Stars und Sternchen! » interviewing two Dolphins assistants Friday

Ryan Tannehill is hoping he’ll be the Miami Dolphins‘ quarterback again in 2019 Devin White Jersey , which may place him in the minority in South Florida.Long-suffering Dolphins fans are ready to move on, gauging from Twitter buzz and boos that rained down on Tannehill and his offense in last week’s dismal home finale.Detractors are likely to get their wish. Tannehill, who became Miami’s starting quarterback in 2012 and has still never taken a postseason snap, probably will play his final game for the franchise Sunday.His contract balloons to $18.7 million in base salary next year, when he would count $26.6 million against the salary cap, and the Dolphins are expected to seek a cheaper, younger alternative at quarterback.Tannehill, 30, shrugs off the uncertainty of the moment.“You can’t think about it,” he said Wednesday. “You can’t. What’s the good in wondering and pondering and wasting time? It’s out of my control. The powers that be will make those decisions L.J. Collier Jersey , and we’ll go from there.”Tannehill, 42-45 as a starter, wants to return.More Miami Dolphins newsDolphins sign hometown WR Allen Hurns to 1-year contractNew Dolphins coach Brian Flores has his own daily workout at training campDolphins assistant coach Jim Caldwell takes leave of absence to address health issuesTwo-time Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones rejoins Dolphins after skipping voluntary practicesDolphins QBs Josh Rosen, Ryan Fitzpatrick embrace battle for No. 1 job“I love this organization,” he said. “I love competing with the guys on this team. I’ve been here my whole career and love it in South Florida. Yeah, I’d love to be here.”Tannehill ranks 11th in the NFL with a passer rating of 99.0, highest of his career. He’s third in touchdown percentage.But he missed five games with an injury to his throwing shoulder. And when he played, the offense was wildly inconsistent.Miami (7-8) ranks 30th in total yards, and poor performances the past two weeks may have sealed Tannehill’s fate. The offense sputtered to losses against Minnesota and Jacksonville, eliminating the Dolphins from the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons since he joined them.The only time they made the postseason was in 2016 Johnathan Abram Jersey , Adam Gase’s first season as head coach, when Tannehill had the best stretch of his career before missing the final four games with a knee injury.Gase’s status beyond Sunday’s finale at Buffalo is also uncertain. The coach has been Tannehill’s most ardent defender, and Gase said the team’s rough patches — such as this week — have only strengthened their relationship.“You’re under fire all the time,” Gase said. “When you’re the head coach and the quarterback, you’re not missed. Everybody knows where you are.“At quarterback you take a lot of bullets, and sometimes you don’t get the credit you deserve.”Earlier this week, while discussing Tannehill’s struggles in the dysfunctional offense, Gase said, “Nobody helps him.” Tannehill said he doesn’t look at that way, even though he’s playing behind a patchwork line and lost two key receivers to season-ending injuries.“You have to control what you can control Maxx Crosby Jersey ,” Tannehill said. “If you play the what-if games, you’re not going to be growing as a person and a player.”Partly because of chronic issues with pass protection, Tannehill has been sacked 244 times. His toughness has never been questioned, but durability is an issue because he has missed 24 games in the past three seasons.When asked about the next step for Tannehill in 2019, Gase said, “The biggest thing is to stay healthy.”That will likely be a concern for another coach and another team. MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Dolphins are turning to their AFC East nemesis for help.New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores is a finalist in the Dolphins’ coaching search, a person familiar with the decision said Friday, and they’re expected to offer him the job when his team’s postseason ends.The person confirmed the decision to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins weren’t commenting publicly about the status of the search.If they fail to reach a deal with Flores, they haven’t ruled out Dallas Cowboys secondary coach Kris Richard.Flores has been a Patriots assistant for 11 seasons and took over defensive play-calling a year ago after the departure of defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. In Miami he would replace Adam Gase, who was fired after three seasons and hired Wednesday as coach of the New York Jets.New England plays the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC playoffs Sunday. The Dolphins have been also-rans to the first-place Patriots in the AFC East 15 of the past 16 years.Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and general manager Chris Grier zeroed in on Flores after interviewing two Dolphins assistants Friday: special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. Both were considered long shots.Ross and Grier earlier interviewed New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.Miami has finished with six to eight wins in nine of the past 10 years Foster Moreau Jersey , and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2000. As a result, the 78-year-old Ross said the Dolphins will abandon their win-now approach and build with the long term in mind.A roster revamp is expected to include the departure of quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has been with the team since 2012. The next coach, who will report to Grier, will be Miami’s 10th since 2004, including three interim coaches.