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Ireland to meet Sparano
Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland is scheduled to interview Dallas assistant head coach Tony Sparano on Saturday, but that interview is not expected to end the coaching search.
Posted on Sat, Jan. 05, 2008Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email
BY JEFF DARLINGTON
jdarlington@MiamiHerald.com
KHAMPHA BOUAPHANH / MCT
Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Tony Sparano, who is an early front-runner to replace Miami Dolphins head Coach Cam Cameron, is also scheduled to interview for the head coaching vacancy in Atlanta.
Dolphins fire Cameron; search underway
When Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland cleans out his old office at the Cowboys' training facility this weekend, he might try to pack up more than a few picture frames.
It could be tough, however, to find a box big enough to smuggle away Dallas assistant head coach Tony Sparano. For that reason -- and a few other more pertinent ones -- an interview scheduled with Sparano for Saturday morning isn't expected to immediately end Miami's coaching search.
Yes, Sparano is still the front-runner for the job. And yes, Ireland returned to Dallas on Friday, where he will stay until Monday, partly to interview his former (and possibly future) co-worker Saturday.
THE RIGHT TIMING
But the Dolphins' decision to start at the top of their list could be more a matter of timing than priority at this point. Even if all goes well, Miami also will interview other candidates, namely Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.
An NFL-mandated deadline to interview Sparano loomed, forcing the Dolphins to speak with him before the end of Sunday's final wild-card game so they would not be locked out of the Sparano sweepstakes.
Sparano also interviewed for the Falcons' head coaching vacancy Friday, and he is scheduled to meet with the Ravens Saturday afternoon. After Sunday, he won't be able to interview with clubs until one of two scenarios occurs:
• If the Cowboys are eliminated from the playoffs.
• If the Cowboys make it to the Super Bowl, Sparano can have a second interview during the week before the game -- but only with teams that had previously interviewed him for a head coaching vacancy.
''The interview has to take place at a time and location that is acceptable for the current employer club and it can take place no later than the Sunday preceding the Super Bowl,'' league representative Greg Aiello wrote in an e-mail.
So had the Dolphins not scheduled a meeting with Sparano now, they might have had to wait until February.
Still, Sparano, who has close ties to Ireland and Parcells, won't be the first and only candidate.
Ireland said he plans to follow the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to consider minority candidates for their vacant head coaching positions.
An interview with Frazier would satisfy those responsibilities. The Dolphins have contacted Frazier, and they will meet with him Monday.
Frazier, however, would have to make a considerably strong impression to put himself in contention for the job. He does not have a relationship with Parcells or Ireland.
NO REAL TIES
Frazier did play for the Chicago Bears in the 1980s when Ireland was a ball boy and Ireland's grandfather, Jim Parmer, was a key personnel figure.
But Frazier said Thursday he doesn't have any connections with Parcells or Ireland.
''I don't really have a tie [to Parcells or Ireland],'' Frazier said. ``I was just glad they called.''
The Dolphins also will speak to former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, but the team could also be considering him for their defensive coordinator job instead of the head coaching position.
Ryan, who is friends with Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, could instead end up as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator.
Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland is scheduled to interview Dallas assistant head coach Tony Sparano on Saturday, but that interview is not expected to end the coaching search.
Posted on Sat, Jan. 05, 2008Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email
BY JEFF DARLINGTON
jdarlington@MiamiHerald.com
KHAMPHA BOUAPHANH / MCT
Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Tony Sparano, who is an early front-runner to replace Miami Dolphins head Coach Cam Cameron, is also scheduled to interview for the head coaching vacancy in Atlanta.
Dolphins fire Cameron; search underway
When Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland cleans out his old office at the Cowboys' training facility this weekend, he might try to pack up more than a few picture frames.
It could be tough, however, to find a box big enough to smuggle away Dallas assistant head coach Tony Sparano. For that reason -- and a few other more pertinent ones -- an interview scheduled with Sparano for Saturday morning isn't expected to immediately end Miami's coaching search.
Yes, Sparano is still the front-runner for the job. And yes, Ireland returned to Dallas on Friday, where he will stay until Monday, partly to interview his former (and possibly future) co-worker Saturday.
THE RIGHT TIMING
But the Dolphins' decision to start at the top of their list could be more a matter of timing than priority at this point. Even if all goes well, Miami also will interview other candidates, namely Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.
An NFL-mandated deadline to interview Sparano loomed, forcing the Dolphins to speak with him before the end of Sunday's final wild-card game so they would not be locked out of the Sparano sweepstakes.
Sparano also interviewed for the Falcons' head coaching vacancy Friday, and he is scheduled to meet with the Ravens Saturday afternoon. After Sunday, he won't be able to interview with clubs until one of two scenarios occurs:
• If the Cowboys are eliminated from the playoffs.
• If the Cowboys make it to the Super Bowl, Sparano can have a second interview during the week before the game -- but only with teams that had previously interviewed him for a head coaching vacancy.
''The interview has to take place at a time and location that is acceptable for the current employer club and it can take place no later than the Sunday preceding the Super Bowl,'' league representative Greg Aiello wrote in an e-mail.
So had the Dolphins not scheduled a meeting with Sparano now, they might have had to wait until February.
Still, Sparano, who has close ties to Ireland and Parcells, won't be the first and only candidate.
Ireland said he plans to follow the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to consider minority candidates for their vacant head coaching positions.
An interview with Frazier would satisfy those responsibilities. The Dolphins have contacted Frazier, and they will meet with him Monday.
Frazier, however, would have to make a considerably strong impression to put himself in contention for the job. He does not have a relationship with Parcells or Ireland.
NO REAL TIES
Frazier did play for the Chicago Bears in the 1980s when Ireland was a ball boy and Ireland's grandfather, Jim Parmer, was a key personnel figure.
But Frazier said Thursday he doesn't have any connections with Parcells or Ireland.
''I don't really have a tie [to Parcells or Ireland],'' Frazier said. ``I was just glad they called.''
The Dolphins also will speak to former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, but the team could also be considering him for their defensive coordinator job instead of the head coaching position.
Ryan, who is friends with Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, could instead end up as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator.