I read the over the top article you wrote for Fox Sports earlier this week about the Miami Dolphins being in Hell and staying there for a while. While you made some valid points, the over the top nature, unprofessional name-calling (like calling Stephen Ross a jock-sniffer,) and just twisting of facts killed any credibility you had on this subject and damaged what was a pretty good reputation you had built up for yourself over the past few years.
Where to start in response to this column, let me first start off by saying I am a fan of your work. I began listening in the old 620 WHEN days when you went by the name "PRIMETIME" and followed you when you were doing fill-in work at WFAN in the largest media market in the world. Hell your interview with George DeLeone after the Rutgers loss back in the day is still the most entertaining and yet uncomfortable bit of radio I have ever heard in my life. It was "Radio Gold." In recent years I have followed you as you have exploded on the scene at Sirius NFL Radio and on SNY. I am a fan of the work you do, but this column you wrote is garbage. Utter and total garbage, so lets break it down point by point.
Peyton Manning-This is a classic case where no matter what the Dolphins did they couldn't win with someone who has your mindset. Let's look at the facts, Peyton Manning didn't want to meet with the Miami Dolphins. Stephen Ross, doing everything in his power to improve the team, calls in Dan Marino to place a phone call to Manning to try and at the very least get a meeting so they can at least take their best swing and hope for the best. Manning agrees to take the meeting. Now, going into this meeting the Dolphins brass knows they are behind the 8-ball and the odds of landing Peyton are slim. All they can do is put on their best face, say here is what we will pay you, here is what we (Philbin, Ireland, Ross..etc) are all about and we hope you give us a chance. The fact they found a way to get a meeting with Peyton was a miracle as Peyton wouldn't even talk to teams like Seattle and Kansas City. If Miami just took Peyton's "NO" and didn't pursue him you and people like you Adam would have been killing Miami and Ross for not doing everything in their power to land him and improve the franchise. When they do everything in their power to land him, you kill them for not landing him. It's a no-win situation with people like you on this subject. They can't put a gun to Peyton Manning's head and force him to sign with Miami.
Matt Flynn-What was the line you used, let me quote it exactly...."Pete Carroll put on his recruiting charm and made him feel comfortable." Hell Adam, even you can't believe that line of bullshit! And that is Grade-A bullshit right there. There was no charm involved, the Seahawks were willing to write a check for a few dollars and pennies more than Miami was and that is why Flynn picked Seattle. If Miami offered more money, guess what Flynn is in Miami and heaping praise on Ireland, Ross, and everything to do with Miami. It has nothing to do with "charm" or "Pete Carroll and his recruiting" ability, that's nonsense. WHERE WAS PETE CARROLL'S CHARM AND RECRUITING ABILITY WHEN HE COULDN'T GET PEYTON MANNING TO EVEN SIT DOWN WITH HIM FOR AN MEETING? Do you realize how foolish you sound Adam?
This other notion that Flynn picked Seattle over Miami even with his old coach Joe Philbin in Miami just because he wanted nothing to do with the Dolphins. Hey Adam, that works both ways! Doesn't it say something that Philbin picked Matt Moore over Matt Flynn? What, only Flynn's perspective counts? Joe Philbin's side of this means nothing? That Joe Philbin wasn't ready to break the bank and attach his coaching career to a guy he has worked with every day for 4 years doesn't tell you something? And you say Miami wanted him badly? Obviously not if they didn't offer him more money and were more than willing to let him walk. That is just an incorrect statement you made that you are trying to pass off as fact. Teams bring in free agents all the time they are interested in, try to work out deal but when the money gets too rich for their blood they are willing to let that person walk. Happens all the time and has since free agency has started in every sport and that is the case with Matt Flynn and the Dolphins.
The other silly statement you made that Matt Flynn "oozes leadership." In college, yes he did obviously. This isn't college anymore and in the NFL the past 4 years he has been wearing a baseball cap and a holding a clipboard (minus the 2 times he actually started a game). You speak of this leadership like its a given with no facts to back it up. Just because a back-up QB had a good game or two doesn't mean he "oozes leadership" and is worth paying decent money too and handing them the starting quarterback position of a franchise. Want examples of that blowing up in teams face; Scott Mitchell and Kevin Kolb! And let's also be honest, if Miami broke the bank for Flynn and paid him serious money to come to South Florida and then Flynn for lack of a better word sucked, you would be killing Miami for paying that much for an unproven back-up. Once again, damned if you do, damned if you don't in eyes of Adam Schein.
Tim Tebow-Here is where you come off as a total and complete hypocrite on every level. You wrote, once again I quote..."I'm still scared Stephen Ross will force his people to trade for Tim Tebow. He is not a fit for their system, but he will sell tickets and sell jerseys." Not only was Ross not interested in Tebow as he stated publicly Friday night, but the Jets go and sign Tebow and you praise the move on SIRIUS NFL Radio. Praised it so much they keep replaying the sound-bite over and over again as a bumper in and out of breaks. Tim Tebow isn't a fit for any system, so by that logic the Jets trading for him is foolish. Second, the Jets owner did force his football people to trade for Tebow (just like he did with Farve) because he is starving for attention being the 2nd team in a town the Giants own, because he wants to sell more PSL's, and because yes he wants to sell a ton of Tebow jerseys; so where is the outrage against Woody Johnson? Third you like to call the Dolphins a circus and such, how do the Jets come off who try to land Peyton Manning and fail, they give Mark Sanchez a raise and more guaranteed money, then sign Drew Stanton to be the back-up, only to then trade for Tim Tebow, and then go and trade Drew Stanton. If that ain't Circus level actions right there then I don't know what the hell is! If the Miami Dolphins are a circus franchise which is clueless as you say, hell they are only following the Jets lead as Woody and Rex are paving the road in that direction. You can't have it both ways call Miami a circus cause its owner forces its football people to do things (which is a lie he never has) and then praise the Jets for doing the one thing that you would have killed Miami for doing. You say Ross paid Sparano last year to "pacify him" after the Harbugh debacle, which is 100% right. And the Jets just paid Mark Sanchez and did the exact same thing, once again where is the outrage against Woody Johnson? You are a hypocrite Adam!
I have gone on for a while here, so here are three quick points that I will touch on without getting too in-depth.
-Calling Stephen Ross a "jock-sniffer" is just classless. I mean Dr. Roosevelt "Rick" Wright from the Newhouse School would even slap you upside the head for that one. I have never heard Bob Costas, Al Michaels, or any other respected sports journalist voice use such a term. I don't agree with everything Ross has done since taking over Miami but calling him a "jock-sniffer" is just wrong. It reflects more poorly on you than Mr. Ross. In fact you should publicly apologize for that remark in all honesty.
-Killing the Dolphins because they haven't signed more free agents is also silly. Let's see some of the elite teams in the NFL would be Green Bay, Pittsburgh, NY Giants have they been huge players in Free Agency this year or in previous years? NO! Why you ask, because they build through the draft. Something Philbin wants to do in Miami. To kill Miami and Ireland for not overpaying for free agents because they are beginning to follow a proven successful approach that the elite teams in the league do makes little sense. Rome wasn't built in a day, give the Dolphins some credit for following a blue-print that will result with success. Might take a year or two or three, but its the right path.
-As I write this its only March 24th for christ sakes. This team doesn't have to play a game till September. The same team that won 6 of its last 9 games to end the season. There is still the draft, there are still some quality free agents out there who can be had at bargain prices, and there will be roster cuts and such after the draft and throughout training camp.No team currently is a finished product entering 2012 and you speak as if this team is hopeless. Granted I don't see the playoffs or a Lombardi trophy in the next calender year for Miami, but it isn't as bad as you sure as hell make it seem.
In Closing, let me just say this to you Adam. I am a fan of the work you do and have been for many years. I certainly am not defending Jeff Ireland or Stephen Ross, they have made their blunders and they must do much better. Much Much better! If Ross fired Ireland tomorrow I wouldn't shed a tear, but it isn't as bad as you make it seem.Yes the Dolphins missed on Fisher and Manning, but at least they made an effort. If they didn't even try, then I would have serious concerns. Did Ross handle the Harbaugh thing wrong, of course he did. But ask yourself, was Ross right in spotting a bright up and coming coach in Harbaugh? Whatever Ross saw in him he was 100% right about as Harbaugh is the real deal. That gives me some peace of mind as well as a Dolphins fan.
The Dolphins may be closer to NFL Hell than NFL Heaven, but it damn sure isn't as bad as you make it out to be. And the over the top and unprofessional nature of your article reflects more poorly on YOU than it does them!
Sincerely,
Michael Oliva
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