Chris Perkins: Dolphins have fresh start, but clock still ticking

"This is merely making sure that new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and his head coach, whoever that ends up being, understand that while there will be a joyous honeymoon period, the clock is ticking. This is making sure that Sullivan and his coach understand that Dolphins owner Steve Ross is still under pressure from fans, and Ross will pass that pressure onto him and his coach via heightened expectations in a short amount of time."

"To Sullivan, and the coach to be named later, welcome to South Florida. You'll love it here. Great people. Great fans. Great weather. Beautiful beaches. No state income tax. It's paradise. Eat some griot with pikliz. You'll thank me. You'll be warmly welcomed, as you should be, by possibly the most patient and optimistic fan base in America. As you could figure, however, patience and optimism are in short supply (hey, changes were made for a reason, right?)."

"There's years of simmering resentment toward Ross bubbling beneath the surface. Ross gained a measure of credibility by having Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman assist with the general manager and head coach searches. But Ross is running out of people to blame for his ownership failures. He's cycled through general managers, coaches and quarterbacks. And now, much to the fans' dismay, here we go again. This is where that ticking clock speeds up for Sullivan and his coach."

Jon-Eric Sullivan and the incoming head coach are expected to win a playoff game within three seasons. The three-year expectation is not an absolute firing deadline but signals heightened short-term expectations from ownership. Dolphins owner Steve Ross faces long-standing fan pressure and will convey that pressure through expectations placed on the new regime. Fan fatigue spans roughly 25 years and has generated simmering resentment. Ross gained credibility by involving Troy Aikman in the searches but has repeatedly cycled through general managers, coaches and quarterbacks. The Dolphins finished 7-10 last season, and major rebuilds in today’s NFL often conclude within two years.

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