*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***

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Jan 07, 1996: -- Jimmy Johnson Next? --

According to a story released yesterday from the Associated Press, Jimmy Johnson tops Wayne Huizenga's list of candidates for the Dolphins' head coaching position.

For his part, Jimmy Johnson said on Saturday that he thinks more about returning now than he ever has since he left Dallas 2 years ago. He has often said in the past that if he ever went back to coaching in the NFL, he'd prefer to do it in Miami.

Johnson further said "Out of respect to Don and all he has accomplished, I'm trying to be very guarded during this sensitive time. But I've listened to other offers, so why wouldn't I listen to the Dolphins?"

Last Friday, at his press conference, Don Shula said that he will remain on the board of directors for the Dolphins, but that he will not be the general manager. He further stated that he will not stand in the way of whoever Wayne Huizenga chooses to be the new head coach, including Jimmy Johnson.

My sources in Miami say that a meeting between Huizenga and Johnson has already been set up, possibly as early as Monday.

If Johnson does take over the job as head coach of the Dolphins, he will probably be paid the highest salary of any coach in the league and will have total control over all aspects of the Dolphins' personnel decisions.

If Johnson doesn't take over as head coach, other candidates include Steve Spurrier and Marty Schottenheimer. Plus, Bill Cowher has now been mentioned as a possible candidate.

Regardless of who he picks, Huizenga will probably want to have a new head coach in place before February 8th at the latest, because that's when the NFL scouting combine begins in Indianapolis. Also, the free agent signing period begins the following week.

My Comments:

It's pretty obvious that Jimmy Johnson is the leading candidate for the job and that he is seriously thinking about it. I believe that if he and Huizenga can work out the financial arrangements, Jimmy Johnson will be the next coach of the Dolphins.

I also believe that we'll know something very soon and I expect that behind the scenes negotiations are already underway between Johnson and Huizenga.