January 04, 2008
Fins: A moment for Mel
> Posted by Ethan J. Skolnick at 1:31:51 AM
The Dolphins let Mel Phillips go on Thursday, one of 16 assistants they released.
Never thought I'd see the day.
The secondary coach had been with the Dolphins for 23 years, telling a lot of the same glory stories about his 49er playing days to lots of different eye-rolling players. (Good-natured eye-rolling).
How long was his tenure?
He entered this season tied with Detroit defensive assistant Don Clemons for the second-longest stint by one position coach with one team.
He arrived in 1985, just two years after Dan Marino.
He coached under Don Shula for 11 years.
He survived the coaching change to Jimmy Johnson, to Dave Wannstedt, to Nick Saban (who taught a totally different way), to Cam Cameron.
That, in itself, was a remarkable achievement.
Recently, he hasn't had nearly the talent that he had from 1999 through 2004, when Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain reigned as one of the league's top cornerback tandems, and potential candidates for the Dolphins' Ring of Honor.
Still, he always earned respect.
And, now that he's gone, a little of the Dolphins' tradition is gone with him.
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