DEVELOPING: Dolphins Fire OL Coach Turner And Trainer O'Neill As Incognito Fallout Continues...

You figured something like this would be happening sooner or later...

The buck stops where...???

Apparently, the Dolphins offensive line as the team has fired OL coach Jim Turner and head trainer Kevin O'Neill as part of the Richie Incognito fallout...

Here's part of the statement by the team:

“The language and behavior as described in the Ted Wells report are against the core values of our organization,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said in a statement. “After receiving the report, I conducted my own internal review of the facts to determine the appropriate steps for our organization. Jim Turner and Kevin O’Neill are good people who care a great deal about their profession and the players whom they serve, but both exhibited poor judgment at times which led me to this conclusion. As owner, I know firsthand of the high-character and dedicated professionals in our building. I believe in our team and know the hard work and sacrifices they make every day on the field and in the community.”

O'Neill had been with the team for 18 years and Turner for 2. Ross went on to call the entire saga a "teaching moment."

Here's head coach Joe Philbin's statement:

“As the Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins, it is my responsibility to create an atmosphere that allows each player the opportunity to reach his full potential. As Stephen Ross said, and I agree, the language and behavior outlined in Ted Wells’ report was disappointing and unacceptable. Since I first arrived in Miami, it has been my goal to have a team which honors our proud tradition and represents our fan base the right way both on and off the field. It is not possible for a team to accomplish its goals when the fundamental values of respect are violated. That ultimately rests on my shoulders and I will be accountable moving forward for making sure that we emphasize a team-first culture of respect towards one another."

The HQ still wonders how Philbin was unaware...

Here's WSVN's coverage from when the Wells Report was initially released...
WSVN-TV - 7NEWS Miam Ft. Lauderdale News, Weather, Deco

Dolphins Don't Get Their Funding Help From State, CEO Goes ON Pee-Ahr Offensive

((HT: WSVN-TV))

And the owner of the Dolphins is stomping mad right now...

The Florida Legislature decided to call "sine die" on their session before rendering any kind of vote on the renovation issue-slash-funding request by the Dolphins on Sun Life Stadium.

A Florida Senate proposal would have allowed each sports team that uses (or could use) state stadia to compete for a share of state tax dollars. But the House, led by Speaker Will Weatherford, refused to bring up the legislation. The team wanted to start renovations, for somewhere in the neighborhood of $350-million, so the stadium could be in contention for Super Bowls coming up for bid and review in May.

The renovation, which wold have included replacing all of the stadium’s seats and installing a partial roof, would have taken a little less than two years to complete.

Team CEO Mike Dee went on WFOR-TV to explain the team's issues:


So Stephen Ross is not investing any more money into the stadium, and here's the money quote (figuratively and literally) from Dee in the interview:

Dee claimed that Weatherford promised him on four separate occasions that he would allow the bill to be brought up for a vote.

“Something happened late in the process that caused him to change his mind,” Dee said. “We suspect it’s a pure political decision. He is choosing politics over the right of the voters of Miami Dade County to decide this issue and that’s a shame.”

And there is a thought, however fleeting, that Ross might bail on ownership and the new guy would have to decide about long-term ownership in Miami as a city...

The full interview with Dee is hyah...