Brady to Dolphins? Ross selling the team? Dolphins owner goes on record about both
Stephen Ross said late Friday afternoon that he will own the Dolphins “until I die,” shooting down a published report earlier in the day that suggested he was considering selling to owner-in-waiting Bruce Beal this offseason.
Pro Football Talk wrote Friday, citing anonymous sources, that “some believe Ross may decide to sell much sooner than later, with Beal buying the team and selling a sliver of it to [Tom] Brady. (At least one league source has suggested that a sale to Beal is possible not long after Miami’s concludes its Super Bowl hosting duties.)“
But Ross poured freezing water on both ideas — that he’s ready to get out of the NFL and that the Dolphins are going to pursue Brady if the star quarterback reaches free agency — during and after his appearance at the Bloomberg Power Players Summit in Miami Friday.
“I have no interest in selling the team,” Ross told reporters . “Zero. Got it? People can write what they want to write. I’m going to own it until I die.”
As for the Brady-to-Miami speculation, which ramped up even more this week when Brady cryptically posted a picture of him walking out of the tunnel at what appears to be Gillette Stadium, Ross told the audience when asked about it:
“I’ve heard he’s going to be a free agent, but we’re not allowed to talk to him until sometime in March and we’re a team now that’s building. I don’t know why he’d really want to come to the Dolphins. He’s probably one of the fiercest competitors there is and we’re at the stage with the Dolphins where we’re trying to build a team for the future.”
Ross later said the reporters: “We’re building. He’s a fierce competitor, he’s a great quarterback. He’s the greatest of all time. I don’t know why that’s the question everybody’s writing about. Hey, people need something to write about.”
Plus, the Dolphins already have a bridge quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick, who confirmed Friday that he’s returning for a 16th season. Fitzpatrick is under contract in 2020, and insisted during an interview on WQAM that he’s on-board with serving as a mentor to Tua Tagovailoa or whichever quarterback the Dolphins draft in April.
Asked about Tagovailoa, who hasn’t been shy about his interest in coming to Miami, Ross said: “I’ve been down there to see him. Tua’s a great player. I just worry about his health.”
While Ross has no plans to sell, the succession plan remains intact, with Beal set to buy the team when Ross — who turns 80 in May — passes away. Beal is a top lieutenant at Ross’ Related Companies and has had an increased presence in and around the process over the past four years.
Ross has owned the Dolphins since 2009, when he bought the team from Wayne Huizenga for a total of $1.1 billion. It has more than doubled in value in the 11 years since, thanks in large part to his $750 million infusion into Hard Rock Stadium and the surrounding property. The Super Bowl on Sunday will be held in South Florida for the first time since Ross funded the massive capital improvement project.
Ross has gotten the celebrity treatment this week, appearing at the Bloomberg summit Friday after a luncheon during which he was recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He’s also being recognized by agent Leigh Steinberg Saturday for his humanitarian work.
This story was originally published January 31, 2020 at 5:52 PM.
