Rumors have been swirling for weeks about the Miami Dolphins and their desire to talk to Bill Cowher about coaching the team in 2012.  First, there were reports that the Dolphins had intermediaries reaching out to Cowher.  Then, last week, a report surfaced that claimed the Dolphine Owner reached out to Cowher’s agent.  Well, yesterday Bill Cowher decided to address the rumors on the CBS NFL Pregame show.  Here’s what he said, courtesy of the Sun Sentinel:

“I have not been contacted directly or indirectly by any football team, or any organization. It’s all speculation and it’s unfortunate because it effects the lives of many people who are in the profession” 

“I’m here to say to you today, I do not plan on coaching next year. I love where I work, and more importantly I enjoy the people I work with [at CBS].  So I can put all this speculation to rest, and if I have to repeat this in December I will.”

Cowher clearly felt that he needed to say something about the rumors connecting his name to the currently filled Dolphins head coaching job.  After all, Cowher has reportedly told ALL teams that he will not talk to them about a head coaching job that is currently filled.  Last time I checked, Tony Sparano was still the coach of the Dolphins.

So what are we to believe?  The Dolphins have denied reaching out to Cowher.  Cowher denies that he’s been contacted.  Yet, there are multiple media outlets that insist that the Dolphins have at least reached out to Cowher (through intermediaries) to gauge his interest in the Dolphins.  I personally believe that the Dolphins have talked informally to Cowher (Carl Peterson, cough, cough).  I think Cowher just wanted to let it be known in front of the nation that he wasn’t doing anything wrong and neither were the Dolphins.  It was almost like a wanted to let Tony Sparano know that he still had the Dolphins support because they weren’t going behind his back and talking to his replacements.

Regarding Cowher’s comment that he does not plan on coaching next year….I think you can take to mean that RIGHT NOW there are no head coaching vacancies…so no positions are currently available.  He did not say that he would without-a-doubt, 100% be sitting another season out.  I think he left himself an out, so that when the offseason arrives, he can 1. Pick the situation that best suits him (Dolphins and #1 overall pick would be tempting) AND 2. He can negotiate an even bigger contract since he said he doesn’t ‘plan’ on coaching.  Plans change and I expect them to once the offseason begins and coaching jobs become available.

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