Dolphins fire coach Philbin
Assistant Campbell takes over for team on interim basis.
Joe Philbin was fired Monday four games into his fourth season as coach of the Miami Dolphins, and one day after a flop on an international stage that helped to seal his fate.
Tight ends coach Dan Campbell, who has been with the Dolphins since 2010, was promoted to interim coach. He has no previous head coaching experience.
“I’m not here just to finish the season up,” Campbell said. “That’s not my plan. We’re coming here to win games. It’s still early. We have time to turn everything around. But we can’t wait.”
The Dolphins (1-3) lost their third game in a row and turned in their fourth consecutive lackluster performance when they were beaten Sunday in London by the archrival New York Jets, 27-14.
Midseason head coaching changes are unusual in the NFL, but few will accuse owner Stephen Ross of impatience. He ignored calls to fire Phil- bin in December after the Dolphins faded to finish 8-8 for a second successive season.
But doubts only grew this season regarding Philbin’s inability to motivate players with his bland demeanor. Campbell said he respected Philbin but plans to make practices more intense.
“I feel there’s a lot more we can get out of these guys. We need to change the culture.”
Ross said the decision to fire Philbin was difficult.
“I don’t believe we were performing at the potential we have,” he said. “I felt this was the time to make this decision. I haven’t seen a lot of improvement. I see the same old, same old.”
Texans: Ryan Mallett will remain the starting quarterback despite his recent struggles.
Mallett threw an interception and didn’t lead the Texans to any points before was replaced by Brian Hoyer late in a 48-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
The Texans (1-3) have a short turnaround before hosting AFC South foe Indianapolis on Thursday night.
Coach Bill O’Brien says that Mallett is their starter but that he “knows he has to play better.”
Panthers: Luke Kuechly, who’s missed the past 31/2 games with a concussion, is set to meet with an independent neurologist this week and could be cleared and out of the concussion protocol.
Rams: Outside linebacker Alec Ogletree, the team’s leading tackler, will undergo surgery today for a broken right ankle and could be out for the season.
Coach Jeff Fisher said Ogletree attended team meetings and was optimistic he could be placed on injured reserve/designated for return.
Jaguars: Right guard Brandon Linder will be placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
Linder will have surgery later this week to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Giants: Tight end Daniel Fells will be placed on injured reserve after discovering he has a staph infection.
Buccaneers: Rookie kicker Kyle Brindza was released after going 2 of 7 on field goal attempts with two missed extra points over the past two games.
49ers: Terrelle Pryor, who once played quarterback for the Raiders but who recently converted to wide receiver, worked out for San Francisco.
Jets: A Missouri judge continued until Nov. 9 the criminal case against defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, accused of resisting arrest and traffic counts for a summer police chase in suburban St. Louis.
Richardson sat out the first four games this season due to a suspension.