I hate to drag us back to a dark time in team history, but I need some input on a question I thought was settled until speaking with an intern at work who is also a Dolphins fan. The question is a simple one: Who was responsible for Miami's drafts in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003? We agree that Spielman had control in 2004, but one of us thinks Wannstedt was responsible for 2000-2003 while the other thinks that was also Spielman. Which one is right?
As far as I can remember, Spielman took complete control or sort of complete control in 2004 and suppose to have been making final decisions... Dave was the one who made the final decisions on the team from 2000-2003, while he did discuss the personnel with Spielman and the scouts...
Jimmy left after the embarrasment of the 99 Post Season game at Jacksonville... I know I was there after the game pushing him out... That was the first and last Post Seaon away game I went to, since I wanted to see the greates Dolphin QB in his last game... I still have my ticket stub...
Great! NOW how am i suppose to sleep tonight? Im gonna have nightmares of Wannestache!!! Thanks JJ! In all seriousness, I think Wannestedt was responsible for 80% of his entire tenure. I dont think Spielman completely to blame, I do think Wanny pressured him into trading for RBs and probably thought AJ Feeley was something. And with the odd rearranging of the hierarchy i think kinda opened a vaccum of true leadership on this team, suddenly Wanny was losing his legitmacy as a head coach and Spielman as a GM. This took years to figure out until we got the Trifecta.
It was definitely Wannstedt until Spielman's one year in 2004. I remember an article stating that Spielman got the "final say" personnel position by showing Huizenga examples of where he graded players in the draft differently than Wannstedt. Specifically Anquan Boldin ahead of Jamar Fletcher in 2003. This suggested to me that while Wannstedt and Spiels collaborated from 2000-2003, Wannstedt was responsible for picking the players.
This is correct. Rick had his share of blunders, but Wannstedt prevented Rick from making some potentially great picks and avoiding some legendary busts (Brees over Fletcher, Boldin over Moore, Hasselbeck).
It was Wannstedt making decision from 2000-2003 and Spielman in 2004. I still remember the day Wannstedt resigned from Head Coach. I didn't know whether to be happy or mad, because I was so young. Then Jim Bates took over, and did pretty damn good as our interim coach.
Thanks so much, guys. I now have an intern to shame. I also get to bask in the warmness of knowing my memory of the dark age was correct.
