DAVIE, Fla. – Miami Dolphins fans took it to the streets Tuesday.
About 30 agitated Dolfans stood outside the team headquarters Tuesday afternoon holding signs begging the team to fire general manager Jeff Ireland and urging motorists to honk their horns in support of the movement.
There was so much horn blowing you’d have thought it was a traffic jam.
“Ireland sucks!” one passing motorist yelled.
Team spokesman Harvey Greene said in a statement, "We have the most passionate fans in football, and they are not shy about letting their sentiments be known. We understand and are working hard on giving them something to cheer about this season."
The Miami Dolphins have endured three consecutive losing seasons for the first time since the 1960s, they’ve only made one playoff appearance in the past 10 years, and they haven’t been to a Super Bowl in 27 years.
Fans are frustrated at what they perceive as mismanagement of their beloved team. A franchise once known for Hall of Fame names such as Shula, Csonka and Marino now features Philbin, Moore and Garrard.
Ireland called several reporters to explain a series of decisions that have drawn national ridicule and asked fans for patience.
"I'm not naive to the fact of what's out there," he told The Associated Press as fans protested across the street.
"We're only halfway through the process," he said. "It includes the draft and more free agency."
But Lisa Nadell, who has had season tickets since 1983, is about out of patience.
“Ireland doesn’t know what he’s doing,” she said
Don’t doubt Nadell’s dedication. She calls herself the Mayor of Section 156. Her daughter was breast-fed at the stadium. Her mother’s ashes were spread at their seats and at the 50-yard line.
“My mother would be right here,” Nadell said.
Tuesday’s protest, which organizers estimate totaled 60 or 70 people, was the brainchild of 25-year-old Dolphins fans Evan Hirsch and Matthew Cozzo. They organized the event on Twitter roughly 48 hours earlier.
They finally reached their tipping point Sunday. They were watching TV when . . .
“All of a sudden it said, ‘Flynn to Seattle,’ ” Cozzo said.
Flynn, of course, is quarterback Matt Flynn, the former Green Bay Packer who was coveted by the Dolphins.
“Another rejection,” Cozzo said.
Another in a long line of rejections for Dolphins fans, a proud collection of folks who haven’t seen their team get to a Super Bowl since the 1984 season and have only had one playoff appearance in the past 10 years.
The Dolphins have recently been rejected by San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh, St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher, new Denver quarterback Peyton Manning, and Flynn, the new Seattle quarterback.
In the past few weeks they weren’t able to work a trade to acquire the No. 2 pick in the draft, which they could have used to get Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, the Heisman Trophy winner. They traded away wide receiver Brandon Marshall, perhaps the team’s best playmaker, without replacing him, and they cut popular strong safety Yeremiah Bell after telling him two weeks ago they wouldn’t even need to re-structure his contract.
Making things worse, the team talked big and delivered relatively little. After firing coach Tony Sparano, owner Steve Ross said he wanted to hire the next “young Don Shula.” They didn’t. They hired 51-year-old Joe Philbin, the former Green Bay offensive coordinator. Ross also said during this off-season he wanted to acquire a “franchise quarterback.” So far they’ve signed 34-year-old David Garrard.
"The batting average is never going to be 1.000," Ireland told The Associated Press. "There are 31 other teams doing the same thing. It's a very competitive environment. When it comes to the quarterback position, there are only a few out there. ... I'd rather go to the effort to add players like Peyton Manning, even if it doesn't work out. I don't apologize for going out and trying to get Peyton."
Ireland declined to say whether another quarterback might be acquired.
"I don't think we're done with the process, so I'm not disappointed," Ireland said. "Have we hit on everything we attempted? No. But we've brought some pieces on board."
