Page 18 - atoday

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SPORTSTuesday 6 October 2015
Dolphins
“That’s not my plan. We’re
coming here to win games.
It’s still early. We have time and are ultra-competi-
to turn everything around.
But we can’t wait.”
The Dolphins (1-3) lost their
third game in a row Sun-
day with their fourth con-
secutive lackluster perfor-
mance, a 27-14 loss to the
archrival New York Jets in
London.
Midseason head coach-
ing changes are unusual in
the NFL, but a year ago the
Raiders’ Dennis Allen was
fired following Week 4 after
losing - to the Dolphins in
London.
In this case, few will accuse
Ross of impatience. He ig-
nored calls to fire Philbin in ready to make any deci-
December after the team
faded to finish 8-8 for a
second successive season.
Doubts only grew this sea-
son regarding Philbin’s in-
ability to motivate players
with his passive demeanor.
Campbell, who lists Sean
Payton and Bill Parcells as
mentors, said he respect-
ed Philbin but wants to
change the culture.
“My vision is a bunch of
Seattle Sounders forward Chad Barrett, right, attempts a shot
on Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts (1) in the
second half of an MLS soccer match Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in
Seattle. The match ended in a 1-1 tie. on in the 85th minute, ran
SEATTLE (AP) — Chad Bar-
rett scored in the third min-
ute of stoppage time to
give the Seattle Sounders a
1-1 draw with the Los Ange-
les Galaxy, who clinched
Continued from Page 17 In this Oct. 4, 2015, file photo, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen his job has been in jeopar-
Ross, left, and Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin chat dur- dy since a rocky 2013 sea-
hard-nosed guys that go ing warm-up before the NFL football game between the New son that included a bully-
out every day for practice York Jets and the Miami Dolphins at Wembley stadium in Lon- ing scandal.
don. But even after this year’s
tive,” Campbell said. dismal start, Ross said, the
“These are guys that are Associated Press decision to fire Philbin was
scratching and clawing, difficult.
very intense, very heated, ing and offensive points per “We have plenty of talent. “I don’t believe we were
and on Sunday it’s that game, and last in the NFL I feel there’s a lot more we performing at the potential
same team. in sacks and run defense can get out of these guys.” we have,” he said.
“We are going to play by despite the offseason ad- Campbell becomes the “I felt this was the time
the rules, but we’re going dition of $114 million tackle eighth coach since 2004 for to make this decision. I
to be much more aggres- Ndamukong Suh. the Dolphins, who haven’t haven’t seen a lot of im-
sive. There’s always that Lack of talent isn’t the won a playoff game since provement. I see the same
line: ‘This is OK to do, and problem, Campbell said. 2000. old, same old.
this is dirty.’ I’m not saying “This is my sixth season with Philbin, who was hired as “My goal is still to make the
we want dirty players, but the Miami Dolphins, and a first-time head coach in playoffs. I felt this was the
we’re going to walk that this is the most talented ros- 2012, went 24-28. He failed best opportunity we have
line. I don’t want us play- ter we have had in those to reach the playoffs or - to pick Dan Campbell as
ing on our heels. I want us six years,” Campbell said. even finish above .500, and our head coach.”
playing on our toes.” Philbin issued a statement
Campbell said he wasn’t thanking Ross, his players
and his assistant coaches.
sions regarding possible “It is my hope that the 2015
changes in the rest of the Miami Dolphins achieve
coaching staff, which in- great success both on and
cludes embattled defen- off the field,” he said.
sive coordinator Kevin Campbell said the pros-
Coyle. Miami has a bye pect of replacing Philbin
this week and next plays at and becoming an NFL
Tennessee on Oct. 18. head coach was “a little
The Dolphins have started surreal,” but he expects to
poorly in every game and retain the job beyond his
have been outscored 37-3 interim stint.
in the first quarter. They “It’s a little bit of, ‘Whoa,
rank last in the AFC in rush- what are you getting into?’
But I’m ready for this. I can
do this.”q
Barrett scores in stoppage time,
Sounders draw Galaxy 1-1
fender Brad Evans flicked it into the back right center ute of stoppage time.
off his head across the goal for his 17th of the year. Ricardo Clark equalized for
where Barrett, who came FC Dallas became the first Houston after Mauro Diaz
Western Conference team scored from a penalty to
onto the ball and drove it to clinch a playoff spot with give Dallas the early lead.
Associated Press into the net from 2 yards a commanding 4-1 win In Commerce City, Colo-
(meters) away. over the Houston Dynamo rado, Joao Plata and Luke
a playoff spot in front of In the 36th minute, Robbie after David Texeira scored Mulholland scored 10 min-
56,097 fans Sunday night at Keane converted a Seattle twice and Kellyn Acosta utes apart in the first half as
CenturyLink Field. defensive giveaway into a added a third second-half Real Salt Lake beat Colo-
After Marco Pappa took goal. Seattle’s Zach Scott, goal. rado 2-1 to eliminate the
a corner from the attack- playing on the defensive Texeira put Dallas ahead Rapids from the playoff
ing right side, Sounders de- left side, sent the ball to- when he fired a rocket from race.
ward Gonzalo Pineda at 20 yards that caromed off The Rapids struck first when
the top of the box. But he the crossbar in the 51st Kevin Doyle headed a long
left it short, and Pineda minute. Kellyn Acosta one- cross from Sean St. Ledger
couldn’t reach it. timed a shot off the cross- in the 16th minute, snap-
Keane ran on to the errant bar 2 minutes later, and ping a shot from 15-yards
pass, taking it to the top of Texeira added an insur- out that found its way into
the penalty spot and firing ance goal in the third min- the far corner. q