The Miami Dolphins have fired 50-year old head coach Tony Sparano.  The Dolphins are 4-9 on the season and that’s just not good enough.  Sparano compiled a 29-32 record (47.5%) during the regular season for the Dolphins and he was 0-1 in the playoffs.  48-year old defensive backs coach Todd Bowles will take over as the interim head coach of the Dolphins.  This is his fourth year with the Dolphins and his 7th season as a NFL head coach.  Bowles has little chance of getting the head coaching job next season even if he goes 3-0 the rest of the way.  That’s because Dolphins’ ownership will be looking to catch a big fish as the next head coach.

The Miami Dolphins have waived 29-year old DE Igor Olshansky and 33-year old kicker Shayne Graham.  Olshansky played in 8 games for the Dolphins this year and he had 7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 2 forced fumbles.  Other players have stepped up at DE and have bumped Olshansky off the roster.  Shayne Graham played in 2 games for the Fins and he made 4 of 5 field goals (80%).  He also made six of six extra points as he had 18 points for the Dolphins.  Dan Carpenter is ready to return to action after missing the last couple of games with a groin injury, which led to Graham’s release.

The Dolphins have signed 29-year old cornerback Nate Jones.  Jones played in all 16 games for the Broncos last year and he had 57 tackles and 3 passes defensed.  He played with the Dolphins in 2008+2009.  He played in 32 games in his two years with the Fins and he had 77 tackles, 11 passes defensed, 3 interceptions, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.  Jones has now played in 99 games in his first 7 years in the NFL and he has 212 tackles, 16 passes defensed, 3 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 6 sacks and 1 tackle for a loss.  The Dolphins need all of the help in the secondary that they can get, so Jones is going to be a nice addition to the team.  To make room on the roster for Jones, the Dolphins have cut TE Dante Rosario.  Rosario played in both of the Fins games this year but he didn’t catch any passes.

23-year old rookie RB Daniel Thomas returned last weekend and he pushed Reggie Bush to the bench.  Thomas carried the ball 18 times for 107 yards (5.9 ypc) and he also caught 1 pass for 10 yards against the Texans last weekend.  Thomas looked great last week and he might wind up being the main back for the Dolphins in 2011.  26-year old Reggie Bush has now played in 2 games for the Dolphins and he has carried the ball 17 times for 56 yards (3.3 ypc).  Bush has also caught 10 passes for 59 yards (5.9 avg) with 1 TD grab.  It’s possible that Thomas and Bush could share the job at RB, but I have a feeling that Tony Sparano wants to ride one guy and I think it will be Thomas.  The Dolphins have also released 31-year old RB Larry Johnson.  He played in 1 game for the Fins this year and he carried the ball 1 time for 2 yards.

The Dolphins have waived 30-year old cornerback Benny Sapp.  Sapp played against the Patriots last Monday Night and he had 4 tackles and defensed 1 pass.  Sapp played in 17 games in his two years with the Dolphins and he had 45 tackles, 11 passes defensed, 2 interceptions and 3 tackles for a loss.  Sapp was a scapegoat for the secondary’s performance last Monday Night, because the Dolphins couldn’t get rid of all of their DBs.

The Dolphins have released 33-year old CB Will Allen.  Allen played in 6 games for the Dolphins last year and he had 21 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 6 passes defensed and 2 interceptions.  He played in 53 games in his four seasons with the Fins and he had 190 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 46 passes defensed and 7 interceptions (1 returned for a TD).  The Fins wanted to go with younger players at CB and that led to Allen’s release.

UPDATE:  (9/14/2011) – The Dolphins have re-signed Will Allen.

The Miami Dolphins have signed 26-year old QB Kevin O’Connell to a 1-year deal and they have cut 26-year old QB Tom Brandstater.  O’Connell played in 2 games (0 starts) back in 2008 for the Patriots and he completed 4 of 6 passes (66.7%) for 23 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs (73.6 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 3 times for -6 yards (-2.0 ypc).  That is the extent of O’Connell’s experience.  He will serve as the Fins’ #3 QB behind Chad Henne and Matt Moore.  Brandstater has yet to play in a NFL game and he will not be missed.

UPDATE:  (9/4/2011) – The Dolphins have released Kevin O’Connell.

The Dolphins have released 28-year old linebacker Tim Dobbins.  Dobbins played in all 16 games for the Dolphins last year and he had 47 tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack and 1 pass defensed.  Dobbins played in 78 games in his five years in the NFL and he has 198 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 7 passes defensed and 2 interceptions.  The Dolphins shouldn’t miss Dobbins too much especially after inking Kevin Burnett.

The Dolphins have released 27-year old linebacker Channing Crowder.  Crowder played in 11 games for the Dolphins last year and he had 39 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and he defensed 2 passes.  Crowder played in 82 games in his six years with the Dolphins and he had 469 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 17 passes defensed and 1 interception.  Crowder will hook on with a new team soon but the Fins decided to move in a different direction.

The Dolphins have signed 26-year old OT Allen Barbre and they have cut 29-year old center Eric Ghiaciuc who didn’t get in any games for them.  Barbre played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Seahawks earlier this year.  He has now played in 28 games (7 starts) in his first four years in the NFL.  He might get to play some against the Patriots tomorrow afternoon.