CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 15, 2013: Head coach Joe Philbin of the Miami Dolphins answers questions from the media during the post game press conference after a game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Dolphins won 23-10. (Photo by David Dermer/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
The Miami Dolphins cut ties with head coach Joe Philbin on Monday after the team started the season 1-3. It was Philbin's fourth year as the Dolphins' head coach, which isn't necessarily a lengthy tenure by NFL standards.
The firing came after the Dolphins' loss to the New York Jets in London, but owner Stephen Ross reportedly didn't return with the team. Because of that, he was unable to break the news to Philbin in person, so Ross did it with a phone call.
Ending a relationship over the phone is never seen as the right move, but it sounds like it was the only one for Ross and the Dolphins' front office. This doesn't make the breakup between Philbin and the Dolphins any better, but it was clearly a move the team felt they had to make.
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