Owners at Fault for Falcons, Dolphins Woe

By SEAN JENSEN,
AOL
Posted: 2008-01-19 02:53:55
Filed Under: NFL, Voices
Sports Commentary

Arthur Blank and Wayne Huizenga are two of the nation's top businessmen.

Photo Gallery: Parcells Quiz

Matt Slocum, AP

Bill Parcells has had a distinguished career as a head coach in the NFL. Now he will try his hand as a front office executive in Miami. Take our quiz to see how well you know the career of this living legend.

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But the owners of the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins share another distinction: they are the NFL's two worst owners.

Just as profit margins and shareholders trumpet Blank and Huizenga as champions of their industries, victories and fans suggest they are failures in the NFL.

The Dolphins have the league's worst record, earning their first victory last Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, while the Falcons have the league's worst net point differential (minus 155). Beyond the glaring holes at key positions, both teams are both devoid of the most important of all, quarterback, and one setback always seems compounded by another.

All of this makes the companies that generated their billions all the more ironic: Home Depot and Waste Management.

Naturally, in the midst of crises, Blank searched for a handyman to fix his problems and Huizenga summoned someone to clean up his mess.

They both determined Bill Parcells to be their man, and Huizenga trumped Blank for the services of the two-time Super Bowl champion head coach.

But both owners have to address something else before either of their franchises advances out of the NFL dump: take a hard look in the mirror.


NFL owners, by nature, are competitive, and many of them amassed their fortunes by thinking outside the proverbial box. But convention consistently reigns in the NFL, which is why hundreds of millions have been wasted on these expensive toys. Blank and Huizenga handsomely paid Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino to leave their college programs. But between them, Saban and Petrino provided 18 wins in 45 games.

The media-savvy Blank always casts himself the victim. He was shocked by quarterback Michael Vick’s dog fighting revelation. He felt "abused" after Petrino bolted for Arkansas after just 13 games. And he lamented that Parcells, after reaching "an agreement in principle" with the Falcons on Tuesday night, changed his mind Wednesday.

But he's made some wretched decisions since he took over the club in 2002.

Former Falcons head coach Dan Reeves raised red flags about Vick, according to a league source. But Blank ignored those warnings and, before Vick even played at a consistent level, the owner rewarded the quarterback with a 10-year, $130 million contract, the most expensive and irresponsible deal in NFL history. Then, he relieved the solid Reeves of his duties in December 2003, and he hired general manager Rich McKay, a key part in building the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into a Super Bowl champion, days later.

McKay’s two handpicked head coaches: Petrino and Jim Mora Jr.

McKay is Blank’s latest scapegoat.

But instead of writing blank checks -- his team has the nicest training camp digs in the NFL -- Blank should take a long hard look at himself. Petrino has been vilified for leaving the Falcons after signing a five-year, $24 million contract with the Falcons in January. But Petrino’s agent, Russ Campbell, suggested to the Birmingham News that his client left partly because Blank was too meddlesome.

If that's the case, why is Blank viewed any different than Daniel Snyder? The Washington Redskins owner also pours money into his team, and his fingerprints are all over his burgundy and gold underachievers. But Blank is probably regarded in a different light, because he is more affable and accessible (he puts out more statements than his 31 peers combined).


"We will continue down the same overall path, proceeding with plans to hire a general manager and a head coach," Blank said in a rare statement. "We will identify and consider every strongly viable candidate for these positions, with the goal of hiring the best."

Hands-on owners can win championships (Jerry Jones and Al Davis are examples). But Blank would be wise to find someone and stay out of his way.

Huizenga is on the other end of the spectrum.

He is hands off, taking the Robert Kraft approach. But, unlike the New England Patriots owner, Huizenga hasn't still hasn’t found the right man to lead a once revered franchise. Jimmy Johnson won just two playoff games in four seasons, and the other three head coaches haven't led the Dolphins into the postseason since 2001.

The Dolphins are such a disaster that the team’s greatest player, Dan Marino, lasted only 22 days as senior vice president of football operations, and their personnel executives have executed some regrettable moves in free agency ($20 million in guarantees for Joey Porter?) and the league's draft (Ted Ginn Jr. ninth overall?).

The advice for both Blank and Huizenga: blow it up then build it up.

Parcells has a solid track record of regarding personnel. He played a key role in drafting Jason Witten and Marion Barber, and he preferred Shawne Merriman over Marcus Spears. He also has a good eye for coaching talent, grooming, among others, Bill Belichick and Sean Payton.

There are plenty of holes on the Falcons, as well. But Blank's most important decisions will be his next two. Who he hires, and where he goes on vacation.

Sean Jensen covers the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He can be reached at nothinbutlovefor@aol.com.

2008 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved.
2007-12-20 11:50:33
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dolfan713 07:27:00 PM Jan 04 2008

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I was born in 1965, the same year as the Dolphins were established.Of all people, I know what the Dolphins need.They need more WHITE GUYS! I'm not predudice but face the facts.The 72 Dolphins had 6 black starters,Superbowl 17 Dolphins had 8 black starters.It dosen't matter who the coach is (it should be me down there,I'll straighten that team out)just get more white guys if we want to get a winning season. Look at the (if your not cheating,your not trying) Patroits. Their offensive line,all white besides the TE.

aussie0303 03:33:15 PM Jan 04 2008

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Welcome to chamionship team Miami Dolphins. Unlike most "jump on the bandwagon" Ive been devoted to the Dolphins for 47 years (if thy had been around in 1961) being that they came alng later I joined the band wagon and NEVE fell off. Bill will take them back to chamions again in three yeas guaranteed .

hwt65 03:08:14 AM Jan 04 2008

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blank is a smart man and tried to believe in a punk .... he will provide the city with a winner in time....

lighthousecog 11:28:00 AM Dec 31 2007

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The fact that Huizenga does things the way he does is the main reason that Parcells wanted to go there, and why their head coaching position is still one of the most coveted in the NFL. Do you really think that the Lions, Rams, Cardinals, Texans, and Raiders will be among the elite ANY time soon? And they've all been bad for longer than Miami (except for Oakland - just as long). Come to think of it, you might want to stay away from writing abbout football altogether and find something you know something about.

lighthousecog 11:28:00 AM Dec 31 2007

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ARE YOU FREAKING KIDIDNG ME? Stay in Minnesota man where you MIGHT actually know something. How about the Vikings sex scandal? That hasn't happened in Miami. Where are the allegations of cheating against the Dolphins? In your incredibly narrow opinion, as long as you win you're a great owner - and even that doesn't justify your "logic". Huizenga has always gone after the best people available and I guarantee you weren't writing about what a "mistake" Saban or Johnson was when they were hired. Or Wannstedt when he went 11-5 and beat Manning and the Colts in the playoffs. But now you're an absolute genius because you can see that the team has problems for the past few years? The Dolphins have among the best practice facilities in the league, one of the best stadiums, the owner spends up to the cap on players and lets his football guys run things. They also run their operations with class and integrity.

lighthousecog 11:25:00 AM Dec 31 2007

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ARE YOU FREAKING KIDIDNG ME? Stay in Minnesota man where you MIGHT actually know something. How about the Vikings sex scandal? That hasn't happened in Miami. Where are the allegations of cheating against the Dolphins? In your incredibly narrow opinion, as long as you win you're a great owner - and even that doesn't justify your "logic". Huizenga has always gone after the best people available and I guarantee you weren't writing about what a "mistake" Saban or Johnson was when they were hired. Or Wannstedt when he went 11-5 and beat Manning and the Colts in the playoffs. But now you're an absolute genius because you can see that the team has problems for the past few years? The Dolphins have among the best practice facilities in the league, one of the best stadiums, the owner spends up to the cap on players and lets his football guys run things. They also run their operations with class and integrity. The fact that Huizenga does things the way he does is the main reason that Parcells wa

mcgrathlaw 11:47:30 PM Dec 29 2007

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This article is ridiculous; yes, the Dolphins have struggled lately but you can't possibly label the owner one of the worst 2. How about teams which have been bad for a decade or more, or bad for decades? Hello, Arizona, Cleveland, San Francisco, Detroit, etc.

republicansrudy 03:01:00 AM Dec 28 2007

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there is a god and his name is tuna bye bye cam and randy!

adlg3a 02:21:59 PM Dec 27 2007

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according to jimmy jhonson on foox TV he said he was tobalme for recomending
nix saban to huizinga but i don't now who to blame for this season!!,But if by the 3 game plan A don't work go to plan B right a way may be ?? the assisten coaches
offence they don't now or they are looking at the wrown films,LOOK in the Bright site we get to draf first in so many years! we can trait or keep,but don't give him the
House and the city with a car?? to me some of the players are there we need good mines,Huizinga has hire coaches to take them to the super bowl ,not the toilet Bowl
he told us when the Marlings enjoy the moment!! ,we did next year he desmantell the team. 1997 world champ,well lets wait and enjoy 2008 Happy New Year
Ari Delgado

josabeasley 12:41:23 PM Dec 27 2007

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Speaking of the Patriots...Who makes up their front line, defensive and offensive ?
What makes them special....what are their numerbers...strengths and weaknesses ?
Help us to get to know the character of those who make contact on every play and through their execution facillitate others to stardom.

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