In case you were wondering what Jeff Ireland had to say in Miami today, here's a transcript
(Opening statement):
"I would like to take the opportunity to one tell everyone how excited I am for this opportunity. It's a great chance for me and it's a great chance for the Dolphins in my opinion. This is one of the more storied franchises in all of professional sports. It's a premier franchise in the National Football League and I'm excited to have the opportunity. My commitment is to try to rebuild this franchise to put it back on top of one the division and two the conference, so I'm excited to have the opportunity. I appreciate Mr. Huizenga and the Dolphin organization and I'm looking forward to working with each person in the organization."
(On how much he has looked forward to this day):
"Obviously, this is what you do in this business. It's my ambition. I'm obviously very thankful to the Huizengas and for Bill. It's a great opportunity and I'm very much looking forward to it."
(On football being in his blood):
"Well, it has been in my blood. I've been around pro football my entire life, as a little kid. I just can't tell you how much I'm ... It's in my blood, my mom and dad and my grandfather. I've been a ballboy for the Bears when I was 10. Hey, I've been around it for a long time."
(On what makes him so compatible with Parcells):
"We communicate very well together. We both share a tremendous passion for football and we both have a tremendous work ethic towards achieving our goals and we both share a similar philosophy on how to go about achieving those goals."
(On where he starts in fixing a team that went 1-15):
"Well, you start by one knowing your team, evaluating what's here, and then you've got to know where you're going from that direction. Sitting down with our personnel staff and getting their strengths and weaknesses on our staff is my first priority, and getting someone in place here that shares the same philosophical opinions that we have."
(On the process of releasing Cam Cameron):
"Well, it was a pretty simple process. Bill had a chance to visit with Cam. Bill and I talked at length yesterday about what direction we're going. We just felt like in order to move forward and not look back that we needed someone in place that shared the same philosophical compatibilities that we shared."
(On what was incompatible):
"Well, we really didn't know the guy that well, and so form that point we were going to try to get someone that does share those things and we weren't completely sold that he did."
(On what those things are):
"Well, we want to build a culture around here, and we're going to try to put a culture in place that shares the same opinions that we do. You'll see those things. We won't have to talk about them. We want strong character around here, we want passionate football players. We like prototypical size football players, but those are the simple things. You'll see the differences. You'll see what our philosophy is. I don't have to tell you about all those things, you'll be able to see those things."
(On his impressions of this year's Dolphins):
"This season? Well, I know they had some injuries. I know that they were struggling on both sides of the ball. When we played them they were very competitive. I would say that's one thing these kids are going to be good around here is they're all competitive kids. Luck has a lot to do with it; the ball bounces a different way. But just looking at it from afar, we've just got to put the right person in place."
(On his title in Dallas and his responsibilities):
"No, I did not have final say in Dallas. Jerry Jones had final say in Dallas; there are no bones about that. I ran the draft process in getting all the pieces in place. I made strong recommendations to the owner and the head coach and strong recommendations in terms of free agency, but Jerry had final say there."
(On where finding a quarterback falls on the priority list):
"I think it's very high on the priority list. You've got to have a quarterback. You look at the teams that are in the playoffs, everybody has a quarterback and those quarterbacks are playing at a high level, so it's going to be very high."
(On Miami's current quarterback situation):
"We're still in the process of evaluating. I know Beck from the college draft last year, but I've got to sit down and really evaluate what you have here and we'll make those decisions."
(On if he was high on Beck):
"Sure, we were high on Beck, absolutely."
(On a how soon he will hire a head coach):
"We're going to try to make a quick decision but we don't have a timetable set."
(On what he's looking for besides sharing philosophy):
"Well, I think you said it for me. I think it's one that shares the same philosophy that we have; one that's compatible for what we're looking for here and one that shares the same opinions we do about finding, developing and coaching the team."
(On if it will be someone they have worked with in the past):
"There'll be some of those guys for sure. We'll have a broad range of candidates I'm sure. We'll look into every possibility and we'll make a decision based on familiarity and who's a good football coach."
(On if he will talk to Tony Sparano in the next few days):
"I'm not sure yet."
(On his respect for Sparano):
"Obviously, I've been with Tony for four or five years so I have very high regard for Tony."
(On if a new coaching staff rules Miami out of coaching the Senior Bowl):
"Yes."
(On ranking the reasons behind letting Cameron go):
"I think the philosophical compatibility probably is number one, and two, Bill and I both were not real familiar with him and then the 1-15 record was probably third."
(On when Cam was told and what his reaction was):
"This morning, and he was a perfect gentleman and a high class man."
(On his first impressions of Wayne Huizenga as an owner after coming from Jerry Jones):
"Well, you know, whenever you get into a position that I'm in you do a lot of due diligence on the process. I obviously did a lot of due diligence. I talked to Jason Garrett and obviously Bill knows him very well, so my first impression of him was 'Wow.' What a gentleman. He's obviously been successful in every endeavor he's been in and just, wow would be the first impression."
(On his vision of the football team he's trying to build here):
"The vision of the football team will be discipline; will be passionate football players, highly competitive. We'll have a culture that's about winning and we'll be a big football team, too."
(On how the draft will be run):
"Well, I have final say over all personnel decisions."
(On the status of the other assistant coaches):
"There's a possibility that they can be retained, it's going to depend on the new head coach. But they are free to seek employment."
(On if he has decided on the rest of his scouting staff):
"No, I have not."
(On where he is in the search process for the head coach and if he will satisfy the Rooney Rule):
"We're still meeting on that, but absolutely. We'll be in compliance of all NFL rules. We'll have a broad range of candidates."
(On if he feels pressure to turn it around):
"Sure, you obviously feel pressure. I know Bill feels pressure. I feel pressure. We have a big job here and I can tell you that no stone will go unturned in the process of rebuilding this process."
(On what a practical timetable is):
"I don't know. You guys can probably decide that."
(On his release from Dallas):
"I think it went extremely smooth. The permission slip came in. Jerry called me, said we're going to release you. Jerry is a man of his word and it was easy."
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Comments
Posted by S L @ 12:57 PM Thu, Jan 03, 2008
Philosophical differences? Players of a certain size? So what are we to infer from this - that Cam Cameron liked losing with small players?
best part - "we really didn't know the guy that well...we weren't completely sold that he did [shared our philosophies]..."
This comes down to one thing - in a one hour interview Cam Cameron failed to impress Bill Parcells and suffers the unfortunate fate of not having had a dad who was a coach (apparently step-fathers don't count). and never ever being involved in any of parcells' coaching family trees. I wonder if Parcells buddy Bobby Knight had some dirt on him from his basketball days.
Or maybe Cam really thought Trent Green was worth waiting for.
Just more typical Parcells bs, to me - don't know him, don't trust him, don't need him. Offense schmoffense, we're going to have offense covered.
Sparano's in. and so is Keyshawn. And maybe even Vinny...
Posted by Teddy @ 1:12 PM Thu, Jan 03, 2008
On top of the division? Good luck, Jeff. Are you sure you and Parcells are better that Scott and Bellichick? Tom Brady is just over 30. Few of the Miami starters can crack the starting lineup of New England. Miami won't be on top of the division within four years for the Parcells contract period.
Ireland and Parcells, please look into the mirror. With a much much weaker rosters than New England, how can you guys compete with Belichick and Scott Pioli of New England? They won't stay still there either.
Posted by JJGM (Not!) @ 1:37 PM Thu, Jan 03, 2008
When Bill Parcells is done taking away all those guys Jerry the idiot forgot to promote, he will leave our cheap pimp alone.
Till then, bend over Jerrah. Parcells is football royalty. Jerry, a rich pimp who stayed at the Football Holiday Inn last night.
Jerrah spent $20MM on Parcells to rebuild the Cowboys and in a period of 12 months we have gone from Dom Perignon to Malt Liquor. All because our idiot pimp owner does not understand he is not a GM. Not in this life or the next.
February 1994 all over again.
Posted by S L @ 2:42 PM Thu, Jan 03, 2008
If Dom Perignon was a wild card and Malt Liquor is a #1 seed, I'll take a case of Mickey's big mouth any day. Yes, please!
Posted by RichardScribe @ 6:25 PM Thu, Jan 03, 2008
So, now that Parcells and Ireland are in Miami, how soon can we expect Dallas to trade the biggest waste of a first round draft pick (i.e. LB Bobby Carpenter) to Miami and try to finally get something of value for that pick?
Posted by Mr Rogers @ 7:36 PM Thu, Jan 03, 2008
Within the 3 years, to be on the Miami roster, and getting WAY TOO MUCH playing time:
Grampaverde, Julius Jones, Anthony Fasano, Keyshawn, Pat McQuistan, Doug Free, Kyle Kosier, Marcus Spears, Jason Ferguson, Bobby Carpenter, Anthony Spencer, Kevin Burnett and Pat Watkins. That "nucleus" of "Parcells guys" may be able to compete with the Jets, but not the rest of the league. With this semi-dynamic duo, Miami will be lucky to be the 4th best football team in Florida, after the Jags, Bucs and Gators.
It's such a blow to see Ireland go to the Fish: Thank's for Demarcus Ware, Barber, oh yeah, and also for the remaining 25 draft picks you wasted.
Posted by JJGM (Not!) @ 8:12 PM Thu, Jan 03, 2008
Mr Rogers,
Clearly you are upset over 12 Pro Bowlers Parcells developed. Errr, 11 -- we all know Roy is a ham sandwhich.
But more importantly, Parcells is smart enough to not make a mistake twice with little girlies like Julia Jones and Marcia Spears.
But I can't expect fannies who eat up Dallas mediot crap to think Parcells may actually know something. You complain he sucked but celebrate 13-3 and 12 Probowlers. Go figure.
Posted by Vox Veritas @ 8:53 PM Thu, Jan 03, 2008
As soon as they get a winning record, Huizenga will personally cut pricey contracts and sell the team.
Posted by Vox Veritas @ 8:54 PM Thu, Jan 03, 2008
As soon as they get a winning record, Huizenga will personally cut pricey contracts and sell the team.
Posted by jtt @ 9:32 PM Thu, Jan 03, 2008
Whinny and sour grapes.........BP and Ireland have their work cut out with Bellicheat sharing space in that division, but you Jones supporters will once again be witness to the Al Davis school of running down a club by an owner that just cannot stay away from the limelight...as someone previously stated, February 1994 all over again, except this time we kind of know how things will end up 2-4 years down the road.
Parcells has a system that he beleives in and from Ireland's comments he has a faithful protege; please note that he spoke total unalduterated truth when he stated at his press conference that Jones had the final say in personnel matters thus you now also know why we cut Aaron Glen in September and kept Alan Ball "Cowboys had all their 07 draft choices make the team this year (without BP's help?)"....Jerry being egomaniacal.....my guess would be that most of the loser draft picks over the past four years were Jones' picks except for the Carpernter disaster in 06.
For all of us Cowboy fans sakes I hope that history will not repeat itself (will gladly eat my words if Jones has an epiphany and relents or shares drafting decisions to a true football man) but do not hold your breath!!
I am now afraid that the 5-11 predictions on this blog are indeed on the not-too-distant future.....
Posted by DBAR @ 10:12 PM Thu, Jan 03, 2008
Strong character and passionate football players.(?) He actually said that then went and re signed Ricky Williams. He should be fired right away for lieing. He better work fast because the New Jersey con-man is already getting tired and not sure if he wants to be around football anymore. Jerry Jones, thanks for being our owner and GM I love it. All you Jerry bashers please find another team.
P.S. Bill please take your friends son, Bobby Carpenter and give us our first round draft pick back.
Posted by Gary @ 2:23 PM Fri, Jan 04, 2008
Most of the above comments are simply proof you don't know anything. We won't know anything until a year or two go by, and really 3 or 4. A bunch of pissing and moaning is all it is.