Mercy Killing for a Coach

This bit of coaching euthanasia -- Dave Wannstedt getting dismissed/resigned (or whatever they called it) by the Dolphins -- had to happen; it's just a shame that Dr. (and Saint) Jack Kevorkian wasn't able to assist and make completely painless.

I'm "stepping aside for the good of the team'' is what Wannstedt said which, of course, is one of the classic sports cliches. How they spin it isn't important. For both the coach and the team, it had to be done.

"I preach to the players: 'You've got to eliminate distractions if you're going to win football games,'" said what sounded like a relieved Wannstedt. "The whole focus lately was on me, and it just wasn't right for the players. You can't win like that. I love these guys. I really do. They played hard every game. They don't deserve the atmosphere that's been surrounding this team.''

Wannstedt certainly didn't distinguish himself this year in Miami's 1-8 start, but I ask you: Who would have under these circumstances? I've believed all along that owner Wayne Huizenga would have made a change last year, not this week; if he could have found a coach he liked and trusted to turn his team around.

But Huizenga let his personal affection for his coach -- it's impossible not to like Wannstedt -- stand in the way of doing what he felt was best for the team. He didn't look hard enough, and he didn't consider his options long enough. So if you're a Dolfan, don't curse Wannstedt - instead blame Huizenga for not being more decisive when he should have been last year.

Wannstedt wasn't hanging his head this afternoon. "Don't forget,'' he said. "We got ten and a half wins a year in our first four years. Not bad. [Actually Miami won 41 games in his first four seasons but let's not be unduly picky.] I spent the offseason thinking 10 wasn't good enough this year. How could we get to 11? Then a lot of things happened that I had no control over. But I'm not going to make excuses. Things just happened."

I don't think interim coach Jim Bates -- or a resurrected Vince Lombardi for that matter -- can make much of a difference in Miami's last seven games this season. Supposedly, Huizenga's thinking of hiring a new club president to oversee the remaking of his football team. I thought he did that with Dan Marino last year until Marino quit after about a week and now is ripping the entire organization in a most unseemly and ungrateful manner on national TV.

If I were Huizenga, I'd wait until the end of the season and then go after New England vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli. He's the state-of-the-art roster-builder in football right now, a guy who can deal with cap troubles by making smart decisions on second-day draft choices and middle-class free agents. Obviously, you then also let Pioli pick his coach.

Huizenga hasn't spoken publicly about coach Dave Wannstedt's resignation, but he definitely shook up the team's front office with a message delivered through team president our expert Jones.

"Nothing will be dismissed when it comes to hiring the right candidate for head coach,'' Jones said Thursday. Huizenga had Jones contact reporters to clarify the upcoming search process for the next coach and president of the team.

That clarification seems to loom directly over general manager Rick Spielman's job security. When asked directly whether Spielman could be let go if the candidate for coach or president is uncomfortable with Spielman, Jones said that was the case.

"That situation is fluid, as is every position in this organization,'' said Jones, who plans to retire in March. Jones said the message even applies to him.

"I'm scheduled to step down in March after the league meetings,'' he said. "But if Mr. Huizenga hires the new president in January and that person doesn't want me around the building, I'm out of here.''

On Wednesday, Spielman said he had been given assurances by Huizenga directly that he will be with the team for the 2005 season.

Jones said those assurances should not be considered iron-clad.

"What's true today is not necessarily true tomorrow,'' Jones said.

At least three prominent sources with NFL ties said this week that Spielman could hurt the Dolphins' ability to get a top coach. Although Spielman is respected for his work ethic, his handling of personnel decisions constantly has been questioned and it certainly was open to questioning.

"If the Dolphins think they're not going to have some problems with that, they're kidding themselves,'' an NFL team executive said. "Everyone I know likes Rick Spielman, but there's no way any prominent coach is going to want to be tied to him after what has happened there. He's in over his head and that's a deal breaker.''

Said another NFL source: "If working with Spielman is part of the deal, you might only be able to get somebody who is really desperate for the job.''

Spielman was given authority over personnel in January when that power was stripped from Wannstedt after the 2003 season. Among his questionable moves was the trade for quarterback A.J. Feeley, the trade up in the draft to get offensive tackle Vernon Carey, the free agent signing of left tackle Damion McIntosh and the putative rebuilding of the offensive line.

Huizenga's stance could open the door for other candidates.

I've already recommended Pioli, whom the Dolphins wanted to interview last year but couldn't because the Patriots were in the playoffs, likely he would be interested in at least talking to the Dolphins about becoming the team's head of football operations, be it as a general manager or some other title1.

Pioli and LSU coach Nick Saban, who is considered one of the top coaching candidates in all of football, are friends. Saban, who issued a statement Tuesday saying he is not interested in leaving LSU, has indicated in the past he would like to have someone to run the personnel side if he was to go to the NFL.

In addition, highly regarded personnel men Tom Heckert of Philadelphia, Phil Savage of Baltimore and Randy Mueller, formerly of New Orleans and Seattle, all are interested in the job.

Jones also said Tuesday that he has advised Huizenga to hire a president who has a stronger football background, similar to Bill Polian in Indianapolis.

Regardless, the process now will go primarily through Huizenga.

Jones said that he, Spielman and vice president Bryan Wiedmeier would be involved only in the gathering of candidates and information for a list that will be presented to Huizenga.

"From there, Mr. Huizenga will take control. The only person who will make the decision on the next president and coach will be Mr. Huizenga,'' Jones said.

Jones said he didn't know which would be hired first, president or coach.