Jeff Ireland's Miami Dolphins contract extended

General manager Jeff Ireland long has been a public target of ridicule for Miami Dolphins fans. If the team's 3-0 start hasn't changed attitudes, perhaps the following news will: Ireland isn't going anywhere.

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NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday that during the offseason, Ireland and the Dolphins agreed on an extension that will keep the GM under contract through at least the 2014 season, according to a team source. The Miami Herald first reported the news.

He's not in a "contract year" after all.

The release of the information is conveniently timed. If we learned in the offseason that Ireland was extended, a lot of fans would be upset. Now that his offseason moves are paying off, it's a good time for the team to remind everyone that Ireland knows what he's doing.

Wins, not contract terms, provide the best security in the NFL. If the Dolphins somehow stumbled the rest of the season to an ugly finish, Ireland still might lose his job. We just don't expect that to happen.

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Ryan Tannehill is one of the best young quarterbacks in football. It's easy to argue that Tannehill has outplayed the rest of the talented quarterbacks 25 years old and under early this season.

Ireland selected Tannehill, just like he selected many of the Dolphins' promising defensive players. His free-agent signing of Brent Grimes looks like one of the best moves of the offseason.

This felt like a "playoffs or bust" season for Ireland before it started. So far, so good.

The "Around the League" Podcast broke down every Week 3 game. Click here to listen and describe.