Wannstedt out...Bates in?

[samikeyp]

OMG! Jim Bates?

Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt, his team saddled with the worst record in the NFL, will resign on Tuesday, ESPN's Hank Goldberg and The Miami Herald reported late Monday night.

Before this season, Wannstedt never won less than 9 games with the Dolphins.

Defensive coordinator Jim Bates is expected to be named interim head coach during an afternoon news conference. Bates has been an NFL assistant since 1991. His only head coaching experience came in 1985 with the USFL's San Antonio Gunslingers.

Wannstedt ends his five years in Miami with a 42-31 record. The Dolphins missed the playoffs the past two seasons after making them during Wannstedt's first two years.

It is unclear whether Wannstedt was forced to resign. During a Monday afternoon news conference, Wanndstedt showed no indication he had any intention of resigning.

It is not yet known whether Wannstedt will collect the remaining two years of his contract.

The Dolphins will play their first game under Bates on Nov. 21 at the Seattle Seahawks.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1918897

[Jimcs50]

This is pnly 3rd time in history that a coach that won at least 10 games the previous year was fired the next year. Green on Minn and Turner on Washington were the other 2.

[samikeyp]

That's right folks...Jim Bates from yourrrrrr...............

http://www.logoserver.com/football/SanAntonioGunslingers.GIF

[Duff McCartney]

Good riddance. Wannstedt is a terrible coach...he has brought down two franchises already. Chicago and Miami. I knew the minute Jimmy Johnson quit and named Wanny as his heir apparent that Miami was going down the tubes.

[bigzak25]

his team had no chance after Ricky went up in smoke.

just like norv, great coordinator, poor head coach.

still, it's a bad move to get rid of the coach midseason. one of danny's biggest mistakes was not letting norval finish out the year in 2000.

[PeterBurns]

Better than having a lame duck-Ron Zook coach.

Miami will have a great draft pick next year, as well as a few more coming to them with the upcoming Ricky Williams trade.

Draft for Offense and see what the Ole Ball Coach can do with this team.

[samikeyp]

You think he can do better than he did at Washington?

[PeterBurns]

Yes.
Look at what Joe Gibbs is doing with that team. Gibbs has been around the block once before.

I don't believe that Steve would have passed up some good college gigs if he didn't know that he would get another shot at the big time.

Miami would be a good fit. But they will rely heavily on next year's draft.

[jalbre6]

Does Spurrier still want to coach? I figured he was lovin' life, golfing twice a day, collecting checks from Danny Snyder, etc.

Someone needs to grab Weis and Crennel from the Pats before the Ball Coach gets another pass.