We won't know until things progress as to whether this move was good, great, or a horrible idea altogether.

What we do know is that it largely removes Ross from football operations which is a plus.
We are being told that the structure seems to allow our GM Hickey to concentrate on the one thing he's been best at: scouting.
We can also infer that with Tannenbaum in place (as opposed to Ross himself) we will have a better chance of acquiring coaching/coordinating talent down the road.

People can try to throw stones but at this point I think most things make sense. Will the draft be as good as last year? Will we be able to figure out our WR contracts? Will we be able to establish some cap room? Will we do anything in FA that improves the roster and lessens the number of needs going into the draft?

We'll just have to wait and see with all of that.

 

not sure what the big deal is, doesn't have to be a black or white issue. Hickey can still control the roster, but his boss gets to make sure he has conversations with him on the decisions to ensure it's the best decision.

I control the research that goes on in my program, but I still run key decisions by my head of research. Discussing by committee can help make difficult decisions easier sometimes. The key is whether there is trust developing between Hickey and Tannebaum. If it is, then I can see that the 3-way can work. If they don't trust each other, then it can implode.

 

There's nothing inherently contradictory about all decisions being made collectively and one man having the final authority, at least not in terms of everyone having a say, bringing something to the table, even having a decision making process etc. In the end it comes down to who gets to be the tie-breaker. If that's Hickey then yes, he is in charge. Of course, this is all theoretical. The reality will be what it will be.

Everything I've read on this suggests a balance that at least sounds positive - Hickey knows talent evaluation, MT knows team building and adds a level critique or balance to decisions made. If that sort of complementary process is the way forward here then I think that's the best we can hope for in all this, and it stands a chance of producing something good. If this is all just double-speak, though, or if they can't get on, then it could end up as a too-many-cooks situation.

 

Admittedly this is confusing but I doubt it's all that confusing inside the facilities.

I work in an environment like this. There's what is really happening, and then there is what you have to say is happening for looks. The Dolphins are forced to give the league some BS explanation involving a division of responsibilities and Hickey reporting to Tannenbaum on this stuff but to Ross on this stuff, etc...and the league is going to let them get away with it as long as they keep up the lie.

But the reality is, Dennis Hickey reports to Mike Tannenbaum. On everything. Hickey has the authority to make personnel moves, but Mike Tannenbaum has the authority to fire Dennis. So Hickey will report on all planned moves to Tannenbaum, who will be involved in all meetings and back and forth discussion. He'll probably be present during the setting of the draft board. And since Tannenbaum is boss, his will is going to be weighted quite heavily in all outcomes.

Tannenbaum has gone out of his way to make it clear that Dennis Hickey works for him now, even if (wink, wink) he reports directly to Steve Ross (who isn't even in the building most days) on roster matters.

The primary question to me is whether Tannenbaum plans to watch film or not. If he's not watching film then he really is deferring to Hickey on personnel matters. If he's watching film then he's going to have opinions, and every one of his opinions will carry the weight of "I can't cut/sign/draft this player for you Dennis, but I can cut/sign you."

 

Stephen Ross is the owner. **** flows downhill. What else do we need to know?

 

Yet another reason why the Rooney rule, while well intentioned, just doesn't work.

 

The bottom line is this: the person who has the power to hire and fire the GM is the person in charge, that person in Miami is Mike Tannenbaum. The rest is BS.

 

That's right. There is SOME nuance involved. When things aren't necessarily crystal clear and in writing, then they're subject to power struggle, the outcome of which depends on the footing of the parties involved. But in this case Hickey is on weak footing. For whatever reason. Tannenbaum is on strong footing. So Hickey will do what Tannenbaum wants unless he wants to get fired, which evidently they're "this close" to doing anyway.

Biggest question really is whether Mike Tannenbaum plans to watch film on college and pro players. If not then personnel power remains in Hickey's hands even despite being kneecapped like this. If Tannenbaum plans to watch film though, then he'll unavoidably develop opinions on players, and his opinions will naturally carry the most weight.

 

"I have 8 bosses, Bob"

 

Reading this thread makes me realize why it is that Ross thinks he can abuse the fans of this team and desecrate and discard the history if this franchise into oblivion.

It is because once the season ends, fans pretty much forget how bad we were, and start defending absurd decisions, and getting optimistic and ready for another season of abuse...

 

To me it seems obvious Tannebaum will be in charge of everything, but Ross just kind of wants him to oversee Hickey and Philbin for a year. If they end up not in the playoffs again, out Philbin and Hickey go and Tannebaum will be fully in charge. Just my opinion, but at least it's better than Ross making all the decisions.

 

Great point, we'll make some desperate moves in FA and after the draft and you'll see the same fans that predict playoffs every year do so yet again only to be let down yet again.

 

Yeah, I expect a lot of the same from certain "fans."

 

Lol yup, they will be out in full force until week 15-17 hit, Miami gets eliminated and we are watching other teams in the playoffs again...