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SWEEPING CHANGES" COMING IN MIAMI

A source with knowledge of the situation in South Florida tells us that "sweeping changes" are most likely coming for the Dolphins. And soon.

Coach Cam Cameron? Out. General Manager Randy Mueller? Out as soon as Monday, even though he's been doing research all year for free agency and the draft.

We're told that Parcells already has been working directly with the league office to obtain the appropriate permissions to hire Cowboys V.P. of college and pro scouting Jeff Ireland.

As Peter King of SI.com pointed out earlier in the week in his MMQB column, Parcells' contract makes clear that he merely is the overseer of the football operations.

"We set it up so the general manager I hire will have that authority. I want to make it clear: I don't want to be the general manager. I don't want to be the head coach. I told Wayne [Huizenga] that very clearly. I don't think it will be an issue.''

If it is an issue -- if the league concludes that Parcells has final say over personnel -- then the Fins might have trouble finding a G.M. Under league rules, a team is not required to allow a front office employee to leave unless he will have final say in his new job.

So if it's determined that the Tuna has the juice, the only guys he'll be able to hire are guys who are permitted by their teams to leave, or who have contracts that specifically allow a premature departure.

And even if a guy is in the final year of his contract, most front office deals run through the draft.

With all that said, there's a growing sense in some circles that Parcells will get Ireland, and that the pair will work together in reshaping the front office.

Another source tells us that the fates of Mueller and Cameron have been sealed by people telling the Tuna that the current G.M. and coach don't burn the midnight fish oil in South Florida. Parcells, a workaholic, doesn't like the idea of guys not doing all they can to win.

> Posted by hfialkov at 8:42:18 PM
Former ESPN analyst Bill Parcells - now the head of Dolphins football operations - is loyal to the end to his former employers as he told ESPN Friday that he hopes to make his decision on whether to replace Dolphins coach Cam Cameron and/or GM Randy Mueller, "quickly,'' to be, "fair" to those guys.

Parcells said he would be working over the weekend, meaning the ax could come as early as Monday, a tough way to bring in the New Year for either Cameron or Mueller.

It's no secret that Parcells has a history of bringing in past associates, and he is apparently looking toward Dallas, his last stop, to fill both positions. Parcells is high on Cowboys vice president of college and pro scouting Jeff Ireland for the GM spot, and assistant head coach Tony Sparano for Cameron's job. Parcells would be able to interview both next week, the Cowboys' bye week.

Parcells is also believed to be targeting Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley for a role on his staff.

Parcells said Thursday that he only met Cameron once before and that their mutual friend, college basketball coaching icon Bobby Knight, held "Cam in high regard.'' But don't bet for a second that will play a role in Parcells' decision.

He also said he has had pass dealings with Mueller when Randy was running the Saints and Seahawks drafts, but their drafting philosophies don't seem to mesh.

Every time Parcells mentioned, "the coach" or "the general manager", Thursday he never used Cameron's or Mueller's name. Hmm.

So it seems the players aren't the only ones auditioning for jobs on Sunday. And it's quite possible that it's too late for Cameron and Mueller, who could be cleaning out their offices at the same time the players are cleaning out their lockers.

Bill Parcells sat at Sunday's game at Dolphin Stadium with good friend and retired Green Bay Packers General Manager Ron Wolf.

CAMERON TELLS TEAM HE'S COMING BACK

Though everyone expects Fins coach Cam Cameron to be fired, a league source tells us that Cameron told the team after Sunday's season-ending loss to the Bengals that he'll return as the team's coach in 2008.

(Hey, we thought that teams were no longer serving alcohol in the locker room.)

Even if by some miracle Bill Parcells decides not to fire Cameron, there's no way that Cameron knew it at any point on Sunday. Unless, of course, Parcells lied to Cameron in order to loosen him up.

Either way, the Cameron termination watch is officially on.


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POSTED 9:10 p.m. EST, December 30, 2007

IRELAND "DEFINITELY" GETTING FINS' GIG

The same source that told us that Dolphins G.M. Randy Mueller "definitely" will be fired tells us that Cowboys V.P. of college and pro scouting "definitely" will be installed as the new General Manager in Miami.

Despite reports that the Cowboys might try to delay the move until after the 2008 draft, the reality is that, if Ireland is getting final say over personnel, the Dolphins can immediately hire him.

And because Bill Parcells' contract makes clear the fact that he doesn't have final say, it's highly unlikely that the Cowboys will be able to block the move. Though no one believes that Parcells won't exert authority over Ireland, how is that any different than the authority than the owner has over his staff?

Like any other G.M., Ireland will have final say. And there will be times where he might use it at his own peril.

We're also hearing rumblings that Mueller has already been fired. Stay tuned.

Lane1974 wrote:also, good to hear Ireland can come immediately