Charges, counter charges as divorce between Miami Dolphins, Vic Fangio turns messy

In the divorce case of Miami Dolphins Ltd. v. Vic Fangio, let’s start with what we know:

• There was no chance Fangio would return as Dolphins defensive coordinator in 2024.

• Some players on the Dolphins aren’t shedding tears that Fangio is gone, although it’s unclear whether they constitute the majority.

• Being the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the NFL wasn’t enough to make Fangio happy here.

• Finally, a divorce that already turned messy is only going to get messier.

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Now, let’s get to what we think we know:

• Fangio thinks some players on the Dolphins are more interested in what happens when the lights come on (on South Beach) than when the lights come on (at Hard Rock Stadium).

• Fangio and head coach Mike McDaniel were an odd couple from the start.

• Fangio has philosophical differences with how the Dolphins operate and believes the Philadelphia Eagles’ way makes more sense.

Ron Jaworski says some Dolphins didn't want to work

All of this is bubbling to the surface in the week since the Dolphins announced Fangio wouldn’t be returning. 

"I want to thank Vic for his contributions in 2023," McDaniel said in a statement. "When we assessed the season, it became apparent that this was the best path forward for all parties involved."

The headline on the news release was "Miami Dolphins and Fangio Part Ways," which is team-speak in the sports world these days for what often is a guy getting fired. In this case, the key words are "it became apparent." Meaning even if Fangio wanted to return, the welcome mat had been rolled up and stashed in the attic.

Then, this week, we learned how much Fangio wanted out. Ron Jaworski, the former Eagles and Dolphins quarterback, went on Philadelphia radio station WIP and unloaded on the Dolphins. More importantly, Jaworski did so acting as a mouthpiece for Fangio, who hasn’t commented publicly since departing and might not be heard from until next season, for all we know. Jaworski is longtime buddies with Fangio.

"There were some players on that defense that didn’t want to work," Jaworski said. "Didn’t want to put the time in, didn’t want to put the effort in, didn’t want to make the commitment to be successful.

"Guys like to party at night and South Beach is really a great place to party. And Vic tried to get those guys and push those guys to become harder workers and better athletes and more committed to their team. And he couldn’t get through to those guys. Those were the guys that Vic was pushing and they’re the guys that are whining right now."

As charges go, this is about as serious as it gets, not only questioning players’ work ethic but doing so with such a broad brush. Rest assured that Dolphins players and coaches will be asked about it by the media. While their answers are predictable − "Not sure what he’s talking about. We work hard." − the Dolphins deserve the opportunity to defend their reputation.

Drew Rosenhaus: 'Quite a few' players didn't get along with Vic Fangio

Drew Rosenhaus, who represents 11 Dolphins, confirmed the rough edges in the relationship between Fangio and some players, telling Miami Fox affiliate WSVN-Channel 7: "There were quite a few players on the team that didn’t necessarily get along with Fangio and so it wasn’t a great relationship with many of the players. There were some guys that loved him, but there were quite a few that didn’t."

Side note: If all this is accurate, then getting these two camps on the same page will be Job 1 for the next coordinator. If a segment of players take the stance that “this isn’t how Vic did it,” it’ll be poison.

Perhaps there were hints that the train was veering off the tracks late in the season when Fangio faced a line of questioning on how much fun the team was having. At the time, the Dolphins were 8-3 and coming off a 34-13 rout of the Jets in the Meadowlands before going on to a 3-4 finish, including the wild-card loss to Kansas City.

"I think it starts with Mike. That’s his approach," Fangio said. "He wants that, instigates it and the players follow that lead. You don’t have to give players lead to have fun. Obviously, as you said, winning helps. Winning has cured more ails than penicillin. But yes, it is. These guys have fun, but they’re working hard at it."

Is this a more fun team than the 49ers or the Eagles (with whom Fangio served as a consultant in the 2022 postseason)?

"It’s just a different type of fun."

Obviously, Fangio wasn’t going to criticize his boss in such a setting, and he did say players were "working hard at it." It also wasn’t a ringing endorsement of the atmosphere, especially considering we’re talking about a 65-year-old coordinator and a 40-year-old head coach.

Tyreek Hill: Fangio has to learn how to 'fit in' with players

Speaking on his podcast, Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill was among the first players to refer to Fangio’s departure as a firing.

"I thought Coach Vic was O.G.," Hill said. "I respected him a lot. He was old school, that’s all I had to say."

Well, not exactly all.

"Vic’s firing was very shocking,” Hill said. "I’m not surprised he landed in Philly, though. People talk around the league behind closed doors, he’s trying to get to Philly anyways. … He’s a guru at defense. He’s just got to learn how to fit in with his players."

Jaworski didn’t name players whom Fangio considered loafers, but he did refer to the players whining about Fangio. That appears to be a shot at defensive backs Jevon Holland and Cam Smith, who posted messages on social media that basically suggest “don’t let the door hit you” without actually using that language.

Holland posted a video kicking rocks — a way of saying good riddance — and Smith posted an “unlock” symbol. Smith is of particular intrigue in this matter. He was Miami’s top draft pick last spring, taken in the second round, 51st overall, yet he played only 20 defensive snaps all year. Asked late in the season what Smith needed to do to get on the field, Fangio said, “Just improve in all areas.” All?

Fangio also left the impression he didn’t think much of how the Dolphins go about choosing players. When injuries destroyed the linebacking corps, general manager Chris Grier signed three free agents. Fangio indicated he wasn’t consulted beforehand.

"I said, ‘Good. We’ve got to have somebody,’ " Fangio said.

Has Fangio had a say in player selection elsewhere?

"Every place is different," he said.

Mike McDaniel called Fangio an 'elite' coordinator

A different way of securing players, a different approach to having fun − you’re starting to get the sense Fangio preferred things to be … different.

McDaniel? Not so much, at least publicly during the season. He referred to Fangio as an "elite" defensive coordinator, and certainly the Dolphins signing Fangio to a three-year deal worth $4.65 million annually backs that up. Even after that historic collapse against the Tennessee Titans that helped doom Miami’s season, McDaniel stood by Fangio. This despite the defense having no minor role in two late scores, and Fangio not only opting not to blitz to disrupt Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis but later defending that decision.

McDaniel, asked what he told Fangio afterward, said: “Listen, any team that does anything worth anything goes through stuff together. It’s like a family. I would imagine siblings fight, and when you get through it, you’re stronger. Well, that was a fight for us, really for all three phases in terms of emotions. We put a lot into it and didn’t get the results at all. I very much am a person that looks at intent. I try to communicate as best as I can throughout the season. I’m very aware our defensive coordinator is one of, if not the best, defensive play-callers that I’ve ever been around. You talk about timeliness of certain calls. Your job is to prepare players and put them in the best position to succeed. Within that, knowing the scheme and knowing the offense, each and every week, the last person I’m worried about doing everything they can for the team is Vic Fangio. With that, we’re teammates. There was no projection towards him.”

More:Who are candidates to become the Miami Dolphins' defensive coordinator for 2024?

But there’s more. It seems with recent Dolphins divorces, whether it be Adam Gase or Brian Flores, there often is more. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that Fangio didn’t allow assistants to “present their work” to the defensive players. Instead, they reported to Fangio and he relayed the information.

"That sort of approach is decidedly old school, and seeped through to players who, by the end of the season, started to tune Fangio out," Breer wrote.

Without being in the meeting rooms, there’s no way to know the extent to which this may have been happening. What we do know is the first installment of HBO’s "Hard Knocks: In Season with the Miami Dolphins" highlighted linebackers coach Anthony Campanile addressing the team with a fiery pep talk. And now, Campanile is on a lengthy list of candidates for the DC role.

More:Vic Fangio's departure: Why are Miami Dolphins always changing coordinators?

With all this stuff, it must be pointed out that Fangio’s defense ranked 21st in the NFL when cornerback Jalen Ramsey’s knee injury healed enough for him to make his Dolphins debut. Then, it steadily rose to No. 4 before dropping to No. 10 by season’s end amid the injuries.

Finally, there’s a gut feeling that maybe this marriage was doomed from the start. About a year ago at this time, if you’ll recall, it was widely known Fangio had agreed to join the Dolphins’ coaching staff. The official announcement would come at any time. Except days passed. Then weeks. Fangio said no deal was in place, possibly wanting to pump the brakes until after the Eagles played in the Super Bowl and his commitment to them was done. Or was it because he was irked that his agreement with the Dolphins had leaked out?

Whatever. Fangio doesn’t want to be here now. And the Dolphins don’t want him here. So everybody gets what they want.

Even if nobody sounds very happy about it.

Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at[email protected]. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal.