For the second straight season, an NFL coach has been fired after losing in London in Week 4.
The Dolphins fired coach Joe Philbin, the team announced Monday. The Philbin era is over after 24 wins, 28 losses, no playoff appearances and one improbable contract extension at the end of last season.
"This was a tough decision for me to make knowing how tirelessly Joe worked in his four years here to make this a winning team," owner Stephen Ross said in a statement via the team's website. "He is a man of the highest character and integrity that I developed a close personal relationship with. I am extremely disappointed with how we have started the season, but I feel confident that we can improve quickly with the talent we have on our roster."
The team's record this season was poor, considering Miami's high expectations, but it was the way that the Dolphins lost that likely cost Philbin his job. Miami had the worst home opener in franchise history against Rex Ryan's Bills last week and the Dolphins were just as overmatched Sunday against the Jets in London. The 27-14 loss to former Dolphins assistant Todd Bowles was misleading. Miami could not move the ball all day except by penalty, and the defensive line had its fourth straight no show game.
NFL Network's Steve Wyche said Monday morning that players did not view Philbin with the respect usually accorded a head coach. He had a hard time relating to players.
Philbin dealt with many difficult issues in his tenure of nearly four years. The Richie Incognito bullying scandal helped torpedo the 2013 season. The Dolphins also collapsed in December in each of the last two seasons when they were in position for the playoffs.
This year was supposed to be different because of the continuity on offense and the big defensive line talent. But the Dolphins are in the basement of the AFC East and they have little direction on offense or defense. Even the Dolphins' only win of the season in Week 1 came on a day when the offense couldn't move the ball and they were outgained by Washington.
"We've been going out there, and practicing our (tails) off every day, but as players, we're tired of being embarrassed," one member of the Dolphins told Getlin last week. "If we get beat in Europe, (players) are going to throw in the towel. It isn't the players. We have all the talent in the world."
Ross sent a message Monday that he doesn't believe it was about the players, either. It's on them to prove he was right.
