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Commentary: Dolphins' Sparano clumsy in handling first big test
By DAVE GEORGE
Palm Beach Post Columnist
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Cam Cameron must have done a few things right during his rookie season as an NFL head coach, if only by accident, but Miami Dolphins fans will remember just two things with absolute certainty.
One is the 1-15 record.
The other is Cameron getting booed right out of his own practice bubble on draft day. It wasn't just that people weren't thrilled with Miami passing on quarterback Brady Quinn, it was that the thoroughly confused coach never even saw the animosity coming.
"I'll tell you one thing," Cameron said to the delight of YouTube archivists everywhere, "Ted Ginn Jr. is a Miami Dolphin."
Awkward and inadequate, this first impression, immediately identifying a boss who was in over his head as a spokesman for an organization.
Tony Sparano didn't do much better Wednesday, handling the delicate matter of Jason Taylor's workout absence with all the finesse of an industrial wood chipper.
"I know that Jason is not going to be at any mini-camps," said Sparano," and I know that, right now, Jason is not going to be at training camp.
"So, that's what we know."
And that's all they're telling, apparently, even as Taylor is assumed to be boycotting team activities in order to force a trade.
This is childish public relations work, telling the world that the potential loss of the best player on a lousy team is unworthy of further comment simply because the topic has become annoying.
Sparano did everything but rap reporters on the knuckles with a ruler at the press conference, ending his brief and mysterious discussion of Taylor with the conclusion that "the people who are in the building are our guys."
Classic Bill Parcells brinksmanship, only this time it's being delivered by proxy.
Sparano can't be blamed for a lack of sophistication here. Even Don Shula found it impossible to say anything truly insightful way back when Dan Marino skipped an entire training camp in order to squeeze a better contract out of Joe Robbie.
This is big business, muddy business, and Sparano has never been a head coach higher than Div. II college ball. What he said and did to get players in line at New Haven, and to freeze some squeaky campus newspaper reporter in his tracks, doesn't fly here.
Bottom line, this is the Dolphins' fifth head coach in five seasons. Sure would be nice to get one who understands how to handle himself in a major sports market, who doesn't answer complicated questions with an attitude of "I'm the head coach. That's why."
Sparano doesn't give a comforting first impression in this first big test of his leadership. He comes off like clueless Cam, only crankier.
Of course, Parcells sets the tone with his dismissive treatment of players and media alike. Remember the day in 2006 when Terrell Owens wound up in a Dallas hospital after what was reported as a pill-popping suicide attempt? Parcells stepped off the practice field as Cowboys coach and entered a room jammed with cameras from every media outlet but The Food Channel. He pretended to be puzzled, as if routine practice matters should take precedence in the press conference.
Eventually, after nine minutes of saying he knew nothing at all about the potentially tragic T.O. situation, Big Tuna walked out with no small measure of disgust, saying, "When I find out what the hell is going on, you will know. Until then, I'm not getting interrogated for no reason."
Sparano gets that tone. He really gets that. Any player who is not in camp and following orders, no matter how vital, does not exist. Any player who is in camp and following orders, no matter how unreliable his other contributions, is a true professional.
By that standard, Jason Taylor, NFL Man of the Year for his South Florida charity work and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year for his physical dominance, is an outcast and a pest.
On the other hand, Will Allen, under investigation for allegedly flashing a gun in a parking-lot dispute over gambling debts, is a Dolphins family member to be treasured.
So is Ricky Williams, as loopy as they come.
JT could clear the whole matter up with one interview, whether it's given to ESPN or to People magazine.
Maybe he's just having too much fun at the moment watching Sparano sputter
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphi...008/05/22/0522george.html?cxntlid=inform_artr
By DAVE GEORGE
Palm Beach Post Columnist
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Cam Cameron must have done a few things right during his rookie season as an NFL head coach, if only by accident, but Miami Dolphins fans will remember just two things with absolute certainty.
One is the 1-15 record.
The other is Cameron getting booed right out of his own practice bubble on draft day. It wasn't just that people weren't thrilled with Miami passing on quarterback Brady Quinn, it was that the thoroughly confused coach never even saw the animosity coming.
"I'll tell you one thing," Cameron said to the delight of YouTube archivists everywhere, "Ted Ginn Jr. is a Miami Dolphin."
Awkward and inadequate, this first impression, immediately identifying a boss who was in over his head as a spokesman for an organization.
Tony Sparano didn't do much better Wednesday, handling the delicate matter of Jason Taylor's workout absence with all the finesse of an industrial wood chipper.
"I know that Jason is not going to be at any mini-camps," said Sparano," and I know that, right now, Jason is not going to be at training camp.
"So, that's what we know."
And that's all they're telling, apparently, even as Taylor is assumed to be boycotting team activities in order to force a trade.
This is childish public relations work, telling the world that the potential loss of the best player on a lousy team is unworthy of further comment simply because the topic has become annoying.
Sparano did everything but rap reporters on the knuckles with a ruler at the press conference, ending his brief and mysterious discussion of Taylor with the conclusion that "the people who are in the building are our guys."
Classic Bill Parcells brinksmanship, only this time it's being delivered by proxy.
Sparano can't be blamed for a lack of sophistication here. Even Don Shula found it impossible to say anything truly insightful way back when Dan Marino skipped an entire training camp in order to squeeze a better contract out of Joe Robbie.
This is big business, muddy business, and Sparano has never been a head coach higher than Div. II college ball. What he said and did to get players in line at New Haven, and to freeze some squeaky campus newspaper reporter in his tracks, doesn't fly here.
Bottom line, this is the Dolphins' fifth head coach in five seasons. Sure would be nice to get one who understands how to handle himself in a major sports market, who doesn't answer complicated questions with an attitude of "I'm the head coach. That's why."
Sparano doesn't give a comforting first impression in this first big test of his leadership. He comes off like clueless Cam, only crankier.
Of course, Parcells sets the tone with his dismissive treatment of players and media alike. Remember the day in 2006 when Terrell Owens wound up in a Dallas hospital after what was reported as a pill-popping suicide attempt? Parcells stepped off the practice field as Cowboys coach and entered a room jammed with cameras from every media outlet but The Food Channel. He pretended to be puzzled, as if routine practice matters should take precedence in the press conference.
Eventually, after nine minutes of saying he knew nothing at all about the potentially tragic T.O. situation, Big Tuna walked out with no small measure of disgust, saying, "When I find out what the hell is going on, you will know. Until then, I'm not getting interrogated for no reason."
Sparano gets that tone. He really gets that. Any player who is not in camp and following orders, no matter how vital, does not exist. Any player who is in camp and following orders, no matter how unreliable his other contributions, is a true professional.
By that standard, Jason Taylor, NFL Man of the Year for his South Florida charity work and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year for his physical dominance, is an outcast and a pest.
On the other hand, Will Allen, under investigation for allegedly flashing a gun in a parking-lot dispute over gambling debts, is a Dolphins family member to be treasured.
So is Ricky Williams, as loopy as they come.
JT could clear the whole matter up with one interview, whether it's given to ESPN or to People magazine.
Maybe he's just having too much fun at the moment watching Sparano sputter
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphi...008/05/22/0522george.html?cxntlid=inform_artr
