Greg Cote

IN MY OPINION

Let’s grade South Florida’s four pro teams: Top pick is obvious

 
 

Miami Heat's Juwan Howard, reacts as owner Micky Arison greets Mike Miller as they celebrate the championship on stage after winning game 5 of the NBA finals between the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder, at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami on Thursday, June 21, 2012.
Miami Heat's Juwan Howard, reacts as owner Micky Arison greets Mike Miller as they celebrate the championship on stage after winning game 5 of the NBA finals between the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder, at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami on Thursday, June 21, 2012.
Pedro Portal / Staff Photo
WEB VOTE Who is your favorite coach/manager of a South Florida professional team?

gcote@MiamiHerald.com

There is speculation Guillen’s job is less than safe. I have to believe he’ll be back but that personnel guy Larry Beinfest will lose his power or his job as a scapegoat for this nightmarish, last-place season.

The Marlins have some very nice pieces to build around – mostly Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Reyes – but they must deliver results that show in the standings or that jewel of a new stadium will continue unfilled.

Some advice for the Loria/Samson/Guillen triumvirate: Turn down the volume. Less talking, more winning.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (Grade: D)

There may be reasons at last for beleaguered, starving Dolfans to be hopeful, embodied by promising rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill, but right now the regime of owner Stephen Ross and general manager Jeff Ireland must be judged harshly.

I don’t include new coach Joe Philbin, who in fairness should be seen as a promising hire until he proves otherwise.

To his credit, at least Ross admitted his P.R. blunder and has done away with the infamous orange carpet and his obsession with parading his celebrity part-owners onto the JumboTron screen during games.

But until we see consistent results on the field that change the perception of this club and the narrative, Ross and Ireland will be known for their failures, such as very publicly going after Jim Harbaugh, then Jeff Fisher, then Peyton Manning, and getting none of them. That’s not to mention the various ill-fated draft picks or free-agent signings, or the fact Ireland is sending a rookie QB to battle without a premier receiver.

When your last playoff victory was in 2000 you are a desperate franchise. I keep hearing rumors Ross may be interested in selling the team. I’m not sure I’d blame him. Meantime, Ireland’s future here certainly should be considered tenuous. His unpopularity showed during Sunday’s game with a heated exchange between the GM and heckling fans. Ireland’s track record has been spotty to say the least and fans are sick of it.

Now, so much rides on Tannehill. If this kid hits big, the club has a chance to turn the corner and Ireland has a chance to save his job. If Tannehill falls short and isn’t the savior this club so needs, Ireland can’t logically survive here.

Interesting times for all four of our big pro teams, top to bottom.

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