Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Gase blames missed opportunities
Ex-Dolphins coach contends letdowns ended his tenure
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase has a theory: Call it the Patriots hangover.
Gase, the new coach of the division rival New York Jets, said how his former team performed following home wins over the New England Patriots in 2017 and 2018 was a determining factor in why he was ultimately fired in Miami after three seasons.
Gase also did not wish to elaborate on comments made by Dolphins owner Steve Ross, who said Gase wanted to win instead of coach Miami during a rebuilding effort.
“We didn’t win enough games,” Gase said as the NFL combine began Wednesday at Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center.
“I think there was a lot of good stuff. We had some opportunities at the end of the season the last two years, but we didn’t win a game after we beat New England those last two years. That probably didn’t help us. We didn’t take advantage of opportunities we had.”
Gase was fired on Dec. 31, 2018 — one day after the season ended — and was quickly hired by the Jets in January. The Dolphins hired Brian Flores, the former scout and assistant coach for 15 seasons with the Patriots, to replace him.
The Dolphins have signaled for a rebuild in hopes of fortifying their roster to compete at a high level for years to come.
But Gase says a discussion about rebuilding the Dolphins roster was not among the topics he talked about with Ross before being fired.
“I think Adam wants to win and win now,” Ross said on Dec. 31 regarding Gase. “He’s going into his fourth year and I think he wants to win. Every coach, in your fourth year, you have to win.”
Gase’s response: “I didn’t see or read anything. I had other things I had to worry about.
“We didn’t have that kind of conversation,” Gase continued. “We had a good talk after our original conversation. We talked for about 20 minutes. A good conversation. Then I had to go to that team meeting and tell the guys where it was going from there.”
The Dolphins failed to win another game last season after beating the Patriots in their Miami Miracle win, which saw running back Kenyan Drake score a gamewinning, 69-yard touchdown as time expired during Week 14 on Dec. 9.
Miami finished the season with a 7-9 record, losing its last three games and failing to make the playoffs for the second straight season.
The Dolphins saw the same fate a year earlier, beating the Patriots in Week 14, but losing their final three games and finishing 6-10.
Miami’s performance the last two seasons put a stain on Gase’s tenure, which began with a 10-6 record and playoff appearance in 2016.
Gase, now with second-year quarterback Sam Darnold, is gearing up for a new start in New York and the Jets franchise.
As for his old quarterback, Gase said he had some conversations with Dolphins veteran Ryan Tannehill, but none so far this offseason.
If Tannehill is ultimately released by the Dolphins, he could be a free agent willing to rejoin his former coach. Gase would not elaborate more on the possibility of reuniting with Tannehill.
“We had a couple conversations, but it was more when I first left [Miami]. Since then, I haven’t spoken to him,” Gase said.
“For the free agent stuff or if he becomes available, that’s something I’m not in that spot yet.”