Miami Dolphins: Is Stephen Ross the Problem?
There are few owners in history that stand out in a lineup. George Steinbrenner opened his wallet and got the players to put fans in seats. Jerry Jones took the Dallas Cowboys and made them the most valued franchise in NFL history. Mark Cuban became a public figure with the Dallas Mavericks after winning a championship and increasing team value. Then there’s Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.
His success outside of the NFL is obvious, but since buying the Miami Dolphins there has been nothing but dysfunction within the organization. That trend even is at the forefront of this year’s team with the Deshaun Watson debacle. From the coaches and GMs he’s hired, to the offseason moves, and the rumors surrounding the team have been one circus after another.
Since buying the Miami Dolphins in 2008 the team has had 3 winning seasons in 13 years, and the one was the year of the Wildcat. Coach after coach has kept the Dolphins mediocre. Even the ones that get off to a good start regress the following season.
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Take last year’s teams, for instance, one of the top teams on defense, 10 win season, looking like they finally found their stride. This year, they look like a hot mess with no heart. Then examine the Watson rumors from every angle. There have been reports that Ross was the driving force for drafting Tua Tagovailoa in last year’s draft despite others wanting Justin Herbert.
Having failed to get Herbert, with he and Joe Burrow putting on a clinic, there are rumors the Dolphins are upset with Tagovailoa’s progress and are pushing for the Watson trade. Some say it’s Stephen Ross who wants the deal done, others are saying it’s the front office. Both point to the same problem though, Stephen Ross.
Whether he’s had his hand in last year’s draft or this year’s trade scenarios the team is suffering. The wind has been taken completely out of the team’s sails. The Dolphins are playing this year as if they were told they would be to have a blank canvas to paint with, but halfway through someone said “no, you have to use colored pencils”. They went from fun, energetic, and free to playing with no heart.
Where does it all circle back to? The same trade rumors surrounding Watson. If the staff wants to keep Tagovailoa and build with him and play to their ability, forcing a trade ties their hands. Should coaches be the ones pushing for Watson, they know they’re giving up a ton of draft picks to correct a problem they could’ve fixed last year.
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Either way, something is different about the level of play the Miami Dolphins are putting out this year and the energy around the team. The whole demeanor has changed and even in press conferences, everyone has an apathy about them that seems to go beyond losing games.
Stephen Ross isn’t on the field with the Dolphins making tackles, nor is he in the headset calling plays. However, since he took over in 2008 Miami has won 99 of 215 games (46%) and doesn’t seem to be turning it around soon. Every year it seems someone puts a quarter in the jukebox and the dance starts again. Something has to change with the Miami Dolphins and it starts with Stephen Ross.
Rick ODonnell aka Caveman Rick has many years covering the Miami Dolphins, Sports, and all sorts of movies and television.
