Jeff Ireland and Miami Dolphins Agree to Part Ways

Beleaguered Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland and the team “have mutually agreed to part ways,” the team announced Tuesday.

Ireland leaves the team after the Dolphins fell short of the playoffs in 2013. They needed to win one of their final two games to get in the postseason, but lost both of them to the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets.

They have not made the playoffs since 2008.

“I want to personally thank Jeff for his hard work and dedication in building the team over the past six years,” Dolphins owner Jeff Ireland said in a news release. “After a series of discussions, we both felt that it was in our mutual best interest to part ways. Jeff was a loyal and dedicated member of the Dolphins and we wish him and his family nothing but the best.”

Ireland was the team's GM for the past six seasons. He said he's spent those years "with the best organization in football."

“Steve and I came to an agreement that the best thing moving forward for all parties would be to part ways. I’d like to thank Steve for all his support and kindness," Ireland said in the release. "I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing people during this time and I’d like to thank them all from the bottom of my heart. “

The Dolphins said they'll begin a search immediately to bring in a new leader for the team's football operations.

The team fired offensive coordinator Mike Sherman on Monday.

Bill Parcells was the Dolphins’ president of football operations during the early part of Ireland’s tenure as GM. After Parcells stepped down in 2010, Ireland’s teams went 7-9, 6-10, 7-9 and 8-8.

In the wake of Ireland's departure, Dolphins fan Mike Nugent said the team needs to get better talent to improve.

"They could get rid of the GM. They could get rid of the coach. They could rid of who they got to get rid of," he said. "If they don't start drafting the right people we're just going right back through the cycle."

Luis Nolaseo also said that bigger changes are needed.

"If you're going to pick somebody else that's going to improve the team, you gotta change the team, you gotta change the mentality of the team," he said.

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