For the first time since training camp, the owner of the Miami Dolphins speaks to the media and puts his support squarely behind head coach Tony Sparano, and Sparano has responded politely and moved on.
Asked what he thought about his owners comments, Sparano said on Tuesday, “Really appreciate what (Stephen Ross) had to say. Right now really, honestly, my sole focus is how we’re going to get this thing turned around and get ourselves going in the right direction. We got a week right now to get ourselves going but I completely appreciate what he had to say.”
When asked more directly about how he felt about all the public discussion about his job security, Sparano was more curt, saying, “Getting my team ready to play. So that’s over for me. I don’t have anything else to say. You guys can say it all.”
Stephen Ross had said Monday he’s sticking with Sparano despite the Dolphins 0-4 record and the NFL’s longest losing streak at seven games. ”I am very disappointed, to put it mildly,” Ross said in an interview on the Dolphins’ flagship radio station, WINZ-AM.
”But I think that we have to stay together and really get behind our coach. I believe that Tony is the right coach. I think all the games we have played have been really close. We could have gone either way. When you see the team practicing and playing as hard as they can, I think that’s a good sign, but certainly, we have to see better results.”
“Everybody talks about changes, and that they would change things around,” Ross continued. ”If you look at the winning teams, they’re consistent and stay the course. You go through rough periods. I think we have a lot of talent.”
”I think most important of the players really believe in Tony. As long as the players believe in Tony and they’re playing hard for him, and with the talent we have, we are going to win our share of ballgames.”
Linebacker Jason Taylor said players are frustrated with their performance but are behind the coach and going to his this week to get themselves turned around.
”We’re not done,” Taylor said. ”I know everyone’s going to think I’m crazy, and that’s fine. I’ve been called worse. But I’m going to be optimistic, and I’m going to keep fighting. If you don’t want to be on this train, get off it. We’re about to take a stop here for a week. And feel free to get off. But the guys that are on it down the stretch, we’re going to go out there and play our best and hopefully get this thing fixed and turned around.”
The cancellation of the coach’s scheduled Monday press conference set off speculation as to his possible departure. The Dolphins next game is October 17 in the Meadowlands against the Jets.
