According To Report

The Miami Dolphins continue their search for a head coach, but one of the candidates already believes he's in the lead: Mike McCoy, the Denver Broncos' offensive coordinator, is so confident he'll land the Miami job that he canceled his interview with the Oakland Raiders, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, citing a source.

The Dolphins are still considering two other candidates. Todd Bowles, who served as interim head coach after Miami dismissed Tony Sparano, is in the running. So is Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin. Salguero says those two have drawn interest from other teams, but neither has removed his name from consideration for the Dolphins job.

Under McCoy, the Broncos led the NFL in rushing attempts and yards, and ranked No. 6 in yards per carry. Despite the success in the running game, Denver ranked No. 23 in yards and No. 25 in points due to a severe deficiency in the passing game.

For more on the Dolphins, please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Dolphins Coaching Search: Miami Loses Mike Nolan To Falcons

When a new head coach comes on board, it is not uncommon to have to makeover the entire coaching staff. The Dolphins are looking for that new coach, and it seems like that new coach will have some work to do in putting the staff back together. According to Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel, Mike Nolan has left the Dolphins coaching staff to accept a position with the Falcons.

The two-year deal Nolan signed in 2009 is over, and the head coach that hired him, Tony Sparano, is gone. And so is Nolan, whom sources say has accepted the Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator position, reuniting with head coach Mike Smith, whom he worked with in Baltimore. Returning the Dolphins, if he had a good rapport with whoever is hired, was an option. But reuniting with an old colleague was preferred.

Nolan helped organize a potent defense this year in Miami, and it will be difficult to replace his presence.

For more on the Miami Dolphins coaching search, please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Mike McCoy, Joe Philbin Get Second Interviews With Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have bringing in a slew of candidates since they lost out on the Jeff Fisher sweepstakes to the St. Louis Rams. Recently, the Dolphins interviewed Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, as well as Dolphins assistant Todd Bowles. All three are being brought back to hold a second interview with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.

In addition to Broncos OC Mike McCoy, Miami asst. Todd Bowles and Packers OC Joe Philbin being brought in for 2nd interviews w/ Stephen Ross

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 17, 2012

Outside of Jeff Fisher, a "favorite" candidate for the Dolphins hasn't emerged. McCoy has drawn interest from another Florida team in the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the Jaguars wound up hiring Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, who was also a candidate for the Dolphins.

For more on the Miami Dolphins coaching search, please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Dolphins Coaching Search: Pete Carmichael Will Be Brought In For An Interview

It seems like the Miami Dolphins have focused their search for a new head coach on someone who has experience on the offensive side of the ball. That includes, according to our Phinsider blog, Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. Carmichael has been approached about a move to the Dolphins before, but never in a head coaching capacity. It will be interesting to see if that new title and the promise of a bigger salary will be enough to convince him to move on to the Dolphins.

The Dolphins are expected to interview Carmichael sometime this week. He and his family are happy in New Orleans, so it may take a good showing from Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and general manager Jeff Ireland to convince him to come to Miami. Or, it may take Ross' deep pockets.

Carmichael has a pretty good history as an offensive coordinator, but it remains to be seen how he will do with an offense that isn't led by Drew Brees. But if the Dolphins are trying to get a young up and coming coach in to fill their head coaching spot, they could do a lot worse.

For more on the Dolphins, please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Dolphins Coaching Search: Miami Planning To Interview Mike McCoy

As more teams get bumped from the Playoffs, their coaches become available for poaching by other teams. That means that the field of coaches that the Dolphins have been interviewing will likely grow by leaps and bounds over the coming days and weeks. One of those coaches, according to the Phinsider, is Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.

As was reported yesterday, the Dolphins are also looking to interview Mike McCoy, the Denver Broncos' offensive coordinator who, like Carmichael, was bounced from the playoffs yesterday. However, with the miserable showing the Broncos had in their 45-10 loss to the New England Patriots, question about the Dolphins' continued desire to meet with McCoy are sure to be raised.

McCoy might not seem like the most fantastic candidate out there, but you have to remember that he had to form an offense around Tim Tebow, and considering those limitations, he did a terrific job.

For more on the Dolphins, please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Stephen Ross' Loyalty To Jeff Ireland: Stroke Of Genius Or Serious Error Of Judgment?

Owner Stephen Ross refused to restructure the Dolphins organization to accommodate Jeff Fisher. Was it worth it?

Jeff Fisher Hired As St. Louis Rams Coach, Spurns Miami Dolphins, According To Report

The Miami Dolphins' coaching search will have to continue, as top choice Jeff Fisher has chosen the St. Louis Rams over Miami, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Fisher, who took a year away from coaching in 2011, last coached the Tennessee Titans during the 2010 season, his 17th with the franchise dating back to its days as the Houston Oilers. He owns a career record of 142-120 and guided the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV, where they fell to the Rams.

While the Dolphins awaited Fisher's decision, the team also interviewed other candidates, whom they'll no doubt revisit: Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, Chicago Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub, and Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. The team could also retain Todd Bowles, under whom Miami went 2-1 following its dismissal of Tony Sparano.

For more on the Dolphins, please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Dolphins Coaching Search: Issues Surrounding Jeff Fisher's Negotiations

Jeff Fisher is still unemployed, which is a pretty big surprise considering the high level or reported interest by several teams including the Miami Dolphins. The negotiations are taking a lot longer than anyone would want, and it is because of the price of Fisher's potential coaching staff, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.

These negotiations intrigue me in that they are not necessarily about money going to Fisher. They are about money to hire a coaching staff, which is important because Fisher is reportedly constructing an experienced and expensive one. (He has invested quite some time the past couple of days compiling a staff.)

Fisher is going to want to bring a lot of his own guys in, and that plus the cost of buying out whichever coaches he chooses to replace could be a pretty big expense for the team that takes him on.

For more on the Dolphins, please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Dolphins Coaching Search: Jeff Fisher Still Deciding Between Dolphins, Rams

The Miami Dolphins have their sights set on Jeff Fisher as their next coach, but they aren't the only ones. The St. Louis Rams want Fisher as well, and a decision about which team he will join is taking longer than the fanbases of either team would either want or expect. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, we'll still have to wait on a decision. but he does point something out that is interesting regarding what this time means.

It is interesting this has not happened yet because it shows that neither organization -- neither the Dolphins nor Rams -- is a slam-dunk in Fisher's mind. Both have positives aspects. Both have negative aspects.

The Rams were a putrid team this past year, so it might be hard for Dolphins fans to lump themselves in with that category, but based on how long it is taking Fisher to make his decision, that may be the case.

For more on the Dolphins, please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Miami Dolphins Coaching Update: New York Jets Hire Tony Sparano

While Miami Dolphins fans wait to learn whom their team will hire as its next head coach, they at least know the man he'll replace has found a new job. As Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports, the AFC East rival New York Jets have hired Tony Sparano as their offensive coordinator just weeks after Miami dismissed him as head coach.

Sparano, who went 29-32 in his two-plus seasons with Miami, replaces Brian Schottenheimer. Shandel Richardson of the South Florida Sun Sentinel notes the strangeness of New York's hiring of Sparano. "Schottenheimer was canned because of the Jets’ offensive struggles," says Richardson. "That’s interesting considering Sparano was under fire for the same thing in Miami. The Dolphins were atrocious at times on offense this season, especially in red-zone situations." The Dolphins scored touchdowns on just 47.14 percent of their possessions inside their opponents' 20-yard-line, the ninth-worst figure in the NFL.

For more on the Dolphins, please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Miami Dolphins Coaching Search: 'It Appears' Jeff Fisher Headed To Miami Dolphins, According To Report

Jeff Fisher is expected to decide which team he'll coach in the 2012 NFL season soon, having narrowed his choices to the Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams, who each have him as their top choice. But as Michael Lombardi of NFL.com reports, citing sources, Fisher will most likely choose the Dolphins. "Fisher could make a decision as early as Wednesday," says Lombardi.

Fisher compiled a 142-120 record in 17 seasons with the Tennessee Titans franchise dating back to its days as the Houston Oilers. Following a 6-10 showing in 2010, Fisher and the Titans mutually agreed to part ways, making him a free agent.

Miami dismissed coach Tony Sparano with just three games remaining in the 2011 season and turned the team over to Todd Bowles on an interim basis. After an 0-7 start, Miami won six of its final nine games and went 2-1 under Bowles, showing promise that its future could be bright.

According to Lombardi, the other candidates the Dolphins have interviewed while waiting on Fisher are Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, Chicago Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub, and Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Bowles is also under consideration.

For more on the Dolphins, please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Dolphins Coaching Search: Jeff Fisher To Make Decision Today?

The Miami Dolphins are right in the thick of a heated coaching search, and their prized target just happens to be the focus of the search of other teams as well. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Fisher could be trimming his list of potential suitors today, which means he is very close to making a decision.

I am reporting that, according to one source that thus far has been spot on, the coach is finalizing his choice of teams today. Following that decision, I am supposing here, Fisher will tell his agent which direction he's going and negotiations will get going on a contract and various other details. I do not know what Fisher's decision will be. But it's obvious that whatever he decides will define the direction of both the Dolphins and Rams for years to come.

Jeff Fisher took his last visit to the Rams, and there is always a good chance that you take the job at the last place you visited. But the Dolphins can still hold out hope that Fisher prefers the good weather of Miami.

For more on this search and all things relating to Dolphins football, head over to the Phinsider.

Dolphins Coaching Search: Mike Zimmer To Interview Tuesday

The Miami Dolphins had a top ten defense this year in terms of total points allowed, and yet, they are still interested in bringing in a coach who will be focused on that side of the ball. One of those candidates is Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, and according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Zimmer will interview with the team on Tuesday. He has been in line for a job for a long time, and he almost started to lose hope.

"It's still alive, but sometimes you get frustrated over the course of time,'' Zimmer told Sports Illustrated recently. ""I go back and think about what they said about Tony Dungy and guys like that. You kind of wonder sometimes, like what else can I do? What does it take? You wonder why some guys get interviewed or get a job over you, but you just end up going with it, and still keep hoping for that opportunity to run your own team.

Zimmer gets a ton of respect around the league, and he would be a solid hire for the Dolphins. He is a big enough name to generate some buzz, but he wouldn't be some re-tread of a different teams' former coach.

For more on this search and all things relating to Dolphins football, head over to the Phinsider.

Dolphins Coaching Search: Jeff Fisher A Long Shot, According To Report

Reports emerged towards the end of last week that said Jeff Fisher preferred the Dolphins to some of the other available coaching opportunities, but in the time since then, he has become very cozy with the St. Louis Rams, and it appears as though he may be leaning toward that job. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, even those within the Dolphins organization are considering Fisher a long shot at this point.

Now, I grant you, it looks grim for the Dolphins and even they recognize that. Even one of the men I communicated with said he expects Fisher to go to the Rams, although he'd love for him to come to Miami.

According to a different article by Salguero, Fisher spent a lot of time with the Rams at their facility this weekend, and now appears to be spending some time with his family, likely mulling over the potential candidates.

Jeff Fisher spent four hours at the St. Louis Rams facility today before leaving for the airport where he boarded a flight on Southwest Airlines, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

For more on this search and all things relating to Dolphins football, head over to the Phinsider.

Dolphins Request Permission To Interview Mike Mularkey, According To Report

Like every other NFL team in the state of Florida, the Miami Dolphins are in the search for a new head coach. Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is now a target for the Dolphins, according to a report by Jason La Canfora of NFL Network.

Dolphins requested and received permission to interview Atlanta O Coordinator Mike Mularkey. Will meet with the Jags as well #insideslant

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 7, 2012

Mularkey is also a candidate for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who requested permission to speak with him on Monday of last week. Mularkey will not interview with either team until the Falcons are out of the playoffs however, so that he can concentrate his focus on beating the New York Giants on Sunday. The earliest Mularkey would interview with either team would be Monday if the Falcons lose their playoff game.

For more on Mike Mularkey and the Miami Dolphins coaching search, visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider.

Dolphins Coaching Search: Joe Philbin Interviewed

The Miami Dolphins are going hard after Jeff Fisher to be their new head coach, but just in case Jeff Fisher chooses the St. Louis Rams over the Miami Dolphins, the Dolphins brass are making sure they have a back up plan. The Dolphins are reportedly considering Joe Philbin, according to a report by Dave Hyde of the Miami Sun Sentinel.

But if Philbin is an actual candidate, it means the Dolphins are considering being pioneers.

It suggests they like Green Bay's soon to be free-agent quarterback Matt Flynn and might import the coach and system to smooth the way to success.

That's not just smart. It's unique. No team has done anything like that. The question is if Flynn and Philbin are up to the job.

Hyde also seems to suggest that if the Dolphins hire Joe Philbin as their next head coach, it could become a package deal with current Green Bay Packers back up quarterback Matt Flynn.

For more on Joe Philbin and the Miami Dolphins coaching search, visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider.

GRAPHIC: NFL Coaching Search Breakdown

Miami Dolphins Coaching Search: Jeff Fisher Leaning Towards Dolphins, According To Report

Jeff Fisher was the head man in Tennessee for well over a decade, and now that he has been out of the NFL for a little while, he is the leading candidate among most teams looking for a new head coach this season. He pretty much has his pick of the litter. The good news for Dolphins fans is that it looks like he might be leaning towards picking the Dolphins, at least according to this most recent report.

Hearing Jeff Fisher is leaning away from the Rams and towards the Dolphin$.

— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) January 5, 2012

Of course this is not anything official, and we don't know exactly what Fisher is thinking at this time. But based on the news we hard yesterday about the Dolphins offering him a pretty hefty contract, it wouldn't be surprising at all to see that he was starting to warm up to that situation.

We'll have more on this situation as it develops, but for more on all things Dolphins football, head over to the Phinsider.

Miami Dolphins Coaching News: Jeff Fisher To Receive Rich Offer From Miami

The Miami Dolphins are prepared to make Jeff Fisher a lucrative offer to become their next coach--the most lucrative one he'll receive from any team, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, citing two sources. Stephen Ross, the team's owner, "has the deep pockets necessary to pay what he must to hire Fisher," Salguero says. In addition, Ross does not want the public to get the impression that he will settle for anything less than the best.

However, Fisher joining the Dolphins is by no means guaranteed. The longtime Tennessee Titans coach has also drawn interest from the St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and might be willing to take a paycut to work in those organizations. Among Fisher's "concerns," says Salguero, is "the team's structure."

Fisher went 142-120 in 17 seasons with the Titans franchise, dating back to its days as the Houston Oilers.

Miami fired coach Tony Sparano during the 2011 season, which started with seven straight losses. Sparano's record before getting canned stood at 4-9; interim head coach Todd Bowles went 2-1.

For more on the Dolphins, please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Dolphins Coaching Search: Miami Conducting Two Searches At Once?

The Miami Dolphins have been without a head coach for a little while now, and now that the Regular season is over and more coaches will be available to interview, they have picked up their search to find a new one. But according to our Dolphins blog the Phinsider, there are two searches going on, being conducted by two different people. And only one of them is a current employee of the Dolphins.

Miami General Manager Jeff Ireland is heading the Dolphins' coach hunt, and has been given the power by owner Stephen Ross to find the right guy for the job. Meanwhile, Ross has apparently allowed former Kansas City Chiefs President, and non-Miami Dolphins employee, Carl Peterson to direct his own search for the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

As if that wasn't odd enough, the whole thing seems like a race for these two guys to have a job. Apparently whichever one of them is able to find the candidate who will ultimately be hired will be brought in to run football operations, while the other will be left without a job.

Both Peterson and Ireland have reportedly made extensive lists of possible candidates. If Peterson lands Fisher, or one of the other candidates from his list, which reportedly includes Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, then he will be hired as the Dolphins' President. He would then replace Ireland, and the rest of the front office, with members of his staff from his Kansas City days.

I don't think I've ever seen a team handle a coaching search this kind of way. It will be interesting to see if it works out or if it backfires for them.

Dolphins Coaching Search: Todd Bowles Completes Interview

The Miami Dolphins finished strong under interim coach Todd Bowles, and he interviewed for the fulltime position on Monday. But according to Shandel Richardson of the Sentinel, Bowles remains a long shot to win the position, despite the progress he made with the team during the last few weeks of the season.

The Dolphins wasted little time in completing the interview process with interim coach Todd Bowles. The organization made the announcement Monday night. Bowles is still considered a long shot despite leading the team to a 2-1 record after replacing Tony Sparano. Bowles certainly won the support of the players. Many of them spoke about Bowles’ knowledge of the game. It didn’t hurt that he is a former player, too. Linebacker Kevin Burnett and receiver Brian Hartline both said this week that was one of their biggest reasons for supporting Bowles.

The Dolphins probably have a long list of coaches that will complete interviews, and we won't know for sure who has the position until all of the interviews are completed.

For more on this story, check out SB Nation's Dolphins blog, The Phinsider.

Miami Dolphins Coaching Search: Jeff Fisher Reportedly To Interview For Job

The Miami Dolphins are set to interview former Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, for their open head-coaching position. Dolphins secondary coach Todd Bowles took over for Tony Sparano on an interim basis for their final three games, and he finished 2-1. As Salguero notes, Miami must interview at least one head-coaching candidate outside the organization due to the NFL's Rooney Rule, but he believes it ought to hire Fisher rather than simply use him to satisfy the Rooney Rule.

Fisher coached the Tennessee Titans franchise from 1994-2010, compiling a 142-120 (.542) record during that 17-season span. He led the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV, but they fell, 23-16, to the St. Louis Rams.

In January 2011, The Titans reached a mutual agreement with Fisher to buy out the last year of his contract.

Fisher is also set to interview for the Rams' coaching vacancy, so Miami is not alone in vying for his services.

For more on the Dolphins, please visit The Phinsider, SB Nation's Dolphins blog.

Miami Dolphins Searching For Experienced, Hands Off Coach?

The Miami Dolphins are looking for a new head coach to replace the recently fired Tony Sparano, but they might have some difficultly finding a candidate that meets all their criteria. During a recent discussion with the media, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and GM Jeff Ireland listed out their criteria for selected a new head coach. As reported by Armando Salguero, their list is quite the doozy:

• The Dolphins want a head coach "with experience." Preferably, this person is already a head coach (or has been in the recent past).
• At the same time, they don't want someone that wants to have control over personnel decision.
• Whoever this person is, they'll have to work well with Ireland (obviously).
• "I'd like to find a young Don Shula if that's possible: -- owner Stephen Ross

I hate to break it to the Dolphins, but it might be difficult for them to find a coach that fits all these criteria. The Jaguars mentioned that they were looking for similar characteristics in a head coach when they fired Jack Del Rio a few weeks ago, but most high profile and/or experienced head coaches would like to have some say over personnel decisions. They understandably don't like feeling like they have no control, and some of them might be skeptical of Ireland's decision making based on his recent track record.

Most teams would like to have an experienced, high profile, hands off coach that would allow their GM to make every decision, but that's akin to asking for a pony for Christmas. Sure, the possibility exists and it's worth trying, but....well, good luck.

For more on this story, check out SB Nation's Dolphins blog, The Phinsider.

Tony Sparano Releases Statement, Thanks Dolphins For Opportunity

Miami Dolphins' head coach Tony Sparano was fired on Monday afternoon, and for the past few days, he has declined all opportunities to make a public statement. The assumption from Dolphins beat reporters is that he was too emotional to speak, and that this news took him by surprise. Everyone knew his job was in danger, but the common assumption was that the Dolphins would wait until the end of the season before making a decision. As it turns out, the Chiefs forced their hand.

Sparano did recently release a statement through his agent, though, and he says all the right things. He's gracious and thankful for the opportunity the Dolphins gave him, and he's hoping to find another coaching opportunity going forward.

Here's his full statement, as provided by the Miami Herald: 

"I want to take this opportunity to thank the Miami Dolphin organization, my players and coaches and our fans for all the help they gave me  during my time in Miami.  It was an honor and a privilege to have been the head coach for such a storied franchise as the Miami Dolphins. Visiting with Coach Shula before games, getting to know the Hall of Famers and so many other great Dolphin alumni, and being surrounded by the team's tradition every day of the year are memories that will stay with me forever.

"I can't say enough about our players  --  I love and appreciate them all and I value the effort they gave me from the very first moment I walked in the door. They practiced and played hard every day, and always put the success of the team ahead of themselves. It was a joy to work with these special men, and no one can ask for more than what they gave me. For this they will always have my gratitude, and I am proud to have coached them. My coaching and support staff were wonderful  --  I've never been around a better group of guys. There is no way I can thank them for their commitment and their loyalty. We worked hard together to reach a common goal and I appreciate their sacrifice and dedication.

"And finally, my wife Jeanette and I want to thank our great fans here. They made us feel at home the day we moved down and welcomed us with open arms. We enjoyed making so many friends and are grateful for the opportunities they gave us to contribute to the South Florida community. It's a special place with special people, and we appreciate all their warmth and friendship. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported me during my tenure with the Dolphins. It was a special time in my life, and I'm looking forward to continuing my coaching career very soon."

For more on this story, check out SB Nation's Dolphins blog, The Phinsider.

Tony Sparano Received His Walking Papers, But Is Real Change On The Horizon?

Sparano's firing should spark change in Miami, but if Ross keeps Jeff Ireland, brings in Carl Peterson, or both, then Dolphins fans may be in for the same old story

Tony Sparano Fired: Todd Bowles Takes Over As Interim Coach

Now that Tony Sparano has become the latest NFL head coaching casualty, the Miami Dolphins are in need of a replacement for the final three games of the season. Todd Bowles has been named as the interim head coach, being elevated from his current position as assistant head coach and secondary coach:

The Dolphins have announced a press conference for Monday afternoon where they're expected to confirm the Sparano news and announce that Todd Bowles will be the interim coach, according to Michael Lombardi.

Bowles was previously an assistant coach with the Cowboys before becoming the Dolphins secondary coach/assistant head coach.

Bowles has worked as a defensive backs coach for the Jets and the Browns previously in his career. He was also the starting safety for the Redskins in Super Bowl XXII. Bowles played all but one of his eight NFL seasons in Washington, with his remaining season coming in San Francisco in 1991.

Tony Sparano Fired: Miami Dolphins Reportedly Dismiss Coach After Three-Plus Seasons

Sparano compiled a 29-32 record in Miami, including 4-9 in 2011.