MIAMI -- In their fitful, laborious search for a general manager, the Miami
Dolphins finally found someone to say yes: Dennis Hickey.
Cody Zeller Jersey . The longtime Tampa Bay
Buccaneers executive accepted the job Sunday, ending a search that lasted nearly
three weeks. Hickeys hiring came after the Dolphins were rejected by several
candidates. New England Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio and
Tennessee Titans vice-president of player personnel Lake Dawson turned down job
offers only hours before Miami reached out to Hickey, while Cleveland Browns
assistant general manager Ray Farmer withdrew from consideration Thursday.
Several others declined invitations to interview as a replacement for Jeff
Ireland, whose six-year stint as general manager ended Jan. 7 when he and owner
Stephen Ross agreed to part ways. Hickey has been with the Buccaneers for 18
seasons, including the past three as director of player personnel. He was their
director of college scouting for six years. He was not interviewed for Tampa
Bays GM job when it became open after this season. The Bucs won four division
titles and one Super Bowl championship during his time with them, but went 28-52
over the past five years and had spotty draft results during that span. Hickey
was among eight candidates interviewed by Miami, with Ross aide Matt Higgins and
executive vice-president of football administration Dawn Aponte helping the
owner with the screening process. The other finalist was Dolphins assistant
general manager Brian Gaine, who worked under Ireland. Some candidates and
potential candidates expressed concern about the Dolphins power structure,
including the role of Aponte, who clashed with Ireland. In a news release to
announce the hiring, the Dolphins said Hickey will oversee all aspects of
football operations and report directly to Ross. Coach Joe Philbin will continue
to report directly to Ross as well, while Apontes place in the chain of command
wasnt spelled out. Ross loyalty to Philbin, who is 15-17 in two seasons with
Miami, may have been a stumbling block for some candidates. In a statement, Ross
cited Hickeys willingness to work with Philbin as a factor in the hiring. "When
we started the search, I outlined qualities that I was looking for in this
position," Ross said. "These included a collaborative team-first person who can
work with Joe, demonstrated player evaluation expertise, and someone who is
open-minded and creative. Dennis fit all of these criteria." The Titans Dawson
released a statement saying he had declined Miamis job offer. "I felt Stephen is
a great owner, passionate and wants to win, but the details of the offer didnt
align with my vision," Dawson said. "I turned it down because it wasnt an ideal
fit for my family and me." So Ross turned to Hickey, who was interviewed for the
first time 10 days into the search. The protracted process reinforced Ross
reputation for having difficulty closing deals with the Dolphins. In the past,
the New York real estate billionaire has unsuccessfully courted Peyton Manning,
Jim Harbaugh and Jeff Fisher. Hickeys task will be to upgrade the roster after
Miami collapsed late in the season to blow a playoff berth and finish 8-8. The
Dolphins havent been above .500 since 2008, the longest such stretch in
franchise history. The tumultuous 2013 season included a locker-room bullying
scandal that drew national scrutiny, and a report on the NFL investigation into
the case will be released after the Super Bowl. "The Dolphins certainly have
talented players," Hickey said in a statement, "and I am eager to hit the ground
running with our personnel and coaching staffs. We will all work together to
construct a team that will make our organization and fans proud." Hickey will be
introduced at a news conference Tuesday. AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker in
Nashville, Tenn. contributed to this report.
Cody Zeller Hornets Jersey . MLBs marquee
Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday night games feature the leagues top teams and the
most-anticipated games of the season. Overall, TSN platforms deliver more than
75 games this season. TSN subscribers can live stream TSN and TSN2s MLB coverage
on their smartphones, tablets, and computers at no additional charge through TSN
GO.
Courtney Lee Hornets Jersey . The German
football federation says proceeds from the national sides first game in Mainz
will go to charity. Germany has two wins from two games against Armenia, 5-1
away in a World Cup qualifier in 1996 and 4-0 in the return game the following
year.MONTREAL -- Former foes in the cage, UFC welterweight champion Georges
St-Pierre and Englands Dan (The Outlaw) Hardy are now training together.
St-Pierre tweeted a photo of the two 170-pounders arm-in-arm at Montreals
Tristar gym. "Glad to have Dan here with us he is going (to be) great help for
this camp!!" tweeted the champion. Said Hardy, via Twitter: "I can see why
Georges is the champ, he has a great team around him. Ive done one session and
Im already learning a lot." St-Pierre, who won a decision over Hardy at UFC 111
in Marchh 2010, is training for an Oct.
Kemba Walker Jersey. 29 bout with Carlos
(Natural Born Killer) Condit at UFC 137 in Las Vegas. NOTES@ -- Heavyweight Dave
Herman has had to withdraw from his UFC 136 bout against Mike Russow. Herman
told Clinch Gear Radio he was informed by the Texas Department of Licensing and
Regulation that he had failed a pre-fight drug test -- a finding Herman said was
"impossible." The rematch between featherweights Leonard (Bad Boy) Garcia and
Nam Phan has been promoted to the main card of the Oct. 8 show in Houston.
Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '