Report: Dolphins GM Candidates Wanted To “Clean House”

Update:

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that a source close to Titans executive Lake Dawson “insists” that he never requested final say over the decision to retain HC Joe Philbin after the 2014 season.

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Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that GM candidates Nick Caserio and Lake Dawson did not meet the Dolphins criteria for the position because they wanted to clean house at some point.

Caserio was reportedly willing to make sweeping changes to the organization right away and hire a new head coach. Dawson, on the other hand, was willing to keep current HC Joe Philbin for the upcoming season, but wanted the ability to make changes next year.

Salguero’s source added that Caserio was “highly impressive” during his meeting with the team did have interest in the position.

Owner Stephen Ross is reportedly “completely committed to Philbin as the Dolphins head coach this year and beyond” and is even willing to give him some say with regards to the team’s 53-man roster.

Previous reports indicated that the team’s overall power structure was likely a sticking point for interested candidates, and Salguero’s source seem to corroborate this notion. Although the made it clear that Dennis Hickey will have “final say over the draft, free agency and the 53-man roster.”

Meanwhile, Adam Beasley reports that “several Dolphins players have already privately expressed that they want out of this situation.”

Beasley adds that “real consequences” could be coming for the Dolphins based on how they’ve managed their situation in the past few weeks.

Even if things aren’t as bad as some believe they are with the Dolphins front office and ownership, they clearly have a perception issue that could impact their ability to sign another top-tier free agent or even lure a top coaching candidate should they ultimately replace Philbin at some point in the near future.