Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland apparently ran out of arguments to keep his job.
Multiple media outlets reported Tuesday that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross fired Ireland after six years on the job. CBSSports.com speculated that the Dolphins' back-to-back losses to close the regular season and securing a fifth straight season without a postseason berth was the final straw.
The NFL.com's Jeff Darlington tweeted that Ireland refused to relinquish any power in the organizational structure, which led to the mutual decision that he leave the team.
"Team source tells me that Jeff Ireland was going to be stripped of ultimate power if he remained with team, hence mutual parting of ways," Darlington wrote.
Ireland's tenure at Miami has seen its share of public relations nightmares, to go along with the lack of on-field success. Earlier this season, Dolphins offensive lineman Jonathan Martin walked out on the team and complained that he was the victim of bullying by teammate Richie Incognito. Incognito was suspended from the team.
According to profootballtalk.nbcsports.com, several league sources said that one of Martin's agents, Kenny Zuckerman, called Ireland after Martin left the team in late October. Zuckerman reportedly was complaining about Incognito's treatment of his client.
Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com reported that, "Ireland, according to the sources, suggested to Zuckerman that Martin physically confront Incognito. Ireland specifically mentioned that Martin should 'punch' Incognito.
In 2010, Yahoo! Sports reported that then-NFL draft prospect Dez Bryant was asked by a high-level executive of an NFL franchise whether his mother was a prostitute.
Yahoo! Sports later identified Ireland as the offending party, and he later apologized for the question.
The Miami Herald reported that Ireland's job was on the line in 2011, but he convinced Ross that coaching was the reason for the Dolphins' inability to make the players, rather than personnel selection. Ross ended up firing coach Tony Sparano that season.
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