Cameron deserved another season
I know. You are incredulous. To most Dolfans, there could hardly be four words strung together less popular than "Cameron deserved another season." (Except, perhaps, "Bring back Nick Saban"). Given the extenuating circumstances, though -- the mess he inherited, all of the major injuries -- I don't think Cam Cameron had a full, fair shot with Miami. You'd find my column here.
Welcoming your thoughts on the firing today of Cameron by Bill Parcells and his new henchman, Jeff Ireland. Was it right? Or does it feel wrong?
And what possible replacement excites you most. Are we all rallying around the improbably named Tony Sparano, a guy we'd never heard of a few days ago?
i am next to go.
Posted by: dean | January 03, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Yes Virginia There is a Santa Claus
Posted by: N.J.John | January 03, 2008 at 10:37 AM
I feel bad for Cam since I'm sure he wanted to prove himself but on the other hand there isn't much you can say to defend the guy. After rookies Saban & Cam, I think the Dolphins need to hire an experienced veteran NFL coach that can command respect and the players can learn from him.
Posted by: Surya | January 03, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Something about this feels underhanded and unfair, but it had to be done. Cam would have improved but just didn't seem like the leader to take the Dolphins to the Super Bowl. In the end this is the right decision because Tuna will bring in one of his guys and coach by extension. He may be overhyped and past his prime, but there is no arguing that he can return organizations to respectability.
I live in Dallas and Jason Garret gets most of the credit around here for the Cowboy's success. I'd like to see him, but he doesn't have the Parcells connection that Sparano does. I'd be happy with him as well.
Posted by: James | January 03, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Lets fire Rily next.
Posted by: Ted | January 03, 2008 at 10:55 AM
It was inevitable. We just my be on our way back. Celebrating today, Tom?
Posted by: Noel | January 03, 2008 at 10:58 AM
And now for a coach. Hope Parcells gets that job filled as competently as he has the GM and does it soon. There's a draft coming up very quickly.
The Tuna was not brought in here to continue losing football games. And how some of these fans can be criticizing him for clearing brush so he can plant a crop is beyond me. Sure, Randy and Cam are the greatest guys on earth. But being great guys didn't win football games, and that's what this sport (especially in this TOWN) is all about.
Go for it Tuna!!!
Posted by: Steve | January 03, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Cut Riley some slack. If it weren't for Riley the Heat would of never won an Nba Championship. Give Riley some time to fix it. He didn't want to overpay both Kapono and Posey. Mikey Arison didn't want Riley to go over the cap limit. To avoid paying so much luxary tax. Riley drafted really well. Cook is really good. So is Quinn. The money is useful for signing them ,and getting some addition help. Next season the Heat will be contending again.
Posted by: ginrai | January 03, 2008 at 11:09 AM
And its not like they're passing out nba titles. Only about 6 teams have won titles in the last 20 years. What Riley did in taking a newly overhauled roster was pretty rare and pretty genius.
You'll be very impressed with how he is able to trade Shaq and free cap room for the lottery pick (Please please please let it be Beasley) and the potentially impressive free agent class.
Riley has earned our trust.
Posted by: James | January 03, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Rich Kotite is available.
Posted by: Gatsby | January 03, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Although I am hopeful of this (again) new era of Bill Parcells I was willing to see the Cameron/Mueller thing play out for a couple of years. It was refreshing to see a more patient, long-term view. It seems this nadir is a result of a series of short-term, desperate (though at times flashy), win now decisions borne out of the mentality that we were "close".
That being said I feel since Parcells is here he should have the people he wants. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Posted by: Andrew | January 03, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Rily got ya'll tricked. He took that title from Stan. Beside that one title what has he done after leaving the Lakers.
Posted by: Ted | January 03, 2008 at 11:57 AM
A good move in deciding to let Cam go. The new VP, GM are making moves. I'm surprised though they kept the assistant special team's coach. He must have not been involved with the kick coverage unit! The Fins are at rock bottom and the only way to really turn it around is for senior management to bring in people they know, trust, and have tenure together. The "management trust factor" must exist and you can't really achieve that by keeping the previous brain trust's people. I also think this sends a clear message to the players...the winds of change are coming. Maybe this time around the coaching staff will be a no nonsense group whose sole focus will be that of preparing a football team to play and not be concerned with all the other factors outside of having to coach. Parcells and company will break the Fin's losing habit, attitudes first, then build a solid foundation of young players through the draft. Hopefully they won't try to do it all via free agency and that they use free agency carefully. No more $20M overpayments!
Posted by: blue | January 03, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Good work Tuna! Hey Cote, how about flushing out your own opinion on here a little more every now and then. It's your blog your allowed to you know.
Posted by: dolphin friendly tuna | January 03, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Cam did some positive things and certainly kicked non-producing Ronnie Brown in the butt. I think it's a shame he didn't make an effort to listen to his players, and his physical preperation for the season was lacking. That said, at least he is honest (unlike S*ban, and Johnson), and didn't pass the blame to others. Best of luck Cam, nice guys don't always finish first
The search is on, and should yield a coach who dances when Parcells says to. This is how you can be sure it will not be a seasoned coach like Cowher. No way. No veteran coach is going to be Parcell's puppet. He has to find someone trying to get his first job, and willing to be told what to do. That could work out well for us, and produce a good, young head coach. Soprano seems to be ineresting, but Garret would be a good catch too. However, will they be willing to allow the Parcells strings to be attached?
Go Dolphins!
Posted by: Gary | January 03, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Let's not talk about Riley, he is the best coach in the business, a Hall of Famer, to discredit him is ignorant and preposterous. He made the Heat MATTER, that's plenty. NEXT.
Cameron has been fired since Parcells took over, he is not "his" guy. Ireland is his guy and so will the next coach. I just want to see some continuity from the franchise, specially in the Head Coach.
Posted by: Gus | January 03, 2008 at 12:19 PM
I'm just gushing like Sally Field the night she won her Academy Award. Please someone stop me before I make a complete fool of myself.
Posted by: r. duke | January 03, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Umm..... Since when did this become an NBA/Heat blog??
Anyways....
It sucks that Cam was canned, being that he was an offense minded coach, but "que sera, sera".
I'm optimistic that Parcells will get this thing turned around with his "coaching-by-proxy" plan. The only thing that worries me is that he's a typical "ball-control, defense-oriented, don't-give-the-ball-away-on-offense minded" kinda guy. Not saying that this philosophy won't win football games, but if you look at the top teams in the league this year, they all had superb QB play, gangbuster WRs, and good O-lines.(We already have a star RB!)
Miami has neither of the above. And if history has taught us anything, Parcells isn't really too keen on signing/drafting any "BIG" offensive players (Terrell Owens was Jerry Jones' idea, not Parcells'!)
Maybe Parcells will prove everyone wrong, but this looks like the re-emergence of "Fiedler-football", where the QB is asked not to lose the game, where the RB gets 30+ carries a game (despite the defense stacking the line with 8 guys upfront!)and the always entertaining game of "field position".
Don't get me wrong... Bring some new blood into the defense, get some depth via the draft/free agency, etc;...
But please don't neglect the offense.
Or if not it'll be like the late '90's-early '00's where our offense was stuck in neutral until we got Ricky.
P.S.- Although I love offense-minded teams that score at will, but I hope Miami picks up Glenn Dorsey outta LSU. That kid's a beast!!
Peace!
Posted by: Mr.E | January 03, 2008 at 12:20 PM
i am here to stay. from the rocking of the cradle, to the rolling of the hearse. the going up is worth the coming down.
imposter, isn't it time for you to shove that live snook up your ass?
Posted by: dean | January 03, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Well, it looks like the majority of us got our wish. Im 100% behind Tuna, and I have LOVED all the choices he has made so far, INCLUDING bringing back Ricky next year.
Noel, Tom probably had a heart attack when he heard the news.
Posted by: Andy D | January 03, 2008 at 12:25 PM
All the right moves, 'cept one: Why Parcells jettisoned Hudson Houck in the Cameron staff purge is a mystery to me. Notwithstanding the Dolphin's pathetic lot of offensive lineman, Houck remains the best offensive line coach in the NFL. Bad move, Tuna.
Posted by: Scott | January 03, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Happy Days are here again in Dolphinland!
I am thrilled at the moves they are making.
I already feel better about everything.
Teams need a culture of winning and that is what Parcells and Ireland will do here.
Mr. Cote- since this is your blog it would be nice for you to come inside and give your feelings too, thanks! happy New Year and may the New England Patriots' be hammered year after year by the Dolphins in the coming years.
Posted by: FINSFAN4EVER | January 03, 2008 at 12:27 PM
in an effort to sate the dolphin fans appetite for victory.....
i hear the toona is bringing in lawrence taylor (blow), pacman jones (titty bars and gang fights), cecil collins (petty theft and stalking), & lance rentzel (pedophilia) to turn things around in a hurry without conscience. of course rickey will keep the chaingang mello.
Posted by: dean | January 03, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Wasn't Lawerence Phillips(drugs, drive by shootings, irritable bowel syndrome)on the chaingang as well? I thought under JJ we had become the intervention/rehabilitation/end of the road/oh well we tried franchise.
Posted by: r.duke | January 03, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Now, now the pedophilia rap on Lance Rentzel is actually an urban legend. In fact he merely exposed himself to a twelve or perhaps thirteen year old girl once but he didn't like it and never did it again
Posted by: raoul duke | January 03, 2008 at 12:43 PM
you know somehow it doesn't seem quite fair that cecil got more time than vick. cecil just had impulse control and social skills development issues. As far as anyone knows he didn't actually hold any dog's head under water until it stopped fighting for it's pitiful existence. but I digress this really more about dolphin fan's exaltation in response to the "resignation" of "coach" cameron.
Posted by: r. duke | January 03, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Hey Wayne hows about Larry Craig as Dolphins new "HEADcoach?" I had read he played alittle ball in college and has the friendliest pair of brown shoes you've ever met.
Posted by: Jimmy Johnson | January 03, 2008 at 01:01 PM
r. duke - raoul duke,
are you one and the same?
watched escape from new york last night. kurt russell was excellent. "snake plisken? i thought you were dead man."
Posted by: dean | January 03, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Yup the one and only. I just get lazy. I need to find my own Rudolph Hess to which to dictate my stream of consciouness. Guy I work with is like 60 years old rugged mountain man ex-biker(in motorcycle rider enthusiast sense)always kids me about that freakin movie. I thought it was so bad it was good. I particularly enjoyed Ernest Borgnine's role as the unsavory, unscrupulous cab driver that pretends to befriend Mr.Pliskin and then ends up betraying him. Heart wrenching.
Posted by: raoul, r. duke | January 03, 2008 at 01:09 PM
nothing heart wrenching about adrienne barbeau's rack. loved her 70s hair style. i'll bet her bush was growing out the sides of her panties like a hippies mutton chops.
Posted by: dean | January 03, 2008 at 01:12 PM
Come to think about it he always throws up Island of Doctor Morrow, not the original the "classic" remake with Brando and Kilmer. Disgustingly bad film yet he insists on discussing various scenes from this nightmare. Jesus Christ Marlon why?
Posted by: raoul duke | January 03, 2008 at 01:15 PM
He should have never been hired in the first place. The sad thing is that Wayne didn't do this (blowing the whole thing up) back when they canned the stache. Now we're three seasons down the line and instead of being in contention we're starting from Zero.
Posted by: Cubanpatriot | January 03, 2008 at 01:19 PM
i wish mr. cote would bring back unsportsman-like and/or ask the blogmaster. this nonstop tuna, dolphins 1-15, cam, patriots 16-0 is ready to make me puke. how about a little variety?
Posted by: dean | January 03, 2008 at 01:20 PM
yes dean but since being introduced to Mr. Flint's fine men's magazines I've come to appreciate shaved pussy so I can readily see if there are, in the immortal words of Frank Zappa "Any cooties in there."
Posted by: raoul duke | January 03, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Cubanpatriot think of it as if we've been in a coma for several years and the nurse just saw our finger move today.
Posted by: r. duke | January 03, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Steve Hoffman (special teams coach) and George Edwards (linebackers coach) must have been born in Texas. How else can one explain them staying? It's not as if the play at linebacking and special teams was - SPECIAL!
I am, as blue and Scott pointed out, a bit surprised that Hudson Houck got axed as well.
"We want players who are of strong character, possess discipline, are passionate, highly competitive, - BIG players." (Ireland)
Sounds like everyone will be traded or axed but for five guys.
Posted by: OC Dolphin | January 03, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Anyone wanna bet Tuna keeps McFadden? He loved Curtis Martin when he had him in NE and then NY. Tuna appreciates the advantages a great running game can bring to the table. Remember Giants offense that beat Bills more prolific Patsy type of offense was a ground churning clock chewing monster that kept Kelly & Co. on sidelines chewing their nails and holding their helmuts.
Posted by: raoul duke | January 03, 2008 at 01:32 PM
"I have the last say in player personnel moves." (Ireland)
Well, it didn't take long for the first lie did it?
Posted by: OC Dolphin | January 03, 2008 at 01:36 PM
how about me rolling over to the black flag spray again ,and pretend i'm gone by not coming here anymore like in the movies. my trolling acting contract has just expired in here.
Posted by: dean | January 03, 2008 at 01:40 PM
OC yeah but it was just alittle white lie for our own good.
Posted by: r. duke | January 03, 2008 at 01:43 PM
OK. Dolphin Fans, NO MORE EXCUSES######.Tuna has fired everybody. Flipper72, you still going with your 8-8 next year? Super Bowl,year after? I will wait for the draft first, no top FA. is comming here. Right know my crystal ball says,4-12. Anybody who thinks Marty or Cowher is headed to Miami, not happening.
Posted by: naplesjack,pats fan | January 03, 2008 at 01:46 PM
raoul,
Yep, I can see a - tell it for public consumption so that Jerry Jones doesn't get upset at us and ask for compensation for lateral moves - kinda lie.
Posted by: OC Dolphin | January 03, 2008 at 01:48 PM
naplesjack,pats fan with all due respect Tuna did not fire everybody. He decided to keep Wayne on for some reason and this team has yet to prove it can win SB with Wayne as the owner.
Posted by: raoul duke | January 03, 2008 at 01:49 PM
imposter / gin-tard
are you back again. don't forget your paxil!
Posted by: dean | January 03, 2008 at 01:53 PM
OC Dolphin, I could not of said it better, Ireland is nothing more then Parcells little butt boy. Did you notice Parcells waited untill Ireland was here 1 day, before Tuna fired Cam? This way tuna does not have any blood on his hands with the 3way friendship with Bobby Knight.
Posted by: naplesjack,pats fan | January 03, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Hey Noel
It's a great day in Fishland. Celebrating bigtime. This was long overdue. He should never have been hired in the first place. I wonder who the Tuna has in mind. I have a feeling Tony Soprano is not the guy. But we'll see. No matter who it is, he will be a major step in the right direction compared to the JOBLESS ONE!
Posted by: Tom | January 03, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Raoul Duke, you sly fox, you caught my 1st. mistake in 08. I normally get to Feb. before that happens.
Posted by: naplesjack,pats fan | January 03, 2008 at 01:57 PM
i'm so manic depressive. that's is why i'm taking paxil. despite of taking paxil the voices here keep taunting me. something that paxil can't relieve. is anyone listening to me talking by myself? they must not know! i'm afraid.
Posted by: dean | January 03, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Singletary, Ron Rivera, or Marty! Anyone of these coaches will do. How long can The big Tuna continue this pillaging of the cowboys' staff? Doesn't look to good Parcells so stop while your ahead.
Mcnabb and Ocho Cinco will do for now!
Posted by: Shark Attack! | January 03, 2008 at 02:05 PM
PARCELLS IS A DOUCHE JUST TRYING TO SHAKE THINGS UP, RATHER THAN EVALUATING OBJECTIVELY. WHO CARES ABOUT HIM OR THE DOLPHINS ANYMORE? HIS NOVELTY HAS WORN OFF. I'M READY TO START ROOTING FOR ANOTHER NFL TEAM.
Posted by: JOSH A | January 03, 2008 at 02:06 PM